Martha Stewart Lemon Verbena Food

LEMON VERBENA JELLY

Steps:

• Put the lemon verbena leaves, lemon zest and water into a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil over moderate to high heat, then turn the heat to simmer and cover the pan. Cook for 15 minutes, then remove the pan from the heat and allow to stand, covered, for several hours.
• Pour the infusion through a strainer into a large, deep saucepan. Press on the leaves to extract all flavor, then discard the leaves and zest. Stir in the lemon juice and sugar and bring to a full rolling boil over high heat. Add food coloring. Stir in the pectin and return to a full rolling boil. Boil hard for two minutes, stirring constantly.
• Remove from the heat and skim the foam, if necessary. Ladle the jelly into hot sterilized jars, leaving 1/4-inch headspace. Seal with new lids and metal rings.
• Process for 5 minutes in a hot water bath. Makes about five 6-ounce jars.
• This subtly flavored jelly is good with scones or toasted brioche, or in the center of thumbprint butter cookies.

SOUR-CHERRY AND LEMON-VERBENA SHERBET

Steps:

• Bring sugar and water to a boil in a small saucepan, stirring until sugar has dissolved. Remove from heat and add lemon verbena. Let steep 15 minutes. Pour through a fine sieve set over a bowl; discard solids. Refrigerate syrup until cold, about 15 minutes.
• Puree cherries and lemon-verbena syrup in a blender until smooth. Transfer mixture to a bowl and stir in milk. 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 cherry 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; sherbet can be frozen up to 2 weeks ahead.

LEMON VERBENA MARTINI

Steps:

• Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add vodka and vermouth; shake. Strain into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with lemon verbena.

MEYER-VERBENA LEMONADE

Steps:

• Prepare an ice bath. In a medium saucepan combine 1 quart water and verbena leaves. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat; cover, and remove from heat. Allow to steep for about 20 minutes. Chill.
• Place tea, sugar, lemon juice, and 4 cups ice in a 3-quart pitcher. Stir with a wooden spoon to dissolve sugar.

LEMON VERBENA ICE CUBES

Steps:

• Fill 2 ice trays halfway with water, and freeze. Top each cube with a lemon verbena leaf, cover with water, and freeze for up to 1 week.

PEACH AND LEMON VERBENA SORBET

Steps:

• Put sugar and 1 1/2 cups water into a medium saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a simmer, stirring until sugar has dissolved. Add zest. Simmer 5 minutes. Remove from heat; add lemon verbena. Cover; let stand 20 minutes. Pour through a fine sieve into a bowl; discard solids. Let syrup cool completely.
• Meanwhile, coarsely chop peaches, and place in a large bowl. Crush with your hands or a potato masher, then pass through a medium-mesh sieve into a bowl; discard solids (you should have at least 1 1/2 cups puree). Add cooled syrup and vodka or grappa to peach puree; stir to combine. Refrigerate until cold, at least 2 hours (up to 4 hours).
• Freeze peach mixture in an ice cream maker according to manufacturer's instructions. Transfer to a chilled airtight container; freeze at least 2 hours (up to 2 weeks). Let sorbet stand at room temperature 10 minutes before serving.