Rose Petal Syrup Food

ROSE SYRUP

Steps:

• Rinse the rose petals to get rid of dust.
• Place them in a large enough saucepan, add water and sugar and bring to a simmer, stirring once or twice.
• Simmer very gently for 10 minutes, do not let it come to boil as I believe that boiling will encourage all the essential oil to evaporate, you need the the oil for flavour and aroma.
• Turn the heat off, take off the hot hob, add the lemon juice and stir to mix.
• Cool down to room temperature, then refrigerate overnight for the flavour to develop/deepen.
• Next day, strain into a sterilised bottle or jar and can be stored at room temperature for about a month although I prefer to keep mine in the fridge and it has gone for as long as 2 months.

NEW YORK CHEESECAKE WITH ROSE PETAL SYRUP

Steps:

• In a small saucepan over medium heat, add the rose petals, sugar, rose water and lemon juice and bring to a boil. Cook until a thick pink syrup forms, about 10 minutes. Refrigerate until ready to use.
• Preheat oven to 275 degrees F.
• In a large bowl, add all of the graham cracker crust ingredients together and press it into the bottom and 1-inch up the sides of a springform pan. Refrigerate at least 15 minutes while making the cheesecake filling. Beat all of the filling ingredients together in a medium bowl and pour it over the graham cracker crust.
• Bake cheesecake for 1 hour. Turn the oven off and leave the cheesecake in oven, with the door closed, for 1 additional hour. Remove the cheesecake from the oven and chill thoroughly. Before serving, beat together the sour cream, sugar, lemon zest and vanilla. In a small bowl. Smooth the sour cream mixture over the top of the cheesecake. Cut into slices and garnish each with rose petal syrup.

COTTAGE GARDEN ROSE-PETAL SYRUP (SWEETENED ROSE WATER)

Steps:

• Heat the water to a boil,add the sugar and turn off the heat.
• Add the rose petals, cover, turn heat to low, and let simmer for one hour until thick and syrupy. Stir in food coloring of choice.
• Strain through a filter and pour into clean (preferably sterilized) bottles, cap them and refrigerate for up to 3 weeks. May be frozen.
• Note: The darker the petals, the darker the syrup. Adding orange or yellow petals can make it brownish so a few drops of food coloring can come in handy if you think you need it.
• Try it with orange blossoms, lavender, lemon balm, red clover or rosemary (no stems). Serve in cocktails, teas, or lemonade. Great drizzled over pancakes, pound cake, fruit or ice cream! Thicken with confectioner's sugar for a cookie or cake glaze. A great base for rose jelly, and makes wonderful gifts!
• P.S. You can make a simple undistilled version of orange blossom water or rose water by omitting the sugar in this recipe.

ROSE-PETAL SYRUP

Steps:

• Gently swirl rose petals with your hands in a bowl of cold water to clean. Transfer to paper towels to drain.
• Bring 5 cups water, the petals, and sugar to a boil in a medium saucepan. Remove from heat; let steep, covered, 1 hour. Pour syrup through a fine sieve set over a bowl; let cool. Refrigerate, covered, until ready to use, up to 1 week.

RASPBERRY AND ROSé PETAL PUNCH

Steps:

• 1. Pour the juice and soda water into a large punch bowl.
• 2. Gradually stir in the syrup, tasting regularly until you reach the desired sweetness and fragrance. Refrigerate until it's time to serve.
• 3. Just before serving, stir in the ice and scatter the raspberries and flowers over the top.