Geranium Cooler Recipes

SCENTED GERANIUM POUND CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees with rack in center. Spray two 9-by-4 1/2-by-2 3/4-inch loaf pans with cooking spray; line with parchment. Arrange geranium leaves, with tops facing down, along bottom and around sides of pan. Set aside.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat butter and sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes. Sift together flour and baking powder. With the mixer set on low, add yolks one at a time to butter-and-sugar mixture, alternating with flour mixture.
• With the mixer set on medium speed, beat in vanilla, then cream. Batter will be thick. Transfer batter to a large mixing bowl. Set aside.
• Place egg whites in a medium nonreactive bowl and, with an electric hand mixer, whip egg whites to stiff peaks. Using a rubber spatula, stir about one-quarter of the egg whites into batter to lighten. Fold in remaining whites.
• Carefully spoon batter into prepared pans. (Additional leaves may be arranged on top of batter if desired.) Run a knife blade through batter a few times to remove air bubbles. Bake until a cake tester comes out clean, 80 to 90 minutes. Let cool on wire rack, 1 to 1 1/2 hours, then remove from pans.

VIRGINIA'S REFRESHING GERANIUM TEA COOLER

Steps:

• Pour 1/2 pint of boiling water over all ingredients; cover and infuse for five minutes.
• Sweeten to taste, perhaps with honey.
• Strain, cool and chill; serve over crushed ice with a leaf in each glass.

BERRIES WITH GERANIUM CREAM

Steps:

• Heat cream, geranium leaves, and sugar in a metal bowl set over a pot of simmering water, stirring until sugar is dissolved and cream is hot but not boiling, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and cool slightly, then chill until cold, about 45 minutes.
• Pour cream through a sieve set into a bowl and discard solids.
• Beat together cream cheese and cream in a bowl with an electric mixer until thickened (cream should not hold peaks), about 2 minutes.
• Divide blackberries and blueberries among 6 bowls or parfait glasses and top with cream.

GERANIUM COOLER

Steps:

• Pour 1 cup boiling water over all the ingredients, cover for five minutes.
• Sweeten to taste.
• Strain, cool and chill, and serve over crushed ice.
• Garnish with leaf in each glass.