For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows grace and favor and glory - honor, splendor and heavenly bliss! No good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly.

Psalms 84:11

Monday, March 16, 2009

Mystery Spice Monday! #6 and a GIVEAWAY!

Yup! This is my sixth week of making meals and treats based on spices I've found in my spice cabinet that I haven't used in forever. It's totally revolutionized the way I form my meal plans each week, and gotten me excited about cooking again. Something that was once a tedious chore for me is now something I actually enjoy! Who woulda thunk it?! If you'd like to join in, feel free! Just pick a spice from your cabinet, find something to make with it either online or in a cookbook, and then share your experience on your blog and link up with me on Mr. Linky every Monday! Super easy, more fun than you'd think, and yummy for your tummy!

And to celebrate week 6 of Mystery Spice Monday, I've decided to hold my very first giveaway! That's right... GIVEAWAY! It's not that fancy, I'm not that rich, but it's something fun so keep on readin'!

This week I went with something a little bit different. Something that was almost completely alien to me.

Lavender!



Yup, my parents went to a Lavender farm and brought this back for me. That's right, my parents go to fun and exciting places; I don't.

No, I'm not bitter at all.

The packaging suggests using it to make lemonade. I've had lavender lemonade before, and it's GOOD! So you should certainly try that if you haven't yet. But I wanted to actually put the little dried flowers into some sort of food. So I snooped around online and found a recipe for a Lavender Tea Bread. Sounds good huh? Then I went all out and decided to add some white chocolate chips. Yum!

So the first thing you have to do warm some milk on the stove with your lavender flowers. The recipe called for fresh, but I only had dried. So I used 2 tablespoons of flowers instead of 3. Looking back, I should have just used 1. The lavender flavor was pretty strong in my bread.





Once it starts to bubble take it off the heat and allow it to cool a bit while you combine the bread ingredients.

Cream 6 T of softened butter and 1 cup of white sugar.



Add 2 eggs.



In a separate bowl combine your dry ingredients: 2 cups of flour, 1 1/2 teaspoons of baking powder, and 1/4 teaspoon of salt.



Combine dry ingredients into wet.

Then get out your white chocolate chips.

Mmm.... I could just eat em right outta the bowl.



You can use however much you like, I used 1/2 a bag.

Anytime you use chocolate chips or nuts in a bread or brownie you should coat them in a bit of flour. It keeps them from sinking to the bottom of the batter while baking.



Bake for 1 hour at 325 degrees.

And Voila!







White Chocolate Lavender Bread

3/4 cup milk
3 tablespoons finely chopped fresh lavender blossoms, or 1 tablespoon dried
6 tablespoons of butter, softened
1 cup white sugar
2 eggs
2 cups all purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 package of white chocolate chips and enough flour to coat

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Combine milk and lavender and warm in saucepan over medium heat until it simmers. Remove from heat and allow to cool while preparing the rest. Cream together butter and sugar, add eggs. Alternately add flour mixture and milk to the butter, adding small amounts at a time until just blended. Pour into a prepared pan. Bake for 50-60 minutes or until a tester comes out clean. Cool in the pan on a wire rack.


GIVEAWAY!

I know. I'm excited too!

I will be giving away a very special care package filled with Lavender Honey Bunches. Directly from my house to yours! Made with love in my kitchen.

You have several options to enter!

For one entry, leave a comment.
For two, link up to Mr. Linky with your very own Mystery Spice recipe using these simple guidelines.
For three, subscribe to my blog. I promise I only bite sometimes. Current followers will automatically get 3 entries. If you're subscribing in such a way that isn't obvious to me please let me know.

For those of us that suck at math, that's a total of 6 entries possible per person! Please spell it out in your comment which entries you are eligible for, I'm not the sharpest tool in the shed.

THE WINNERS HAVE BEEN ANNOUNCED!!! Congratulations to Olivia, Annie's Granny and Auntrene!

41 comments:

Kristina P. said...

Yay, a giveaway!

And I don't think I've ever tasted anything with lavendar in it. I would try it, but it sounds like it might be sort of odd.

JulieD&TraviD said...

fantastic Amy! Good job! The Lavender bread definatly sounds like fun! And chocolate chips white or otherwise are fantastic added to anything!

Micah said...

Wow looks yummy! I must say, you're quite the little baker :)

Dee said...

how about finding a recipe for chocolate lavender cupcakes? LOL yummy!
All of it looks yummy

I am Harriet said...

Hi.
I'm stopping by via SITS to say hello.
Have a great week!

Julie said...

I've heard of lavender bread but never had it...looks great :) Also came by to welcome you to the SITS community.

Annie*s Granny said...

Hey, I'm trying for that prize! Let me see...I am a follower of your blog and I am leaving a comment. That gives me four entries!

Amy, the bread looks delicious! I've never tasted lavender, either. So...how did it taste?

Ann On and On... said...

Your bread looks amazing. I haven't been utilizing my spices like you, so I do not have any recipes. I am however trying new recipes. :D

Fun giveaway.

Stopped by to welcome you to SITS and invite you to be a part of my giveaway. Check it out if you have some time. (You get to give a little and maybe win a little.)

Rachael Schirano \\ Rachael Schirano Photography said...

oh wow, that bread looks amazing!

i am stopping by to welcome you to SITS, we are thrilled to have you join us!

Ash said...

Wow, gorgous - I wish I could smell it!!

And the coating chips or nuts in flour, never heard of that - but I'll be using it. Thanks for that tip.

Welcome to SiTS!! Em

Mandy said...

That bread looks fabulous, we have a lavender festival here so I'll try to go this year to get some fresh ingredients!:)
I came by to say Welcome to SITS! I'm with the Welcome Wagon and we are so glad you joined us. As I'm sure you already know, it's a fabulous group of ladies!
Enjoy your day,
Mandy

Amy said...

Just thought I'd answer a few questions. :P

Yes, the house smelled AMAZING while it was in the oven! In fact, I'd say it's the best smelling bread ever! It might be worth making just for the smell.

How did it taste? Can't believe I left that little fact out... Well, as I said in the recipe, I think it would have been better if I had used 1/2 as much lavender. As it was it was good for one slice, but you won't find me pigging out on it. Hubs actually liked it much more than I did, which is surprising. He did say, and I agree, that lavender burps are very odd. lol BUT I can totally see this bread at a ladies tea party or something, because it really is an interesting and unique treat and I've found that people either really LOVE the flavor or they're just not that crazy about it. It's a pretty strong taste, so it tends to have people raving or passing on a second slice.

Kristina said...

How much fun! Can you add some slices of bread to that giveaway!? It sounds so delicious I am hungry just thinking abut it. ...great! And now I'm in the mood for white chocolate too. :)
I'm in for the giveaway too. I am leaving a comment and I'm a follower!
(and if I win, I'll be expecting some lavender bread too)
:)
just kidding!

Christa said...

That bread looks delicious! I'll have to make this sometime.

Brooke said...

that sounds great! :)

Stacy said...

I've never had anything with lavendar in it before but that bread looks super yummy!

Country Mouse, City Mouse said...

I have never had anything with lavendar before - you really have me thinking now!!

Tracy said...

I love lavendar, but it never occorred to me to cook with it. The picture of your bread looks delicious!

Olivia said...

Sounds interesting! I definitly like the smell, not sure about tasting it. Is it like licking your lavender smelling lotion off your arm? Although the white chocolate makes everything yummy.

Chandy said...

I've never eaten lavender, but I've drank it in herbal tea.

Coming in from SITS! Giveaways are always so fun!

Suzanne C said...

I can't wait to try this one! I signed up to follow your blog...I'm always in the market for new recipes. Happy SITS Day!

scrappysue said...

looks delish!

Dawna said...

I love the smell of Lavender but have never tasted it. I would be willing to give it a try.

Thanks!

Dawna said...

I am subscribed.

Dawna said...

I am a follower.

Queenie Jeannie said...

Over from SITS....what a cool thing to have for a giveaway! Count me in please!!

auntrene said...

I remember when I was a kid that my aunt made muffins with Lavender, they were yummy. I kind of had forgotten about baking with lavender. I love the smell of it.
Thanks for the recipe and the giveaway!

auntrene said...

I am a new follower, I will be back. See in your follower box, that big groups of people dressed for a Buckeye game.. Yep that's me...Thanks again!

Mathea said...

Is it good? I have a bunch of lavender coming this year to grow, and I am going to try this recipe! Visiting from SITS.

Heather said...

Sounds yummy. I have tons of lavender growing around here in the summer and I've always wandered how it would taste in something.

bj said...

Ummm, this bread looks and sounds delicious. You are a brave girl to use lavender in a recipe...I am as old as dirt and haven't done that...Now, with your recipe, I may just give it a try...
Happy Spring..

Preston said...

The recipe really sound lovely. I love the smell of lavender.

Heather said...

wow, this sounds interesting!

i'd love to give it a try, thanks for the giveaway!

MJW said...

Sounds delicious! I didn't meant to hit enter on Mr. Linky - sorry about that

Cher said...

Hi...sounds so yummy! I would luv a chance! I am a follower...No funny story here, but I do use Palmolive and LUV IT! And a sample of bread would be delish! Cher
ty for the chance
hilly7@comcast.net

Helene said...

Amy, you amaze me with your creativity!!! It looks yummy!!

Tricia said...

That bread looks delicious! I have no idea where to buy lavender locally so I will have to keep my eye out for it.

Amy said...

Wow! I'm totally amazed at how many people wanted to participate in my little contest! Thank you SO much for your interest!

Unfortunately, I have to cut off the entries somewhere, and since I have no idea how to turn off comments, anyone who posts below THIS COMMENT will not be eligible to win the cookies.

But have no fear! I will be doing another cookie giveaway VERY SOON! :)

Tammigirl said...

Let's forget for a moment that I'm also a girl and we are each married with children, okay?

MARRY ME!

I got some samples in the mail from the spice fairy aka MarxFoods and was looking for a lavender idea. This is one of the things I'm going to do. Hooray!

Tonya Staab said...

Coming over from SITS to say that you are my hero. White chocolate lavender bread. Oh me, oh my. That sounds so good. I'm saving this recipe to make once my 'cleanse the pantry' week is over.

Also a big hello to a fellow twin mummy. It's nice to 'meet' you. I'll add you to my multiples blogroll.

Carma Sez said...

stopping by from UBP for a last minute visit to say "hi" - party on :-)
carma

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