Earth Blessings Everyone!
It feels like it's been taking forever for Spring's first flowers to make an appearance up in the Catskills. But it's happened, FINALLY! The first Spring beauties to pop up are none other than the effervescent Wild Violet. Aside from just munching on these yummy little herbs, there are a ton of things you can do with them. The leaves and flowers are all edible so even if you just pick em and throw them in a salad, you won't regret it! I wait all year for these little ladies, and I'll show you how to use them in a few different ways. Everything I've made today, I've made in small batches.
The first recipe we'll talk about is Violet Honey
What you'll need:
Fresh picked and washed Violets
Honey
Clean Jar
This recipe honestly couldn't get any easier.
You take whatever size jar you chose to use and fill it half way with Violets.
I usually use a baby food jar for my infused honeys, simply because my honey is like gold to me. I don't like using it all on one recipe.
Then just pour your favorite local honey on top of the violets until you've filled the jar.
It's really that easy!! Let sit for a week or two and you'll have perfect violet sweetened honey.
I love using this in tea, oatmeal or even as an ice cream topping, YUM!
Next is another really easy recipe. Violet Infused Sugar!
What you'll need:
Fresh picked and washed wild violets
Sugar (any sugar of your choice will do)
Chopstick
Clean Jar
1. To start, pour 3TBS of sugar into the bottom of your jar.
2. Place about 10 or so violets on top of the sugar.
3. Take your chopstick and start smashing/smooshing the violets into the sugar. I always have my daughter help with this part, she loves it!
4. After a couple of minutes of smooshing the violets into the sugar, top off with another 3TBS of sugar and then again with 10 or so more Violets on top and time to smoosh some more.
How many times you add layers of sugar and violets will honestly depend on how much you want to make. I personally added about 3 layers and then topped the last layer with 3TBS of sugar.
5. You'll want to let this set for 2-3 weeks. After that you'll notice the sugar has infused with the violets making it look a little wet and smells and tastes amazing.
I think the sugar infusions are some of my favorites, for one, they are incredibly easy and two the kids can help! Any time I can put the kids to work with handling herbs and working in the kitchen is a win in my book!
This is what it should look like with your last layer of sugar.
I use this mostly in baking or in a sweetened butter (check out my herbal butter recipe!) Though I will put a spoonful or so in some yummy Iced Tea on a hot summer day and it is of course super yummy!
Next on our list is Violet Limeade!
What you'll need:
Fresh picked and washed Violets
Limes
Lemon Balm Infused Sugar (obviously you can use regular sugar, but I just love these infused sugars!)
Water
Clean Jar
Now I know a lot of people like to make lemonade with their Violets, however, I feel that Limes give it an extra little kick. Though this recipe also works fabulous with lemons.
1. First place about a handful of violets into the bottom of your jar.
2. Squeeze 2 limes over the violets and toss in the jar with the violets.
3. Add 2 TSP of Lemon Balm Sugar to your jar. (you make this infused sugar the exact same way as the violet sugar, but with Lemon Balm!)
4. Pour hot water (YES! Hot Water!) over everything until you fill your jar.
5. Let sit and cool. this will take a couple hours. It's totally worth the wait though!
6. Once it's cool, you can stick it in the fridge or throw some ice cubes in to ensure it's a nice cold refreshing drink!
You'll notice in the picture to the right that there isn't any color yet, you'll have to let it steep to get the fantastic pink/purple color and the flavor. Which is why I use hot water.
When all said and done you'll have a delicious looking Violet Limeade that will definitely not be around for long. My kids sucked this down as soon as it was cold enough to drink!
Next remedy on the list is Violet Oil
I have no pictures for this recipe, but like the other recipes it's incredibly easy. I like to call myself a cheap, lazy herbalist. I LOVE a recipe that takes no time or energy.
Violet Oil is one of those remedies.
What you'll need:
Violets, NOT Fresh! leave them out for a day or so, you'll want them wilted and not carrying any excess water, as this can make your oil go rancid
Carrier Oil ( I use olive oil, but you can use almond, sunflower, jojoba, etc)
Clean Jar
Candle Warmer
So, first of all, if you haven't invested in a candle warmer, please go buy one. They are literally 5 bucks and they make infusing oils without burning SO EASY!
1. Fill your jar half way with violets (remember wilted violets, NOT Fresh!)
2. Cover with carrier oil
3. Let sit on candle warmer for 12-15 hours.
4. Strain out Violets and keep in clean jar.
THAT'S IT!
Violet Oil is a great anti-inflammatory, meaning it's perfect for sore muscles, joints and even great for arthritis! Just rub where it's needed.
Melt in some bees wax and let set and you'll have a perfect muscle rub too.
Well there you go!
Three easy Violet recipes for the kitchen and some home remedies for those aching joints and muscles to get you started on your herbal journey!
And don't worry about picking Violets, they reproduce from their ribosomes (their roots) so picking the flower heads will not hurt the patch. They are increasingly invasive, so no worries anyway.
Let me know how your infusions came out! Were they delicious and easy?!
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