Books, Tea, and the Trinity: Pepper Teigen’s Thai Sweet Chili Tea Sandwiches

Back in 2020, some friends and I started a Tea Party/Bible Study/Book Club. We met every Wednesday and worked our way through the Chronicles of Narnia and are currently working through The Chronicles of Prydain. When we started I resolved to share all the recipes, but I couldn’t keep up and that’s why I’m still two years behind (but I’m catching up!) All recipes are now going to be titled Books, Tea, and the Trinity.

After we finished The Magician’s Nephew, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe; A Horse and His Boy, and Prince Caspian; the next book was The Voyage of the Dawn Treader.

We continued our discussion of The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. The first week we had Golden Tip Lapsang Souchang tea, Dragon Cheddar Scones, Roast Beef and Watercress Sandwiches, Bacon Lettuce and Tomato Tea Sandwiches, Pizza Balls, and Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies.

The second week we didn’t have anything homemade, but the third week we had Thai Green Milk Tea: Grandpa’s Favorite Thai White Tea; Blueberry Scones, Cranberry Feta Pinwheels, Pepper Teigen’s Thai Sweet Chili Tea Sandwiches; Cranberry, Cream Cheese, and Turkey Pinwheels; Lemon Squash; and Salami Wrapped Parmesan Cheese.

And food to go with.

This recipe comes from The Pepper Thai Cookbook: Family Recipes from Everyone’s Favorite Thai Mom by Pepper Teigen and Garrett Snyder. My sister and I really enjoyed this book as it had wonderful recipes and all were catered toward making Thai cooking easy for someone starting out along with what you can substitute with if you are unable to find certain ingredients. We also enjoyed reading about Pepper Teigen’s thoughts on life, food, and family. I recommend it if you like Thai food and cooking.

Ingredients:

• 6 slices soft white bread or potato bread
  
• 6 tbsp. (3 oz.) cream cheese, at room temperature
  
• 5 tbsp. Thai chili jam (nam prik pao) or 4 tbsp. chile crisp
  
• ½ English cucumber, peeled and thinly sliced crosswise
  
• Cilantro leaves
  
• Kosher or flaky salt

Instructions:

1. Place the bread slices on the counter.
2. Divide the cream cheese evenly among three of the bread slices—use as much as you need so there’s a good blanket on the bread.
3. Spread the chili jam onto the other three slices.
4. Top the cream cheese side with cucumber slices, a few sprigs of cilantro, and a sprinkle of salt.
5. Place the slice with chili jam on top and gently press together.
6. Trim off the crusts (see note, below) and cut each sandwich into thirds crosswise.
7. Place on a fancy platter and serve with your favorite tea.
8. Note: While cutting off the crusts of the bread is a must, that doesn’t mean you have to throw those scraps away, says Teigen. Toast them in the oven for a few minutes until crunchy, then grind them in a blender and voilà, instant bread crumbs.

These were so delicious! Eaten immediately! I highly recommend.

For more from our Books, Tea, and the Trinity tea times, go to Bacon, Lettuce, Tomato Tea Sandwiches

For more sandwich recipes, go to Roast Beef & Watercress Tea Sandwiches

For more recipes, go to How to Throw a Valentea Party

For more tea posts, go to Dragon Cheddar and Tomato Scones

Books, Tea, and the Trinity: Bacon, Lettuce, Tomato Tea Sandwiches

Back in 2020, some friends and I started a Tea Party/Bible Study/Book Club. We met every Wednesday and worked our way through the Chronicles of Narnia and are currently working through The Chronicles of Prydain. When we started I resolved to share all the recipes, but i couldn’t keep up and that’s why I’m two years behind. All recipes are now going to be titled Books, Tea, and the Trinity. 

After we finished The Magician’s Nephew, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe; A Horse and His Boy, Prince Caspian, the next book was  The Voyage of the Dawn Treader.

Today we continued our discussion of The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. We had Golden Tip Lapsang Souchang tea, Dragon Cheddar Scones, Roast Beef and Watercress Sandwiches, Bacon Lettuce and Tomato Tea Sandwiches, Pizza Balls, and Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies.

Emma (1996)

This recipe comes from Oh, How Civilized

Ingredients:

• 4 slices Very Thin white bread
• 2 strips bacon
• 2 tomatoes
• 2 leaves butter lettuce
• 1 tablespoon mayonnaise
• Cocktail fork or toothpick

Instructions:

1. Cut bacon slices into four pieces and line a baking sheet with parchment paper and evenly place the cut bacon. Cook at 400°F for 15-18 minutes.
2. Using a round cookie cutter, slice tomatoes and blot using paper towels. The size of the cocktail tomatoes will dictate how big your tea sandwich will be. The tomatoes should be able to fit inside the cookie cutter snugly. The cookie cutter will be the one used to cut the bread and lettuce into circles. Cut the tomato slices no bigger than 1/4″ and lay them out on paper towels to blot.
3. Cut out lettuce circles using the cookie cutter.
4. Cut out bread circles with the cookie cutter. Avoid cutting the crust.
5. Assemble tea sandwiches. Spread a thin layer of mayo on one side of the bread, add a lettuce circle, then tomato, then bacon. Then repeat with bread, mayo, lettuce, tomato, and bacon to create the second layer. Skewer with a cocktail fork.

Regular BLTs are absolutely delicious, and these mini ones were absolutely wonderful.

For more from our Books, Tea, and the Trinity tea times, go to Roast Beef & Watercress Tea Sandwiches

For more sandwich recipes, go to Hummus and Veggie Sandwiches

For more recipes, go to How to Throw a Valentea Party

For more tea posts, go to Dragon Cheddar and Tomato Scones

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe Tea Party/Book Club: Zuppa Toscana

So last October, every Wednesday, I have been a part of a Tea Party/Bible Study/Book Club. We started on The Magician’s Nephew by C.S. Lewis, and when we finished moved on to The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. This is different from my book club and the Book Club Picks I have been reviewing (and desperately need to catch up on). 

Party time!

The second week we were inspired by the time Edmund spends with the White Witch. 

“Perhaps something hot to drink?” said the Queen. “Should you like that?”

Yes please, your Majesty,” said Edmund, whose teeth were chattering.

The Queen took from somewhere among her wrappings a very small bottle which looked as if it were made of copper. Then, holding out her arm, she let one drop fall from it on to the snow beside the sledge. Edmund saw the drop for a second in mid-air, shining like a diamond. But the moment it touched the snow there was a hissing sound and there stood a jewelled cup full of something that steamed. The Dwarf immediately took this and handed it to Edmund with a bow and a smile; not a very nice smile. Edmund felt much better as he began to sip the hot drink. It was something he had never tasted before, very sweet and foamy and creamy, and it warmed him right down to his toes.

‘It is dull, Son of Adam, to drink without eating,” said the Queen presently. “What would you like best to eat?”

‘Turkish Delight, please, your Majesty,” said Edmund.

The Queen let another drop fall from her bottle on to the snow, and instantly there appeared a round box, tied with green silk ribbon, which, when opened, turned out to contain several pounds of the best Turkish Delight. Each piece was sweet and light to the very centre and Edmund had never tasted anything more delicious. He was quite warm now, and very comfortable.

Of course as that only mentions one thing to eat, we ended up adding other recipes that sounded good. We decided to go with: Rose Petal and Green Tea, Rose Petal Earl Grey Tea, Blueberry Rose Petal Scones, Radish Ruffle Canapés, Zuppa Toscana Soup, Meatloaf, and Turkish Delight.

One thing I will be doing differently here than in my earlier posts, is that I will be sharing discussion questions that your group can discuss as you read and eat. I didn’t post discussion questions in the previous posts on The Magician’s Nephew, as I wasn’t in charge of that book. For discussion questions, click on this link.The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe Discussion Questions Chapter 4-6.pdfDownload

This recipe comes from Slow Cooker Gourmet.

Ingredients:

• 1 pound Italian Sausage
• ½ pound Yukon gold potatoes
• ½ sweet yellow onion chopped
• 3 cloves garlic minced
• Red pepper flakes or cayenne pepper
• 1 cup frozen kale
• 2 cups chicken broth
• ½ cup heavy cream
• 2 pieces thick cut cooked bacon, chopped
• Salt and pepper

Directions:

1. Add ground sausage to skillet over medium high heat and cook through.
2. Transfer to slow cooker.
3. Scrub and dice potatoes and add to slow cooker along with diced onion, garlic and red pepper flakes
4. Add kale and chicken broth and cover and cook on high for 3-4 hours or low for 6-8
5. Stir in cream, cooked bacon and salt and pepper to taste

This soup was soooo good! I ate several bowls!

For more from our The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe teas, go to Radish Ruffle Canapés

For more recipes, go to Blueberry Rose Scones

For more soup recipes, go to Baked Potato Soup

For more tea posts, go to Honey French Toast

The Magician’s Nephew Tea Party/Book Club: Tea Time Magazine’s Fotina & Pork Puffed Pastry

So every Wednesday, starting in October, I have been a part of a Tea Party/Bible Study/Book Club on The Magician’s Nephew by C.S. Lewis. This is different from my book club and the Book Club Picks I have been reviewing (and desperately need to catch up on). The first week we had Cederberg Tea Company Rooibos + Ginger Tea, Cranberry-Spice Scones with Maple Cream, Cucumber-Four Peppercorn Goat Cheese Canapés, Ham and Cheese Tea Sandwiches, Fotina & Pork Puffed Pastry, and Mini Apple Pies.

We have already had the scones and sandwiches, it is time for a side.

And eat tea treats!

This recipe comes from Teatime’s Teatime Celebrations Autumnal Harvest Tea.

Ingredients:

• 4 Slices of Bacon
• 12 ounces of Ground Pork
• 1/2 Teaspoon Garlic Powder
• 1/2 Teaspoon of Salt
• 1/2 Teaspoon of Paprika
• 1/2 Teaspoon of Ground Sage
• 1/4 Teaspoon of Ground Black Pepper
• 1 Sheet of Frozen Puff Pastry, slightly thawed
• 2 Tablespoons of Spicy Brown Mustard
• 1/2 Cups of Shredded Fontina Cheese
• 1 Large Egg
• Garnish: Fresh Sage

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
2. Line a rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper. Line a plate and a heatproof bowl with paper towels.
3. In a large nonstick sauté pan, cook bacon over medium-high heat until crisp.
4. Remove bacon, and let drain on the prepared plate, reserving 1 tablespoon of drippings in the pan.
5. Add pork, garlic powder, salt, paprika, sage, and pepper to pan; cook, stirring and breaking apart pork with a spoon-until pork is browned and crumbly.
6. Remove pork using a slotted spoon, and let drain in prepared bowl.
7. Using a rolling pin, roll out puff pastry sheet to a 1/8 thickness on a lightly floured surface.
8. Spread mustard onto puff pastry, leaving a 1-inch border around all sides.
9. Top mustard layer with cooked pork, crumble bacon and sprinkle over pork.
10. Sprinkle cheese over bacon, bring long sides of puff pastry to center encasing ingredients, and pinch puff pastry together to seal.
11. Turn pastry over so seam is on the bottom.
12. Pinch the ends of pastry together, and tuck under to form a loaf.
13. Transfer loaf to prepared baking sheet, seam side down.
14. In a small bowl, whisk together egg and 1 tablespoon of water. Brush egg was onto loaf.
15. Using a serrated bread knife in a gentle sawing motion, make diagonal cuts across the top of the loaf.
16. Make another set of diagonal cuts in opposite direction, creating a crosshatch design.
17. Bake until puff pastry is golden brown, 15-17 mins. Let cool slightly.
18. Garnish with Sage, serve warm or at room temperature.
19. Using a serrated bread knife in a gentle sawing motion, and slice into 12 pieces.

These were delicious and a great addition to our tea time.

For more from The Magician’s Nephew Tea Party/Book Club, go to Ham and Cheese Tea Sandwiches

For more recipes, go to Cucumber-Four Peppercorn Goat Cheese Canapés

For more sides, go to Super Easy Classic Deviled Eggs

For more tea posts, go to Mug o’ Tea Treats Christmas Gift

Baked Potato Soup

Who likes to eat?

Me too. I don’t really post recipes on her, leaving that to my sister blog Mysterious Eats.

Weeeeeeeeeeelll…with one exception. If it has to do with Jane Austen or a tea party, I review and post it.

Last year I helped put on a tea, and fashioned it after a teahouse I used to go to when I lived near Santa Rosa. They would always serve scones (I did the Cheddar-Thyme Scones and the Harvest Pumpkin Scones) and tea sandwiches. You could also add on tarts, little turnovers, salad, or soup.

This soup may not be a real “tea soup”, but I thought it was tasty, easy to make, and fancy looking.

Ingredients:

• 3 Tablespoons of Onion, finely chopped
• 5 Tablespoons of Butter
• 5 Tablespoons of Flour
• 1 14-oz can of Chicken Broth
• 1/3 Cup of Cheddar Cheese, grated
• 1 Baked Potato (6-7 inch baker), cold, cut into bite-sized pieces.
• 2 Cups of Half-and-Half
• 1 Cup of Milk
• 1/2 Teaspoon of Salt
• 1/8 Teaspoon of Black Pepper
• 6 Slices of Bacon, cooked, broken into bits (Or use Bacon Bits)
• Cheddar Cheese, to go on top

Directions:

1. Sauté the onions in butter.
2. While stirring, slowly add the flour and then the chicken broth.
3. Cook until it thickens.
4. Add the cheddar cheese, stirring until it melts.
5. Then add the potato, leaving the skin on the pieces.
6. Finally stir in the half-and-half and the milk.
7. Season with salt and pepper.
8. Top each serving with crumbled bacon and cheddar cheese.

It is a fantastic tasting soup, and having cooked the potatoes it takes like no time at all.

Yay!

The only thing is that you have to be careful when adding the milk or half-and-half. The lactose sugar in them can burn and ruin the dish, so you have to keep stirring. The more you stir the less likely it will burn.

One time I had my niece hep me and I felt like that scene in Goodfellas when Henry Hill keeps telling his brother to watch the sauce. Just like Michael she didn’t enjoy the stirring.

No more stirring.

But it was easy, delicious, and will be a great addition to any future tea parties or dinners.

For more recipes, go to Triple Berry Salad