Linderhof


Gardening, Cooking and Decorating on the Prairie of Kansas


Welcome to Linderhof, our 1920's home on the prairie, where there's usually something in the oven, flowers in the garden for tabletops and herbs in the garden for cooking. Where, when company comes, the teapot is always on and there are cookies and cakes to share in the larder.

Tuesday, June 13, 2017

A Late Spring Ritual


In February, I plant pansies in the garden
I adore pansies
They're the flower that smiles back at you!


They thrive in the armillary planter in the herb garden
(I've added some Indian summer petunias a few weeks ago -- that's the yellow)

But, alas, with the heat they begin to grow leggy . . . 
Pansies don't like heat!
They're a spring and fall plant on the prairie

My ritual . . . candying them


I harvest a tray full -- all shapes, colors, sizes


With a bowl of egg white and a saucer of sugar, a couple of brushes used just for this ritual,
and a parchment lined tray

I paint egg white on the pansies and then dip them in the sugar


And lay them on the parchment paper to dry

Why?


To decorate cakes and cupcakes in the winter

The armillary . . . . 


In it's summer mode --
this year, the Indian Summer petunias
And some deep purple salvia


7 comments:

Chronica Domus said...

Oh, I've not sugared pansies in years so thanks for the reminder of what to do when they begin to wilt in summer's heat. Do you do anything besides sugaring them to preserve them through winter? I've always had need to use them immediately and never even considered storing them.

Martha said...

I put them in a tin layered with waxed or parchment paper. Sometimes I lose a few petals so only have half a pansy but if I'm putting it on top of a cupcake, I often can "piece" it together so it's not really a loss.

Jimy said...

I also like panises and had them planted in my garden in my previous house. I miss them so much. Your idea for their use in decorating cup cakes is brilliant. Good idea and thanks for sharing.

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I place them in a tin layered with a wax or material paper. Once in a while I lose a few petals, accordingly just half pansy happens yet in the event that I keep it on a cupcake, at that point I can "piece" it together, so it isn't generally hurt.

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