So Succulent Gardens

Last night I was invited to a Christmas tea, so what is a better way to introduce a roomful of ladies to eat some  lavender flowers.   I told my daughter and my neighbor who  invited us, do not let anyone know who made the lavender flower cookies just in case they were horrible.   GOOD NEWS! my bowl was empty at the end of the night, so that was a good sign?  Make a day ahead so the lavender can perfume the baked dough.  See my note BELOW on a great idea to fill the local food bank.

LAVENDER SUGAR COOKIES

• 4 -5 dozen
• 2 1/4 cups sugar
• 1 cup shortening
• 1 cup sour cream
• 3 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 8 drops French Lavender (Lavender angustifolia) from blossom farm
• Essential  Oils  Do not use lavender intermedia!
• 5 cups flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 Tablespoon Royal Lavender Flower Buds (from Blossom farm of course)
  

Cream sugar and shortning. Add sour cream, eggs, and Lavender EO/vanilla. Mix well.

In a separate bowl, mix flour, baking soda, lavender and salt.
Add to creamed mixture until well blended. Remember, the more you mix, the tougher your dough will be.

Chill for a few hours (at least 3-4). The dough will be soft and slightly sticky.

Roll out (I use a floured pastry cloth), and cut with a cookie cutter. Flour cutter between each cookie to prevent sticking. How I did it- I rolled in balls and flatten with bottom of glass.
Bake at 350 degrees for 10  minutes. Cookies shouldn't be brown, just done to the touch.

FROSTING

• 2 lbs. powdered sugar
  
• 1 cup butter
• 1/2 cup water
  
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla.
  
• I used purple food dye

Just mix ingredients until smooth.

This was a nice idea for a ladies church group - one person adopts a table of 8, brought their best china, tablecloths, tea bags, honey, sugar, and decorates the table with beautiful things from home, some ladies brought a special little gift or fruit or cheese tray for their table guests.  Everyone invited brings their favorite (3 dozen) cookies, and canned food for the local food bank....  Leftover cookies are used for other groups at the church....  We had a wonderful guest speaker and was a wonderful ladies night out, for the young and us old gals.