This article is written by a student writer from the Spoon University at Virginia Tech chapter.

Lavender, which is well known for its gentle purple color and sweet fragrance, has powerful calming effects. Research shows that it can be a useful remedy for a variety of ailments, including insomnia, anxiety, depression, pain, and fatigue. However, it is probably more familiar to you as a bathroom product than as a kitchen herb.

Since you’ve most likely come across it in various shampoos, soaps, and fragrances, you probably wouldn’t associate it as something you would put in your mouth. However, ingenious foodies around the world have turned the delicate flower into somewhat of a trend.

Lavender is the equivalent to a foodie’s magical pixie dust, with the capability to turn even the plainest of foods into dainty Provençal treats. So if you’re seriously stressing about school or work or money (or all of the above), check out these perfectly plucked lavender recipes. Who knows? Maybe even just the sheer prettiness of this list will put your mind at ease.

1. Lavender Simple Syrup

Photo courtesy of gardentherapy.ca

If you’re looking for a quick and easy way to make use of fresh or dried lavender buds, making a simple syrup is the way to go. This recipe from Garden Therapy only calls for sugar and lavender, and the resulting syrup can be drizzled over pancakes, swirled into ice cream, or mixed into craft drinks.