How to Make Lavender Maple Simple Syrup - and Classic Books BANNED
Posted by Stephaney Oberon on
On a recent trip to Des Moines, Iowa I stopped into Plain Talk Bookstore in the East Village. I saw a sign that said LAVENDER LATTE and I knew I had to give it a taste. It was over the lavender moon delicious! Since I keep a generous supply of lavender flowers on hand I decided to make my own lavender syrup. I mixed and heated 1 cup water, 1 cup of lavender flowers, and 1 Tablespoon of water. Although it was delicious, I prefer maple syrup instead of white sugar in my coffee so I blended my lavender with maple syrup and am sharing the recipe with you.
How to Make Lavender Maple Simple Syrup
This syrup has just enough lavender flavor to come through beautifully without being overpowering, and it has the lovely scent of the combined ingredients.
Lavender Maple Syrup
½ cup pure maple syrup
¼ cup filtered water
2 teaspoons dried organic lavender
Combine the maple syrup, water, and dried lavender in a small saucepan and heat. Small bubbles will begin to form around the edge of the pan, watch for this and remove from heat as you don't want to scorch the syrup. Allow syrup to steep for 1 hour before straining into a glass jar. Keep refrigerated.
You can use this syrup over pancakes, ice cream, and in your tea, (Earl Grey is especially nice), or use it in your coffee or iced coffee.
I buy organic lavender in bulk and I like to keep it as fresh as possible so as soon as I order a new supply I set aside what I need and offer the rest in the JANE shop. This is organic culinary grade lavender yet you can use it for facial steams and sachets as well. This is a great way to purchase for your own experiments
Plain Talk Books & Coffee opened in Des Moines in 2009 as a neighborhood coffee shop and used bookstore and has become an East Village fixture. They offer a combination of coffee bar and old-fashioned soda fountain. The have an eclectic collection of books that are carefully curated and "are books we would recommend to our friends."
Near the front of the shop, there is a shelf marked "banned - classics" I was taken off guard to see the books on this shelf. I somehow missed that these classics had been banned. I shot the photo below.
I recommend reading one of these over a good cuppa lavender coffee. And then discussing who it is that has the ability to ban these books.
Enjoy.