Strawberry Chamomile Iced Tea With Gin Food

CHAMOMILE STRAWBERRY GIN DAISY COCKTAIL

Steps:

• Place the strawberry in a cocktail shaker. Using a muddler, smash the strawberry into a purée. (If you don't have a muddler, you can use a small bowl and the tines of a fork or the handle of a wooden spoon to smash the berry before adding it to the cocktail shaker.)
• Add the gin, chamomile simple syrup, lemon juice, grenadine and a handful of ice to the shaker. Shake vigorously for about 30 seconds. Add more chamomile simple syrup and lemon to taste.
• Strain into a large (8- to 10-ounce) glass or cup. (If you prefer, you can serve over ice as well.) Garnish with strawberry slices or an edible flower, if desired.

CHAMOMILE TEA CAKE WITH STRAWBERRY ICING

Steps:

• In a small saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Add 1 tablespoon chamomile to a large mixing bowl. Pour the hot melted butter over the chamomile and stir. Set aside to steep and cool completely, about 1 hour.
• Use the same saucepan (without washing it out) to bring the milk to a simmer over medium-high heat, keeping watch so it doesn't boil over. Remove from the heat, and stir the remaining 1 tablespoon chamomile into the hot milk. Set aside to steep and cool completely, about 1 hour.
• Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9-by-5-inch loaf pan with the nonstick cooking spray and line with parchment paper so the long sides of the pan have a couple of inches of overhang to make lifting the finished cake out easier.
• Add the sugar and salt to the bowl with the butter, and whisk until smooth and thick, about 1 minute. Add the eggs, 1 at a time, vigorously whisking to combine after each addition. Zest the lemon into the bowl; add the baking powder and vanilla, and whisk until incorporated. Add the flour and stream in the milk mixture while whisking continuously until no streaks of flour remain.
• Transfer the batter to the prepared pan and bake until a skewer or cake tester inserted in the center comes out clean (a few crumbs are OK, but you should see no wet batter), 40 to 45 minutes. Cool in the pan on a rack for 30 minutes.
• While the cake cools, make the icing: Into a medium bowl, squeeze 2 tablespoons juice from the zested lemon, then add the confectioners' sugar. Place the dehydrated strawberries in a fine-mesh sieve set over the bowl and, using your fingers, crush the brittle berries and press the red-pink powder through the sieve and into the sugar. (The more you do this, the redder your icing will be.) Whisk until smooth.
• If needed, run a knife along the edges of the cake to release it from the pan. Holding the 2 sides of overhanging parchment, lift the cake out and place it on a plate, cake stand or cutting board. Discard the parchment. Pour the icing over the cake, using a spoon to push the icing to the edges of the cake to encourage the icing to drip down the sides dramatically. Cool the cake completely and let the icing set.

STRAWBERRY AND CHAMOMILE SORBET

Steps:

• Bring water to a boil and add honey, cardomon, and Chamomile. Remove from heat after 5 minutes and chill until very cold.
• Place frozen strawberries in a food processor and chop finely. Add chilled syrup and blend until very smooth. Spoon out and save in container in freezer. Serve with mint leaves.

ICED CHAMOMILE TEA

Steps:

• In a 4-quart saucepan bring all ingredients to a boil and simmer, covered, 15 minutes.
• Remove pan from heat and cool mixture. Steep mixture, covered and chilled, at least 8 hours and up to 24.
• Pour mixture through a fine sieve into a pitcher.
• This tea keeps, covered and chilled, 1 week.
• Serve in ice-filled tall glasses.