Lavender Lemon Chicken Recipes

LAVENDER LEMONADE

Steps:

• Place the lavender in a pitcher; pour the boiling water over the lavender; cover with plastic wrap and allow to steep 10 minutes; strain and discard the lavender from the water and return the water to the pitcher. Add the cold water, lemon juice, and sugar to the pitcher and stir until the sugar dissolves. Refrigerate until serving.

LAVENDER LEMON CHICKEN

Steps:

• In a small bowl or mortar and pestle coarsely crush lavender and thyme. Then stir together with butter, zest, salt and pepper until well combined.
• Spoon mixture onto a sheet of plastic wrap and form into a 4-inch log. Chill butter log until firm, at least 30 minutes, and up to 3 days.
• Preheat oven to 400°F.
• Rinse chicken and pat dry.
• Slice herb butter and reserve 2 tablespoons for sauce.
• Slide hand under skin of chicken breast to loosen skin from meat. Insert about 3/4's of the butter under the skin and spread the rest over the outside of chicken.
• Truss chicken. Place the chicken in a flameproof roasting pan.
• Slice the onion into large pieces and scatter around the chicken.
• Roast bird in middle of oven until an instant-read thermometer inserted in thickest part of a thigh (be careful not to touch bone) registers 170° to 175°F.
• It will take roughly 55-65 minutes for a four pound chicken and 8 minutes more per every pound over that.
• Lift chicken and tilt, emptying any juices from cavity into roasting pan.
• Remove the chicken to a platter, cover loosely with foil.
• Sauce: Add vermouth to pan. Place pan over high heat; bring vermouth to boil, scraping up any browned bits and onions.
• Strain the mixture into cup with pan juices.
• Spoon fat off and pour back into the pan. Add reserved 2 tablespoons herb butter and bring to a simmer - or melt butter before adding to pan.
• When butter has completely melted add flour and whisk until smooth.
• Serve sauce with chicken.

ELEGANT LAVENDER AND LEMON POACHED CHICKEN BREASTS

Steps:

• Place the stock and lavender essence in a saucepan and bring to boil. Add the chicken breasts and return to boil and poach for 10-15 minutes until chicken is cooked through.
• Remove the chicken to a dish and keep warm while making the sauce. Pour the stock into a jug.
• Melt the butter in the pan and soften the shallot gently for 3-5 minutes. Sprinkle on the cornflour and stir to mix.
• Gradually add the stock and stir while bringing to the boil. Simmer for 5 minutes then add the creme fraiche, salt and pepper. Simmer for a few minutes. Add lemon juice and season to taste.
• Pour the sauce over the chicken, garnish each chicken breast with some lavender flowers and serve with wild rice or pasta; new potatoes and mange tout would also be good.

LAVENDER LEMON BARS

Steps:

• Preheat an oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease an 8x12 inch baking dish.
• Make lavender sugar by blending the sugar and 2 teaspoons lavender buds in a blender; blend until the lavender is powdered.
• Blend together with an electric mixer 1/4 cup of the lavender sugar, butter, coconut oil, 2 cups flour, and salt in a bowl until a dough forms; press into the bottom of the prepared dish.
• Bake in the preheated oven until the top begins to turn golden brown; about 15 minutes.
• While the dough bakes, mix together the remaining lavender sugar, 1/4 cup flour, eggs, lemon juice, lemon extract, and 1/2 teaspoon lavender buds; pour over the baked crust and return to the oven to bake until the center is set, about 20 minutes. Allow to cool completely and dust with confectioners' sugar before serving.