A Valentine Favor

Type the recipe for the Tomato Dill Bisque on your computer and print on a card. Bisque recipe is in previous post. Combine the spices for the bisque in a cellophane bag purchased from a craft store. Use a hole punch to punch a hole in your recipe card. Attach bag with soup spices to your card with decorative ribbon. Place at each setting.

Tomato Dill Bisque

This delicious soup says "Happy Valentine's Day!

Tomato Dill Bisque

3/4 C onion,chopped
3 (14 oz) cans diced tomatoes
1-1 1/2 t salt
2 T dried parsley
1/4 C butter
3 C chicken stock
1/2 C half & half
3/4 t dill seed
1 t dill weed
1/2 t white pepper
1 t oregano
1/4 C honey
1/4 C flour

Saute onion in butter. Add flour and spices. Stir in tomatoes, parsley and chicken stock. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes. Add honey, and cream, and blend in blender until smooth. Return to pan to warm or place in crock pot on low. Do not boil. Serve

Make heart crouton by using heart shape cookie cutter. Cut heart from your choice of bread. Toast both sides under broiler. You can make these ahead and keep in sealed container.

This easy, delicious recipe and others found in "Teatime in Gettysburg" and "Lunchtime in Gettysburg".

Chocolate Truffle Tea Cookies

These Chocolate Truffle Cookies are a yummy treat for teatime and would also be a delicious treat for Valentine's Day. They are similar to the Mexican Wedding Teacakes only the chocolate
version.

Chocolate Truffle Tea Cookies

1 C butter, softened
1/2 C powdered sugar
1 oz melted unsweetened chocolate, melted & cooled
1 1/2 t vanilla
2 1/4 C flour
1/4 t salt
1 C semi-sweet chocolate chips


Cream butter & sugar. Mix in cooled chocolate and vanilla. Slowly blend in flour. Add chocolate chips. Roll into 1" balls and bake on parchment paper covered cookie sheet at 375 for 10-12 minutes or until set. When cookies are cooled completely, mix 2T baking cocoa & 1/4 C powdered sugar & roll cookies in mixture. Makes 3-4 dozen cookies.
2 1/2 Delicious served with Chocolate Mint tea.

National Hot Tea Month

Please choose your cup and join me for a comfy cup of hot tea on this frigid cold winter day. We will raise our cups to toast National Hot Tea Month and the healthy boost tea gives us.

What kind of tea do you prefer, black, oolong, green, white, pu-erh, rooibos or herbal? I enjoy black flavored and non flavored, although I do drink other teas as well. I'm always ready to try a new tea. This afternoon I'm sipping Sabers & Roses, a black flavored tea flavored with lemon and scented with roses. It is a perfect afternoon tea.

Please share which cup you would like and what kind of tea I may pour for your. Happy sipping...
(You can enlarge the picture by clicking on the photo.)

New Year's Lucky Food

Many people eat certain foods New Year's Day for good luck. What you eat generally depends on what part on the country you live in. Here in south central Pennsylvania eating sauerkraut and pork on New Year's Day for good luck throughout the coming year is very popular. My family didn't enjoy sauerkraut until I introduced them to this recipe for Christmas Kraut. It is now traditional holiday fare at our home.

Christmas Kraut

2 16 oz cans of sauerkraut, rinsed & drained
1 14 oz can of chopped tomatoes with juice
1 cup packed brown sugar

6 slices well cooked bacon, crumbled (you can add a little of the bacon grease, if you like)

Mix together well and bake at 350 for about an hour. Serves 6-8.

Enjoy... Wishing you all a very healthy, lucky and tea filled Happy New Year!