A Little Help?

I never go to the grocery store with lists.

I’m sure it would make perfect sense to write out everything I plan to cook in the near future and purchase the necessary ingredients, but it’s just not me. I’d much rather go to the store, wander around, and grab everything that looks new and exciting, supermarket sweep style. While thrilling, this method has its drawbacks, as I often return home only to realize that I have 40 food items and not one complete meal.

This, of course, is how I end up cooking things like duck bacon-zucchini-tomato-pine nut tortellini. But sometimes I get home from the food co-op and realize I’ve bought something that I really have no idea how to work with.

A few weeks ago, I returned with a little baggie of organic lavender flower, a splurge purchase from the spice aisle that I am completely clueless about. When I google it, all I get is info about soap, so I’m really gonna need some help here, ES readers.

What does one cook with lavender? Do I stir it into tea? Is it a baking thing? Could I make some kind of rub for pork? Does it play well with other spices? Is it even a spice? Any input/recipes/crazy ideas would be much appreciated, and I promise to pursue the best idea and report back.