Italian wedding cookies, Russian tea cakes, Mexican wedding buttons, whatever you want to call them, wedding cookies are my favorite.  They are salty, butter, and sweet all at the same time. With such a huge flavor profile to live up to, they are not a low fat or healthy cookie by any means. But that's ok, sometimes we deserve to indulge. And if I'm going to indulge, these cookies are my favorite. These are so easy too! 

1 1/2 sticks of room temperature butter
1/4 cup white sugar
2 tsp vanilla extract
1 box pistachio instant pudding mix (3.4 ounces)
1 3/4 cup white flour
1/2 tsp salt 
1/4 cup powdered sugar

Mix your butter and white sugar in a mixer until fluffy. Add vanilla, pudding mix, flour, and salt. My son loved this cookie mix because its eggless, so I actually let him lick the beater! Roll your dough into a ball, wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for an hour or longer. 

Preheat oven to 350. Roll your dough into small 1 inch balls. Bake for 8 minutes. Wait for cookies to be warm, but not completely cool, and sprinkle with powdered sugar. If they are too hot when you sprinkle them with sugar the sugar will melt. 

These cookies are beautiful and melt in your mouth perfection. Enjoy!

Tonight I made a delicious salad that features two of our favorite Lavender Apple farm products! Lavender Honey and our farm pressed apple juice. It was sweet, savory, and a easy to put together. 

For the salad:
4 ounces fresh spinach
1 red apple, sliced
1 cup walnuts, chopped
1/3 cup crumbled goat cheese
1/3 cup dried cranberries 

For the dressing:
1/2 cup apple juice
1/8 cup vegetable oil 
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
1 tablespoon lavender honey (plain honey will also work, but why use that when lavender honey exists!) 
1/4 tsp kosher salt
1/4 tsp fresh ground pepper

Mix the dressing together, combine salad ingredients, pour dressing over salad and serve immediately. Makes enough salad for 4. 

Its always wonderful to have a hearty goat cheese salad when we are all working so hard on our new years resolutions. The winter cranberries and autumn apples make this a wonderful treat for lunch or a great side at dinner. 

This is an easy 20 minute dish. The curry is satisfying without being spicy. Its a great way to get out of a boring old chicken rut. 

2 cups white rice
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 pounds chicken breasts
2 bell peppers, sliced
2 tablespoons yellow curry paste
1/4 cup water
1 can coconut milk (15 ounces)
Salt and Pepper
4 large thai basil leaves chopped
1 lime, sliced into wedges
1/4 cup peanuts, crushed

Cook your rice in a rice cooker. Meanwhile heat your oil in a skillet. Chop and season your chicken with salt and pepper. Brown your chicken in the skillet. Add bell peppers and water to your skillet and cook for 3 minutes until tender. Add your curry, coconut milk, and simmer until the sauce is thickened, about 5 minutes. Add your basil and cook for 1 additional minute. Serve your chicken over rice with your lime wedges and crushed peanuts as garnish. 

Who doesn't love a delicious dinner that comes together in less than 20 minutes prep? 

One item we craft by hand here at the Lavender Apple is our "Lavender Wands". These are also frequently called "Lavender Bottle"Lavender Batons". The term Lavender Wand was coined obviously from the shape these made when the lavender was woven due to its flower spikes. Since the victorian age, lavender has been used for many household purposes. Lavender Wands were invented in the Victorian Era to act as an air freshener. Women would carry these wands and hold them to their noses when the air became too much to bear. Our Lavender Wands are made when the lavender is freshly cut, the blossoms are bent inward and then woven carefully with fine ribbon. These make a beautiful and unique gift. 
 View our wands online here.
 


Lavender Wands were used to scent drawers similar to Lavender Sachets. They were also hung on cabinets for decoration and as air fresheners. Today many of our customers similarly prefer to hang these lavender wands in their home, or many simply leave them sitting out on a dresser or bedroom table. Not only are they beautiful, but they make your home smell amazing too. 




As mentioned, we hand weave all of our lavender wands here on the farm. At The Lavender Apple we utilize many ribbon types and colors and are happy to accommodate special ribbon requests when possible. Just let us know what size, style, and colors you prefer! So what do you think? Have you seen lavender wands before?