Celebrating with Local Flavor

Happy 4th of July!!

Chad and I are celebrating more than just our country's independence - we are celebrating summer's first day of wonderful weather and our newest porch-garden harvest: lavender.

Chad has been tending to our two lavender plants for over a year now. Last year, our first plant was just to small to produce and the other one wasn't given to us until after it bloomed. This year though, his patience was rewarded - the plants are blooming like crazy!

I tried to take an artsy photo... but the front flower WOULDN'T FOCUS!

 

To celebrate our 4th of July in typical American mid-twenties (bordering on late....) fashion, Chad and I decided to make ourselves a lavender cocktail. To do this we made a lavender simple syrup.

Lavender Simple Syrup

• 1 1/2 tbls fresh lavender flower buds
• 3/4 cup white sugar
• 3/4 cup water

Put everything into a small pot. Heat to a boil, stirring till sugar dissolves, then remove from heat. Cover and let sit for one hour. Pour through a strainer, perfectly fits into a 1/2 pint mason jar, cover and keep in the refrigerator.

Wash the flower buds with water, if necessary before adding to the pot. It ends up being a delicious, very lavender-y but not soapy, sweet syrup. Now for the alcohol part:

Lavender Buzz

• 2 tbls lavender simple syrup
• 1 shot glass of vodka
• 1/2 cup club soda
• quick squeeze of lemon

Mix everything and serve with ice.

Yup, Chad bought me those flowers this week. He loves me!

 

This is not the first drink we've made up, but its definitely the most unique. It tastes like lavender smells, but not in an overpowering way. So, if you don't like the smell of lavender, then don't make this. We loved it on this warm 4th of July day!

Hope you enjoy!