springtime tea party

Tags

baking, china, eating, friends, garden, local bakery, rain, seasons, spring, tea

Tea to the English is really a picnic indoors.

~Alice Walker

spring has returned to my city–kind of. after a few days of glorious, sparkling, spring–the spring rain has returned with a vengeance.  but a romantic spring rain doesn’t dampen the fact that it IS spring, that flowers and herbs grow prolifically on my little patio, and that my strawberries and peas have blossoms that will turn into sweet peas and delectable strawberries.

and it is the perfect weather for a springtime tea party–an indoor picnic.

our little home doesn’t yet boast a dining room table that can be set for more than four. but a buffet style tea party means that my table is just big enough to set out all the necessary ingredients for a lovely tea. 8 of my lovely friends (including the youngest–only 3) joined me for a tea luncheon on a  lovely but rainy sunday afternoon. among our group were a variety of fascinating friends–an english professor, midwife, arts administrator, lawyer–and others working in education, with experience traveling, coming from different parts of the world–a good mix for interesting conversation. everything from birth to ghosts were discussed. and conversation was easy despite many meeting each other for the first time.

one lovely friend brought me the most wonderful gifts–a bottle opener shaped like a crown, and a beautiful paper crown covered in glitter! i had a good time wearing it.

we whiled away the afternoon drinking cup after cup of tea, and snacking on all kinds of tea treats. nothing can replace the pleasant company of easy friends–but a good menu can go a long way towards a good time. all in all, i made enough for 10 friends to enjoy tea, for under $50.00. and my lovely friends pitched in by bringing sparkling wine, juices, fruits, and crumpets. one of my friends who could not make it sent a jar of homemade raspberry jam that was beyond delicious!

rainy springtime tea luncheon menu

sandwiches

natural peanut butter and homemade raspberry jam (one trick is to leave the peanut butter out for a while before making the sandwich–so it will not tear the soft bread when you spread it)

curried chicken salad on french baguette slices from essential bakery  (the chicken salad i purchased from whole foods–the best)

vegan hummus and miniature heirloom tomato and homegrown chives on parisian baguettes from essential bakery (so easy! spread hummus on slices of baguettes, put three slices of different colored mini heirloom tomatoes in a row, then top with chives from your garden)

quintessential cucumber dill cream cheese sandwiches–a classic

assorted fruits

strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries

sliced and de-seeded watermelon

salad

a quinoa salad made of red and white quinoa, black beans, radish, cilantro, lime, olive oil, celery, and red onion–individual portions served in tea cups

scones and crumpets

freshly baked blueberry scones

freshly baked cranberry-orange scones (courtesy of my husband)

blueberry crumpets

plain crumpets

sweets

french truffles (ala trader joes)

orange blossom miniature doughnuts by mighty-o doughnuts

an assortment of miniature tarts from whole foods bakery including: key lime, lemon, berry, black berry, passion fruit, almond, and raspberry chocolate

teas

blood orange tissane (this herbal tea is bright fuchsia, and so fun for tea parties, apart from being delicious)

fairmont empress blend afternoon tea (my favorite)

beverages

mimosas

la serra moscato d’asti (an amazing sparkling white wine introduced to me by a tea party attendee)

condiments

sugar cubes (dissolve perfectly in hot tea)

natural brown sugar

local honey

homemade vanilla-satsuma spread (my husband’s)

homemade raspberry jam

whipped butter

cream

my best tea party yet, i’d have to say! and i am already looking forward to the next!

already dreaming of spring picnics

Tags

baking, eating, family, local bakery, rain, recipe, seasons, spring

Among the delights of Summer were picnics to the woods.
-Georg Brandes

i was the very happy recipient of a picnic time cambridge basket a mere few days ago. my very kind in-laws sent it to me in a huge package–and who doesn’t like to open boxes that come by post? i have to say i opened it with extreme unbridled delight, and the moment my eyes lay on the basket itself i started to postulate and plan all the wonderful times i would have with this basket–despite the almost freezing weather outside and the rain. the basket is for four, includes plates, flatware, wine glasses, a wine key, cheese board, and even a blanket.

the picnic basket lust started on my first wedding anniversary. my husband had scheduled a very sweet picnic for us at a local waterfall. it requires a short hike, and a hop over the maintained trail, then down onto the rocks. it was a perfect, sunny day. and, he even hiked down with me on a recovering broken knee. the picnic was made up of our favorite sandwiches from tubs gourmet subs, and for the occasion of our anniversary, he even talked the sandwich artists into making me a sandwich that was no longer on the menu–a baguette with chicken, feta, avocado, sun-dried tomatoes, and dill. he also packed a bottle of champagne, and two plastic flutes.  but–he couldn’t find a picnic basket to pack everything in, and packed it in another basket for presentation. not to say it wasn’t a perfect picnic. we sat on the sun-warmed rocks and took a little champagne-induced nap. after hiking back up, we had dinner and drinks at the lodge overlooking the falls.

but how much more perfect if we had had all the adorable accoutrements?

my mother-in-law termed the basket very “elegant” and i have to say i agree. and i’m quickly brainstorming and imagining menus and locales worthy of such a lovely basket.

do you know any recipes i could borrow for a spring-time picnic?

here are some ideas i’ve got for picnic-fare:

**cous cous salad–kathy casey’s dish d’lish offers a very very delicious “nw cous cous salad.” i haven’t been able to find the recipe, and when i asked at her store, i was told that it might be one of the ones she keeps to herself! i tried to recreate the salad with some success, and with quinoa instead of cous cous. you may have noticed already that i am the sort of cook that does everything by look and tasted, so the proportions are not exact:

1 box of quinoa–cooked in rice cooker

dried cranberries

almonds, pecans, hazelnuts– roasted and chopped

cherry balsamic vinegar

olive oil

fresh thyme, parsley, mint–minced

red, orange, and yellow peppers–stir fried with olive oil, salt, and pepper

red onions–stir fried with peppers

mix everything together and season to taste. enjoy at room temperature.

**cheese, crackers, and fig spread–going back to my end of autumn feast, i believe a great addition to any picnic would be goat gouda, fig spread, and crackers from essential bakery.

**champagne–fresh, light, and airy, champagne sounds like the perfect drink for a spring picnic

**caponata picnic sandwiches–borrowed from the food network’s giada de laurentiis. i would probably substitute the eggplant for red peppers, though.

• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1 celery stalk, chopped
• 3 red, orange, or yellow peppers, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
• Salt
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 1(14 1/2-ounce) can diced tomatoes
• 3 tablespoons raisins
• 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano leaves
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
• 2 teaspoons sugar
• 1 tablespoon drained capers
• 1 loaf ciabatta bread, cut crosswise into 6 equal pieces
• 2 garlic cloves, peeled
• 6 slices (1/3-inch-thick) drained fresh water-packed mozzarella

Heat 1/4 cup of the oil in a heavy large skillet over medium heat. Add the celery and saute until crisp-tender, about 2 minutes. Add the red pepper and cook until crisp-tender, about 5 minutes. Add the onion and saute until translucent, about 3 minutes. Add the diced tomatoes with their juices, raisins, and oregano. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Simmer over medium-low heat until the flavors blend and the mixture thickens, stirring often, about 20 minutes. Add the vinegar, sugar, and capers. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.

Cut the bread pieces horizontally in half. Grill the bread cut-side down on a grill pan over medium-high heat until golden, about 2 minutes. Rub the whole garlic cloves over the toasted side of the bread. Add a slice of mozzarella to bread bottom, spoon the caponata on top, cover with the other bread half, and serve.

To take for a picnic: Wrap the sandwiches separately in plastic wrap or parchment paper. Chill until ready to serve, or keep at room temperature up to 1 hour.

**jewel oatmeal cookies–again, borrowed from kathy casey, but this time i have the recipe in my copy of kathy casey’s northwest table. i will have to post it later when i remember and look it up!

***UPDATED*** jewel fruit-studded oatmeal cookies from kathy casey’s northwest table: p. 214

makes about 32 cookies. author’s note “crips but still chewy, these cookies are studded with an assortment of gem-colored dried fruits of the Northwest. If you want them extra-fruity, you can add more varieties, such as dried blueberries and chopped dried pears.”

8oz butter, softened

1 cup packed brown sugar

1 cup granulated sugar

2 eggs

1 1/2 cups flour

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

3 cups rolled oats (old-fashioned or quick-cooking, but not instant)

1/2 cup chopped dried sweet or tart cherries

2/3 cup chopped dried apricots

1/2 dried cranberries

1/4 cup dried currants

in a large bowl, cream the butter and sugars together until light. add the eggs and mix until will combined. scrape down the sides of the bowl, then add the flour, salt, spices, baking soda, vanilla, and oats and mix on low speed until thoroughly combined. stir in the dried fruit to distribute evenly. chill the dough in the refrigerator for 20 minutes. meanwhile, preheat an oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit and grease baking sheets or spray with vegetable-oil cooking spray. drop tablespoons of dough 3 inches apart on the prepared baking sheets and flatten each spoon full with your fingertips.  bake for 12 to 14 minutes, or until the edges of the cookies are browned. rotate the pans halfway through baking. let the cookies cool on the pans for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

delightful films for frightful weather

Tags

childhood, cozy, film, rain

You can map your life through your favorite movies, and no two people’s maps will be the same.
-Mary Schmich

i am ashamed to admit that while i consider myself to be a fan of both classic movies and audrey hepburn, i watched “breakfast at tiffany’s” for the first time last night. of course, it was fantastic. the costumes, the feel, and the story. characters, and audrey, of course. maybe it was the cold medicine, but it gave me nostalgic feelings for the days when i would stay at home, sick, from school and watch movies that made me feel a little better. on sick days, i would bundle up in my flannel night gown, with socks on, and bundle in front of the tv on the couch with my favorite blankets and pillows. i would drink chamomile tea endlessly as my mom poured cup after cup, and then have chicken soup with toast. in fact, tea and toast are my favorite comfort sick foods.

breafast at tiffany’s might be my current favorite in the “stormy outside” movie category. though this isn’t something i necessarily enjoy doing while i could be outside, or out and about, some movies are great for days when one doesn’t feel quite like leaving home, or changing out of nightclothes. or, when one is sick. suffering from a post-holiday cold, i have been holed up on my living room couch for several days, drinking tea. after exhausting the harry potter movies, i began the search for cozy movies that would make me feel good.

“love actually” is one of my favorite wintertime movies. i actually had a cold when i went to see this in the theater when it came out several years ago. maybe that’s why it’s a favorite to watch while sick. most of all, i love watching it now that i’ve been to london, while the memories are somewhat sharp, and remembering all the places shown in the movie. i guess, further, i just love the ways the sweet stories intersect with each other, and over-the-top romance.

speaking of colin firth, i hold that the best version of “pride and prejudice” is the a&e miniseries starring colin firth as mr. darcy. i used to watch this movie at sleep overs with my best friend in high school. we would light vanilla candles and sip hot chocolates until 3 or 4, enjoying a slice of jane austen.

i watched “anne of green gables” pretty much every winter (and summer) growing up. my parents still have my double VHS set of both “anne of green gables” and “anne of avonlea,” which are very worn and i’m sure the tape is almost worn out. i haven’t watched it for several years, but am hoping to procure both movies to watch this winter on DVD. the movies played a huge part in my childhood–playing anne of green gables, going to “anne of green gables” parties with other little girls, going together to see the play, knowing every line by heart, and eventually wanting to grow up to be a teacher. the movies remind me of taking tea with my mom’s friends while reclining on indoor white wicker furniture.

one of my favorite books as a child was “a little princess.” i watched this version of the movie several times while in elementary school, and the feel of it is beautiful. the british-indian flavor of the story, and especially the scene where sarah’s attic is fixed up and made cozy–and the spinning of tales and stories, imagining a better life. it all feels so wonderful to watch.

my middle school favorite was “the englishman who went up a hill but came down a mountain” as the depiction of village life in wales was just too fantastic to get over. i found the story sweet and straightforward, with a delicious quirky aspect.

there are a million other movies that i like to watch when i’m sick–i think this category of movie is so different from all time favorites, movies to watch with friends, or movies to watch on other occasions. sick movies make one feel cozy, comfortable. they are like comfort food in that they nourish the parts of you that feel weak, and leave you feeling stronger, better, and more comfortable. they are perhaps not movies i would enjoy watching on a sunny day, or movies that i want to watch with people socially. but they are wonderful, none-the-less.

russian banya–not for the weak!

Tags

autumn, beauty, europe, rain, tea, world

The Russian people are supposed to be strong and healthy, and for that reason, I am sure that the dampbad (banya) is of benefit.

-King of Prussia 1818

a winter treat i like to indulge in is a visit to my neighborhood russian bathhouse (banya). The banya is lovely in summer time, but takes on a certain charm in winter. the large frosted windows let in filtered light, and the sound of the raindrops hitting the glass soothes the soul while one sits in a warm burbling hot tub.

banya 5 is an urban russian bathhouse–and attracts an eclectic group of patrons. everyone from russian businessmen conducting business in the 250 degree sauna, girls celebrating bachelorett parties, men having a guy’s night out,  to chic urban hipsters, to elderly men and women continuing a life long habit of using the banya.  it is a supremely relaxing experience, though it can be a test of endurance as well.

when i go to banya 5, i usually start by rinsing off with the super-high pressure shower nozzles in the bathhouse. the shower of warm water is a great way to start the banya cycle. after that i park in the hot tub, and relax for as long as i feel necessary– in fact, the best way to navigate the banya is to move around when  you “feel ready.” relaxing alone or with friends in the hot tub leads to the turkish steam room. sitting in the turkish steam room reminds me of drinking tea–but through my skin. the vents that let in the steam are lined with eucalyptus and scent the steam and air in the steam room–delicious. nasal airways open, head clears, and skin becomes delightfully hydrated. sitting in the steam room for as long as you “feel like it” or can bear it moves you right along into the russian sauna–up to 250 degrees!

there are a few fun accessories that go with the russian sauna (parilka). first, there are soaked branches, venik, that you can “beat” yourself with. it is meant to increase circulation and promote overall bodily health. also–get yourself a wool hat! the idea of sitting in the parilka is to bring your core body temperature up. while it seems counter-intuitive, wearing a wool or felt hat keeps your head a little cooler, and allows you to bear the sauna for a little longer. wear a hat that has an “air pocket” at the top–so not a hat that is fitted to your head tightly.

then the real test comes: the ice plunge. after sitting in the sauna–can you bring yourself to submerge yourself in an ice bath? if you can drum up the courage, it is amazing. while i always hesitate to jump in, i am always refreshed and invigorated afterwords–the tinge of cold water on your skin that doesn’t chill you because your body temperature is higher than normal is a wonderful, delicious juxiposition. supposedly, you are doing it right if you taste mint in your mouth while sitting in the ice bath. and! after jumping in the ice cold water, the tepid mineral/salt pool feels delightfully warm, until you are ready to go back into the hot tub.

i love to stop out, and head upstairs to the tea room. the entry fee entitles you to unlimited herbal teas with a jar of fresh, homemade jam for sweetening. after gulping ice cold lemon water, i drink cup after cup of wonderful tea with jam. i love to take the tea back down into the pools and rooms to drink while i enjoy what is a relaxing, but also healthy process to cleanse body and soul–and protect your emotional, mental, and physical health.

banya is a beautiful tradition–and banya 5 gives it a beautiful setting. it reminds me of the bathroom i always want to have in my home–but ridiculous none-the-less. the clean tile, exposed brick and wood, frosted windows. when i go, i feel my stressors, troubles, illness, aches, pains and cares wash away while i sit in the water or steam. i think about the rain falling outside and simply bask in the experience of the banya.

check out banya 5:

http://www.banya5.com/

images borrowed from banya5.

autumn comes

Tags

autumn, childhood, daily life, eating, rain, seasons

Delicious autumn!  My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns.

~George Eliot

autumn has always been my favorite time of year. as a child it smelled like new crayons, pens, notebooks and paper. it felt like stiff new jeans and new leather shoes. it meant reuniting with school mates who had all gone their separate summer ways and was, very literally, a new beginning for all of us.

spending most of my years of life on an academic calendar has really affected the way i look at the yearly cycle. for me, the year starts in september and ends in june. july and august hang out in a kind of netherworld to be enjoyed and remembered…but not really a part of the calendar year.

autumn is the time of year that boasts the best colors–vibrant oranges, reds, and golden yellows. it boasts the best weather–crisp mornings and golden afternoons that fade into refreshing nights. the weather turns and unpacking your coats, scarves, boots and sweaters feels like enjoying a brand-new wardrobe after an intense shopping trip. and the rain returns! umbrellas come out and enjoying a hot steamed cider in a corner cafe takes on a new meaning.

autumn hearkens the winter, which seems like the time of year when things begin to die…but it’s also a bounty…because, as you may have guessed, autumn has the best food too. i love the fresh tastes of eating raw summer foods and barbecue…but there is nothing like the weather turning cool, allowing one the usage, again, of their oven without overheating the house. roasts, chickens, pies, cookies all come out of my oven and onto the plate.

a quick trip over the mountains yields apples from honor-system paid apple stands along the side of the road. after sampling these apples going back to apples from the grocery store will seem impossible. $10 a box, put your cash in the little locked wooden box and off you go. spicy, buttery apple crisp comes out of the oven as the smell of autumns bounty fills a cozy home.

all the sudden, it makes sense to make pastas, cook casseroles and enjoy with a mug of mulled spiced red wine. hot mulled cider and cranberry juices to sip on while enjoying a good book or curling up inside with a favorite movie–warm–cozy–while the autumn night barely touches frost on the world around it.

i love leaving the house in the morning with layers, crumpled and stuffed into my bag by the end of the day, while summer holds on for a few more precious moments, and winter overtakes the night.

new seasons, new beginnings, excitement, wonderful food. autumn is the best time of the year.

what do you love about autumn?