Tea garden


 
I love the "English Garden" look of my yard this year!  I am ready to host my own garden tea party!!!
 
What do you like to eat a garden tea?  My favorites are:
 
 
 
 
1. cucumber sandwiches
 
1 loaf Party Rye bread
2 fresh English cucumbers, sliced
1 pkg. Hidden Valley Ranch dry mix
1 (8 oz.) pkg. cream cheese
fresh dill
Fork together cream cheese and Hidden Valley Ranch dry mix. Score the cucumber on the outside with a fork, then cut thin slices.  Spread cream cheese mixture onto the small slices of party rye, or Party Pumpernickel and arrange a cucumber slice on top of each one. Place a small piece of dill on the cucumber.Try to assemble these about a half an hour before you need them. If made up too early, the cucumber makes the bread soggy
 
 
 
 
 
 
2. lemon bread  (I am not sure if this is my aunts recipe or not, but it looks yummy)

Ingredients

1/2 cup butter, softened  
1 cup granulated sugar 
2 large eggs  
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup milk    
2 tablespoons lemon rind, divided
1 cup powdered sugar
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoon granulated sugar

Preparation

Beat softened butter at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy. Gradually add 1 cup granulated sugar, beating until light and fluffy. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating just until blended after each addition.
Stir together flour, baking powder, and salt; add to butter mixture alternately with milk, beating at low speed just until blended, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Stir in 1 tablespoon lemon rind. Spoon batter into greased and floured 8- x 4-inch loafpan.
Bake at 350° for 1 hour or until a wooden pick inserted in center of bread comes out clean. Let cool in pan 10 minutes. Remove bread from pan, and cool completely on a wire rack.
Stir together powdered sugar and lemon juice until smooth; spoon evenly over top of bread, letting excess drip down sides. Stir together remaining 1 tablespoon lemon rind and 1 tablespoon granulated sugar; sprinkle on top of bread.
Lemon-Almond Tea Bread: Stir 1/2 teaspoon almond extract into batter. Proceed as directed
 
 
3. chicken salad puffs
 
 
 
I don't have my mom's recipe- but she does make the pastry and chicken salad from scratch!
 
 
 
Tell me your favorites.......


Carrefour- The Vert Menthe Groene thee met munt- from France and Willakenzie Lavender


 
I received this fun new mint tea from some missionary friends in France.  I decided to make some mint tea since I was all out.  I pulled fresh mint from my garden as well as raspberry leaves (there is no taste there, but it is good for digestion)  My lavender wasn't looking the best, so I used the lavender mint tea I had and added that .

 


 
Proprietors:  Debbie Gorham & Bob Applegate
Address: 19700 NW Adcock Rd., Yamhill, Oregon 97148
E-mail: info@willakenzielavender.com
Phone:  503-662-4297
Website:  willakenzielavender.com
I give this tea 5 out of 5 stars!!!!

I made 3 batches of tea from just this!  I added 4 bags of mint tea, my leaves, and some lavender mint tea.  I also decided to add one sugar packet to each batch (you know the kind that you get in restaurants- and really sugar, not the pink or yellow packets).  I usually don't add sugar, but for some reason I did.  And we all know that just that little bit of sugar really does give it a nice sweetness.

 
I love summer "Ditch Tea"!

Chinese tea- Mystery what it is!


 
I found this tea in my mailbox at church.  I had no idea who they were from, until about a week later.  My friend was having a foreign exchange student from China staying with them.  He left this tea and she shared some with me.
 
I am so excited to try it!



 
I opened the bag and found another bag of tea inside.  Smelling it I think I may like it......






I put my tea in the mesh strainer and let it steep for 3 minutes- since I am assuming it is a green tea.



Okay, I have to admit I did not like this tea.  It was green tea, probably a really nice green tea, but it tasted like grass to me.  I am fully able to admit that I do not like plain green tea.  But, I loved trying it!  I love when people give me tea to try.  This just happened to be a miss.

I am using my FREE Shutterfly mug!  They were running a special so I got the mug free with free shipping!!!
See the mug in the background...it was from my dad, "Looking for Mr. He'll Do."  I love that he picked that up at a garage sale for me and he knew I would not be offended, but find great humor in it!