We just sent out our newsletter, as we anticipate Spring, watching the snow fall around the hills in our beautiful valley. I had the opportunity to relive one of my favorite memories and speak a bit about my beautiful Grandmother, Lucille. She was diagnosed with Dementia many years ago. When I visited her at the assisted living home, I always carried a bottle of Lavender essential oil with me. To help bring calming peace into her room, I would apply a few drops to a ceramic diffuser, that I hung up on a light switch next to her bed. She always liked to look her best (as all ladies do), so I would brush her hair, and curl it with a tiny curling iron, and just take my time with giving her a loving touch. Spending time with her, seeing her smile, and loving on her, brought us both much joy.

Sometimes I would apply a few drops to the hand cream by her bed, and give her a hand & arm massage, and rub the cream with oil, onto the back of her neck and shoulders. It always calmed her down, and helped her sleep more restfully.

I loved my Grandmother Lucille (Lucy), and will hold her in my heart forever. <3

This light and easy sweetheart cake has a fresh amazing flavor of citrus and lavender. The perfect dessert for your sweetie on Valentine’s Day.  :)

Happy Valentine’s Day..Make every day a celebration of the heart!

LIGHT AND EASY “SWEETHEART” CHIFFON CAKE

2 medium lemons

1 large orange

1 cup cake flour

¾ cup sugar

1 ½ tsp baking powder

1 Tablespoon culinary Lavender “Signature Blend”,English

¼ tsp salt

2 Tablespoons oil

1 tsp vanilla extract

4 large egg yolks

8 large egg whites

½ tsp cream of tartar

*Citrus Glaze (below)

1 cup whipped cream

Lavender & orange peel

For garnish

1. From lemons, grate peel and squeeze 1/4 cup juice. From orange, grate peel and squeeze 1/4 cup juice.

2. Mix together in a large bowl: cake flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. In small bowl, with wire whisk, beat lemon juice, orange juice, 2 tsp lemon/orange peel, lavender, oil, vanilla extract, and egg yolks. Beat yolk mixture into flour mixture until well blended.

3. Preheat oven to 325’F. In large bowl, with mixer at high speed, beat egg whites and cream of tartar until stiff peaks form; gently fold egg-white mixture into batter just until blended. Pour batter evenly into 2, 9-inch heart-shaped cake pans, ungreased, lined with parchment paper, (or use 9-inch round cake pans).

4. Bake 20 minutes or until golden and tops of cakes spring back when lightly touched with finger. Cool cake layers in pans on wire racks 10 minutes. With metal spatula, carefully loosen cakes from pans; cool completely on racks.

5. Prepare Citrus Glaze.

6. Place 1 cake layer on cake plate; spread with whipped topping. Top with second cake layer. Spread Citrus Glaze on top of cake, allowing glaze to run down side of cake and spreading glaze to cover side.

7. To serve, sprinkle extra orange peel and lavender to garnish your cake. Makes 12 servings.

Citrus Glaze: In small bowl, mix 2 cups confectioners’ sugar, 2 tablespoons lemon juice, 1 tablespoon orange juice, 2 tsp grated lemon/orange peel, 1 tsp vanilla, and dash salt. Add additional drops of juice if needed, to give glaze a smooth spreading consistency. Serve with homemade Lavender/Vanilla Ice Cream, or whipped cream ) Enjoy!

With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, this is the time for expressing and celebrating love of all kinds. I like to get crafty and make Valentine’s for my special loves. Think Crafts and Wikipedia have some lovely Valentine ideas. I love the little vintage card that says, “I’m PLUM crazy about you Valentine”. My cards will say…”I’m Lovender crazy for you” These handmade Valentine’s can be elaborate in detail, or simply made.  Even the novice can have fun being creative, and designing them with a few special words from your heart <3. That’s what it’s all about.

After creating the cards, it’s time to make special treats. These treats will be “healthy” junk food made with all natural ingredients! The one good thing about these treats, is that they are extremely easy to make!  My sweetie once told me, “If you loved me, you’d make me Rice Krispy Treats“! Well….these treats say, “I Love You, this much”!! <3 And they will be enjoyed with a cup of  Chai Lavender Mate.

Now let’s set the mood with the “soft glow of love” from one of my Valentine Faves, our 100% natural Soy Candles, infused with our lovely lavender essential oil.

Happy Valentine’s Day, spread your love around to others!