Honey Lavender Chicken

The chicken has a sweet, earthy flavor for a light main dish.

Honey Lavender Chicken

Ingredients
3 pounds chicken tenderloins
1/4 cup honey, plus more for glaze
2 teaspoons dried culinary lavender
6 tablespoons olive oil
8 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper

Directions
Combine olive oil, honey, lavender, minced garlic, salt and pepper in a small bowl. Pour over the chicken and marinate for at least 30 minutes.

Preheat over to 375.

Arrange chicken on a greased baking sheet. Cook for 20 to 25 minutes. Brush with extra honey and cook for 5 minutes until chicken is cooked through.

Carrots with Browned Honey Butter and Lavender

The sweetness of the honey brings out the flavor of the carrots for a delicious side dish.

Carrots with Honey Butter and Lavender

Ingredients
1 pound carrots, sliced lengthwise
8 ounces butter, softened
1/4 cup honey
1/2 teaspoon lavender

Directions
Preheat oven to 375.

Place carrots to a sheet pan. Whip together the butter, honey and lavender in a food processor or mixer. Top with honey butter.

Cook carrots and butter in preheated oven for 5 minutes. Stir the carrots in the butter. Cook for for 10 to 15 minutes more, until carrots are tender. 

Nectar of Olympus

Flavorful and balanced

Nectar of Olympus

Ingredients
1 1/2 ounces gin
1/2 ounce elderflower liqueur
1/2 ounce lemon juice
1/2 ounce honey syrup
2 dashes orange bitters

Directions
Combine gin, elderflower liqueur, lemon juice, honey syrup and orange bitter in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake until well chilled and strain into a glass. Garnish with a lemon twist.

Mirkwood Enchanted Forest Cocktail

Fruity and bright

Mirkwood Enchanted Forest Cocktail

Ingredients
6 ounces pomegranate juice
1 ounce vodka
2 ounces orange liqueur
Dry ice, for garnish

Directions

Combine pomegranate juice, vodka and orange liqueur in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake until well chilled. Strain into cocktail glasses. Drop a small chunk of dry ice for garnish.

Italian Meatballs

Tasty and easy to prepare.

Italian Meatballs

Ingredients
1 pound ground beef
1/2 pound ground pork
1 tablespoon olive oil 
1 small onion, finely diced
3 garlic cloves minced
1 egg, whisked
3 tablespoons parsley, finely chopped
1/4 cup parmesan, grated, plus more to serve
2 tablespoon tomato paste
2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1/2 teaspoon paprika
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1 32 ounce jar marinara sauce

Directions
Preheat the oven to 400. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.

Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil to a non-stick skillet. Add onions and sauté for 3 to 4 minutes until soft. Add the garlic for 1 minute until fragrant.

In a large bowl, mix ground beef, ground pork, egg, parsley, parmesan, tomato puree, Italian seasoning, paprika, salt and pepper with the cooked onion as well as all other the ingredients 

Roll the meat mixture into 24 meatballs and place on prepared baking tray. Bake for about 20 minutes or until cooked to your liking. Heat marinara sauce in a large pot. Ad meatballs and stir gently. Serve over pasta.

Miruvor Cocktail

Sweet, light and potent

Miruvor Cocktail

Ingredients
For honey simple syrup:
1/2 cup honey
1/2 cup water

For cocktail:
1 1/2 ounces mead
1 ounce gin
1/2 ounce elderflower liqueur
1/2 ounce honey simple syrup
1/2 ounce lemon juice

Directions
For honey simple syrup, in a small saucepan combine the honey and water. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, stirring until the honey has dissolved. Let cool completely before using. 

In a cocktail shaker with ice add the mead, gin, elderflower liqueur, honey simple syrup and lemon juice. Shake until well chilled. Strain into a coupe glass and enjoy!

Eye of Sauron Cocktail

Refreshing and light 

Eye of Sauron Cocktail

Ingredients
1 ounce gin
3/4 ounce elderflower liqueur
1/2 ounce lime juice
1 ounce blood orange juice
2 1/2 ounces ginger ale
Blood orange slice, for garnish
Maraschino cherry, for garnish

Directions
Combine gin, elderflower liqueur, lime juice and orange juice in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake until well chilled. Strain mixture into a double rocks glass with fresh ice and top with ginger ale. Garnish with a slice of blood orange speared with a cherry.