What to do with "Flower Pepper"

[PotatoPuff]

I couldn't resist buying Trader Joes's newest spice grinder filled with black peppercorns, rose petals, lavender, and cornflower... so now what do I use it for?

[miukat]

Just got this yesterday and am equally excited! I used it in a ratatouille-type dish of summer squash, tomatoes, zucchini and mushrooms. I think it would be at home with any dish that calls for herbs de provence with some addition of some fresh herbs, like marjoram, rosemary, basil and oregano.

[PotatoPuff]

Miukat - were you still able to taste the rose and lavandar in the ratatouille? I feel like the tomatoes might overpower it...

[miukat]

Definitely the lavender. There's quite a bit of pepper in the mix, too. The rest of the florals were negotiable in that dish, but I really wanted the lavender and I didn't have any on hand. Hope that helps :D

[PotatoPuff]

can you ever buy just straight dried lavandar in a grinder? I've never seen it anywhere

[Vetter]

Definitely, but I don't think it's normally sold in a grinder. Here are some sources from my neck of the woods:
http://www.jardindusoleil.com/product-store/in-the-kitchen http://www.portwilliamslavender.com/culinary.shtml
http://www.pelindabalavender.com/prod... (I like their teas)

[PotatoPuff]

are there any veggies that this might complement?

[bushwickgirl]

This pepper mix would be nice on green mixed salads with some cornflower or rose petals as a salad component, roast poultry, especially quail and duck, and even sweet desserts, a vanilla or orange panna cotta or other similar custard, or grilled or roasted stone fruits. I'd also be very willing to add it to scones or biscuits.

As far as savory desserts go, maybe a savory goat cheesecake or a savory cheese filled crepe, or ground liberally on some fresh figs with chevre and drizzled with honey.

I'm not sure how much flavor the cornflower adds to your pepper mix, the petals are rather bland tasting, but do add a nice blue color when steeped for tea or in vodka.

[PotatoPuff]

wow thanks bushwickgirl! I'm LOVING the vodka idea, and the figs, maybe some marscarpone?

what type of salad do you think would be good with rose and cornflower?

[bushwickgirl]

Mascarpone, absolutely.

A mix of any hearty field greens, Arugula or Romaine, radishes, scallions or red onions, strawberries, thinly shaved or shredded zucchini, shredded or thinly sliced baby beets, the sweeter grape or other red or yellow cherry type tomatoes, cucumbers, citrus segments, like orange, slices of kumquat or star fruit, parsley, small amounts of mint, cilantro or basil as herbs, poached shrimp or chicken as a protein, cashews, pine nuts or almonds, lots of options.

A light olive oil and lemon or orange poppy seed dressing would be a good choice to finish the salad with.

Let us know what you come up with. Enjoy!

[PotatoPuff]

wow thanks so much bushwickgirl!!!!! i'm really excited to try this!

[PotatoPuff]

so I tried putting it in a salad, but this mix is really peppery, and you end up losing the floral notes in a salad. Basically the salad was really peppery, and the floral notes were barely discernable.

[wattacetti]

Savory dessert? Shellfish? Kinda depends on the taste.

[PotatoPuff]

so shellfish are out for religious reasons, but what type of savory dessert would you suggest?