Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Christmas Tea

Today I am joining Mr. Toast's for his Christmas Tea.
It is being held in the beautiful town of Aspen Colorado.
I am wearing my Aspen best...a la Karen Blixen/Isak Dinesen






I'm sure we will be listening to Rufus Wainwright's Judy Garland Cd- perfect tea music don't ya know...






I will be sipping tea from my favorite tea cup and saucer  .. a treasure from Grandma M


I will be sipping my Out of Africa tea.....






 .... in honor of WORLD AIDS DAY and  the charity FACES OF KIBERA whose eBay auction is going on RIGHT NOW..


                                               Click HERE to check the auction out..

I will be regretting that I'm not having Jasmine Green tea with a teaspoon of honey to help rev up my metabolism from the incredible scones I have baked for the event..

Maple Walnut Scones

Yield 12-15 scones

4 1/2 cups unbleached flour
1/4 cup sugar
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 lb butter-cubed
1 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup maple syrup
1 cup chopped walnuts

1 beaten egg(used for "painting" tops)

In large bowl,sift together the flour,sugar,baking powder and baking soda with a wooden spoon. Cut butter with pastry cutter until mixture is well combined.
It will have a course texture. In a small bowl,whisk together the buttermilk,syrup,and walnuts. Add this mixture to the flour mixture and combine well. Add additional flour if dough is too sticky. Roll out to 1" thick on floured surface and cut into circles using a 3" cutter or an upside down glass. Re-roll dough as necessary. Place scones on well greased cookie sheet. Brush each with beaten egg. Bake at 400 f for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown. I always make a double batch and freeze one. They are THAT GOOD....Enjoy!!


....from the Bakers Cafe Cookbook...which is filled with recipes from a wonderfully spectacular bakery/restaurant in Katonah NY which is now no longer there. I will continue to mourn its closing till Sloan Wainwright, if ever, decides to open a new place.



On top of my scones will be clotted cream...
I could never have a scone without Clotted Cream and Jam.





Then of course my sister Maggie will be making her very special tuna fish salad for the tea sandwiches.

I am hoping Mr. Toast will also have cucumber and cream cheese sandwiches, salad sandwiches, ham and cheese sandwiches and egg salad sandwiches as well....



Please check out the site HEKIMA PLACE , a wonderful place for girls to have a home and education. It is located in Karen, a suburg of Nairobi..Karen is named for Isak Dinesen, who wrote Out Of Africa and lived there for many years. I have been to Hekima Place- it's a happy nurturing home where they have warm tea and milk with breakafst lunch and dinner ...5 of the girls there came from the slums of Kibera nearby, where the organization, Faces of Kibera was able to hook up with Hekima Place and give them a safe, beautiful and loving home.


So put on the kettle, put up your feet, sit by the fire and sip with me...







11 comments:

  1. Ah, how very delightful Kass. thanks for the recipe too. do you think we might be able to whip some of those up in time for the Tea later today?

    You will look lovely and I am looking forward to saying hello. Do announce it to all of us when you get here too. the Tea begins at 4:00 mountain time but there is a pre -tea and after tea reception as well.

    I am writing you up under my side bar promoters' updates too. Thanks you very much! Umm, cough cough, I did have to laugh at being called Mr. Toad. Ribbit! Hee.

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  2. Kathleen! (It's a grand name, isn't it?)

    Lots of things here that I'm finding a connection with (on your profile, "The Quiet Man", on the playlist, "Moon River", "Out of Africa", your general philosophy and philanthropy and of course our shared given names.
    Think I'll be back!

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  3. Those scones sound delicious! Looking forward to meeting you this afternoon.

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  4. Thanks for visiting... And Please excuse me Mr Toast for calling you Mr Toad!! I guess I was thinking you a prince in disguise :)

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  5. I'm sorry I missed it! I will have to have some banana muffins and Irish breakfast Tea for dessert tonight!

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  6. Who knew tea parties could be so much fun! Great meeting you.

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  7. Oh at last! Someone's posted a lovely recipe. Makes my damper look a little lame!

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  8. Thanks for stoppin gby the blog, it was so nice to meet you at the christmas tea and I loved those scones... went perfectly with the clotted cream :-)

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  9. You gotta try making those scones.. they are HEAVEN!

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  10. Well, did you like my salad sandwiches then? :) thank you for something and adding your bit. What great fun! Do come next year too! :)

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  11. Sorry I missed you at Mr. Toasts...I was having some problems with my pooch back at the Aspen Hotel.ha! It was a good turn out for Toast...

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