Lavender Lemonade #recipe by Mia P. Manansala @MPMtheWriter

In my last post (lavender simple syrup recipe), I mentioned that I wasn’t usually a fan of floral flavors, but the lavender chai latte at Brewpoint Craft in Oak Park, IL, changed my mind. While I still plan on sharing my version of that delicious drink, the weather in the Chicagoland area has been so humid, that the thought of a hot drink is less than welcome right now. So I figured I’d share another lavender-based drink that I fell in love with at Brewpoint Craft: Blended lavender lemonade!

Writing on my Alphasmart Neo 2 at Brewpoint Cafe, with a hard seltzer, blender lavender lemonade, and cheese plate to sustain me

I love blended drinks (give me a blended margarita over a margarita on the rocks any day), and the slushie texture of this drink makes it extra fun and refreshing. I love the combination of lemon and lavender, and (blended or not) this drink would make a wonderful addition to a summertime picnic or tea party.

Blended Lavender Lemonade

Yield: one 12oz drink

Ingredients:

Juice of one small lemon (about 2-3 TBSP)

2 TBSP of lavender simple syrup (recipe here)

Ice

Filtered water

Directions:

1. Add the lemon juice and lavender simple syrup to a blender cup. 
2. Add about 4-6oz of water (½-⅔ cup) and 1-2 big handfuls of ice.
3. Blend the mixture until all big pieces of ice are broken up and the texture is slushie.
4. You can also leave the mixture unblended and just shake the drink vigorously in a lidded container until the drink is cold.
5. Enjoy! 

I’ve got at least two more lavender drink recipes to share with you (the simple syrup lasts for at least a week, if not more, if kept covered in the fridge), so make sure to pick up some culinary grade dried lavender soon! What are your favorite lemonade recipes? Let me know in the comments!

Cast of characters (I only used one lemon)

Add juice of one small lemon, 2 TBSP lavender simple syrup, and about 6oz water to a blender cup.

Add one to two big handfuls of ice.

Blend until mixture is slushy.

Enjoy!

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One of BuzzFeed’s Highly Anticipated Mystery Novels of 2021!

 

The first book in a new culinary cozy series full of sharp humor and delectable dishes—one that might just be killer….

 

When Lila Macapagal moves back home to recover from a horrible breakup, her life seems to be following all the typical rom-com tropes. She’s tasked with saving her Tita Rosie’s failing restaurant, and she has to deal with a group of matchmaking aunties who shower her with love and judgment. But when a notoriously nasty food critic (who happens to be her ex-boyfriend) drops dead moments after a confrontation with Lila, her life quickly swerves from a Nora Ephron romp to an Agatha Christie case.

 

With the cops treating her like she’s the one and only suspect, and the shady landlord looking to finally kick the Macapagal family out and resell the storefront, Lila’s left with no choice but to conduct her own investigation. Armed with the nosy auntie network, her barista best bud, and her trusted Dachshund, Longanisa, Lila takes on this tasty, twisted case and soon finds her own neck on the chopping block…

Order

Order from my local indies for signed, personalized copies:  

The Book Table (Oak Park, IL) 

Centuries & Sleuths (Forest Park, IL)

Lavender Simple Syrup #recipe by Mia P. Manansala @MPMtheWriter

I’m not a big fan of floral flavors. I enjoy jasmine tea and black tea with a hint of rose. I’ve had Jeni’s wildberry lavender ice cream and it was super delicious. But in general, a lot of the floral treats I’ve had reminded me of potpourri because the floral notes were very heavy-handed, particularly the lavender-flavored treats. So I didn’t expect a lavender chai latte to become one of my absolute favorite drinks, until it was recommended to me by the owner of Brewpoint Craft Oak Park.

Melissa, the Brewpoint Craft owner, is a fellow Filipino American and she was kind enough to meet me for an interview since I’ve been doing research on what it’s like to own and run a cafe for my Tita Rosie’s Kitchen Mystery Series. Brewpoint Craft has an extensive drink menu (as well as cocktails and charcuterie!), so I asked her what she recommended. She told me people come from all over just for their lavender chai latte with oat milk. I decided to give it a shot and fell in love. Since then, I’ve been trying to recreate it at home, and I started with the lavender simple syrup, which can be the base for many fun drinks. Keep an eye on this space because I’ll be sharing many of my drink experiments here!

Lavender Simple Syrup Recipe

Yield: about one cup (8oz)

Ingredients:

1 cup white sugar

1 cup water

1 heaping TBSP culinary grade dried lavender

Directions:

1. Add the sugar and water to a medium saucepan and bring to a boil, stirring occasionally.
2. Once the sugar is fully dissolved, add the lavender and turn off the heat.
3. Let the syrup steep for 30-60 minutes, depending on how strong you want the flavor.
4. Strain into a clean jar and discard the lavender buds.
5. Enjoy in a variety of drinks!

Cast of Characters

Add sugar and water to a saucepan.

Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally until sugar is dissolved.

Add a heaping tablespoon of dried lavender to the simple syrup.

Turn off the heat and let the lavender steep for 30-60 minutes, to your desired strength.

Strain the mixture into a clean glass jar (I used a tea strainer).

Your lavender simple syrup is now ready! Use it to sweeten anything that could benefit from a hint of floral sweetness, such as coffee, tea, lemonade, and seltzer water.

How do you feel about floral flavors? Do you have a favorite floral drink or treat? Let me know in the comments!

If you liked this recipe, make sure you sign up for my newsletter! I include a Filipino-themed recipe every month, as well as giveaways and book recommendations!

 

One of BuzzFeed’s Highly Anticipated Mystery Novels of 2021!

 

The first book in a new culinary cozy series full of sharp humor and delectable dishes—one that might just be killer….

 

When Lila Macapagal moves back home to recover from a horrible breakup, her life seems to be following all the typical rom-com tropes. She’s tasked with saving her Tita Rosie’s failing restaurant, and she has to deal with a group of matchmaking aunties who shower her with love and judgment. But when a notoriously nasty food critic (who happens to be her ex-boyfriend) drops dead moments after a confrontation with Lila, her life quickly swerves from a Nora Ephron romp to an Agatha Christie case.

 

With the cops treating her like she’s the one and only suspect, and the shady landlord looking to finally kick the Macapagal family out and resell the storefront, Lila’s left with no choice but to conduct her own investigation. Armed with the nosy auntie network, her barista best bud, and her trusted Dachshund, Longanisa, Lila takes on this tasty, twisted case and soon finds her own neck on the chopping block…

Order

Order from my local indies for signed, personalized copies:  

The Book Table (Oak Park, IL) 

Centuries & Sleuths (Forest Park, IL)