The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe Book Club/Tea Party: Sausage, Green Bean, Potato Casserole

I am sooo, sooo, sooo behind in these. In October 2020 some friends and I have been meeting every Wednesday, and started a Tea Party/Bible Study/Book Club. We began with 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 also desperately need to catch up on).

The first week of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe we were inspired by the tea party between Mr. Tumnus and Lucy Pevensie:

Now, Daughter of Eve!” said the Faun. And really it was a wonderful tea. There was a nice brown egg, lightly boiled, for each of them, and then sardines on toast, and then buttered toast, and then toast with honey, and then a sugar-topped cake. And when Lucy was tired of eating the Faun began to talk. 

We had Chami Tea’s Winter Grey: Deviled Eggs (for brown egg lightly boiled); Salmon, Cucumber, and Radish Canapés (in place of sardines on toast); Bagels (buttered toast), Honey French Toast (for toast with honey); and a Bear Claw Coffee Cake (for sugar topped cake).

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

“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.

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.

For the third week we decided to go with the dinner meal that the beavers serve the Pevensie children. 

“And when they had finished the fish Mrs. Beaver brought unexpectedly out of the oven a great and gloriously sticky marmalade roll, steaming hot, and at the same time moved the kettle on to the fire, so that when they had finished the marmalade roll the tea was made and ready to be poured out..

For this week we had Chami Tea Winter Apple Spice Tea, a loaf of Dutch Crust bread, trout (and chicken for the non-fish eaters), boiled potatoes, and marmalade rolls.

The fourth week we had the breakfast meal the Pevensies have with Father Christmas.

“And now”—here he [Father Christmas] suddenly looked less grave—”here is something for the moment for you all!” and he brought out (I suppose from the big bag at his back, but nobody quite saw him do it) a large tray containing five cups and saucers, a bowl of lump sugar, a jug of cream, and a great big teapot all sizzling and piping hot. Then he cried out “A Merry Christmas! Long live the true King!” and cracked his whip and he and the reindeer and the sledge and all were out of sight before anyone realised that they had started.

Peter had just drawn his sword out of its sheath and was showing it to Mr. Beaver when Mrs. Beaver said:

Now then, now then! Don’t stand talking there till the tea’s got cold. Just like men. Come and help to carry the tray down and we’ll have breakfast. What a mercy I thought of bringing the bread-knife.”

For this week we had Tiesta Tea Royal Breakfast (as the Pevensies are Narnian royalty), English muffins, scrambled eggs, sausages, bacon, and waffles. As nothing was homemade, I have no recipes to share.

For the fifth and final week we did the the feast with Aslan:

“Meanwhile, let the feast be prepared. Ladies, take these Daughters of Eve to the pavilion and minister to them.”

For this week we had Nobilitea’s Regal Plum (as the Pevensie’s are royalty), French Bread, Sausage and Veggie Pan, Spinach Puffs, and Strawberry Shortcake.

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 10-17.pdfDownload

This recipe comes from Great Grub, Delicious Eats.

Ingredients:

• Sausage Kielbasa
• Baby creamer potatoes
• Green beans
• Oil, butter
• Onions, garlic
• Seasoning
• Garlic powder
• Pepper
• Red pepper flakes

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400° and spray a 9×13 baking dish with a non stick spray.
2. Wash creamer potatoes, cut in half and add to a sealable gallon size baggie.
3. Add oil, seasonings, pepper and red pepper flakes to baggie. Shake to coat.
4. In a large frying pan, add sausage and water and cook over medium high heat until sausages have browned and most of water has evaporated.
5. Remove sausage from pan and when cool enough add to baggie.
6. Melt butter in frying pan and add onions and garlic, cook until onions are translucent.
7. Let cool for a few minutes and then when cool enough, add to baggie and shake to mix.
8. Lastly, add green beans to baggie, shake to mix and then empty contents into prepared baking dish.
9. Cover with foil and place in the oven. Bake for 40 minutes or until potatoes are tender.
10. Carefully remove from oven and enjoy!

Delicious and perfect for our tea.

For more from our The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe teas, go to Marmalade Rolls

For more recipes, go to What Excellent Boiled Potatoes

For more tea posts, go to Spill the Tea: The Laughing C.A.T. (Coffee Roasting and Tea)

What Excellent Boiled Potatoes

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).

The first week were inspired by the tea party between Mr. Tumnus and Lucy Pevensie. 

Now, Daughter of Eve!” said the Faun. And really it was a wonderful tea. There was a nice brown egg, lightly boiled, for each of them, and then sardines on toast, and then buttered toast, and then toast with honey, and then a sugar-topped cake. And when Lucy was tired of eating the Faun began to talk. 

We had Chami Tea’s Winter Grey: Deviled Eggs(for brown egg lightly boiled); Salmon, Cucumber, and Radish Canapés (in place of sardines on toast); Bagels (buttered toast), Honey French Toast (for toast with honey); and a Bear Claw Coffee Cake (for sugar topped cake).

And food to go with.

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

“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.

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.

For the third week we decided to go with the dinner meal that the beavers serve the Pevensie children.

“Just as the frying pan was nicely hissing Peter and Mr. Beaver came in with the fish which Mr. Beaver had already opened with his knife and cleaned out in the open air. You can think how good the new-caught fish smelled while they were frying and how the hungry children longed for them to be done and how very much hungrier still they had become before Mrs. Beaver said, “Now we’re nearly ready.” Susan drained the potatoes and then put them all back in the empty pot to dry on the side of the range while Lucy was helping Mrs. Beaver to dish up the trout, so that in a very few minutes everyone was drawing up stools (it was all three-legged stools in the Beavers’ house except for Mrs. Beaver’s own special rocking chair beside the fire) and preparing to enjoy themselves. There was a jug of creamy milk for the children (Mr. Beaver stuck to beer) and a great big lump of deep yellow butter in the middle of the table from which everyone took as much as he wanted to go with his potatoes and all the children thought—and I agree with them—that there’s nothing to beat good freshwater fish if you eat it when it has been alive half an hour ago and has come out of the pan half a minute ago. And when they had finished the fish Mrs. Beaver brought unexpectedly out of the oven a great and gloriously sticky marmalade roll, steaming hot, and at the same time moved the kettle on to the fire, so that when they had finished the marmalade roll the tea was made and ready to be poured out. And when each person had got his (or her) cup of tea, each person shoved back his (or her) stool so as to be able to lean against the wall and gave a long sigh of contentment.

For this week we had Chami Tea Winter Apple Spice Tea, a loaf of Dutch Crust bread, trout (and chicken for the non-fish eaters), boiled potatoes, and marmalade roll.

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 7-9.pdfDownload

This recipe comes from Thriving Home.

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 pounds small baby potatoes (preferably an assortment of red, blue, and yellow)
• 2 tablespoons butter, plus more as needed
• Kosher salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper, plus more to taste
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, plus more to taste
• 1 tablespoon minced fresh parsley, or 1/2 teaspoondried parsley flakes
• Optional: 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Directions:

1. If your potatoes are not bite-sized, then cut them in half.
2. In a large pot, add enough water to cover your baby potatoes by at least 1 inch of water. Bring to a boil over high heat (put on the lid to help it boil faster). Then, salt the water liberally once it’s boiling.
3. Boil the baby (or small) potatoes until they are fork tender, about 10 minutes depending on the size of your potatoes.
4. Drain the potatoes in a colander over the sink and then return them to the pot.
5. Gently toss the potatoes with the butter, 1 teaspoon Kosher salt, the pepper, the garlic powder, and the parsley.
6. Taste and add more salt, pepper, or garlic powder, as desired.
7. Stir in Parmesan, if desired.
8. Serve warm or at room temperature.

These were delicious but I think Mr. Collins said it best:

For more from our The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe teas, go to Turkish Delight

For more recipes, go to Blueberry Yogurt Oat Scones

For more potato recipes, go to Baked Potato Soup

For more tea posts, go to Jane Austen Birthday Party Music & Party Review

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

Cucumber Sandwiches

So last month my friends and I were supposed to meet up for high tea, as this is something we have been trying to do about every three months to stay connected as it is seems to get harder the older you get.

We had the date and reservations at this amazing historic tea place, but then COVID-19 happened.

So we decided to do our own tea party, a virtual tea party.

We each set up a space with snacks and tea, I drank Earl Grey Tea of course.

I decided to make a new type of Cucumber Sandwiches and Earl Grey Tea Cookies. Both of which were extremely delicious, and I decided to share them with you here, starting with the cucumber sandwiches, which originally come from Spend With Pennies.

Ingredients:

• 8 oz Cream Cheese
• 3 Tablespoons of Mayonnaise
• 2 Teaspoons of Chopped Fresh Dill
• 1 Teaspoon of Chopped Fresh Chives
• 1/4 Teaspoon of Garlic Powder
• Salt
• Pepper
• 1 Long English Cucumber, Thinly Sliced
• 1 Loaf of Bread, Crusts Removed

Directions:

1. Mix cream cheese and mayonnaise in a small bowl with a hand mixer, until smooth.
2. Stir in herbs, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
3. Cut crusts off bread slices.
4. Spread bread slices with cream cheese mixture.
5. Thinly slice cucumbers, layer over half of the bread slices.
6. Top with additional herbs, if desired.
7. Top with remaining bread slice and cut each sandwich into three pieces.

These were delicious! I’m glad I was the only one eating them as I wanted to eat them all!

 

For more recipes, go to Lemon Curd

For more tea sandwich recipes, go to Basic Chicken Salad

For more tea party recipes, go to Scottish Oat Scones