On Sunday, I was trying to delay having to paint our pantry for as long as possible. Our pantry is a glorious, large, open-to-the-kitchen pantry, and it desperately needed painting...but I wasn't feeling having to start that project as soon as I woke up. To stall time, I decided to make use of the lavender extract I bought at Sur La Table over the summer. And since I knew Z's Mom was a fan of lavender, I decided to bake her something special as a belated birthday gift.

Lavender Cookies
Adapted from yummly.com
Yields: About 20 cookies
-1/2 cup butter, softened
-1 cup sugar
-2 eggs
-1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
-1 tsp. lavender extract
-1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
-2 tsp. baking powder

Directions:
1.) Preheat oven to 375*F.
2.) In a bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
3.) Beat in the eggs, vanilla and lavender and mix well.
4.) Combine the flour and baking powder in a separate bowl; add to the lavender mixture. Stir until well blended.
5.) Drop by teaspoons onto an ungreased baking sheet and bake in the oven 8 to 10 minutes, or until lightly browned around the edges.
6.) Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for a minute or two before transferring to a cooling rack.

The end result was a light, fluffy cookie that was chocked full of lavender flavor (without being too potent). I also loved how the sweet, calming vanilla extract helped to tone down the flowery lavender a bit, without totally masking its floral taste. 

Have you tried any new baking recipes lately?

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