lavender martini

INGREDIENTS
Ice
1 1/2 ounces vanilla vodka
1/4 ounce fresh lemon juice
1/4 ounce club soda
1/4 ounce Lavender Syrup
1 fresh lavender sprig
DIRECTIONS
Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add the vodka, lemon juice and Lavender Syrup and shake well. Strain into a chilled martini glass and garnish with the lavender sprig.

Lavender Syrup
INGREDIENTS
3 ounces Simple Syrup
2 teaspoons dried lavender
DIRECTIONS
In a small saucepan, heat the Simple Syrup. Add the dried lavender, then remove from the heat. Let cool, strain and refrigerate, covered, for up to 5 days.

Simple Syrup
1 cup sugar
1 cup water
DIRECTIONS
In a small saucepan, bring sugar and water to a boil; simmer until the sugar is dissolved, 3 minutes. Remove from the heat and let cool completely.

MAKE AHEAD
The syrup can be refrigerated in a glass jar for up to 1 month.

From Cypress

Spa Treatment Cocktail

from: ice box bar

Baked Acorn Squash with Brown Sugar and Butter

Recipes courtesy Paula Deen, 2007

Prep Time:10 minInactive Prep Time:--Cook Time:1 hr 0 min
Level:
Easy
Serves:
2 servings

Ingredients
1 acorn squash, cut in 1/2
2 tablespoons brown sugar
2 tablespoons butter, softened
2 tablespoons maple syrup
Salt
Freshly ground black pepper
Directions
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

Scoop the seeds and stringy pulp out of the squash cavities and discard. In a small mixing bowl, combine the brown sugar, butter, syrup and salt and pepper, to taste. Rub the squash cavities and cut sides of the squash with the butter mixture and place them on a baking sheet, cut side up. Bake in the preheated oven for about 1 hour until the squash is tender when pierced with a fork. Serve 1 half per person.

From food network