Heavenly Lavender

When my mum comes to visit we like to play tour guide, visiting the local attractions and going on tourist route drives. When Mum was here over Christmas one of the first places we took her was Bridestowe Estate Lavender Farm.

This place was amazing! We wandered through the lavender fields listening to the hum of the bees at work and marvelled at the majestic 200 year old oak tree.

Mum bought up half the gift shop and then we treated ourselves to morning tea in the café. Delicious is an understatement! We had lavender shortbread, chocolate lavender fudge and lavender scones with apple and lavender jelly and cream. The scones were by far my favourite and I was thrilled to find that you could take home the recipes for all of the café’s lavender items.

Yesterday, while I was editing the photos I took at Bridestowe Estate, I suddenly got the urge to whip up a batch of lavender scones, only problem was that I couldn't find the recipe anywhere! From memory the recipe was just a lemonade scone with the addition of a couple of tablespoons of lavender. So here's the recipe that I made up.

Lavender Scones

Ingredients

300 ml of cream
300 ml of lemonade
3 1/2 cups of SR Flour
3 tabs of culinary lavender
pinch of salt

Method

1. Combine the flour, salt and culinary lavender in a bowl and make a well in the centre
2. In a separate jug/bowl whisk together the cream and lemonade.
3. Pour the lemonade/cream into the flour mixture and mix using a knife until just combined.
4. Turn out onto a floured board or counter and gently pat the dough out until it's about an inch thick.
5. Using a round cutter, cut out each scone and place on a baking tray.
6. Brush the top of each scone with milk and bake in the a 180c oven for 20-25 mins.

 I served my lavender scones as they do at the Bridestowe Cafe with apple and lavender jelly and whipped cream.

You can buy culinary lavender from the Bridestowe Estate online store. 20g doesn't sound like much but there's probably about 10-12 tablespoons in each tin. So there's plenty in that little tin to make lots of lavender goodies. You'll also find the apple and lavender jelly in the online store too.

These scones are seriously heaven! 

If you are ever in Tassie, I highly recommend a visit to Bridestowe. The best time of year is mid December to late January, that's when the lavender is in full bloom. Bridestowe is located about 45 mins NE of Launceston.

NB This is not a sponsered post, I have no professional affiliation with Bridestowe Estate. I am merely in love with the place!

Favourite Things : Savoury Muffins

My SIL made these for us last weekend and I've been thinking about them since. After cooking my own batch today, I've decided they are my latest favourite food. I know they have been around since Adam was a boy but man they are good!

Why I love them so....

1. They are super simple to bake.
2. You can customize the mix to suit your needs.
3. From the moment you decide to bake them, it only takes 30 mins to be devouring them.
4. They're great for breakfast, lunch and snacks!
5. Portability! These little suckers can go in the kids lunch boxes, stuff a couple in your handbag for road trips or fill your picnic basket with them.
6. Make mini muffins for your little people or texas ones for the real manly men in your life.
7. They are just SO yummy!

Recipe

1 1/4 cup SR flour (white or wholemeal)

1 cup grated cheese*

2 rashers of bacon*

1 tbsp of chives*

1 cup of milk

1 egg

pinch of salt

• Preheat oven to 200C and grease a standard muffin tray with canola oil spray.
• Whisk egg and milk together in a small bowl or jug and set aside.
• In a second bowl mix flour, cheese, bacon, chives and salt together.
• Add the egg and milk mixture to the flour mixture and mix with a fork until just combined.
• Divide evenly between the twelve muffin holes.
• Bake for 20-25 mins until golden and the tops spring back when pressed lightly.

If you plan to store your muffins, allow them to cool completely on a baking rack. If you're wanting to enjoy them straight away, allow them to cool for a couple of mins in the tin before serving.

You can play around with the ingredients marked with a (*). Here's a list of alternatives:

• Grated Zucchini, Bacon and Chives
• Sun dried Tomato, Olives and Basil
• Grated Pumpkin, Spinach and Feta
• Cheese, Bacon and Corn

Give'em a go :)