Daily Archives: August 16, 2015
Lemon Lavender Spritzer with Strawberries
Last weekend, Alex and I took a trip to Bloomington, Indiana: home of our alma mater and our dear friend Shelly, the very talented lady behind both the magazine Driftless and Vegetarian Ventures. Since Alex and I were in town for a wedding that afternoon, the three of us arranged to meet up for a quick picnic in the park beforehand. We each prepared a few recipes in advance and met at the grocery to buy some remaining ingredients: mainly bread, cheese, and chocolate (of course).
Everything was simple and came together wonderfully, as if we’d planned it thoughtfully in days in advance (though we were mainly winging it). Alex had the idea to make a drink with some lavender from our garden; he first created a simple syrup with lemon and lavender, then at the picnic site combined a few tablespoons of the syrup with some sparkling water and sliced strawberries. It was fragrant and refreshing; a fantastic signature drink to accompany our picnic.
I love these bright and sunny photos Alex captured of the day — the drinks in the grass remind me of the whimsical style of Erin of Forest Feast for sure. We plan to share the remainder of the picnic menu and photos this week; in the meantime, check out Shelly’s beautiful photos of the day here!
Lemon Lavender Spritzer with Strawberries
by: a Couple Cooks
Serves: 10 drinks
What You Need
- 3 large sprigs lavender, plus more for garnish
- Zest of ½ lemon
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup sparkling water per drink
- 1 strawberry per drink
What To Do
- In a small pot, combine 3 large sprigs lavender, zest of ½ lemon, 1 cup sugar, and 1 cup water. Simmer for 15 minutes, making sure that it does not boil. Cool slightly. (Note: Lasts for 1 to 2 weeks refrigerated.)
- To assemble each drink: combine 1 to 2 tablespoons simple syrup with 1 cup sparkling water. Garnish with sliced strawberries and a small sprig of lavender.
Milk Chocolate Yogurt Pots with Peanut Butter from Yogurt Culture
One of the things I love most about cookbooks is the near instant gratification I get after cracking open the book. There’s no reading the first chapter or reading the end of the book before reading the middle (I was guilty of this as a child). One quick look of the recipes can usually tell me whether or not a book belongs on my shelf.
I picked up Cheryl’s Yogurt Culture book in anticipation of her coming to Sacramento for a book party. I cracked it open and upon a couple flips, landed on these chocolate yogurt pots. To say I became excited is a bit of an understatement. I love chocolate mousse but it’s a rare treat because it feels a bit more decadent than the average week deserves. These yogurt pots, after being chilled, have a similar texture that leaves one feeling like they’ve eaten the richest dessert when really, it’s just yogurt and melted chocolate.
M and I are a bit addicted to the peanut butter/chocolate combination so I altered her recipe slightly to include a fluffy peanut butter center. I think almond butter would also be amazing. However, if you’re just a straight chocolate fan, make Cheryl’s recipe as is- you won’t be disappointed.
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