Chocolate Lavender Brownies

Lavender is a wonderful herb with its purple flowers and calming scent. Of course it can be dried and made into soaps and sachets, but it it can also be used in cooking and baking. These brownies are rich and fudge-like with just a hint of lavender flavor. Use a spice or coffee grinder to mix the buds with the sugar.

1 teaspoon dried culinary lavender buds ground with 3 T sugar
1 3/4 cups flour
1/2 to 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon espresso or instant coffee powder
1 1/2 cups butter softened
4 eggs 
3 cups sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 cup walnuts 
Sift dry ingredients; melt butter and cool then add sugar, eggs and vanilla in large bowl. Slowly add dry ingredients, then stir in nuts. Bake 13" x 9" greased pan and bake at 325 degrees about 45 minutes. Toothpick inserted in center should come out mostly clean. Cool before cutting.