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.
Laura
Your kitten is a pillow pet.
Sue
Love the lavender! We have oodles of it growing, and I harvest it every year. Hubby makes organic lavender-honey ice cream, which is fab with everything. I like to add a sprinkle wherever I think I can get away with it :)
And my favorite man-smell is the barbeque. If they could put that in a bottle, I’d be utterly defenseless!
Tanvi @ The Hathi Cooks
I was gifted a body wash that smells exactly like fresh baked vanilla cake with vanilla frosting (i know, overly specific, but if you smell it that’s what you would say!). It makes me hungry when I shower. It’s a bit of a problem, actually, because it gets my sweet tooth going first thing in the morning!
The scones look absolutely wonderful. I love the sprinkle of lavender flowers in the glaze!
jomamma
OK, I read the first comment about the bacon soap and didn’t get past that. My husband would have proposed immediately on the spot if I’d had bacon soap in my apartment. You know the surest way to a man’s heart is to slide in on some bacon grease. Seriously, just buy some manly soap and leave it in the bathroom, you don’t have to say anything. If you do want to say something, just say “I thought you’d rather smell more like a guy than a flower, so I do have some guy soap.” He’ll just think you are very considerate.
Manhanna
Here! here! I agree. Just put the mansoap in the shower and forget about it. Don’t over think it. P.S. I’d buy a mansoap that I that gave me a reason to cuddle closer too. Just saying.
joythebaker
mansoap purchased. mansoap in shower.
Zoe
Now that’s what I’m talking about!! Gotta not only have sweet smelling things in your kitchen…you gotta have em in your bed too!! ;)
Kirsten
Great recipe! Fluffy kitty-kitty!!!!
Just buy a bottle of gender-neutral body wash, like Ivory, and keep it in your shower. It’s subtle and not too forward because it could be just another one of yours!
rachel h.
i am a fan of handsome handed man. a fan of scones. walnuts. & lavender in sweet things.
also, i hope one of your conditioners smell like honey & coconut, because mine does, and it rules.
also, i recommend mint & cypress smelling things for the handsome handed men of this world. i just do.
Katie of Cabbage Ranch
By the time he’s using your shower occasionally (or regularly), it’s ok to stock with man soap. My gentleman and I both love Yardley’s Oatmeal soap. It’s awesome. And it has oatmeal, which makes it kinda baking-esque… Yes?
Ellen W
My husband is a simple Irish Springs guy – we buy it in bulk at Costco. We’ve always had separate shampoo, conditioners and body wash/soap. Love the lavender in baked goods.
Zoe
Man soap. Love it.
I have to say that when Erik moved in I had never had so many products in my bathroom. This man was a product whore…totally funny. Cocoa butter body lotion, carrot shampoo and conditioner, herb hair pomade…face cream…face wash…you name it.
However, he always used ‘man’ body wash…and I could never get enough of the smell of it…when he showered, post shower, and throughout the day – it stuck to him….and I loved it. And the guy always has the softest skin.
He’s gotta be doing something right I thought.
Now, I have to admit something embarrassing…
I started using it, using his man soap…so I could keep that wonderful smell of my man with me – in the shower, and throughout MY day.
It’s kind of like wearing his shirt to bed. That sort of thing.
Now, perhaps shamefully (as a woman) – it’s all I use in the shower. And I love it.
Don’t judge.
Alyssa Goodnight
I’ve yet to try lavender in food form…seems like it might be time. And I love anything with a sweet, runny glaze…
anniem
I think a bar of man soup with a little ribbon around it is a funny/cute not-overly-forward gift to give a gentleman friend who’s using your shower. Particularly if either of you have already made a crack about the overabundance of lady fragrances. Particularly particularly if you leave it in the shower where he’s sure to find it.
Alex @ fightcancerwithfood
You have a handsome-handed man using your shower; the tough bit is done. The soap will find it’s way there on it’s own, I’m sure. These things are magical like that.
Laura
Love this comment! So true :)
homegrown countrygirl
True that. Nice comment, Alex@fightcancerwithfood.
Emily @ Wardrobe Block
I don’t want to alarm you, but… your cat has turned into a cushion.
Amber
I was totally thinking the same thing! I though maybe she had purchased a ginger rug.
Snowpea
I just came her to post that: that the kitten appears to have been transformed into a cushion. A very attractive cushion that suits that chair very well.
sarah
you should just switch over to Dr. Bonner’s liquid soap cause it’s awesome, can be unisex and has 18 different uses! https://www.drugstore.com/dr-bronners-18-in-1-hemp-pure-castile-soap-peppermint/qxp40925?fromsrch=bronner! Peppermint is my favorite. They also have organic rose and lavender, but that kind of defeats the purpose.
Thanks for the scone recipe, they look delicious and i want to have an English Tea party now.
Gabrielle
Love that stuff!
SoMDBaker
Joy, try the bait and switch technique. I found bacon soap at papersource.com which can be the bait. Then when you give it to him*after he finishes laughing at your wit* you pull the man soap out and say something to the effect of, “Just in case smelling like bacon makes you want to gnaw on your arm, I got you some soap that a little less destructive.”
Then, you’ve passed the purchase off as a gift, while you assist in defrilling the shower situation.
Double the benefits!