Herby Cookies

Bay LeavesDid you know that this week is National Herb Week ?  Herbs contain a wealth of health-boosting properties and it is unfortunate that most Americans use fresh herbs so little in our cooking.  With so many of us relying on pre-packaged, frozen and ready made meals, our food is a bit anemic when it comes to fresh herbs and their nutrients.

When you think of herbs, you might not automatically reach for the cookie recipe book, but you can create a wonderful variety of sweet to savory cookies using herbs such as rosemary (great for preventing headaches), spearmint (a wonderful digestive aid) and many more.

The official 'Herb of 2009' is Bay, a subtle, aromatic leaf used in many soups and stews in the Mediterranean and the Middle East.  Bay Leaf is thought to be a stimulant,  and is also an anti-fungal and anti-bacterial.

I have to admit that I struggled to find, or concoct a tasty cookie recipe using Bay (although if you boil some water with a few Bay leaves and then add that water to any bread or roll mix you will be thrilled with the subtle and fragrant taste!)  Instead,  here is a great cookie recipe using another herb which you might not think to pop into a sweet snack:  Lavender.

Although mostly used in scents and essential oils as a relaxation aid, Lavender is also great for the digestive system,  making it an ideal addition to food.  These cookies are light and sweet, and you can add more lavender to taste if you find the proportions in this recipe don't pack the flavor punch you are looking for.

Lavender Sugar Cookies  (makes 12 cookies)

• 5/8 cup butter
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 tablespoon lavender flowers
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup colored sugar for decoration (optional)
• 1 tablespoon lavender flowers (You can also use dried lavender if you do not have fresh,  and chopped lavender leaves will work too.)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
Grease cookie sheets.
Cream together the butter and sugar.
Beat the egg, and blend into the butter and sugar.
Mix in the lavender flowers and the flour.
Drop batter by teaspoonfuls onto cookie sheets.
Bake 15 to 20 minutes, or until golden.
Remove cookies to cooling racks, and sprinkle with decorative sugar and additional lavender flowers if desired.   Or you can pop over to the Cookie Blog and try out their great recipe for Lavender Icing .

Basic sugar cookies can be enhanced by using a variety of herbs, from traditional choices such as ginger and cardamon to more unusual herbs like chicory,  or rosehip.  You might have to experiment a bit to find a good balance for what herbs work better with sweet, and which with a more savory cookie,  but once you have hit upon a recipe that you like,  it is bound to become a signature recipe, for it's originality.  Find a recipe using a herb specifically chosen to relieve an ailment that you or a loved one suffers from and your cookies will be doubly delightful!