lavender – Francois et Moi

How to Make: Grapefruit Lavender Bitters

francoisetmoiblog@gmail.com — Fri, 26 Sep 2014 12:23:57 +0000

Part two of our homemade bitters extravaganza takes shape in the form of grapefruit lavender bitters. Seriously, what could be better than the combination of these two flavors?! Combining them in the form of a cocktail? Bingo. Grapefruit lavender bitters is essentially 100 proof vodka infused with a melange of zest and herbs to achieve a high flavor potency, and thus only a few drops are needed to add a complex kick of citrus to any cocktail, my most recent fave being the Sparkling Lillet & Grapefruit Cocktail. As with any homemade bitters, the flavor and potency is a matter of taste and preference. Below is where our taste buds lead us, but feel free to experiment to find your perfect ratio. There’s no wrong answers here! Happy weekending. Ingredients: We ordered most of our herbs from Mountain Rose Herbs. Great quality and fast service! zest of 3 grapefruits, removed with a peeler 4-1/4 c 100 proof vodka or Everclear (divided into 2-1/4 c & 2 c) 1 tbsp culinary lavender 1/2 tbsp juniper berries 1/2 tbsp gentian root 3/4 tsp black walnut leaf 1/2 c water 1/2 c sugar Materials: 2 mason jars lots of cheescloth for straining strainer 2oz or 4oz dropper bottles a funnel […]

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Culinary Lavender Sea Salt

francoisetmoiblog@gmail.com — Fri, 22 Aug 2014 03:16:23 +0000

Lavender is my fave. I love the aroma and flavor, and try to sneak it into just about everything, both in the kitchen and DIY projects whenever possible. So I’m surprised (and a bit disappointed in myself!) that it never dawned on me to make lavender sea salt. I’m not talking about lavender bath salts (which are also lovely); I’m talking the edible kind that adds that je ne sais quoi when sprinkled on anything from homemade pot de creme to crackers to rimmed grapefruit margarita glasses. Fellow blogger, Nina Graham of Frippery and Curiosities, opened my eyes to it when she mentioned that my homemade herb cracker recipe was a great way to put her lavender sea salt to good use. Of course, I heard the words lavender and sea salt and knew I needed to get my hands on some! I used Cypriot Pyramid Sea Salt which is naturally occurring sea salt from Cyprus that forms in the shape of tiny pyramids (!!) and is conveniently available at Trader Joe’s right now (also available online). It’s a bit on the pricier side, so I filled out the recipe with coarse sea salt which is available in bulk at almost every grocery store. I went with a more specialty salt because not only did I make some for myself, but I also packed up a […]

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Lavender Infused Hot Cocoa

francoisetmoiblog@gmail.com — Thu, 05 Dec 2013 14:09:53 +0000

In celebration of the winter wonderland scene we’re greeted with as we look out our windows this morning, I thought I’d share the lavender hot cocoa recipe my friend, Jill, introduced me to a few weeks ago. This cocoa recipe from à la mode is infused with dried culinary lavender and is served piping hot with a dollop of fresh vanilla bean whipped cream — a dream come true on a day like today. Enjoy and happy snow day!

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Aromatic Lavender Sachets

francoisetmoiblog@gmail.com — Tue, 03 Dec 2013 13:56:20 +0000

For my wedding showers a few years ago, my mom had the genius idea of making lavender eye pillows as favors for guests to take home with them. There were a few leftover after the shower, so I took an extra one home and tucked it in my “unmentionables” drawer as a sachet and loved the subtle lavender scent it brought to our bedroom, so I decided to take a cue from my mom and sew up some sachets (which are about 1/2 the size of eye pillows), as stocking stuffers this year. Theses little bundles come together pretty quickly (I made three in an evening), and will make a nice, handmade addition to stocking trimmings this Christmas morning. Materials List: 1/8 of a Yard of Cotton Ticking White or Ivory Thread Hand Sewing Needle Sewing Pins 8.7 yards of Contrasting Embroidery 6-Strand Floss. I used DMC in Medium Plum. DMC Chenille Needle, Size 20 .5 oz (14 g) Dried Lavender (Available at Whole Foods) Scissors Ruler Pencil 1 Sheet of Paper 6″ x 6″ or Larger for Make-shift Funnel Scotch Tape Special Equipment: Sewing Machine (Optional, but recommended) Iron (Optional, but recommended) Creating the Fabric Pouches Step 1. Cut out six […]

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