The Magician’s Nephew Tea Party/Book Club: Lavender and Earl Grey 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 we had 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, Cucumber Aioli Canapés, Ham, Cheddar, and Apple Tea Sandwiches, Cranberry, Brie, and Rosemary Bites, and Mini Pumpkin Crème Brûlée.

And now to the fourth week. This week we had Tiesta Tea Victorian Earl Grey, Lavender and Earl Grey Scones, Chicken Salad Sandwiches, Pinwheels, Hummus Tomato Salad, and Triple Berry Salad.

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 we always start with scones.

This comes from Flour Covered Apron.

And something yummy to eat with it. 🙂

Ingredients for Earl Grey Lavender Scones:

• 2 Cups of All Purpose Flour
• 1/4 Cup of Sugar
• 1 Tablespoon of Baking Powder
• 1/2 Teaspoon of Salt
• 3 Tea Bags of Earl Grey Tea Blend or ~3 Teaspoons of Loose Leaf Earl Grey Tea
• 1/2 Cup of Butter, Frozen
• 1/2 Cup of Whipping Cream
• 1 Large Egg
• 2 Teaspoons Vanilla Extract

Ingredients for Earl Grey Lavender Glaze:

• 1.5 Teaspoons Culinary Lavender, plus more for garnishing
• 1/2 Cup of Milk
• 2 Tea Bags or 2 Tsps of Loose Leaf Earl Grey
• 1 1/4 Powdered Sugar

Directions for Scones:

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
2. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.
3. Open the 3 tea bags and empty the ground tea leaves directly into the flour mixture-whisk to combine. If using loose leaf tea, grind it down so that it is smaller.
4. Grate the frozen butter and cut it into the flour mixture, using the pastry cutter until incorporated and the mixture has the texture of fine crumbs.
5. In a small bowl, whisk together the cream, egg, and vanilla extract.
6. Make a well in the middle of the dry ingredients, then mix together.
7. Once completely combined, turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead until it comes together.
8. Shape the dough into a disc about 8 in in diameter.
9. Slice into 8 wedges.
10. Place the wedges about 2 inches apart on a lined baking sheet.
11. Bake at 400 degrees F for 18-22 mins, or until scones are tall and golden brown.
12. Transfer to wire rack to cool completely.

Directions for Glaze:

1. In a small saucepan, bring the milk and lavender to a simmer.
2. Remove from heat, then steep the two bags of Earl Grey teabags or loose leaf tea for about 7 mins.
3. Using a small sieve, or infuser, strain the mixture and discard the lavender.
4. Measure 1/4 cup of the steeped milk.
5. Pour into a small bowl and whisk together with the powdered sugar. For a thicker glaze, add more powdered sugar until desired consistency and sweetness are reached.
6. Once scones are cool, drizzle with glaze and sprinkle with lavender.

These were extremely delicious, espechially as my sister dried the lavender fresh from our garden. Everyone could not get enough of them.

For more from The Magician’s Nephew Tea Party/Book Club, go to Mini Pumpkin Crème Brûlée

For more recipes, go to Cranberry, Brie, and Rosemary Bites

For more Earl Grey Tea recipes, go to Lavender Earl Grey Tea Shortbread Cookies

For more scones, go to Parmesan and Chive Scones

For more tea posts, go to How the Queen Found the Perfect Cup of Tea

The Magician’s Nephew Tea Party/Book Club: Mini Pumpkin Crème Brûlée

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 Crème Brûlée.

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 dessert.

Let’s spill the tea.

This recipe comes from Better Homes & Garden.

Ingredients:

• 2 Cups Whipping Cream
• 3 Egg Yolks, Lightly Beaten
• 2 Eggs, Lightly Beaten
• 1/2 Cup of Sugar
• 1/2 Cup of Canned Pumpkin
• 1 Teaspoon of Ground Cinnamon
• 1 Teaspoon of Ground Ginger
• 1/4 Teaspoon of Salt
• 1/4 Teaspoon of Ground Cloves
• 10 Baby Pumpkins
• 1/4 Cup of Sugar

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
2. In a small saucepan, heat whipping cream over medium heat until bubbly.
3. Remove from heat; set aside
4. Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, combine egg yolks, eggs, 1/2 Cup of Sugar, pumpkin, salt, cinnamon, ginger, and cloves.
5. Beat with a whisk or rotary beater just until combined.
6. Slowly whisk the hot whipping cream into the egg mixture.
7. Use a small serrated knife to cut off the top 1/2-inch of the baby pumpkins.
8. Discard the tops, use the spoon to scoop out the seeds.
9. Place the pumpkin in a roasting pan.
10. Divide custard mixture evenly among the pumpkins.
11. Place roasting pan on oven rack.
12. Pour enough boiling water into the the roasting pan to reach halfway up the sides of the pumpkins.
13. Bake 30-40 mins or until the centers appear nearly set when gently shaken.
14. Carefully remove pan from oven.
15. Remove pumpkins from water; cool on a wire rack.
16. Cover and chill for at least 1 hour or up to 8.
17. Before serving, let custards stand at room temp for about 20 mins.
18. Meanwhile, for caramelized sugar: in a heavy 8 inch skillet, heat 1/4 cup of sugar over medium high heat until sugar begins to melt, shaking skillet occasionally to heat sugar evenly-do not stir.
19. Once sugar starts to melt, reduce heat to low, cool 3-5 mins or until all sugar is melted and golden brown, stirring as needed.
20. Quickly drizzle sugar over the custards. (If sugar starts to harden in skillet, return to heat, stirring until melted.)
21. Serve immediately.
22. ***Instead of caramelizing the sugar in a pan, you can sprinkle the sugar evenly over the custards and use a culinary torch.

 

I’m not a Crème Brûlée type person, but everyone loved it!

For more from The Magician’s Nephew Tea Party/Book Club, go to Cranberry, Brie, and Rosemary Bites

For more recipes, go to Ham, Cheddar, and Apple Tea Sandwiches

For more desserts, go to Lemon Gingerbread Cake

For more tea posts, go to How the Queen Found the Perfect Cup of Tea

For more pumpkin recipes, go to Harvest Pumpkin Scones