The Halifax Food Bloggers (find us on Facebook or Pinterest!) are doing a monthly “challenge,” whereby we all make or sample some foods based on a theme and then blog about it.

This month’s theme is FRESH!

I couldn’t think of anything fresher than mint.  Which is pretty darn fresh.  So, I guess I hit that nail on the head, no?

I also recently picked up some culinary lavender from my local Farmer’s Market, along with a bag of fresh (fresh!) mint, so I decided to make this simple syrup.  I’ve been thoroughly enjoying it with tonic water in a tasty, refreshing (fresh again!  get it?) drink as spring springs outside my windows.

Here’s what you need:

2 cups water

2 cups white sugar

1/4 cup dried lavender flowers

1/4 cup fresh mint leaves, torn

Here’s what you do:

Combine all the ingredients in a pot over medium heat.  Stir constantly until the sugar has dissolved – this takes about 2 minutes.  Don’t let the mixture boil!

Remove the mixture from the heat and allow to cool before using a strainer and/or cheesecloth to strain out the lavender flowers and mint.

Serve mixed with sparkling water, over ice cream, as pancake syrup…the list of possibilities is endless!

Recipe courtesy of http://seasonsfromscratch.blogspot.ca/2012/04/lavender-flower-and-mint-simple-syrup.html