Home-Made Crystallised Flowers - Violets
I love all manner of preserves, and crystallising flowers is a very therapeutic pastime if you have an hour to spare and some suitable flowers in your garden! Crystallised flowers add a touch of elegance to all manner of cakes, large and small. I love to decorate Fairy Cakes with them; they are also stunning on an Easter or Mothering Sunday Simnel Cake as well. Please make sure you take time to read my warning below about toxic flowers, and if in doubt - DO NOT use them PLEASE! Flowers that are suitable for crystallising are:
Violets;
Nasturtiums;
Lavender flowers;
Rose petals;
Small rosebuds;
Small mint leaves;
Rosemary flowers and
Primrose flowers.
In this recipe, I have stipulated violets, these are my favourite flowers to preserve, and as I have so many growing in the garden each spring, I try to make enough to last me through Easter and beyond. They will keep quite happily in an airtight tin, in a cool, dry and dark place, for about 2 months. Oh yes, they look wonderful on trifles and sweet tarts too! -- posted by
French Tart http://www.recipezaar.com/216296
