The US and Canada celebrated Labor Day yesterday. The long weekend marks the unofficial end of summer and the last day of freedom for many children who are back to school today. As adults we also feel the blues of carefree days by the lake basked in sunshine. The days will be soon be getting shorter and cooler for us in the Northern Hemisphere, but for now I am only lavender blue since there are still a few more weeks of official summer left.
Labor Day dates back to 1882 and I like to believe the story that Americans were inspired by Toronto’s Labour Festival. The no whites after labour day rule is another signal that the seasons are changing. Traditionally white clothing (linens) was worn in warmer temperatures and when the wealthy packed up their summer homes at the end of August, they also put away the summer whites until next May.
As you may know, I enjoy hosting virtual tea parties celebrating the era of “Downton Abbey”, the popular TV show, featuring a new “Downton” era recipe. Refer to my Online Guide to Afternoon Tea, helpful in understanding the traditions and dishes served at tea. Each week we take time to take a break to talk Downton and share a recipe which might have been enjoyed upstairs or down.
Today we enjoy the fruits of the harvest. You don’t need a lot of space to grow lavender and once harvested, you can make wonderful Lavender Lemon Tea Cakes and tea.
Downton Dish
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…and so every Downton fan is patient until the next Season is broadcast in his/her country. The wait is almost over for UK fans. It was a big weekend for Downton fans as news spread across the land that Downton launches Season 4 on September 22nd.
Unfortunately PBS will not be broadcasting S4 of our beloved show until January (see the countdown clock above) in the US and Canada. If you haven’t seen all seasons (1-3) beware of spoilers below.
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- The New Downton Abbey S4 Trailer: Check out the VIDEO
- Watch Downton from the Beginning Trailer: VIDEO
- S3 was a roller coast ride. TV Guide asks Will you Watch S4?
- Sophie and Michelle share more insights into S4: Ladies Talk Downton
- History Lesson about the Real Downton Abbey: Lady Carnvaron shares a story.
Abbey Cooks Entertain: Thinking Forward to Fall
Book sales from this book with 220+ recipes help offset my costs in food, equipment and time to keep bringing you new dishes each week. You can only get a signed copy here on my site. If you don’t have an eReader I would suggest the PDF version which allows you to print recipes as you go, if you wish.
You can also purchase the hard copy on Amazon.
Lovely Lavender Lemon Tea Cakes
While lavender has been appreciated by many cultures for thousands of years, I always associate lavender with the English, likely since Queen Victoria was such a big fan. And when the Queen loves something, ladies will follow the fashion. The Mitcham area of London was the center of lavender oil production for the world. Not only was it used as a fragrance, fresh lavender could be purchased fresh and then dried, put into bags to scent their clothes in wardrobes, wash walls and scent sheets. Lavender was used to repel inspects, treat lice, in furniture polish and soap and as a cure-all in household medicine cupboards. Sadly the market became so saturated with lavender that the world moved on and soon became associated with little old ladies stuck in time (not that there is anything wrong with that).
Lavender still touted for its medicinal qualities including aiding digestion, and having a calming effect to help one sleep.
Try lavender tea, by simply adding about 3 tbsp. fresh or 1/2 tbsp. of dried lavender buds into your tea diffuser, then adding 2 cups boiling water. You may wish to add honey and sliced lemon. Lovely to drink with calming and stomach digestive benefits. Huffington Post recently provided a top 5 remedy list of the purple plant.
Growing Lavender
I planted two little lavender plants (food grade) last year in full sun which happily weathered the winter and grew flowers this year. Do not use pesticides if you plan to eat the lavender. You can snip fresh lavender flowers as some flowers begin to bloom and use in your cooking and baking. If you are interested in getting the maximum amount of scent, the best time to harvest lavender is before the flowers have opened. In our house it is time to harvest the lavender when your husband complains about the huge purple bush overtaking the rest of the garden.
Harvesting isn’t difficult. Don your gardening gloves and slip a number of elastic bands around your non-dominant wrist. Grab a handful of stalks with that hand, and snip the stems close to the greenery at the base of the plant. Pull an elastic unto your bundle and wrap. Continue until you have cleared at the stalks. Be wary of bees still looking for a taste of the petals. Hang to dry for two weeks, then put into a pillow case and roll the case like a rolling pin to remove the buds from the stalks.
Some other lavender recipes
Lavender Lemon Yoghurt Tea Cake
Lovely Low-fat Lavender Tea Cakes
Ingredients
Tea cake
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 tsp. baking powder
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 1 cup non fat plain yogurt
- 1 cup sugar or sugar substitute
- 3 large eggs
- 1/2 cup applesauce unsweetened
- 2 tsp. lemon zest finely grated
Glaze
- 1/3 cup lemon juice
- 1/3 cup sugar or sugar substitute
- 2 tsp. lavender buds dried
- 1/2 cup blueberries fresh (optional)
- 1/3 cup lemon juice
- 1/3 cup sugar or sugar substitute
- 2 tsp. dried buds
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F degrees. Prepare 6 or 8 mini loaf pans.
- Mix flour, baking powder, and salt into one bowl. In another bowl, mix the yogurt, sugar, eggs, lemon zest, lavender, oil or applesauce.
- Mix the dry ingredients into the wet.
- Pour the batter into the prepared pan(s). If you wish to bedazzle with berries, space 2 or 3 along the center or however you are inspired. Bake for 15 minutes. A cake tester should come out clean. Let cool in the pan for 10 minutes.
- While the cake is baking prepare the glaze. Heat the lemon juice, sugar and lavender until the sugar melts. Let sit for twenty minutes and then strain the lavender. Pour the glaze over the warm cake and allow it to soak in.
- Enjoy plain, sliced or toasted with your favorite preserves. For your tea tray, cut into smaller bite sized fingers or squares.
Notes
Tools you Can Use
Cooks, like other professionals, have their tools and as Mrs. Patmore says “it is a poor workman who blames his tools”. You can make do with the basics, but as you gain confidence and love for cooking, you should start to recognize items to help you cook. Mrs. Patmore didn’t have electronic gadgets to cook with so be assured you can make do without the expensive gizmos. This section helps you identify some equipment that I use.
Mini Loaf Pans
