Tea Time Tuesday

 Tea Time Tuesday 

Hello and Welcome to a virtual cup of Tea at my home. Today we are in the kitchen due to a week of Rain. Have you started preparing for the Easter holiday ? Here's a little help... 

Our latest find : 

“This delightful cookbook is full of stunning photographs; valuable, practical information . . . and tantalizing, go-to recipes. . . . Let’s party, y’all!” —James Beard Award winner Virginia Willis
 
In The Southern Entertainer’s Cookbook, Courtney Whitmore, founder of the Pizzazzerie blog, shares her party go-tos with 95 recipes: appetizers, salads, entrees, drinks, and dessert, plus party styling guidance. Modern twists on classics include Fried Green Tomato Caprese Salad, Jalepeño & Bacon Deviled Eggs, and miniature Cozy Chicken Pot Pies. Beloved heirloom recipes from her family’s cookbooks (not to worry, no archaic methods or hard-to-find ingredients here) include Hot Chicken Salad, Phronsie’s Banana Muffins, and Southern Almond Tea Cakes.
 
Charming stories of recipes’ origins are shared throughout, and Courtney provides dozens of tips to make the most of your gathering: try embellishing a plate with edible flower petals or create mini versions of a well-known dessert!
 
“[An] inspiring compendium of party-ready favorites. Nearly 100 recipes, numerous party menu ideas, and tips for table settings are packed with regional flavor . . . Cooks looking to please a crowd will find plenty of ways to do that.” —Publishers Weekly

Potato Salad Bites : 

 I am thinking about adding this to our list for   Easter Dinner ... 

• 6 russet potatoes, scrubbed and thinly sliced

• 3 tablespoons olive oil, or as needed

• salt and ground black pepper to taste

Dressing:

• ½ cup mayonnaise

• ½ cup sour cream

• 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard, or more to taste

• 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar

• 1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar

• 1 pinch paprika

• salt and ground black pepper to taste

Topping:

• 1 cup finely chopped celery

• ¾ cup finely chopped radishes

• ½ (14 ounce) jar cornichons, finely chopped

• 3 sprigs dill, divided

• 2 green onions, finely chopped

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Line 2 baking sheets with silicone baking mats.

2. Divide potato slices between the baking sheets. Drizzle olive oil over slices and season with salt and pepper.

3. Roast in the preheated oven until slightly softened, about 10 minutes. Rotate and switch baking sheets on the oven racks. Continue roasting until tender, about 10 minutes more. Let cool completely.

4. Whisk mayonnaise, sour cream, Dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar, balsamic vinegar, paprika, salt, and pepper together in a bowl to make dressing.

5. Mix celery, radishes, and cornichons together in a bowl. Chop leaves from 1 sprig of dill and mix into the bowl.

6. Spoon 1/2 teaspoon of the dressing over cooled potato slices. Top with 1 teaspoon of the celery mixture. Sprinkle green onions on top. Garnish each slice with a small frond of dill from the remaining 2 sprigs.

7. A fun and quick project :

8.  Easter glass charms. Made from supplies from Walmart. Perfect for entertaining ! And keeping track of your glass at  a parties. 

9. 
   
   

   
   

Tea time Tuesday

Welcome friends to another Tea time Tuesday... 

And today I am enjoying the Sunshine in the backyard.... 

I found this purple beauty blooming in the memory garden.  

I am spending the morning cleaning up the patio. And then serving tea at 2pm to friends around the table while we chat about flowers, books and whats going on in town.

  

My Library selection : 

A fraught family reunion. A corpse by the coast. Can an amateur sleuth crack this egg-xtraordinary mystery or be left scrambling for answers?

Spring signifies new beginnings, yet rookie antiques expert, Dotty Sayers, feels uncertain about her future. A colleague's invitation to Northumberland, in search of hidden family treasure, offers a fresh start. Once there, she immediately befriends her neighbour and assists with a prestigious project at a nearby castle. But when her mentor vanishes, and a body washes up in a secluded cove, Dotty wonders why so many people she knows end up dead.

Determined to assist, this budding amateur detective is hopping mad when the police ignore her insights. With the inquest approaching, Dotty must decide if she’s ready to crack open the case, even if it makes the local police inspector as mad as a March hare.

Can Dotty put aside her doubts and pull a rabbit out of the hat to ensure justice prevails?

Visit the historic county of Northumberland with the Dotty Sayers Antique Mystery series, where springtime blossoms with mystery and murder. If you delight in entertaining characters, complex family dynamics, and charming English settings, you’ll be captivated by Victoria Tait's entertaining tale.

Be a happy Easter bunny, and hop over to buy Daffodils and Deadly Deeds today

With our Tea ! 

Lemon Shortbread cookies : 

• 4 ounces (113 grams) granulated sugar
• ▢3 teaspoons lemon zest
• ▢8 ounces (227 grams) unsalted butter room temperature
• ▢1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• ▢1 large (20 grams) egg yolk
• ▢2 teaspoons lemon juice
• ▢12 ounces (340 grams) unbleached all-purpose flour

Lemon Glaze (Optional)

• ▢1 cup (120 grams) powdered sugar sifted
• ▢4-5 teaspoons fresh-squeezed lemon juice

• Preheat the oven to 300°F. Line a half baking sheet with parchment paper. Place the cookies on the baking sheet 1-1/2 inches apart.
• Bake the cookies for 20-22 minutes. The bottom of the cookies will be lightly golden brown.
• Take the cookies out of the oven and cool them for 5 minutes on the cookie sheet before moving them to a wire rack to completely cool. If you're using one baking sheet let it cool completely before baking the next batch of cookies.
• At this point the cookies are ready to eat.

Have a great afternoon and enjoy the outside view !!!