Lavender Sorbet Food

STRAWBERRY LAVENDER SORBET

Steps:

• Puree strawberries and send them through a fine sieve to catch the seeds. Whisk in cool lavender simple syrup and lemon juice. Taste for balance of acid and sweetness. Chill overnight in freezer.
• Combine the sugar and the water in a saucepan. Bring to a simmer and cook until the sugar has dissolved. Remove from the heat and cool. Bring simple syrup back to a simmer and toss in dried lavender. Cover and infuse for a 30 minutes. Strain and cool. Store in a refrigerator.

VIOLET LAVENDER SORBET

Steps:

• Pour one cup of water into a saucepan.
• Add 1/2 cup sugar.
• Bring to a boil, let simmer for 4 minutes, swirling pan occasionally.
• Remove from heat.
• Put the chopping blade in your food processer.
• Add lavender and 1/4 cup sugar and process for 3 minutes, or until flowers and sugar are blended and in tiny pieces.
• Add lavender mixture to mixture in saucepan and combine well.
• Let mixture stand for at least one hour at room temperature.
• Strain mixture and set aside.
• In a nonmetatlic saucepan, bring 1/2 cup water to a boil.
• Remove from heat.
• Add violets.
• Steep violets in water for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Strain mixture through cheesecloth and then squeeze cheesecloth to release blue color.
• Blend lavender syrup with the violet water.
• Add lime juice to mixture.
• Freeze in an ice-cream maker.

LAVENDER SORBET

Steps:

• If using fresh lavender:.
• With thumb and forefinger, pull the flowers from the stems (discarding stems). If using dried lavender you won't need this step.
• Combine lavender flowers and sugar in a food processor and pulverize completely, about 1 minute.
• Bring the water to a boil, remove pan from heat and add the sugar/lavender mixture, stirring to dissolve sugar.
• Cover with a lid and let cool for at least 30 minutes.
• Strain out flowers through a sieve, pressing flowers to get out any remaining liquid.
• Add the lemon juice and chill in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours, then freeze in sorbet or ice cream mixer.

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!

CONCORD GRAPE AND LAVENDER SORBET

Steps:

• Bring sugar and water to a boil in a small saucepan, stirring until sugar has dissolved. Remove from heat and add lavender. Let steep 10 minutes. Pour through a fine sieve set over a bowl; discard solids. Refrigerate syrup until cold, about 15 minutes.
• Puree grapes in a blender until smooth. Pour through a fine sieve set over a bowl; discard solids. Stir in lavender syrup, cover, and refrigerate until cold, at least 1 hour and up to 2 hours.
• Chill a loaf pan in freezer at least 10 minutes. Freeze and churn grape mixture in an ice cream maker according to manufacturer's directions, then transfer to pan. Cover with plastic wrap and freeze until hardened, at least 2 hours; sorbet can be frozen up to 2 weeks ahead.

LAVENDER SORBET

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine sugar and water until the sugar dissolves. Add the lavender flowers; stir until mixture comes to a boil; reduce heat to low and simmer 5 minutes. Remove from heat, cover, and let stand approximately 10 minutes. Place a fine strainer over a large bowl and pour syrup mixture through (straining out the lavender flowers). Add lemon juice and vodka to the strained syrup mixture; stir until thoroughly blended. NOTE: The vodka (or any other type of alcohol) is the secret to a soft sorbet. Alcohol itself does not freeze and adding a little bit keeps the sorbet from doing the same. Vodka is excellent to use because it doesn't affect the taste. Ice Cream Maker - Transfer mixture to ice cream maker, process according to manufacturer's instructions. Freezer Method - Pour into container, cover, and place mixture in the freezer. When it is semi-solid, mash it up with a fork and refreeze again. When frozen, place in a food processor or blender and process until smooth. Cover and refreeze until serving time.

PINK GRAPEFRUIT SORBET WITH LAVENDER!

Steps:

• Using a vegetable peeler, remove the zest (colored part) from the peel of one grapefruit.
• Coarsely chop the zest.
• In a food processor bowl or blender, combine chopped zest,lavender and sugar.
• Cover and process or blend until zest is very finely chopped.
• Squeeze enough juice from the grapefruit to make four cups juice; pour into a mixing bowl.
• Add zest mixture, lemon juice, and, if desired, Grand Marnier.
• Mix well.
• Freeze the grapefruit mixture in a 2- or 4-quart ice cream freezer according to manufacturer's directions.
• Makes one quart or eight (half-cup) servings.
• Or freeze in small containers till almost frozen and blend in blender to make a slush.
• Top with mint leaves.