[Photograph: Max Falkowitz] Like lavender, hyssop really comes into its own with desserts. Dried leaves can be infused into any water-based liquid, unlocking their full flavor. I wanted to take advantage of sponge cake's high water content to carry hyssop's... More

Lavender is a surprisingly versatile dessert ingredient with a strong affinity to cream. It's a love-it-or-hate-it kind of herb, but the creaminess subdues its at-times overwhelming intensity. Hyssop has largely fallen out of Western culinary use, which is a shame given its long history dating back to ancient times. Fortunately it's increasingly common in gardens and at farmers' markets. More