TEA for TWO! ~ HERBAL ICED TEA / DILLY ENGLISH CUCUMBER SANDWICHES / LEMON THYME COOKIES

"How could such sweet and wholesome hours
Be reckoned but with herbs and flowers?"
~ Andrew Marvel
(English Poet)

~ Enjoying God's beautiful day

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HERBAL ICED TEA

~ Perfect for a hot summer day

8 bags herbal tea (Celestial Seasonings Orange, Red or Lemon Zinger Tea)

1 quart boiling water

1 quart fresh orange juice or lemonade

fresh lemon and/or orange slices

crushed ice

sprigs of fresh mint

Steep the tea bags in boiling water for ten minutes. Discard tea bags.
Pour juice over tea. Add lemon and/or orange slices and fresh mint sprigs. Refrigerate until well chilled.
Remove lemon and/or orange slices and mint before serving.
Pour over crushed ice adding additional fresh fruit slices and sprig of fresh mint. ( 2 quarts)

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DILLY CUCUMBER SANDWICHES

~ What memories are made of

Favorite loaf of soft sandwich bread (white or wheat)

1-2 peeled and thinly sliced English cucumbers

thinly sliced sweet onion (optional)

1/4 cup unsalted butter

1/2 cup good mayonnaise

1/2 cup sour cream

1-2 tsp. dried dill weed

coarse salt & cracked pepper

Place cucumber in colander and sprinkle cucumber with a bit of salt. Let rest.
Trim crust from bread slices. Slather each slice with soft butter.
Combine mayonnaise, sour cream and dill. Spread over butter on bread.
Wipe cucumbers dry and layer on one side of bread. Sprinkle with a bit of salt & pepper. Top with onion, if desired. Sprinkle with additional dill weed. Top with bread slice.
Cut diagonally and then again to make triangles or in fingers. Wrap and refrigerate before serving.

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LEMON THYME COOKIES

~ A treasured Michigan recipe from Woodland Herb Farm

1 cup unsalted butter

1 1/2 cup sugar

2 organic eggs

2 1/2 cups unbleached flour

1 tsp. cream of tartar

1/2 tsp. salt

zest of 1 lemon

3 Tbsp. dried lemon thyme

Preheat oven to 350-degrees.
Cream butter and sugar. Add eggs and mix well.
Sift together flour, cream of tartar and salt.
Work flour mixture into other mixture until well blended. Stir in lemon zest and thyme. Chill overnight.
Roll into balls the size of small walnuts. Bake on greased cookie sheet for 10 minutes. (About 3 1/2 dozen)

Comments

Anonymous said…

I'm a bit famished. Is there room on that bench for me?

Saturday, August 11, 2007

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