Summer Fruits In A Lemon Verbena And Mint Tea Food

LEMON VERBENA AND MINT TEA - FRENCH VERVEINE AND MINT TISANE

Steps:

• Put the fresh herbs (and lemon peel if using) in to a warm teapot. Add the boiling water.
• Allow to infuse for 5 minutes and serve warm, with sugar to taste and a slice of lemon.
• To serve chilled, remove the mint and lemon verbena sprigs and refrigerate before serving with ice cubes and fresh sprigs of lemon verbena and mint.

LEMON VERBENA MINT DETOX TEA

Steps:

• Pour boiling water over verbena and mint sprigs; steep until desired flavor is reached, 3 to 4 minutes. Stir in honey.

STONE FRUIT TRIFLE WITH LEMON BALM (OR VERBENA OR MINT) CREAM

Steps:

• Peel peaches and remove pit. Slice into a bowl. Slice apricots and plums and add to bowl. Toss with anisette and 2 tablespoons sugar.
• Whip mascarpone and yogurt together with lemon verbena and remaining 2 tablespoons sugar. Layer fruit in a glass bowl or individual wine glasses and top with cream. Garnish with a sprig of lemon balm.

LEMON VERBENA AND SUMMER FRUIT GELéE

Steps:

• Rub verbena sprigs in your hands to bruise leaves and stems, then combine sprigs with wine and 3/4 cup sugar in a heavy medium saucepan. Bring to a boil, stirring until sugar has dissolved, then simmer 1 minute. Remove from heat and let steep, covered, 1 hour.
• While verbena mixture steeps, finely grind verbena leaves with remaining 1/4 cup sugar in a food processor or an electric coffee/spice grinder. Gently toss fruit with verbena sugar and 2 tablespoons lemon juice in a bowl. Let stand while verbena syrup finishes steeping.
• Sprinkle gelatin over water and let soften 1 minute. Meanwhile, reheat verbena syrup until hot, then stir in gelatin mixture until dissolved. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve into a bowl. Stir in macerated fruit with juices and remaining 2 tablespoons lemon juice. Chill in an ice bath, stirring occasionally, until cool and thickened (the texture of raw egg whites) but not set, 8 to 10 minutes.
• Very lightly oil baking pan with vegetable oil (not necessary if pan is nonstick or if using individual glasses).
• Pour gelée into baking pan and chill in refrigerator until set, at least 3 hours.
• To unmold, dip pan in a larger pan of hot water 5 to 10 seconds to loosen. Invert onto a serving plate (do not unmold if using individual glasses). Let stand at room temperature 15 minutes before serving.

FRUIT IN LEMON-VERBENA SYRUP

Steps:

• Put fruit in a large bowl and gently toss with 1/2 cup sugar, then let stand 20 minutes.
• Rub verbena sprigs in your hands to bruise leaves and stems, then combine with water and remaining 3/4 cup sugar in a 2-quart heavy saucepan. Bring to a boil, stirring until sugar is dissolved. Simmer 1 minute, then remove from heat and let steep, covered, 5 minutes.
• Stir lemon juice into warm syrup and pour through a medium-mesh sieve over fruit. Discard verbena sprigs and gently stir fruit. Let macerate at room temperature 30 minutes to 1 hour.
• Divide among 8 soup plates.