The Magician’s Nephew Tea Party/Book Club: Cranberry, Brie, and Rosemary Bites

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). I also need to catch up on these recipes. Week three we had Organic India Tulsi Masala Chai Tea, Parmesan and Chive Scones, Cucumber Aioli Canapés, Ham, Cheddar, and Apple Tea Sandwiches, Cranberry, Brie, and Rosemary Bites, and Mini Pumpkin Creme Brulee.

I couldn’t share the recipes in October as I was in the middle of Horrorfest IX, so I am catching up and of course next is the side.

And food to go with.

 

This recipe comes from Cheese Curd in Paradise.

Ingredients:

• 1 Sheet Frozen Puff Pastry, thawed
• 3/4 Cup of Cranberry Sauce
• 8 oz Brie Cheese
• 1-2 Sprigs of Fresh Rosemary

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
2. Using a knife or pizza cutter cut the dough into 12 equal pieces.
3. Place each piece in a cup of a 12-cup muffin tin. You want each of the four sides to slightly poke over the top of the cup.
4. Cut the brie into 1-inch pieces, place a piece into each cup.
5. Evenly distribute the cranberry sauce in the cups over the brie. You will use about 1-1.5 tsp per cup.
6. Pull the rosemary apart so each cup is topped with a small sprig.
7. Bake for 15 mins.
8. The puff pastry should be golden brown. Remove from the oven and allow the cups to sit for a few mins to slightly cool.
9. Use a small butter knife to carefully release the bites from the baking pan.
10. Serve and enjoy!

So I DO not like brie cheese at all. I didn’t care for these, but everyone else loved them. If you are a brie cheese fan, you’ll love this.

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

For more recipes, go to Cucumber Aioli Canapés

For more tea posts, go to How to Clean Your Tea Infusers

The Magician’s Nephew Tea Party/Book Club: Parmesan and Chive Scones

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, Tea Time Magazine’s Ham and Cheese Tea Sandwiches, Cucumber-Four Peppercorn Goat Cheese Canapés, Fotina & Pork Puffed Pastry, and Mini Apple Pies.

The second week week two was Chami Spice Ginger Plum Tea, Dark Chocolate Ginger Scones, Curried Egg Salad Triple Stacks Sandwiches, Turkey-Apple Tea Sandwiches, Fotina Flower Puffed Pastry, and Lemon Gingerbread Cake.

The third week we had Organic India Tulsi Masala Chai Tea, Parmesan and Chive Scones, Ham & Apple Sandwiches, Cucumber Aioli Canapés, Cranberry and Brie Bites, and Mini Pumpkin Creme Brulee.

I couldn’t share the recipes in October as I was in the middle of Horrorfst IX, so I am catching up and of course starting off our third dinner with scones.

This comes from Tea Time Magazine‘s 2020 Sept/Oct issue. The original recipe calls for dates, but I don’t like dates so I just took them out.

Ingredients:

• 3 Cups of All-Purpose Flour
• 1 Tablespoon of Sugar
• 1 Tablespoon of Baking Powder
• 1/2 Teaspoon of Salt
• 1/2 Cup of Cold Unsalted Butter, Cubed
• 1/2 Cup of Parmigiano-Reggiano Cheese
• 2 Tablespoons of Chopped Fresh Chives
• 1 1/4 Cups + 1 Tablespoon of Cold Heavy Whipping Cream, Divided

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degree F
2. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.
3. Using a pastry blender or 2 forks, cut in cold butter until it resembles coarse crumbs.
4. Add cheese and chives, tossing to combine.
5. Add 1 1/4 cups of cold cream to flour mixture, stirring until a dough begins to form. Gather dough into a ball in the bowl.
6. Turn out the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead 3-4 times.
7. Using a rolling pin, roll out the dough to 3/4-inch thickness.
8. Fold dough into thirds (like an envelope). Roll dough again to a 3/4 inch thickness.
9. Using a 2 1/4-inch round cutter, dipped in flour, cut dough without twisting-rerolling scraos once.
10. Place scones 1-inch apart on the prepared baking sheet.
11. Freeze for 10 mins.
12. Brush tops of scones with remaining 1 tablespoon of cream.
13. Bake until golden brown and a wooden pick inserted in centers comes out clean, approximately 17 mins.
14. Let cool on baking sheet for 5 mins.
15. Serve warm or at room temperature.

These were delicious! I loved them and will most likely make them again.

For more from The Magician’s Nephew Tea Party/Book Club, go to Lemon Gingerbread Cake

For more recipes, go to Heirloom Tomato Tart

For more Tea Time Magazine Recipes, go to Fotina Flower Puffed Pastry

For more scone recipes, go to Dark Chocolate Ginger Scones

For more tea posts, go to Turkey-Apple Tea Sandwiches

I Won the Kumi Crochet and Tea India Giveaway

So a while back Kumi Crochet and Tea India teamed up to do a giveaway-and you know me and free, I just can’t resist.

As I always say:

“Free is always good unless it is diseases.”

Anytime I see a giveaway I have to enter it.

Yes!

The crocheted cup cozy was so adorable, along with the chai coaster. I loved them, but ended up sending them to a friend who was in need of a little cheer through this whole COVID19 thing. She just loved them and they made her feel brighter.

Or disappointed life…

Right now she is on break, but will be taking orders after July 5th. If you are in need of crocheted comfort, you should check her out.

Now let’s move on to the tea. So I love tea:

I love Chai tea and was excited to try it out. I didn’t receive the tea pictured, but instead two boxes of Chai Moments Masala Chai Tea. This Chai Tea was fantastic!

The masala gave it a bit of a kick, but I loved it! It was so easy to make, you can take it on the go, as all it needed is hot water (I like to add a little milk in with mine). I felt so blessed by it, that I gave half a box to a friend who loves Chai Tea, and she thought it was amazing as well.

However, I now wish I hadn’t been so generous. I really LOVED the tea and am down to my last one!

I had so much, where did it all go?

I know I will be buying more of this soon, it is so good.

For more giveaways, go to I Won the Madsen Creations Giveaway

For more tea posts, go to Lavender Earl Grey Tea Shortbread Cookies

For more chai tea, go to I Won the Cederberg Tea Giveaway + Book Club Picks: The Insanity of God

So a few years back I was given a collection of five teas, A World of Teas. As I was about to try them out, I started thinking, which books would best suit the teas? After all nothing goes better together than a good book and a delicious tea. I decided to repeat it with the with other teas I have won, and since it has now become my new thing. After all, books and tea just go so well together.

Chai Moments Masala

So I was drinking this tea trying to think of a book that was comforting (like the tea), had everything you love with a kick of something new, and Indian. I then turned to finish the last chapter of my book, when it hit me-it was perfect!

Pride, Prejudice, and Other Flavors

In this Pride and Prejudice adaption, Trisha Raje is a top surgeon from a rich and powerful family. She has been separated from the family due to a past mistake, trusting someone she shouldn’t have, and is ready to rejoin the fold. In Europe, DJ Caine grew up without much and has worked hard to be a top chef. He moves to America to take care of sister Emma, she has a tumor in her eyes, and starts catering to support them. He and Trisha meet when he is working an event for her brother and it does not go well. Trisha almost ruined his sauce, they argued, she insulted him and he overheard it-thank goodness they don’t have to interact again, right? Wrong! It turns out that not only is Trisha Emma’s doctor, but when Trisha’s sister can’t continue planning the next party for their brother’s campaign-Trisha steps up and has to work alongside DJ. Things get even more troubling when Trisha’s mistake comes back and tries to wreak havoc in everyone’s lives.

This was a great book. The story takes the foundation of Pride and Prejudice but the author makes it her own in this modern adaption. It made me think of the Chai Moments Masala tea as I felt that Tea India does the same. It is a classic Chai Tea, but that masala is not only an added rich flavor, but also gives it a delicious and unique taste from other chais. The flavor of the masala also made me think of DJ and his love of cooking, blending his different cultural heritages in making his food. And the way Trisha eats all his food quickly with none being left, made me think of how I was with this tea. I definitely pulled a Trisha.

This tea also made me think of the book in the way that it comforts. In the book, DJ loves to cook, loves food, and desires to bring comfort to others through his dishes. The Chai was amazing, warming, and cheerful and something I could see the characters from Pride, Prejudice, and Other Flavors drinking.

It was a fantastic tea and book, and I recommend enjoying them together.

For more Pride, Prejudice, and Other Flavors, go to Pride, Prejudice, and Other Flavors