How diplomatic is your shower?
Do you have minty unisex soaps? Do you have pleasant, not completely feminine smelling shampoo?
Do you hide the pumice stone in the bathroom cabinet? What’s going on with the face wash situation? Does it smell like… you know, soap?
I might have an issue. I’m rocking gardenia body wash, crazy flower town shampoo, an excessive variety of hair conditioners, lavender soap, and rose face wash. It’s a lady paradise. Truly.
… and I’ve noticed that not a drop of my lady products are used when a certain handsome-handed gentleman I know uses my shower.
I might need to get him some man soap. When do you buy a man mansoap ? Is that too forward? Oh gracious….
I suppose some people prefer to eat their lavender as opposed to bathing in it.
Wait. I’m certainly not complaining. I’ll keep the expensive lady’s paradise to myself… I’m just not sure about the timing of man soap.
I’ll totally share my lavender… in scone form.
**Update. Mansoap purchased. Mansoap in shower. No biggie. Done and done.
I think lavender is just pretty.
In food form, lavender is more fragrant that flavorful. It adds a delicate sophistication to the scones.
Soapy? Perfume? Yes… if you add too much.
1 tablespoon of lavender is the perfect amount. Oh! Toasted walnuts too! The toasted nuts really bring these scones back down to earth. I love what the crunch and toasty flavor add to the scones.
Ps. I’m pretty sure this kitten is not a kitten anymore.
Honey glaze… because we’re just trying to pretend like it’s tea time… and I like glaze on everything.
Look how pretty this is!
These scones are buttery and flaky. They won’t flatten and spread while baking. Great texture and a unique fragrant nature.
Make them for yourself. Feel fancy.
Lavender and Toasted Walnut Scones
makes 8 biscuits
For the Biscuits:
1 tablespoon dried lavender
1/2 cup walnut pieces
3 cups all-purpose flour
3 tablespoon granulated sugar
4 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
3/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, cold, cut into small cubes
1 large egg
3/4 cup buttermilk, cold
For the Glaze:
1 cup powdered sugar, sifted
1 tablespoon honey
1 tablespoon milk
Place racks in the center and upper third of the oven and preheat to 425 degrees F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Set aside.
Using a spice grinder, a mortar and pestle, or a clean cutting board and the back of a knife, grind or press the dried lavender. We just want to break it up into slightly smaller pieces and bring out the essential oil and the fragrance.
Place walnut pieces on a baking sheet and place in the oven. Toast for about 5 minutes, until slightly browned and fragrant. Remove from the oven. Cool completely. Chop coarsely and set aside.
In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Add lavender. Add cold butter and, using your fingers, work the butter into the flour mixture. Work quickly to incorporate the butter into the flour. The butter bits will be the size of small pebbles and oat flakes.
Whisk together egg and buttermilk.
Toss the walnut into the dry ingredient mixture, and create a small well in the center of the flour and butter mixture. Pour in the buttermilk, all at once, and use a fork to incorporate the ingredients. Make sure that all of the flour bits are moistened by the egg and buttermilk.
Dump the shaggy dough onto a lightly floured work surface. Bring together, kneading lightly, until the dough forms a 1-inch thick rectangle. Use a knife to cut the dough into 8 equal pieces. Place on the baking sheet.
Brush biscuit tops with buttermilk and baker for 12 to 15 minutes, until lightly browned on top and firm-ish in the center. Let cool until almost entirely cool before topping with glaze.
To make the glaze, whisk together powdered sugar, honey, and milk. Whisk until smooth. Drizzle scones with glaze and sprinkle with a bit more lavender.
Scones are best served the day they’re made, thought they’re still delicious the second day.
Samantha @ Bikini Birthday
I like the taste of lavender in cooking both savory and sweet but dessert recipes wth lavender are hard to come by. Thanks for sharing this one. I’ll add it to my list of recipes to try .
moesha in mn
I say wait until he mentions it. 1. if he smells girly, it lets other women know that he’s obviously taken, 2. you know it’s a smell that you like. We didn’t have any problems with soap, but I didn’t wait until my husband said something about not wanting to smell girly to switch my lovely lavendar and flowery laundry detergent. I miss my lavendar laundry detergent some days.
Charlotte
I like the thought of letting others know he’s taken… gardenia body wash, staking my territory!
Megan S.
I’m with you on the shower situation. I went through that line of thought myself a few years back. Now, hubby makes his requests known. But then? I subtly changed my wonderful coconut shampoo to a mint one in a non-girlie bottle, and he started using it… I also told him subtly early on in the night that I was trying a new mint shampoo and wanted to see what he thought about it. (aka – use it, please!)
Erica
I’d go for something unisex first. You mention minty soap, and that is my favorite. A few years back I found spearmint shampoo by the healing garden and have been in love with mint lotions and body washes ever since. Maybe you could first try something like that, that is less girly, and if he’s into it you can go for some of the manly things that you would never touch. Also, head and shoulders… I hear men use that, and the commercials have women on them, so he’ll totally think you could use it too (but he may get the impression that you have a dandruff issue). Oh the complications of love.
Mandy@Withmilkandflour
I think men secretly like to use womens shower products, as they are more pretty and nicer smelling than mens stuff! These scones look amazing, very ladylike!
Alicia @ Treble Tart
You know, I was just looking for a delicious new scone recipe to try, and I think you’ve hit the nail on the head for me, Joy! :) Thank you for that.
As for the soap, you can’t go wrong with Axe! My hubby swears by it, and they have some that’s actually body wash/shampoo/conditioner ALL IN ONE! Crazy, I know.
Dina
Well, my shower is used by me and my wife, soooo…. ;)
Jenny
Buy cheap, efficient, unisex body wash. Something by Dial. Then buy equally unisex clarifying shampoo. You should use clarifying shampoo ever once in awhile anyway. Done. Blam.
Cali
My guy was too nice to say anything about the girly soaps at the start when in fact he’s super particular! Next time you’re at his place you should see if he has a particular kind of soap in his shower… (Or what’d he take to hawaii??) You can make it’s presence known in the most schmaltzy or utilitarian way you like.
coffeeaddict
The way to go is to introduce a totally vegan, organic, fragrance free, etc. shower gel and if he gives you a quizzical look you can always say you’ve recently become very environment conscious. Accompanied by a big smile, of course.
And we are (ahem, I am) dying of curiosity.
Irma
I think your cat is turning into a cushion. About the shower situation, my dad loves “lavandery toiletry stuff” but I think he’s one of a kind. If you are not sure if it’s too early for proper man soap get something neutral, I don’t know what you’ve got in the States, you will have to find something that doesn’t scream “Girlie!” neither “I bought this for you!”
elisha ;)
methinks the cushion-shaped cat may have gotten a hold of some baked goods! yum! My cats are so VERY spoiled…does he climb up on you and paw at your cereal bowl yet and spill the milk on your lap? k, just sayin’…
Neha
These look so so good!!
As for the shower situation, if it helps him smell pretty (erm. I mean…macho..) and he’s okay with that, then it’s a non-issue! :)
Rachel
So elegant and delicate – what a cool idea to bake with lavender. ( I too am obsessed, I have lavender scenting things in all my drawers.) Thank you! Hope you had a nice vacation xoxo
Lauren at Keep It Sweet
I just love the sound of lavender anything, it sounds like it should instantly make you feel calm ha. These look delish!
cate
I’m going to plant a lavender tomorrow so that I can make these… also some of the lavender and white chocolate cookies and lavender punch I used to make in a previous life. Thanks for reminding me of them!
As for the shower situation, my husband just uses whats there (essential oils, but not overly floral). He lives with 5 girls though, so I guess home is not the place to assert his masculinity.