Catherine Love~ Ramblings from my Heart and Home

Lemon Verbena Sweet Biscuits

This recipe is from a favorite herb book of mine:  Along the Garden Path by Bill and Sylvia Varney, owners of the Fredericksburg Herb Farm.

Lemon Verbena Sweet Biscuits

1 6 in. sprig of Lemon Verbena

1/4 cup sugar

2 cups flour

Grated zest of 1 lemon

1 tablespoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup cold unsalted butter, grated

1 egg, beaten

1/4 to 1/2 cup half-and-half

Melted butter

Sugar to taste

Mince lemon verbena with sugar in food processor.  Combine sugar mixture, flour, lemon zest, baking powder and salt in large bowl;  mix well.  Stir in grated butter until crumbly.  Add egg and enough half-and-half to create dough; mix well.  Turn out onto lightly floured surface.  Knead until smooth.  Roll 1/2 inch thick.  Cut with floured biscuit cutter or cookie cutter.  Place on baking sheet.  Bake at 425 degrees for 15 minutes.  Remove from oven.  Brush hot biscuits lightly with melted butter; sprinkle with sugar.

Yields 12 biscuits

Now for my little tweaks and substitutions...

1.  Try a different herb- lemon balm, rosemary, mint, lavender, etc.

2.  I wouldn't grate the butter, just cut it in with a pastry blender like making regular biscuits.

3.  Substitute whole wheat flour for white.

4.  Use cane juice crystals or Sucanat instead of white sugar; or drizzle with honey. 

5.  Add some finely chopped nuts to the batter.

I think these will be wonderful with a cup of

Lemon Verbena tea!

Enjoy!

YUM!

9:19 AM, Saturday, April 22, 2006 .. Posted by GrandmaRosie

Lemon Verbena is my #1 all time favorite herb. I could lay in it and roll around. I will have to try this for sure!!