LAVENDER MUFFINS

makes 12 muffins

What You Need

Here’s How

Preheat your oven to 200ºC (400ºF,Gas Mark 6). Grease a muffin tin well with butter. (You can line it with muffin papers if you like.) Blend the apple with the orange zest, the water, the Soya milk in a food processor or blender. Mix together in a bowl the oat bran, baking powder, sugar and cinnamon. Then pour the ingredients from the blender into the bowl and add the lavender. Mix well by hand, adding some extra oat bran if needed to give you a firm, not a runny consistency, then let sit for 10 minutes to thicken. Pour the mixture into the muffin tin and bake at the top of the oven for 15–18 minutes until they start to turn gold. Turn them upside down on a wire rack to cool. Serve immediately or pop into an airtight container. They will keep for 3–4 days. Be sure they are absolutely cool before storing or they will become soggy from the residual moisture.

Lavender is the queen of great European herbs. The very best for eating is English lavender Lavandula angustifolia or Lavendula vera. It is hardier than the French lavender with its blunt, narrow, grey-green leaves. It also has the finest fragrance and flavor. Lots of legends surround lavender, especially in relation to its protective properties. The Kabyle women in North Africa, for instance, believe that it protects a woman from abuse by her husband. In Tuscany lavender is still used to protect children from the dangers of the evil eye. However you use it – to fragrance your laundry or improve the flavor. and beauty of muffins, the fragrant flowers of this shrubby plant soothes the body, calms the mind and strengthens the spirit. Put lavender together with oat bran and you have a wonderful combination. Oat bran is the outer layer of the oat groat – the hulled whole kernel. It helps lower blood cholesterol, probably because it boasts a higher percentage of water-soluble fiber than any other cereal grain bran. Oat bran also appears to be useful in clearing various substances from the body that can contribute to high blood cholesterol levels. These muffins are rich in fiber yet contain no wheat. They go well with teas, herb teas and instant liquid breakfasts. They are beautiful served with a sprig or two of fresh lavender flowers in summer.