Look At This!

So, check him out!  Any ideas?  Can you even Begin to guess what this guy is?  Maybe you already know and are just skimming along, waiting for me to cut to the chase.  If so, just give me a minute.  I will give you Hints.  It’s the flower of a culinary herb.  It is often associated with sweet items, although lamb is also a classic pairing.  The leaves are often used in teas.  And you can’t make a mojito without it.  Got it?  It’s…………..Mint!  How cool do his little flowers look?

Here’s how I discovered these guys.  I did Absolutely Nothing, and then they just happened.  When we moved into The Beautiful House, we inherited many herbs planted in many places around the property–cilantro, lavender, rosemary, thyme, oregano, etc.  And mint.  Planted in two or three places.  Mint is Crafty and will grow just about anywhere, jumping into beds (!) with other little guys who are just minding their own business.  Mint is a Gigolo.  What I mean to say is, we had A Very Lot of mint.  Some of it was growing in the front next to the stone steps, and it was getting all Leggy and yellow-ish and Unattractive.  So, I cut it way back.  Some of the guys who weren’t tall and leggy enough to fall to my blade continued growing.  They got tall and taller, and then the newer leaves started coming in all purple and then little bract-like structures began to form.  They were purple, too.  And then:  crazy flowers happened!

Yes, I know.  Plants flower, and it’s not really a big deal, but I’d never seen mint flower, and I guess I just never really thought about it.  And they’re so pretty!  So, what did I do with them, you ask?  I ate one, of course.  And I made The Beloved eat one, too.  And guess what?!  They taste like mint!  Not all green and minty like the leaves, but a very subtle, peppery minty.  The flowers themselves didn’t taste like much on my tongue, but they released their Minty Essence so that my mouth tasted like clean, not-at-all-sweet mint.  Yay!  Plus, they are Lovely.

Of course, this opens up a whole world of possibilities for minty flowery snacks and beverages.  Here’s my list, so far:

Steep them in ice cream base for subtley minty ice cream.  If they don’t turn Odd Colors, leave them in when you churn it.
Use as a straight-up garnish on any Item containing mint–sweet or savory.  I think they’d be lovely tossed with some sweet peas.  What do you think?
Muddle them into beverages, both kid-friendly and Frosty Adult Beverages.
Dry the flowers, crumble them and roll them into tart dough or maybe shortbread dough.  Butter mint, anyone?
Add them to a refreshing granita mix before freezing.
Steep them in cold water, maybe with some cucumber slices.  Serve over ice.

When I actually do one or more of these Items, I will let you know how it goes.  I just had to share how pretty and tasty and how Full of Possibility these little flowers are.  That is all; we now return you to your regular programming.