Every year I try to make something really special with the first spring violets. For the last few years I have attempted to make a violet curd but it always failed, losing its amethyst color and turning gray when I heated it. And since there are a limited number of violets in my yard/neighborhood, I really only get one shot at it a year!
Continue reading “Violet Lemon Curd”Ingredient: violet tea
Creamy Violet Sorbet
I’m always trying to think of new ways to serve up the gorgeous amethyst color of spring violets. This creamy violet sorbet is gorgeous. It looks gorgeous and it tastes gorgeous. This is technically a sherbet (a sorbet with added dairy) but since I can never figure out how to pronounce the word sherbet, I’ve decided it’s a creamy sorbet. It’s just the right amount of tart and sweet with a little floral kick of rosewater. Just like the violet lemonade and violet jelly, it’s the color here that makes it so special.
Continue reading “Creamy Violet Sorbet”Violet Lemonade
Every spring, my kids and I make violet jelly. Walking through the neighborhood on one of those rare spring days where it’s warm in the sun and cool in the shade and picking violets is a lovely way to spend an afternoon. Yesterday when we were making our jelly for the year, my youngest asked if we could make violet and dandelion candies. I’m still working on that…but it did remind me that last year we made some bonkers-good violet lemonade and I never posted the recipe. Which is awfully selfish. So here you go!
Continue reading “Violet Lemonade”Violet Elderflower Gummies
These elegant violet and elderflower gummies are sweet, floral and just a little tart. You only need a half cup of violet flowers, making this a perfect project for those first precious violets that pop up in the spring. This recipe can be made with a lot of variations but I’ve detailed how I did mine in the recipe below. The gummies, like the violets, don’t last long so it’s best to make them on the day you plan to eat them. Continue reading “Violet Elderflower Gummies”