I finally tried some of the Lavender I got from Marx Foods! I wasn't sure how to use it, and when I came upon this Rhubarb Lavender Crisp at The Kitchn I knew I'd have to give it a go. My scaled-back version (with 2 servings) used some local rhubarb and a crisp topping that had some coconut in it. I thought I had written down what I had done, but I couldn't find that piece of paper... oops. I served it with coconut milk vanilla bean ice cream, which I highly recommend trying if you haven't yet!! The verdict? I liked it, but I was conservative with the lavender just in case ;) Anyone else have any suggestions on how else I can utilize lavender??
Rhubarb Lavender CrispMy other forray was into fava beans. Favas, also known as broad beans, are actually a member of the pea family, and could have bean the "magic beans" in the Jack and the Beanstalk tale! If that's not reason enough to try them, fava beans are high in fiber and iron, low in sodium, and contain L-dopa (used in treatment of Parkinson's).
They are a little more cumbersome, as they need to be peeled twice. The first time to take the beans out of the pods (see above), and then to remove the woody outer covering (see below). I read that it should be parboiled after shelling, and while it likely makes the peeling easier, I didn't find it too difficult to just remove the outer layer without this step.
Like other beans, they can be very versatile, I almost grilled them, but decided to try something different with these rich, buttery beans. I browned some spicy Italian chicken sausage (completely optional if you want a vegetarian dish) and set that aside. Next in the pan I sauteed a package of shiitake mushrooms (sliced) in a little bit of EVOO with some garlic and fava beans (the latter two ingredients I added once the mushrooms had cooked down a bit). Then came some cooked pasta (I used Barilla Plus penne) and the cooked sausage, creating a Fabulous Fava Pasta! Ok, enough with the F's!! Hopefully I"ll be back soon with something that starts with a different letter ;) Have a great week!
Pasta w/Favas, Shiitakes & Spicy Chix Sausage
28 comments:
Lavender in a crisp? What a neat idea. Did it taste like it smells?
I just bought rhubarb, so I'm excited to try it for the first time!
Wow, I sould have loved to see the grilled fava beans!
I haven't tried those yet - I should though!
Happy Sunday!
YAY! You're back! Lavender is delicious in baked goods! Have you tried rose water? A-MAZING! I haven't tried fava beans yet. I've got to ease my hubby into that foray. I had firsts in the kitchen this week too! Hamburger buns, anyone?
I'm always up for a crisp and topping it with coconut milk vanilla bean ice cream sounds amazing! I haven't really cooked with lavendar.
The crisp sounds delicious! Great use for the lavender.
And the fava beans... that pasta dish is calling me :)
I've never cooked with lavender, the crisp sounds great! The pasta is full of goodies and looks really tasty, too.
Well I think these both sounds great. I hear lavender ice cream is pretty delicious if you get a chance to try it.
Peeled twice!
You're tenacious!
Lavender is my favorite smell. Yum! I'd love to eat it too! :)
I've missed your posts Shannon!
Wow, I love the idea of a lavender in a rhubarb crisp, I can just imagine the wonderful aroma and flavor it brings to this delicious dessert! I've been making lavender syrup, that's great to serve with various dishes. Pasta sounds excellent with fava beans!
All I can ever think of when I come into contact with Fava beans is that scene in Silence of the Lambs ;)
That crips looks so delicious! I've used lavender, but mostly in sweet things - like where you could use orange or rose. In icing is good, because then it isn't too over-powering.
I've never used lavender either - the vanilla bean with coconut milk ice cream is calling my name. I also haven't tryed fava beans - your recipe looks delicious.
Lavender Honey ice cream is my favorite flavor. I get it from a local creamery, but there are plenty of recipes online. I'm looking forward to making a Lavender Polenta Cake I came across recently. It has pine nuts and lavender buds on top and looks gorgeous.
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I just bought rhubarb for the first time and can't wait to use it. Your crisp looks great. I don't have lavendar but I imagine it would still be good without it.
And that pasta! I can't imagine anything mroe delicious. The cutesy name made me think of Rachael Ray. She would love it.
I've nvr ad lavender in my food nor have I tried fava beans! Would love to try those one day!
So impressed with your continued use of new foods. Also, I did not know that Brick workouts referred to the feeling in your legs!
Your Pasta w/Favas, Shiitakes & Spicy Chix Sausage sounds absolutely tempting.
I think you and I have some of the same vices... eating too fast, eating til we're stuffed, etc.
I guess it's just a good thing we're super active :)
Nice job on the magical fruit and beans :)
Coconut milk ice-cream...I couldn't really concentrate after that. :)
Ooh I've never tried fava beans! They look great.
Weird- I just tried fava beans for the first time yesterday! They had them mixed with tomatoes and chickpeas at a Mediterranean restaurant.
Hmm, lavender... I've had a chocolate bar w/ lavender (Dagoba, I think), so maybe incorporating it into something similar- choco cake or frosting?
I don't really like flowery tastes in my food. Love smelling them though:)I do enjoy fava beans...yum!
Glad you're back and that you enjoyed using your new pan!!
I haven't had fava beans before, but they look oh so good in that pasta! Do they come shelled? :)
You could make a lavender infused baklava? A lavender infused ice cream?
Fava beans? Have not had those for a while...the one that you feature looks great...and lavender crisp? Sounds terrific...yummie!
I love fava beans! (Cooked, though :))
lavender crisp! How creative and amazing! Have you ever tried lavender bread?
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