During my summer in Provence, France, I’ve been learning to make use of the many abundant herbs, some that grow wild, and some that grow well in our gardens. It’s very hot and dry here, so not everything grows easily in this climate.
Since it’s so hot and dry, naturally, one of the first things I learned to make was a refreshing herbed lemonade. This week, lemon, lavender and local honey are all available at Wolff’s! Homemade lemonade is a gloriously refreshing way to beat the August heat.
Enjoy this recipe below, and try your own variations with the delicious herbs available at Wolff’s right now!
Lavender Mint Lemonade
- Category: Beverages
Ingredients
- 4 sprigs of lavender (you can also try other herbs, like dill, thyme and rosemary)
- 8–10 mint leaves
- 4 cups hot water
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup local honey (try ours-from Media, PA!)
- 4 lemons
- 2 ice cube trays
Instructions
- Wash the sprigs of lavender and mint leaves and put them into a tea infuser.
- Add them to the hot water and allow to steep for 4 minutes; remove from water.
- Add sugar and stir until dissolved.
- Juice the lemons and add to water mixture.
- Add the ice and any additional water/ice as desired to your taste. Since the juiciness of lemons varies greatly, more sugar may be necessary.
- Enjoy the delicious, refreshing lemonade!
Herbs are Everywhere
In France, I notice herbs like oregano, rosemary, thyme and lavender turning up in just about everything people make around here, from pizzas and breads to salads and even desserts!
Herbs are a perfect way to dress up any seemingly “dull” vegetable or salad, too. One of the most common ways to prepare beets in France is cooked according to these instructions and then serve them chopped with oil, vinegar and whatever herbs are readily available.
To dress up the meals you’re planning this weekend, try the basil we have at Wolff’s right now, or the parsley, cilantro and dill we sell in the store!