To try to get through the cold weather with its rain, snow, sleet and freezing rain, I've decided to think about fields of lavender. Quelle bonne idée, n'est-ce pas? Annie, of Sunshine Lavender Farms, has been a tremendous help. Her latest email is nothing short of a feast for the winter-filled eyes. See for yourself at www.sunshinelavenderfarm.com You can almost smell it. Well, I actually can. On my desk at this moment are two bottles of lavender hand cream and a small lavender sachet. I also make my room at school smell good with a lavender and vanilla Glade plug-in thing. I have the best smelling room in the middle school, bien sûr. I have a lovely 2010 Provence calendar on my desk, too. The little stone cottage of my dreams is on the cover. The picture above is the one I took at the Abbayé de Senanque near Gordes. A bit of the lavender oil that I brought home from there would be nice at the moment. I have a headache and a little lavender on my temples would be very soothing. I burned myself quite badly while cooking one night in Arles (hot oil splashed on my hand) and Chef Érick cured me with lavender. I had to wait until it stopped burning so badly and then he massaged the lavender into the burns. No more blisters, no more burning and no scars. I became a believer. Another wonderful find is the lavender-citrus body butter that I found at the Durham Farmers' Market made by MoonDance Soaps. I rub it on my hands just before going to bed. I get the lovely, soothing lavender scent and my hands are in much better shape when I wake up in the morning. http://www.moondancesoaps.com/
I am working on my next newspaper article, about chocolat, and research must be thoroughly done. This is serious business, you know. I took a chocolate class this week with Teresa Wilkerson of WR Chocolatier and I am paying a visit to the Dolly Mama in downtown Durham this afternoon to see how she makes her wonderful chocolate creations. A nice ending to the day.
Annie's Valentine's Day Chocolate Lavender Truffles
(from Sunshine Lavender Farms)
1 c. heavy cream
1 tsp. dried lavender florets (they sell these at Harris Teeter in the spice section)
12 oz. bittersweet chocolate (use the good stuff... about 62% is ideal- not too bitter)
1 c. unsweetened cocoa
Grate chocolate. Bring cream and lavender to a simmer for one minute, then strain out the florets with cheesecloth. Add cream to chocolate and stir to melt. Mix well. Chill at least 3 hours. Roll into 1-inch balls, then roll in cocoa.
Makes 25 truffles.
Bon appétit, vendredi, la lavande et le chocolat!
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