Lavender Cheesecake Squares

Finally! I've been waiting to make this tasty little variation on one of my favorite cheesecake bars for some time now. As far as I'm concerned, there's nothing about creamy, tangy cheese and zesty lemon that a little hint of lavender can't just tip over the edge into full-on deliciousness. The sweet, floral notes of the lavender perfectly compliment everything that's going on in this little bar--it's nice enough for an after dinner sweet and simple enough for a little decadent bright spot after breakfast on a rainy spring day. Not that I'd know anything about eating cheesecake for breakfast. Not me. 

Lemon-Lavender Tea Cookies

I come from a long line of tea drinkers. More specifically, I come from a line of Red Rose tea drinkers. As early as I can remember, as soon as it hit about 7pm my parents would begin their daily ritual of making tea, forgetting it on the counter, then chipperly setting about making more. We Cains rarely vary in our tea tastes. My sister Piper has shirked tradition somewhat by embracing the more radical realm of PG Tips, but I remain steadfast in my loyalty to Red Rose. In fact, it's gotten to the point where one of my boyfriend's favorite jokes is:

Peter: What are you up to?
Me: Drinking tea.
Peter: Oh yeah? What kind?
(proceeds to chuckle heartily to himself for a minute and a half)

Get it? Because I only drink one kind of tea.

But the glorious thing about even the most devoted one-tea people is that we nevertheless embrace all sorts of accoutrements to go along with our daily cup--the odd scone, piece of toast, crumpet, you name it. And when it comes to tea cookies...well, guys, I don't think tea cookies get much more perfect than this.