Teacup Cupcake

What you will need.:

Your favorite scratch cake recipe or favorite cake mix

Frosting, prepared or purchased

Small flower shaped sugar cookies

Small jelly beans

Green chewy fruit snack

Paper doily

Wax paper

Prepare cupcakes and place on doily covered dessert plate to frost.  To keep doily frosting free, cut 2 pieces of wax paper to be placed between cupcake and doily.  Frost cupcake.  Make flower and leaf design with jelly beans and green fruit snack leaves on both sides of cupcake.  Insert flower shaped cookie on side of cupcake for teacup handle.  Very gently remove wax paper, one piece at at time.  Serve and enjoy!
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Four Lily Soup

There are no lilies in this delicious soup.  However, the sweet onion, red onion, shallots, garlic, and the Easter Lily all belong to the same lily family.

What you will need:
1/2 large sweet onion, sliced
1 small red onion, sliced
10  oz. shallots, sliced
1 small bulb of garlic, peeled
1/4 C olive oil
2 1/2 C chicken broth
1 1/2 t chopped fresh thyme
1 C heavy crem
1/2 t salt
1/4 t pepper

Toss onions, garlic, and shallots with olive oil.  Roast at 325  in preheated oven for 45 minutes to 1 hour.  Mix in blender with broth until smooth. Heat until simmer.  Blend in cream and seasonings.  Simmer until soup is thoroughly heated.  Garnish with croutons, fresh parsley, and grated Swiss cheese.

Making Scones with A Great Pastry Blender

Making scones is easy with this great pastry blender.  This was one of  our favorite tools in the tearoom kitchen.  It makes short work of blending the butter into your dry ingredients to the consistency of coarse oatmeal.  For us it worked much for efficiently than the pastry blenders with thin wires.  Be sure to use cold butter that has been cut into small pieces.  And remember the secret to delicious scones is not to overwork the dough!  Please view the video below to see how it is done.

You Tube How to Make Irish Soda Bread Scones

Irish Soda Bread Scones

Enjoy these delicious Irish Soda Bread Scones with clotted cream and your favorite cup of Irish tea.  Scones are baked at 375 for 15-20 minutes.  They are ready when tops are browned and an inserted toothpick comes out clean.  See previous post for video on how to make these.  Recipe found in "Teatime in Gettysburg".

An Irish Blessing:  May your blessings outnumber the shamrocks that grow, and may trouble avoid  you wherever you go.  Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Chunky Chicken Salad with A Little Touch of Green

Chunky Chicken Salad with A Little Touch of Green

The peas, parsley and dill give the chicken salad "a little touch of green".

You will need:

1 C cooked, diced chicken breast

1/2 C diced, peeled apples or 1/2 C dried cherries

2 T minced onion 

1/4 C celery

1/4 C pecans or walnuts

1 t dill

1/2 T parsley

1/2 C frozen peas

1/4 C low fat mayonnaise

1 package puff pastry sheets

Mix all ingredients.  Chill.  Cut circles from puff pastry sheets with biscuit cutter.  Bake according to package directions. Slice puff pastry sheet rounds in half.   Serve chicken salad on pastry sheet rounds.

How to Keep Your Pot of Tea Hot

 

Over The Top Tea Cozy

Are you looking for a solution to keeping your tea hot while you enjoy your "tea time"?  First, be sure to warm your teapot before brewing.  Fill your teapot with boiling water for a few minutes before use.  Discard this water before brewing your tea.

After you finish brewing your tea, top with a tea cozy.  The tea cozy  provides one solution that at the same time enhances the beauty and interest of "tea time". 

                                          Hug-A-Pot Tea Cozy                           

There are several types of tea cozies. Two of the most popular are over the top and hug-a-pot cozies.  The first is placed over the teapot after brewing.  Brewing your tea with the tea cozy on is not recommended.  It causes the tea to become over brewed and become bitter.  The tea cozy is removed when the tea is poured.  Hug-a-pot cozies are tied onto the teapot after the tea is brewed.  There is no need for removal when the tea is poured.

Gold Colored Metal Tea Warmer

Tea warmers are another solution.  A tea light candle is placed in the tea warmer and the teapot sits on top.  Tea warmers are available in many shapes, sizes and materials.

Using a tea cozy or tea warmer can enhance your "tea time" and enables you to savor the warmth, beauty, and serenity that happens during those moments we linger over a pot of  tea...a refreshing, replenishing, respite beneficial to our well-being.

Do you use a tea cozy or a tea warmer to keep your pot of tea hot?