Spice 101: Lavender, with a Shortbread Recipe!

Lavender season is in full bloom! What is more heavenly than an armful of lavender blooms? As always, today we will give you a few health benefits of this aromatic spice and inspire you to find ways to let it benefit your life! And if you don't have your own lavender bush, or at least one you can pillage nearby, of course we have lavender in our bulk spices, just waiting for your enjoy! Come get some, it's sweetly calling your name!

Lavender Health Benefits

• The powerful aroma of lavender naturally relieves tension and stress, aiding in relaxation. The scent alone actually lowers your blood pressure and heart rate. Rub the blossoms between your fingertips, then rub your fingers on your temples. Use in a tincture to spray as aromatherapy. Throw a satchel full of blooms in your dryer loads for sweet relaxing warm laundry! Our favorite is on bedding and towels, sweet peace! Bonus, it's chemical free bliss!
• Steep a handful of the blossoms in hot water for a few minutes to create a soothing tea as relaxing as a glass of chamomile, but much more tasty!
• Throw a handful of blooms in your next hot bath to soothe away the roughness of the day. 
• Use that dryer satchel to hang by your pillow or use the buds to fill an eye pillow, the scent of lavender will help you relax and sleep more deeply.
• Consuming lavender aids in digestion and bloating, as it contains polyphenols that reduce the bad bacteria present in our intestines. 

Culinary Uses for Lavender

• Grill peach halves sprinkled with lavender buds and then wrapped in bacon! What a wonderful blend of summer flavors!
• Experiment with adding lavender to your favorite recipes, such as scones, shortbread or creme brulee.
• Mix up a lavender-black pepper-salt-olive oil rub for your next grilled fish.
• Use to flavor your next batch of home-made ice cream, can you imagine how heavenly??

And last but not least, the highly anticipated recipe reveal!

Lavender Shortbread

1 stick softened Butter

1/4 c Sugar 

3/4 c All-purpose Flour

1/2 -1 tsp grated Orange Zest

3-4 tsp dried Lavender flowers (double amount if using fresh)

Sugar for dusting

  Preheat the oven to 350.  Cream the butter and sugar.  Bruise the lavender to release the essential oils.  Add the flowers and zest to the butter-sugar.  Stir in the flour.  It will be a loose, slightly sticky dough.  Press into a non-stick or greased and floured 8" pan or shortbread mold.  **Alternative: form the dough into a log and wrap in plastic wrap.  Chill for 1 1/2 - 2 hours until firm.  Slice the log into cookies or cut with cookie cutters and put on a cookie sheet.**  Sprinkle the shortbread with sugar.  Bake for 30-35 minutes until golden.