June 7 2017

Lemon Balm Cake with Candied Flower Syrup

Lemon Balm Cake

This mildly sweet cake tastes of flowers and lemons and sunshine. And when I say it tastes of flowers, I mean that literally. Lemon Balm cake by itself is a light lemony treat, but covering it in syrup made with chamomile flowers really makes it special! This herbal cake is a great way to use the herbs in your garden. Also, Chamomile and Lemon Balm compliment each other beautifully!

I can just imagine eating this cake with tea in a lacey white dress and hat, and feeling very refined.

Lemon Balm Cake
Lemon Balm Cake with Candied Flower Syrup
Print Recipe
A simple cake, flavored with Lemon Balm. What really makes it special is the candied flower syrup which gives it extra sweetness. It also looks pretty!
Servings Prep Time
8 slices 10 minutes
Cook Time
20 minutes
Servings Prep Time
8 slices 10 minutes
Cook Time
20 minutes
Lemon Balm Cake
Lemon Balm Cake with Candied Flower Syrup
Print Recipe
A simple cake, flavored with Lemon Balm. What really makes it special is the candied flower syrup which gives it extra sweetness. It also looks pretty!
Servings Prep Time
8 slices 10 minutes
Cook Time
20 minutes
Servings Prep Time
8 slices 10 minutes
Cook Time
20 minutes
Ingredients
Cake
Candied Flower Syrup
Servings: slices
Instructions
  1. Preheat over to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Butter and flour an 8" round cake pan.
  2. Cream together butter, lemon balm, and sugar.
  3. Separate your eggs. Set aside the whites (preferably in the refrigerator!). Add the egg yokes and vanilla extract to the butter-sugar mixture.
  4. Sift together flour, baking soda, and salt. Add to your butter mixture. Then add the buttermilk. You should have a thick batter.
  5. Beat your egg whites on high until soft peaks form. Fold into your batter until just combined. Do not over-mix!
  6. Bake your cake for approximately 20 minutes. When its done, the top will be a golden brown.
  7. While your cake is baking, put water and sugar in a saucepan. Cook over medium heat, until the sugar is dissolved, and the water has partially evaporated.
  8. Once your water and sugar are slightly thickened (you want a light syrup), add your chamomile flowers. Stir to cover the flowers in syrup, and allow the syrup to cool.
  9. Pour the syrup over the cake once both have cooled. Enjoy!
Recipe Notes

Chamomile flowers give a syrup a lovely flavor, but you can use other edible flowers too! The orange flower in the picture is a Nasturtium. Other edible flowers include violets, and lavender.

The Lemon Balm Cake was inspired by this recipe from Magnolia Days.

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Category: Cake, Sweet Things | LEAVE A COMMENT
June 4 2017

Lemon Balm Iced Tea

Lemon Balm Iced Tea

There is something so refreshing about cold flavored drinks during the summer. That said, I’ve never been a fan of traditional iced tea. But this summer, I am faced with an abundance of herbs (including Lemon Balm). So I decided to try my hand at herbal teas. Lemon Balm has a light lemony flavor, and makes a great tea, hot or cold. But as it is summer, iced tea sounds better!

Lemon Balm has a relaxing effect. The sweet lemony herb is supposed to help with digestion, sleeplessness, and anxiety. In other words, it is healthy! It also grows like crazy during the summer, and makes a lovely tea. So why not make a large batch?

Lemon Balm Iced Tea
Lemon Balm Iced Tea
Print Recipe
This herbal Iced Tea is made with Lemon Balm for a refreshing summer drink. For extra flavor, add in your favorite summer fruit or a complimentary herb! Strawberries and Mint taste great with Lemon Balm.
Servings
8 glasses
Servings
8 glasses
Lemon Balm Iced Tea
Lemon Balm Iced Tea
Print Recipe
This herbal Iced Tea is made with Lemon Balm for a refreshing summer drink. For extra flavor, add in your favorite summer fruit or a complimentary herb! Strawberries and Mint taste great with Lemon Balm.
Servings
8 glasses
Servings
8 glasses
Ingredients
Servings: glasses
Instructions
  1. Fill a large saucepan with water, and heat on the stove. Once the water is simmering, take it off the heat.
  2. Immediately add the fresh lemon balm, sugar, and lemon juice. Stir to help the sugar dissolve.
  3. Allow the tea to steep as it cools. Once it is cool, you can strain out the lemon balm leaves, and enjoy with ice!
Recipe Notes

Strawberries (and other fruit) taste great with Lemon Balm Iced Tea! Feel free to add 6-8 strawberries during the cooling process, and let them infuse the water.

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Category: Drinks | LEAVE A COMMENT
January 8 2017

Kolachkies

This is a family recipe. Around Christmas and Easter, I usually think “oh, we should make Kolachkies, or Moctobabucta.”

Kolachkies are a bit more complex to make than, say, coffee cake. But the unique taste of these pastries – which can be filled with absolutely anything – is definitely worth it!

Kolachkies
Print Recipe
A delicious pastry, a lot like a Danish.
Servings
2 dozen
Servings
2 dozen
Kolachkies
Print Recipe
A delicious pastry, a lot like a Danish.
Servings
2 dozen
Servings
2 dozen
Ingredients
Servings: dozen
Instructions
  1. Scald your cup of milk on the stove. You want to get the milk to froth, but not boil. Once the milk is frothy, take it off the heat and let it cool a bit.
  2. Dissolve yeast in lukewarm water. Once the milk has cooled, add the yeast mixture to the scalded milk.
  3. Cream butter, sugar, and salt in a small bowl.
  4. Add 1 1/2 cups flour to the yeast / milk mixture. Mix well.
  5. Add the sugar and butter mixture, plus one egg, to the flour and yeast mixture. Beat well. Gradually add the remaining flour until the dough becomes smooth enough to handle.
  6. Knead your dough until it is smooth and elastic. Place it in a greased bowl, covered, in a warm place. Let it rise until doubled.
  7. Place the dough on a warm floured board and cut into 2 1/2 inch squares, 1/4 inch thick. Put a spoonful of filling in the center of each.
  8. Place your kolachkies 2 inches apart on a cookie sheet. Let them rise until doubled (about 45 minutes).
  9. Bake at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for 25 minutes.
  10. Sprinkle with powdered sugar when cool.
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Category: Pastry, Sweet Things | LEAVE A COMMENT