
A Comforting Tea Party
A Comforting Tea Party
Pamper yourself, your family and friends with these home and hearth-warming
recipes, perfect for cool weather entertaining. Whether it's warm from the
oven Orange Bread Pudding, or Butternut Ginger Tea Bread topped with Maple
Pumpkin Butter, this menu will be a delight to prepare and serve.
-Pots of cinnamon tea and mulled spiced cider with cinnamon stick stirrers -Place cards made on leaves -Small pumpkins scooped out and filled with flowers for the table -Jars of maple pumpkin butter so that your friends can take the comfort of your home to theirs THE MENUCINNAMON VANILLA SUGAR TEA TOASTS : Cinnamon toast comes for tea, elegant and easy.
BUTTERNUT GINGER TEA BREAD: A beautiful golden loaf, perfect with Maple Pumpkin butter. It can be made 1 week ahead and frozen. MAPLE PUMPKIN BUTTER: You will want to eat this by the spoonful. It is quick and easy to prepare, and the maple syrup gives it a wonderful flavor. The butter can be made well in advance and kept chilled for several weeks. OATMEAL CHERRY CHIP COOKIES: Oatmeal cookies elegant enough for a tea. They can be made several days ahead (if they are not eaten right away!) ALMOND COFFEE CAKE: Perfect for the busy hostess, this is a no fail cake that comes together in a snap. It can be made 1 day prior to serving. BAKED RAISIN RICE KUGEL (PUDDING): My mom's rice pudding, this bakes into a firm pudding that can be cut into squares. It can be a dessert or a sweet addition to your main meal. The pudding can be prepared one day ahead. ORANGE BREAD PUDDING: This is a fragrant, custard pudding, rich and delicious, a real treat. It can be prepared up to 4 hours before serving. Cinnamon Vanilla Sugar Tea ToastsBrew a pot of cinnamon tea to serve with these little tea sandwiches. Be sure to include a cinnamon stick to stir the tea.
List of Ingredients
Instructions Spread the toasted bread triangles with the cream cheese. Top with a sprinkling of vanilla cinnamon sugar.
*VANILLA SUGAR:
CINNAMON VANILLA SUGAR: Spiced PecansMake these yummy pecans a few days ahead to let the flavors blend together. They are wonderful by themselves, or in a salad with a little blue cheese.
List of Ingredients
Instructions Combine the sugar, water, salt and pepper. Add pecans and coat thoroughly. Spread the pecans on the prepared sheet in a SINGLE LAYER and bake for 12 to 14 minutes, until browned. Cool. Remove and store in a plastic container. Butternut Ginger Tea BreadA beautiful golden loaf just meant to be slathered with Maple Pumpkin Butter and enjoyed. The bread can be made one week ahead and frozen, defrosting overnight before serving. The instructions are for a food processor, but this can also be made with a mixer.
List of Ingredients
Instructions Cool in the pan for 10 minutes. Turn out onto a rack to cool completely. *To cook the squash, cut the ends off of the butternut squash and cut the squash in half. Scoop out the seeds. Place the two halves cut side down in a close fitting shallow baking dish. Add 1/2-cup water and cover with foil. Bake for about 45 minutes at 350 degrees, until the squash is fork tender. The shallow end will cook faster, but do not be concerned about this. The squash just needs to be tender enough to scoop out. The food processor will puree it for a smooth batter. Maple Pumpkin ButterMaple syrup and pumpkin combine to make this a richly flavored butter that is simple to prepare. You may want to make double, as it tends to disappear quickly! The butter would also make a delicious tart filling.
List of Ingredients
Instructions Cool and refrigerate for up to 1 month, or pour into clean, hot canning jars and process in a hot water bath for 10 minutes. Makes approx. 2 cups. Oatmeal Cherry Chip CookiesThese cookies are so good, even those of you who are not oatmeal cookie fans are going to love them. They will keep a few days if stored in a tightly sealed container between sheets of parchment or waxed paper.
List of Ingredients
Instructions In a separate bowl, combine the flour, baking soda and cinnamon. Add slowly to the butter mixture on low speed. Stir in the oats, cherries and chocolate chips. Divide the dough into 4 portions, and roll each up in plastic wrap to form a log about 1-1/2 inches in diameter. Chill until firm (about 20 minutes in the freezer). Pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees. Line cookie sheets with silicon baking mat or parchment paper. Slice the cookie logs about 1/2 inch thick. Bake 10 - 12 minutes at 350 degrees. Makes about 5 dozen. Will keep up to 1 week. Baked Raisin Rice Kugel (Pudding)This sweet rice pudding is often served as a side course in Eastern European Jewish meals. This recipe is my mom's, and it is a family favorite. The pudding can be made 1 day in advance, and can be served warm or at room temperature.
List of Ingredients
Instructions Almond Coffee CakeDelicious and easy to make, this coffeecake is always a hit. It also makes a nice breakfast/brunch cake. It can be made a day ahead of serving and kept well wrapped at room temperature.
List of Ingredients
Instructions Make the topping: Combine the brown sugar, butter, cinnamon and almonds. The mixture will be sticky. Sprinkle in small clumps over the batter. Bake at 375 degrees for 25 minutes. Cool before serving. Orange Bread PuddingThis is a rich, wonderfully scented dessert, perfect for warming up your friends and family. The pudding can be made 4 hours ahead and kept at room temperature.
List of Ingredients
Instructions In a large, heavy bottom saucepan combine the milk, sugar and orange zest. Cook on medium heat, stirring, until the sugar is dissolved and the milk starts to simmer (bubbles form on the sides of the pan). In a medium bowl, whisk together the eggs. SLOWLY add the hot milk to the eggs, whisking constantly. Strain the custard to remove the orange zest and any cooked egg particles. This ensures a smooth custard. Pour the custard over the bread. Press the bread down into the custard. Top with cinnamon sugar.
Place the baking dish in a larger pan and place it in the oven. Fill the
larger pan with hot water to a depth of 1 inch.
Bake for 45 minutes at 300 degrees, until a knife inserted into the center
comes out barely clean. Remove from the water.
Serve warm or cooled.
Serves 8.
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