Lavender

Today, I am removing the dried lavender flowers from the stems of lavender I harvested a couple weeks ago. I've had bundles of lavender hanging in my window sill drying naturally and now I'm excited about making good use of these dried flowers.
In the picture, you can see the dried lavender, the stems after the flowers have been gathered, and the collection of flowers in a container. The flowers I'm gathering can be used in cooking, teas, or in beauty products. One can sprinkle the flowers in sugar or salt scrubs for an added punch of color and fragrance. These flowers would lend themselves nicely to a steaming bath or facial.
Mixed with dried marjoram, thyme, rosemary, savory, basil, fennel seeds and oregano - these flowers add just the right touch to Herbes de Provence. Herbes de Provence can be rubbed all over a chicken just before baking for a sensational stir of the senses. The smell while cooking infuses the air and the flavor makes chicken irresistible. For a vegetarian twist, one of my friends uses this mixture in her potatoes au gratin recipe. I was amazed on how delicious the Herbes de Provence mix she was using smelled. It was as if you could eat it straight - it smelled so good! Since then, I'm determined to make my own Herbes de Provence so that is how I'll be using these flowers.