Violet Syrup

 

I found a recipe for violet syrup on the web, and thought it would be a fun project to do with the children. While it ended up that their role was to watch as I carried out all of the steps, it was a captivating process and they did get to participate completely in the consumption of the final product -which they

enthusiastically approved of.

I had planned on having them pick the violets, but when the landscaping truck came through the neighborhood to mow the lawn (or so I thought), Ms Lianne and I rushed out to pick as fast we could before they were chopped up. 
After the flowers steeped in the boiled water for 2 hours the water was a gorgeous teal green.  This was then simmered with sugar until it became syrupy.  A couple tablespoons of lemon juice added in, immediately turned the syrup into a fabulous pink - (well my practice batch at home turned fabulous pink - but with the kids I must have put too much lemon, so it turned a pleasant peachy pink color...so much for practicing ahead).  Taste tests of hot syrupy sweetness all around - yum!  A few scoops of vanilla ice cream added to the delight, but the finishing touch was supplied by Mother Nature as a surprise downpour and thunder storm rolled overhead and made the screen porch  more snug and cozy than ever.

~ Savoring the season,
Grace