Lavender Ice Cubes Food

FRESH FLOWER/HERB BLOSSOM ICE CUBES FOR SUMMERTIME ENTERTAINING

Steps:

• Gather and gently rinse all of your pesticide-free blossoms.
• Boil water for 2 minutes for all the air trapped in the water to escape. Then leave to cool till room temperature. This will ensure that the ice cubes are crystal clear.
• Place each blossom at the base of each individual compartment within an ice tray (or more trays if you have a large party).
• Fill each compartment half full with the cooled boiled water and freeze.
• After the water is frozen solid, fill each ice cube compartment the rest of the way to the top with the remaining boiled water.
• Refreeze and allow it to remain in the freezer until you are ready to use them (store in the freezer in zip lock bags).
• NOTE: You can also freeze a large ice ring for the punch bowl, with a variety of blossoms. Don't use the glass punchbowl or it will expand and burst in the freezer. Instead, use a ring-shaped cake tin and fill it with flowers and water. Follow the same procedure as above (filling halfway, then freezing), but you can add additional blossoms to the second layer so that the blossoms are throughout the large ice ring.
• Use the ice cubes in pitchers or glasses of lemonade, iced tea, juices, punches and cocktails.

HIBISCUS AND LAVENDER PROSECCO PUNCH

Steps:

• For the lavender ice cubes: Place a sprig of fresh lavender in 24 large square ice cube molds. Fill the molds with water and freeze until solid, 2 hours.
• For the punch: Combine 1 1/4 cups water and the hibiscus and dried lavender in a small saucepot. Bring to a simmer, then turn off the heat and let steep for 30 minutes. Strain and discard the lavender. Cool in the refrigerator.
• To a large pitcher, add the hibiscus-lavender water, lemon juice, seltzer, vodka, all the Honey Simple Syrup and a few lavender ice cubes. Stir to combine and top off with the prosecco.
• Serve the punch in glasses over lavender ice cubes.
• Put the honey and 1/2 cup water in a small saucepot over medium-high heat. Bring to a simmer, stirring to dissolve the honey. Remove from the heat and let cool completely.

LAVENDER ICE CREAM

Steps:

• In a small saucepan, heat half-and-half to 175°. Remove from the heat; add lavender. Cover and steep for 20 minutes. Strain, discarding lavender., Return to the heat; stir in sugar until dissolved. Whisk a small amount of the hot mixture into the egg yolks. Return all to the pan, whisking constantly. Cook and stir over low heat until mixture reaches at least 160° and coats the back of a metal spoon., Remove from the heat. Cool quickly by placing pan in a bowl of ice water; stir for 2 minutes. Stir in whipping cream. Press waxed paper onto surface of custard. Refrigerate for several hours or overnight., Fill cylinder of ice cream freezer; freeze according to the manufacturer's directions. When ice cream is frozen, transfer to a freezer container; freeze for 2-4 hours before serving.

LAVENDER LEMON SORBET

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan over medium heat mix all ingredients together and bring to a boil.
• Reduce heat to low and simmer for 10 minutes.
• Refrigerate 4 hours or until well chilled.
• Strain mixture and pour into an ice cream maker. Freeze according to manufacturer's directions.
• Note: I read Rita's review of another Lavender Sorbet and learned that she used ice cubes to create the sorbet. You can try that here if you like, reducing the water by half and chilling the cooked mixture. Then add ice cubes and blend. Add more cubes if you think it needs it. If you try this method please let me know so I can give more accurate directions. Thanks!