Sweet Summer Lovin'

It's Tasty Tuesday and a few of my fellow authors and I have gotten together to share some sexy, fun recipes for you to try out.

For me, nothing says summer quite like lavender, so today I'm going to share a couple of my favorite lavender themed recipes, lavender shortbread and lavender lemonade. Together they make up a perfect snack to enjoy while sitting outside, enjoying the summer sunshine and, of course, a good book!



Lavender Shortbread


Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups butter, softened
• 2/3 cup white sugar
• 1/4 cup sifted confectioners' sugar
• 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh lavender
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh mint leaves
• 1 teaspoon grated lemon zest
• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup cornstarch
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

Directions

1. In a medium bowl, cream together the butter, white sugar and confectioners' sugar until light and fluffy. Mix in the lavender, mint and lemon zest. Combine the flour, cornstarch and salt; mix into the batter until well blended. Divide dough into two balls, wrap in plastic wrap and flatten to about 1inch thick. Refrigerate until firm, about 1hour.
2. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough out to 1/4 inch thickness. Cut into shapes with cookie cutters. Cookie stamps will work well on these too. Place on cookie sheets.
3. Bake for 18 to 20 minutes in the preheated oven, just until cookies begin to brown at the edges. Cool for a few minutes on the baking sheets then transfer to wire racks to cool completely.

Amy's Lavender Lemonade

Ingredients

• 1 tray ice cubes
• 1/4 cup dried lavender
• 2 cups boiling water
• 3/4 cup white sugar
• 8 lemons
• 5 cups cold water, or as needed

Directions

1. Place ice cubes into a 2 quart pitcher. Place the lavender into a bowl, and pour boiling water over it. Allow to steep for about 10 minutes, then strain out the lavender and discard. Mix the sugar into the hot lavender water, then pour into the pitcher with the ice.
2. Squeeze the juice from the lemons into the pitcher, getting as much juice as you can. Top off the pitcher with cold water, and stir. Taste, and adjust lemon juice or sugar if desired. Pour into tall glasses, pull up a lawn chair and a good book, and relax!

Both recipes courtesy of allrecipes.com  

Please stop by the following blogs and load up on their tasty treats:

Sweet & Spicy Menage-a-Trois, by Selena Robins 

Bewitching Bailey's Cupcakes by Moira Keith

ROGUE REFORMATION (CHEESY POTATOES) - The Ultimate Comfort Food For Heating Up A Cold WI Winter Night!
 and WHO YOU CALLING A TART? (CRANBERRY MUFFINS w/BUTTER SAUCE - sweet & tart with a decadent buttery finish...) by Renee Wildes

Ambrosia by A Catherine Noon

Happy Trails Trail Mix by Nancy Lauzon

Salacious Salad and Naughty Nachos by Denise A Agnew

Sassy Sangria by Sloan McBride

And speaking of summer reads, tomorrow kicks off the start of the Orangeberry Summer Splash, a month-long mini book tour marathon, which is sure to be chock full of great books to make your summer better! 


Check it out at: 


http://www.orangeberrybooktours.com/2012/07/orangeberry-summer-splash-event.html