Lavender Hazelnut Bread

When most people think of lavender, they think of perfumes, scented laundry detergents, air fresheners, but never food. But, the fact is that lavender flowers are edible! They are famous for their unique and classically fresh European smell, but they can be integrated into foods as well.

Lavender is a natural herb with many uses and good qualities. It has soothing effects, helping one sleep and offers other health benefits as well. It deters fungi and bacteria. It has a distinctive smell and can be used in cooking. There are many possibilities when it comes to cooking with fresh lavender flowers or using dried ones.

Recipe 

Lavender Hazelnut Bread 

Ingredients:

• 1 ½ cups warm water

• 1 ½ tablespoon olive oil

• 2 tablespoons honey

• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh lavender flowers

• 1 teaspoon salt

• 1/3 cup chopped hazelnuts

• 3 1/3 cups all purpose flour

• 3 teaspoons instant yeast

Set the setting on your bread machine to 'dough'. Mix all the above ingredients and place inside the bread machine before turning it on. Once the cycle is complete, remove from the bread machine and allow to sit on a lightly oiled surface for ten to fifteen minutes, after covering with cooking spray. If the bread is too moist, add flour a little bit at a time. If it is too dry, add water a little bit at a time. 

Turn on the oven for several minutes, long enough for it to get warm but not hot. After turning the oven off again, put the dough on a baking sheet after spraying with non-stick cooking spray and cover with a towel. Allow the dough to rise until it is double in size, which will take about half an hour to fifty minutes before taking it out. 

Origin 

Lavender flowers have been documented in existence since the last 2500 years. The Egyptians used them for their unique fresh smell and also for mummifying the dead. Arabs used lavender to distill perfumes. Romans used lavender flowers for the soothing smell while bathing and also used them as an herb while cooking. 

Nowadays, lavender flowers are grown across England for commercial uses and the city of Provence, France is known for its high quality lavender. Lavender is used in soaps, bubble baths, shampoos, bath oils, and sprays for doing laundry. However, many people are not aware that lavender flowers are also consumed in teas, breads, cookies, cones, and other recipes. The key to using lavender flowers is to remember a little goes a long way. This is the major use of lavender flowers lies in its characteristic scent, it is important to use only as much as is required, otherwise the meal being cooked becomes bitter and perfume-like in taste. 

Benefits 

As herbal medicine and home remedies

Lavender is one of those few herbs that have been proven effective for inducing a soothing, relaxing effect. Active ingredients in fresh lavender flowers can lessen insomnia, gas and bloating, intestinal bacteria, and help kill airborne molds.

The petals of love and lust 

Maidens in Tudor times would say a prayer to St. Luke "St. Luke, St. Luke, be kind to me. In my dreams, let me my true love see" after sipping lavender brew. Even now, lavender is one of the scents that men rate highest in terms of inducing arousal. Perfumes which contain lavender flowers as a main ingredient are stocked by French L'Occitane and Yardley of London is a British classic.