My one impulse buy at the Little Italy Farmer's Market was a ten ounce jar of Praline Patisserie's Lavender Caramel Sauce for a whopping (for me) US$8.00. The vendor at the stand was waving caramel samples in my face and I am a big sucker for caramel. The lavender was fragrant and floral in my mouth so I had to have it. She said that the caramel sauce has a shelf-life of about 3 months unopened before it starts to separate.
I forgot about my guilty pleasure after sticking it in the back of my pantry to save for a good time. More than 3 months had passed and the caramel already started to separate. It was time to break it out. After opening, a good mix with a chopstick brought the suspension of pure cane sugar, cream, glucose, butter, dried organic lavender, and sea salt back together.
The jar states, "Each batch of our artisan caramel is watched closely as it develops the rich amber color & complex flavors we are known for. The perfect care for an aching sweet tooth, it is great on anything from apples to ice cream and you'll probably want to eat it straight from the jar!"
Opening the jar, the silky, sticky, gooey caramel was bursting with the aroma of lavender mingling with the sweet caramel. It tasted even more decadent and indulgent than it smelled. The texture was smooth and thick. The caramel flavors hit first and are equally balanced by the lavender, which lingers on your tongue. The lavender caramel was great with apples, but it was even better to eat out of the jar. Just pluge your finger in the soft goodness and roll it around your tongue making sure the flavors spread to every taste bud dotting your tongue. I think most of the jar disappeared this way. Oh yes, pour that sugar in me. That lavender caramel is so divine you cannot resist a lick of it.
Praline Patisserie. Find them at one of San Diego's farmer's markets. PralinePatisserie.com.
