woensdag 27 mei 2009

Darjeeling Chai Oatmeal

http://www.teachef.com/images2/recipe_photos/423.jpg
Submitted by: Kelly Brainard

Oatmeal cooked with Darjeeling and chai spices.

Ingredients:
3 Tablespoons Darjeeling #22
2 1/2 Cups boiling water
3/4 Cup McCann's Steel Cut Quick & Easy Oats
1/4 Teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 Teaspoon ground cardamom
1/4 Teaspoon ground black pepper
1/4 Teaspoon ground ginger powder
1/4 Teaspoon sea salt
pinch ground cloves
2 pieces whole star anise
1 Teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 cup honey (to taste)
Milk for serving

Directions:
Brew very strong darjeeling with the tea and water, steep less that 5 minutes to avoid bitterness.
Put 2 1/4 cups of the tea in a saucepan, bring to boil and add oatmeal and then spices, stir.
Cover and reduce heat to low, stir occasionally for 5-7 minutes. Add honey to taste.
Serve with plenty of milk!

maandag 25 mei 2009

With thanks to Brenda Coulter

Preparing and Serving

A Proper An English bone china teapot stands ready to serve an elegant afternoon tea.
Afternoon Tea


Afternoon tea is a wonderful way to entertain because virtually all of the work can be done in advance. Even the sandwiches can be made a couple of hours ahead and kept, covered with a damp tea towel, in the refrigerator until needed. If you plan carefully, there's no reason why you can't have an hourlong soak in the tub before your guests arrive. You'll be wonderfully relaxed and you'll enjoy your tea party as much as your guests will.

Remember, afternoon tea is all about fun, both for your guests and for you. So don't sweat the details. Do the best you can with whatever you have to work with, and you'll have a wonderful party.

You may wish to begin with a small party, inviting just two or three women friends. But be warned: when you and your guests find out how much fun this is, you'll want to make a habit of it!

Now you have all sorts of decisions to make, and part of the fun is in the planning. So strain your brain and get creative. Ready?


When and where will you serve the tea?

The traditional time for afternoon tea is anywhere between 3:30 and 5:00. Any earlier is too close to lunch and anything later will require the more substantial "high" tea. (Which can also be quite elegant, but which will require you to provide an actual meal for your guests.)

I like to serve tea at 3:30 on a Sunday afternoon. That's when most of my friends are likely to be available. And since I enjoy inviting women only, I need to catch them well before their family dinner hours.

In winter you may choose to serve an intimate fireside tea. In the summer you might want to offer tea in your garden. I like the dining room for tea because it's easier to set and clear the table, but tea can be served just about anywhere. Just pick a pretty, comfortable spot. Make sure you have enough seating for your guests, plus plenty of table space, not just for displaying and serving your treats, but for the guests to rest their teacups and saucers. (Please don't expect your guests to balance a cup and saucer on one knee and a napkin and plate on the other! They'll be too worrried about accidents to have a good time.)


Let's talk about tablesettings.

Yes, you can set a pretty tea table on a tight budget. Just use your imagination and plan ahead. Scour flea markets for cheap treasures like old, slightly faded china cups and saucers, or maybe some cake plates. (I have seen English bone china cups and saucers go for as little as $12. If you collect teacups one at a time, as I did over a period of several years, it can become an inexpensive and satisfying hobby. You'll learn a lot about china as you scout for bargains.)

Don't be afraid to borrow your mom's linen napkins or your neighbor's cream-and-sugar set, or your best friend's treasured teaspoons. (You'll be inviting these ladies to the party, right?)

Your tea table is the perfect place to mix and match china and linens. There are no rules, except that you should always make it "pretty." I like to use crisp white linens and my white-on-white china luncheon plates because my teacups are all one-of-a-kind. The different sizes and shapes and floral patterns work beautifully against the white tablecloth, napkins, and plates.

Serving plates can also be mixed and matched. Vary their shapes and sizes and especially their heights to give your tea table a charming look. Also, consider lining your serving plates with paper doilies. They're inexpensive, and they'll dress up even an ordinary plate. (By the way, this is the only paper product I like to see on a tea table. Please don't use paper napkins, I don't care how pretty they are!)

Apart from a teapot, a sugar bowl, a creamer, and the serving dishes, you'll need the following: a cup and saucer, a teaspoon, a napkin, and a small plate for each guest. (Forks may be required, too, depending on what you serve, and knives will be needed for spreading jam on scones.)


What will you serve? (And how will you serve it?)

While afternoon tea fare can be as simple as a wedge of cake or a couple of cookies, it usually consists of three courses. Here is the proper order of service:

Begin by pouring a cup of tea for each of your guests. This is the part where you get to say fun things like, "one lump or two?" and "would you care for any lemon?" Add whatever is desired, then place a teaspoon on the saucer and pass the tea to your guest. (She gets to stir her own tea.)

When everyone has a cup of tea, pass plates of sandwiches and savory foods such as mini-quiches or tiny mushroom turnovers. Don't be in a hurry to offer seconds, as you won't want your guests to fill up before dessert, but be sure to pour more tea as needed. Teacups are usually quite small, and most people are used to drinking out of deep mugs.

When plates are empty, progress to the "bread" course, which is usually scones, although you might choose to offer some type of muffin or a not-too-sweet tea bread. Scones are always served with jam. Strawberry preserves are traditional, and have the advantage of being universally liked. You might also offer very thick, unsweetened whipped cream, the American version of that British treat, clotted cream. (Many specialty markets carry small jars of "Devonshire" cream in their dairy cases. It's expensive, but delicious. Try it if you have the chance.)

Next comes dessert, which traditionally includes one showstopping cake or torte--on a pedestal server if you can manage it--and two or three small, delectable sweets.

And that's it. Simple.

Be sure to have everything set out when your guests arrive. Not only will your friends enjoy looking at the treats, but you won't be dashing back and forth to the kitchen for any reason except to make another pot of tea. (Be prepared to make several pots of tea. Your guests will linger.)


Menu suggestions.

Remember that afternoon tea is a light refreshment, not a meal. It is not necessary to provide anything more than two or three sandwiches, some scones or perhaps a tea bread, and three or four sweets. Here is what I would suggest for a very simple, inexpensive, easy-to-prepare (but still elegant!) afternoon tea:


Brenda's Favorite Afternoon Tea Menu

Cucumber sandwiches
(on thin white bread, cut into hearts or circles)

Chicken-salad sandwiches
(on dark bread, cut into triangles or "fingers")

Scones with strawberry preserves & unsweetened whipped cream

Assorted cookies
Cheesecake squares or lemon bars
Chocolate-dipped strawberries or cherries
A frosted layer cake or fancy torte

Earl Grey tea


This will do nicely for a first tea party with three or four guests. Next time, and especially if you invite more guests, you may wish to expand the menu by adding another sandwich, some kind of savory pastry, a tray of beautiful petits fours, a dish of fine chocolates, and so on. Just remember to keep most of the offerings "sample-size." Sandwiches should be no more than two or three bites each. Cookies should be small and dainty.

If you don't bake or if you are pressed for time, check out the offerings at your local bakery and plan your menu accordingly. While "homemade" is certainly economical, purchased goodies can be just as much a treat. They often look fancier, too. (I generally use a combination of home-baked and bakery goods.)

Tea sandwiches are always crustless, and can be open-faced, if you like, with a pretty garnish on top. They are most often cut into triangles or "fingers," but you can use cookie cutters to make hearts and other interesting shapes. Be sure to use at least one white bread and one dark, for variety.

What kind of tea should you serve? Earl Grey is particularly well-suited to the light, sweet fare of afternoon tea, and most people enjoy it.


Three more things...

Are you concerned about wasting all those breadcrusts you're trimming for the tea sandwiches? Don't worry. They'll make a great bread pudding. Or you could toast them in a bit of olive oil with some garlic and make croutons for salad. And you can always turn them into breadcrumbs for meatloaves and casseroles.

Have you seen those adorable sugar cubes with tiny decorations on them? They're beautiful, but if you choose to serve them to your guests, be sure to try them out first. Although they're supposed to be edible, often the decoration doesn't dissolve, and you're left with awful little lumps in the bottom of your teacup. (And do think carefully about putting something like that on the table if you're not planning to put them in the tea. It's a little awkward to say, "Sorry, those are just for show.")

You've seen it a hundred times in those "Victorian" women's magazines: a split scone filled with jam and a generous dollop of luscious-looking cream, it's jaunty little "lid" perched deliciously on top. Yes, it looks wonderful, but just imagine biting into one of those things. (Where do the jam and cream go? All over you!) It is not correct to serve scones that way. Serve them plain, and allow your guests to split them and spread jam--and cream, if they like--on one half at a time.

zondag 17 mei 2009

Darjeeling Sugar Cookies

http://www.teachef.com/images2/recipe_photos/411.jpg
Submitted by: Fox Mackenzie

Delicious and easy, this recipe adds a little second-flush update to traditional sugar cookies.

Ingredients:
Sugar cookie mix (I use Betty Crocker brand)
1 stick butter, melted
Five heaping teaspoons darjeeling #22

Directions:
Melt butter in a bowl.
Pour three tablespoons of the darjeeling into the butter while still hot, allow to steep ten minutes.
In a large bowl, pour out the powdered mix, gradually adding the melted butter while holding back the tea with a slotted spoon.
Use a mortar and pestle (you can also chop fine with a knife or put tea in a ziploc bag and tap with a mallet) to grind the remaining two teaspoons of tea into a powder. Add tea powder to cookie mix and butter, stir well.
Make cookies as directed on package mix, cool, then eat - yummy and full of tea goodness!

zaterdag 16 mei 2009

Ceylon french toast

http://www.teachef.com/images2/recipe_photos/466.jpg
Submitted by: Genevieve Waters

This thick sliced French Toast, is soft and allows for a melding of Ceylon Sonata Tea and spices. Oh, and it is dairy free!

Ingredients:
2 fresh eggs
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/3 tsp fresh ground nutmeg
1/8 tsp allspice
1/3 tsp finely crushed Ceylon Sonata Tea leaves
1 tsp sugar (optional)
1/2 tsp Vanilla Extract
1/4 cup Vanilla soymilk
1/3 cup double strength Ceylon Sonata
Thickly sliced bread, depending on the size 3-6 slices (I use a 10 inch round of white bread, sliced about 3/4in thick).
A small amount of oil for coating pan( I use hazelnut).
Fresh fruit
Pure maple syrup

Directions:
Preheat a cast iron skillet to med heat.
In a dish wide enough to fit the bread, beat both eggs well.
Add cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, crushed tea, vanilla, and sugar.
Beat well.
Add double strength tea and soymilk.
Beat again.
Dip bread into mixture and flip once or twice.
Cook on a very lightly oiled cast iron skillet, about 3 min on each side or until cooked. Your stove may be different.

Top with fresh fruit and/or pure maple syrup.

woensdag 13 mei 2009

HoneyBush Biscuits

http://www.teachef.com/images2/recipe_photos/470.jpg
Submitted by: Michelle Fischer

the most delicious biscuits you'll ever try! Simple easy and enjoy! Just the right hint of honey flavor from the honey bush tea

Ingredients:
2 cup flour
4.5 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
4 tbsp butter or olive oil spread
1/3 very strong brew honeybush tea
1/3 buttermilk plus 2 tbsp

Directions:
Preheat oven 400

mix dry ingredients in bowl


In med bowl, cut up butter into small pieces
gradually mix in tea & buttermilk, careful not to over mix it, you want a flaky type biscuit

add dry ingredients slowly stir constant

If dough has pulled together into one soft ball then it's perfect. If not ass a tad bit more liquid to form that soft dough ball

gently knead on a well floured board or counter
roll out with fingertips to about 1/2 inch thickness or so.. cut into round shapes with cutter or be creative and cut out different shapes..
place on ungreased baking pan or sheet


Optional: sprinkle top of biscuit prior to baking with some honeybush tea crumbs from brewing if so desired

bake approx 12-15 mins depending on your oven until the top is slightly golden

serve warm and enjoy with your favorite tea!

dinsdag 12 mei 2009

cranberry/pumpkin bread



moist and delicious and great for breakfast.

Ingredients:
3 cups all-purpose flour
2 TBLSP pumpkin pie spice
2 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoons salt
2 1/2 cups granulated sugar
1 can (15 oz.) LIBBY'S® 100% Pure Pumpkin
4 large eggs
3/4 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup orange juice or water
1/4 cup very strong brewed cranberry tea
1 cup sweetened dried, fresh or frozen cranberries

Directions:
(makes 2 loaves )
Preheat oven to 350° F. Grease and flour two 9 x 5-inch loaf pans.

Combine flour, pumpkin pie spice, baking soda and salt in a large bowl.
Combine sugar, pumpkin, eggs, oil , tea and juice in another large mixer bowl, beat until just blended. Add pumpkin mixture to the flour mixture and stir just until blended. mix in the cranberries and pour into 2 loaf pans and bake.

Bake for 60 to 70 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans on wire racks for 15 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely.

vrijdag 8 mei 2009

Jasmine Bread Pudding


Delicious creamy Bread pudding with just a hint of Jasmine

Prep Time: 1 hour
Serving Size: 6-8
Ingredients

* 8-10 slices of bread cubed
* 2 can of Condensed milk
* 1/4 cup of jasmine tea
* 1/2 stick butter
* 1/2 cup whipping cream

Directions
lightly grease pan. Arrange bread slices. In a seperate bowl mix tea, jasmine and 1/4 cup whipping cream. Add liquid to bread. Bake in over at 350 degrees for 30-45 minutes.

Mix condsensed milk and remaining whipping cream and butter over heat until until bubbly. Poor over bread pudding to serve.
Delicious