I don't want to cook with lavender...

[Phentex]

somehow it ended up being planted in the herb garden. It just does not sound appealing at all to me.

Do you use it? If so, in what?

[elleng]

1. SOAP!

[Phentex]

8. LOL!...

I'd love it for that or a sachet or potpourri.

I just don't think I wanna eat it.

[elleng]

14. Other posters do have some interesting recipe suggestions,

but friend gave me, and then I craved and found, on visit to France, Mon Savon, the most wonderful lavender fragranced soap EVER!

[Phentex]

16. that picture alone would be banned here...

oh, those French!

[HappyMe]

2. I don't cook with it.

I have cut some sprigs to have in the house (I hate those stinky Glade oil thingys).

I had lavender cookies once. Kind of soapy.

[Phentex]

9. I thought I remembered an old thread

at DU2 about lavender cookies or something.

I wouldn't seek them out!

[yellerpup]

3. Lavender is the surprise ingredient

in the mixture known as Herb de Provence along with thyme, rosemary, chervil and some other elements I don't remember right now. I use lavender to make honey-glazed lavender duck--just sprinkle on the lavender all over the duck before roasting and then finish it with a honey glaze. It is beautiful and tasty. I remember my grandma sprinkling dried lavender in her hope chests and linens for the lovely scent. I also like it in my bath. Very relaxing.

[Phentex]

10. I did not know this!

I used to just throw in a combination of herbs, marjoram, etc. to make it. I never sought out the actual ingredients.

In the bath, yes, that's what I'd like.

[yellerpup]

17. You'll enjoy it in the garden

and certainly in the bath. Other than the duck recipe, I've not used it for cooking although the local gourmet boutique used to carry lavender flavored honey which would have gone well with it too, I think. Glad you're getting all this good advice. This is a great forum!

[japple]

29. In the garden it makes the bees very happy! Grow it for

no other reason than to make the bees happy. I don't cook with it, but I love to have it growing and making dried bundles. It is like heaven to me.

[yellerpup]

30. You took me right to your garden

with lavender and happy bees! What a lovely picture.

[Jazzgirl]

20. I was going to post Herb de Prvoence too.

It works well in pork, beef and lamb. Yum!

[yellerpup]

21. Lamb is my favorite

but I've roasted chickens with it, too. Very nice.

[Callalily]

4. Mix with honey . . .

it's heavenly!

[Phentex]

11. ...

[kestrel91316]

24. I brought a jar of lavender honey home from France and have

ever since mourned that I don't see it for sale here......

[WhollyHeretic]

5. Lavender Creme Brulee

I haven't tried it but I've heard good things. It's on my list of things to make. I'm thinking for a nice dinner party.

[Phentex]

12. see above

[Denninmi]

6. It actually tastes a lot like rosemary when you put it in things.

Not something you'd use in large quantities, though.

[Phentex]

13. It makes sense...

I just find it odd that out of all the typical herbs people plant, he picked lavender to go with the other stuff.

[The empressof all]

7. A little sprinkle is wonderful in shortbread

It's also great in butter cookies like spritz. I add a little honey to the cookie dough and the lavender seems to bring out the flavor.

I also take the flowers and wrap them in some cheese cloth and stick them in my pillow cases and in my underwear drawers. The smell of lavender is very relaxing and promotes sleep. It's also lovely as a tea for your bath tub. I steep some in a warm tub. Since I grow quite a bit here I also frequently mix finely ground flowers and add to coconut oil for hair or body treatments.

[Phentex]

15. I ordered pure lavender oil years ago...

I mixed it and used it in various things (linen closet, etc.) I do love the smell.

I think it would be great to grow...just unsure about eating it.

I appreciate all the ideas people are giving here.

[Warpy]

18. You will love it dried in the winter

and just put into bowls here and there to add its fragrance to the housitosis we all get in winter when the place is shut up tight.

It's cheaper and nicer than chemical alternatives.

[grasswire]

19. leg of lamb with lavender sea salt

I had a jar of French sea salt with lavender from Wms Sonoma. Rubbed it all over a leg of lamb and roasted it. It was so so so good. I then used the sea salt on a roasted chicken. Yummy again! I really like the flavor.

The best lavender thing I ever ate was lavender lace cookies. It was at a street fair in Sequim Washington at their lavender festival. The cookies were delicious.

I gladly eat food with lavender. And I have it in my garden and in my home too. I filled an extra large mason jar with lavender cuttings last year, put the lid on and put it in the bathroom. When air needs freshening, I take the lid off, and that summery lavender scent makes things right.

[noamnety]

22. I've grown it. I hate the smell.

but if you crush the leaves in your hand and rub it on your skin, it'll keep mosquitoes from biting you.

[kestrel91316]

23. I always used to grow it just for the fragrance and because

the bees loved it. I have a jar of culinary lavender and have recently used it in Earl Gray tea - just 5 flower buds in a teaspoon of Earl Gray (loose) makes for a truly exquisite cuppa.

YMMV.

[kentauros]

25. It also has medicinal purposes

I recommend this site for looking up info on herbs, so here's the (extensive) entry on "Lavenders" and a nice drawing:

[Ruby Reason]

27. I liked this link. I learned a lot.

[kentauros]

28. You're welcome :)

I love that site, because they give so much good information, including cultivation instructions

I think that's an excellent site for every gardener to have in their bookmarks. I didn't see any thread here collecting our most helpful sites, so I think I'll need to start one, maybe get it pinned, if possible...

[Ruby Reason]

26. When I first put herbs in the herb garden my husband built me

I rather randomly selected herbs I thought we would like and use, or ones that sounded fun. We have lots of things, sage, rosemary, witch's grass, ....and lavender. It is beautiful, getting huge, and we have lots.

My family uses it mostly for teas and baths. Its flavor is good mixed with mint or a bit of sweetness, but we don't over do it. We use it medicinally for colds, sore throats (especially laryngitis), internally and externally in a bath, ointment, or plaster for relaxation and sprains or bruises. Plus we toss it into sachets.