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

_____________

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)

__________________

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.

_______________

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)

OCTOBER JOY ~ AUTUMN MINI-ROAD TOUR (HUBBARD LAKE, MI)

"There is no season when such pleasant and sunny spots may be lighted on, and produce so pleasant an effect on the feelings, as now in October." ~ Nathaniel Hawthorne Up driveway and overhead sky (Click on all photos for larger view ) 'Wa-gi-daa-king' Autumn South shore drive South Shore view West Branch River West Shore Drive Tamarack Island Old Marina Down hill Mt. Maria view Down hill Mt. Maria Remains of the Day (October Sunset)

AS THE GARDEN GROWS (MID-JUNE GARDEN STROLL) ~ 'BURSTING BUDS'

"In June, as many as a dozen species may burst their buds on a single day. No man can heed all of these anniversaries; no man can ignore all of them." ~ Aldo Leopold WAVE PETUNIAS ROCK GARDEN WONDERS STREPTOCARPUS BLUE WONDERS GERBERA DAISY IN THE ROSE GARDEN CHOCOLATE COSMOS JOHNSON'S BLUE GERANIUM EVENING PRIMROSE ( Oenothera) - ASTILBE HYDRANGEA (ANNABELLA - MACROPHYLLA) ASTILBE KOUSA DOGWOOD JAPANESE PAINTED FERN - HOSTA

'JUST FOR ONE'S HEALTH' ... ~ PURPLE CONEFLOWER (Echinacea purpurea) / 'NOT YOUR ORDINARY' BLUEBERRY MUFFINS

"Just for one's health ... it is very necessary to work in the garden and to see the flowers growing." Vincent Van Gogh PURPLE CONEFLOWER ( Echinacea purpurea ) 'NOT YOUR ORDINARY' BLUEBERRY MUFFINS ~ On the lighter side, these are always a family favorite from ... PICNIC! Recipes and Menus for Outdoor Enjoyment 1 2/3 cups flour 1/3 cup wheat germ 3/4 cup sugar 1/2 t sp. salt 1 tsp. baking soda 1 1/2 cups MICHIGAN blueberries (preferably small wild ones) 1 cup buttermilk 2 Tbsp. melted unsalted butter Preheat oven to 400-degrees. In large bowl, combine flower, wheat germ, sugar, salt, and baking soda. Add blueberries and stir to coat. Add buttermilk and butter. Stir until just mixed. Spoon batter into greased muffin pans. Bake 18 minutes or until golden brown. Cool in pans for 2 minutes. "The purple coneflower isn't really purple at all. The large, eye-catching flowers are bright rose-pink. Each flower has a bristly iridescent orange cent...

THE VILLAGE VOICE

Search This Blog