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Lavender
Posted by Nozzie
Re: Lavender September 24, 2006 06:00AM |
Registered: 17 years ago Posts: 534 |
Re: Lavender September 24, 2006 09:28PM |
Admin Registered: 18 years ago Posts: 7,844 |
Pick them in the early morning before the sun has had the chance to drive off the essential oils. You will find as they dry out that the stalks become a lot thinner and you may have to re-tie your bunches as they become loose. There is a lovely little book available called The Essential Lavender that tells you all about lavender, history, legends, drying it and how to use it, in cosmetics, or nice smelly things and even some recipes for using lavender. It's by Virginia McNaughton and it's a NZ book, so will be relevant to us.
I also have another book, one of a set of four, called The Victorian Book of Lavender and Old Lace by Deborah Schneebeli-Morrell which has many unusual ways to use lavender (and lace). Picture frames, boxes, candles, cards etc. etc. It's worth having just for the beautiful pictures
Finally, I have a book called Flower Drying with a Microwave by Titia Joosten which teaches just what it says. Can be quicker than air-drying but you have to watch the plants carefully, and only a small amount can be done at a time. With a bunch of lavender, you'd have to do it in lots of batches.
I also have another book, one of a set of four, called The Victorian Book of Lavender and Old Lace by Deborah Schneebeli-Morrell which has many unusual ways to use lavender (and lace). Picture frames, boxes, candles, cards etc. etc. It's worth having just for the beautiful pictures
Finally, I have a book called Flower Drying with a Microwave by Titia Joosten which teaches just what it says. Can be quicker than air-drying but you have to watch the plants carefully, and only a small amount can be done at a time. With a bunch of lavender, you'd have to do it in lots of batches.
Re: Lavender September 27, 2006 11:39AM |
Registered: 18 years ago Posts: 237 |
Re: Lavender October 02, 2006 09:44PM |
Registered: 18 years ago Posts: 443 |
Is all lavender edible? There is a recipe for lavendar shortbread in the latest Taste magazine which I would like to try but I'm not sure whether I can use the lavender which I already have growing for this recipe, or if I will need to purchase some especially (if I purchase it, I'l buy a plant and pop it in the garden specially for culinary purposes).
Thanks
Jojo
Thanks
Jojo
Re: Lavender October 02, 2006 10:00PM |
Admin Registered: 18 years ago Posts: 7,844 |
L.angustifolia, or English Lavender, is probably the best for culinary use, though you can use any lavender. Just be sure that it doesn't have too much of a smell of camphor. It should be a sweet smelling variety. There are many web-sites with good advice and recipes. Here's one that I use:
[www.whatscookingamerica.net]
[www.whatscookingamerica.net]
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