I am not vegan but the ongoing free-range eggs situation in Sydney is forcing me to come up with egg-free baking recipes. When you bake as often as I do – at least once a day – you go through a heap of eggs. And to paraphrase PETA, I’d rather go bake-free than buy battery hen eggs. Continue reading
My mum can grow lavender like nobody else can. While I buy and plant pot after pot that slowly withers and dies hers flourishes through little more than neglect and the occasional picking of a few stems.
I adore lavender, not lest because it is so bee-friendly. And as we (should) all know by now, no bees = no me.
It is also wonderful to cook with. I have posted recipes previously for lavender and honey cupcakes https://thehungrymum.com/2015/05/26/lavender-and-honey-cupcakes/
and lavender and lemon cake https://thehungrymum.com/2014/07/18/how-to-make-lavender-and-lemon-cake/
I wondered how it would pair with chocolate – the answer, in case you’re curious, is very well indeed. I am somewhat of a novice fudge-maker but I was very happy with these results.
I think a batch of chocolate lavender fudge in a tin would make a lovely ‘thinking of you’ or ‘welcome to the neighbourhood’ gift. At Christmas it would also make a pretty addition to the dessert table.
I tweaked a recipe from Boulder Locavore, here’s the original: http://boulderlocavore.com/chocolate-lavender-fudge-with-salted-caramel-top/
If you need to buy lavender for this recipe ensure it is food-grade. You may have to seek it out at specialist food shops – don’t grab a bunch from your florist or garden centre as it is important to only use blooms that haven’t been sprayed with any chemicals.
GATHER:
2 ½ cups dark chocolate, chopped
1 can sweetened condensed milk
3 tablespoons butter
1 tablespoon lavender, finely snipped with scissors
sprinkle best quality salt – I used vanilla salt
LET’S GET TO IT:
Spray a 20cm x 20cm slice pan with non-stick spray then line with non-stick baking paper, allowing overhang.
In a medium glass or ceramic bowl place the chocolate, sweetened condensed milk and butter. Chose a pan on which the bowl will snugly fit, then fill the pan about a third of the ay with water. Place bowl on top, heat to a simmer, then stir the mix until melted and smooth.
Remove from heat then scrape into pan. Carefully tap on bench a few times to remove air bubbles, then sprinkle over the lavender and salt.
Cool in the fridge overnight, then slice into small squares to serve.
the hungry mum 