Backyard Wildcrafting_Sweet Violet

 

Sunday morning I was outside planting candytuft, filling bird feeders, and enjoying the sunshine and warmth of the day. Right now my yard is full of all kinds of blooming weeds, which I find really very pretty. Anyways, while I was filling a bird feeder with sunflower seeds,  I took notice of all the pretty little violets in bloom around me, which got me to thinking about what I could make with them. Maybe a syrup? So, I picked all the little violet flowers I could and ended up with about one cup. Not enough to make syrup, but then I thought I could try making sugared violets. Yes...that sounds good! And that's what I ended up making with my violets. They are a bit fussy to make, but well worth it. And they taste really good too, with or without the sugar. These little beauties will be decorating a cake in the near future.

 

Sugared Violets

unsprayed (no chemicals) violets, stems still attached
sugar
egg white plus 1 tsp water whisked together (room temp)
or

I used meringue powder (2 tsp powder mixed with 2 Tbsp water = 1 egg white) 

small brush
wax paper
wire rack

Gently wash your violets in a colander with a water spray.  Dry them on some paper towel. Lay a piece of wax paper over your wire rack for the sugared violets to rest on. Paint each flower with the egg white, front and back, or you could dip them in the egg and shake off the excess. This is a bit tedious...you will have to experiment and find what works best for you. Sprinkle each flower with sugar, covering all parts. Shake off excess sugar.  Break off stem and set sugared violets to dry on wax paper. Let them set out to dry for 24 to 48 hours. Store them in an air tight container. If you layer them, be sure to use wax or parchment paper in between layers so they will not stick together. Store in a cool, dry spot, out of direct light. Use within a couple of months.

 

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