The Gardenia Fritters!

A stock photo - photographer Unknown ~

Although, my mind might forget many a thing, it will never forget my Aunts and their love for life. They were spicy, daring and ever so feisty!  One of my sweetest memories of them is how they all had a passionate love for gardenias.  On very special occasions they would adorn themselves with a single, delicate gardenia.  I can vividly recall them wearing the tender flower on their wrists, between their breasts, or simply at the nape of their necks.  Sometimes they would wear a gardenia for no particular reason at all, except, that it was a soft summer night.  Perhaps, it brought out some secret stirrings of romance in them.  They were just wonderful that way!  That is why, Dear Zingertalers, I was so excited to share this recipe for Gardenia Fritters that I was able to uncover and discover from THE FLOWER COOKERY by Lenore Woodring Smith!

Gardenia Fritters
1/2 bottle of beer (6 ounces)
1/2 cup flour
1 teaspoon sugar
A pinch of salt
1 cup of gardenia petals
Powdered sugar

Combine the beer, flour, sugar, and salt and let stand for 3 hours or more.

Wash and dry the gardenia petals, dip in powdered sugar, then into the batter and cook in deep oil ( I like to use hazelnut or walnut oil) at 375 F, until golden.

To serve, sprinkle with powdered sugar, cinnamon sugar, or grand Mariner. Serve a spot of tea or coffee, to that special someone on a romantic night as the gardenia is a symbol of "secret untold love!"

LAST BIT OF ODD AND END ~ The gardenia was named for Dr. Alexander Garden, an eighteenth-century naturalist and physican.