Wolds Way Lavender and Strawberry Fruit Cup

I’m Dreaming of a Sunny May!

Wolds Way Lavender and Strawberry Fruit Cup

It’s at this time of the year, mid May, that I am usually thinking of drinks on the terrace or Pimms on the lawn……maybe some pick-your-own strawberry activities or strawberries and cream for afternoon tea whilst sat in the garden.  The there are gentle walks down winding country lanes where the hedgerows are heavy with billowing blossom and heady with the scent of elderflower and cowslips. Weekends are spent gardening and the reward is a cup of tea and a slice of cake, whilst sat in ancient deck chairs in the shade of an old apple tree……… barbecues are dusted off and liberated from garages, and there’s talk of sausages and chops for supper……all al fresco of course!  There’s the chink of ice on glass and thoughts turn to the summer ahead……..

I'm Dreaming of a Sunny May! Wolds Way Lavender and Strawberry Fruit Cup

Now wake up and smell the SOUP! It’s cold, it’s damp it’s the wettest and coldest May in three hundred years, according to the weather pundits…….instead of meandering down warm country lanes and sipping cold drinks on the terrace, we are all more likely to be eating casserole in front of the fire! But, fear not, I bring you tidings of good news…….the FIRST of the British strawberries are coming into the shops – my local farm shop has been selling them for the last week or so………and, I have also spied the first British raspberries too. And, if like me, you LOVE lavender in your cooking and baking, you MAY just be able to capture summer this weekend with this rather good Wolds Way Lavender and Strawberry Fruit Cup, as I always have a little jar (or bigger jar when I have harvested my own lavender) of  culinary lavender tucked away in my store-cupboard.

Wolds Way Lavender and Strawberry Fruit Cup

A boozy lavender fruit cup made with vermouth, herbs and fresh strawberries! How good is that! This is another gem of a recipe that I discovered on a recipe card from Wolds Way Lavender Farm in North Yorkshire, England – which is just 10 minutes from my parent’s cottage – I have tweaked it a bit here and there, but the inspiration came from their recipe idea. This delicately flavoured drink is the perfect way to unwind after a long, hard day……..It is almost better than Pimms, and, as Pimms is my favourite summertime tipple, that is really saying something! So, sit back, relax, sip and enjoy! I am off out to visit the Malton Food Lover’s Market later, having first had a radio interview with Nick Coffer, My Daddy Cooks.…….but first I need to check I have an arsenal of brollies available for wet walking, and perhaps I should see if I have a sou’wester too……Bye for now, see you later, Karen

I am entering this recipe into the Herbs on Satruday blog challenge:

Herbs on Saturday

Wolds Way Lavender and Strawberry Fruit Cup

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Serves	4 - 6
Prep time	30 minutes
Dietary	Vegetarian
Meal type	Beverage
Misc	Gourmet, Pre-preparable, Serve Cold
Region	British
By author	Karen S Burns-Booth

A boozy lavender fruit cup made with vermouth, herbs and fresh strawberries! How good is that! This is another gem of a recipe that I discovered on a recipe card from Wolds Way Lavender Farm in North Yorkshire, England – which is just 10 minutes from my parent's cottage. The delicately flavoured drink is the perfect way to unwind after a long, hard day........It is almost better than Pimms, and, as Pimms is my favourite summertime tipple, that is really saying something! Sit back, relax, sip and enjoy!

Ingredients

• 20g (handful) culinary lavender flowers
• 400ml fresh orange juice
• 400ml ginger ale
• 200ml dry vermouth
• Juice of 1 lemon
• fresh strawberries ( a small punnet, about 150g to 200g)
• lemon verbena or lemon balm

Note

The delicately flavoured drink is the perfect way to unwind after a long, hard day........It is almost better than Pimms, and, as Pimms is my favourite summertime tipple, that is really saying something!

Directions

Step 1	Rub the base of a punch bowl with the lavender flowers (crushing them gently to release the oils), before adding the orange juice, ginger ale, vermouth and lemon juice.
Step 2	Add the hulled strawberries, halved or sliced, and then garnish with sprigs of lemon verbena or lemon balm. Chill for 30 minutes before serving in tall glasses with or without ice.
Step 3	(After rubbing the lavender flowers over the base of the bowl, discard them).

Wolds Way Lavender and Strawberry Fruit Cup

What are you doing to cheer yourself up this wet May?

What is your favourite summer tipple?