Even though cupcakes are very popular today, the nation’s baker’s claim the traditional scone has made a revival with the quintessentially English Afternoon Tea en vogue. Afternoon tea is apparently associated with the West Country, but scones are actually themselves Celtic, their origins Welsh or Scottish, and their predecessor was the ‘griddle’ scone. Personally my favourite is a warm scone, raspberry jam and clotted cream. Mmm….
Author: Treeca
It’s National Cupcake Week from 12th – 18th September, so apron’s on to celebrate cupcakes of every shape and decoration, created by British Baker Magazine. Last year David Bennet of Sunshine Baking in Leeds was crowned Cupcake Champion of Britain 2010, with a winning recipe of mango cupcake. For further details look on this website http://www.nationalcupcakeweek.co.uk/page/get_involved.html
If you love your apples then you must visit Waterperry Gardens in Oxfordshire for an ‘Apple Weekend’, from 7 – 9th October, where you can look at 50 varieties of apples and have free tours of the orchards and fruit sheds. For more details check out the website www.waterperrygardens.co.uk
It feels so good to have a friend on who you can depend. A friend can help to mend a heart boost you toward a brand new start. Clown with carefree, school girl glee, share a quiet cup of tea. Jan Miller Girando, Pals
EASY COFFEE AND WALNUT CAKE… Ingredients 175g (6oz) Self Raising Flour 175g (6oz) Softened Butter 175g (6oz) Caster Sugar 1 ½ tablespoons of instant coffee mixed with 2 tablespoons of Boiling Water 75g (3oz) Chopped Walnuts 1 ½ tsp Baking Powder 3 Large Eggs, lightly beaten Method Preheat oven 175C/325F/Gas 3 Line or grease a 2lb loaf tin Place all ingredients except for the coffee and walnuts and whisk together for no more than 2 mins. Add the coffee and walnuts and place into loaf tin Bake for 40 -60 minutes or until your skewer comes clean when inserted in…
At 52teas.com you will find unique, hand-blended artisan loose leaf teas with a new limited edition creation every week of the year. Not your average black or green tea but something different like ‘Pumpkin Cheese Cake Black Tea’ or ‘Pancake Breakfast Flavoured Black Tea’. The bad news is that they are based in North America and although shipping is free in US and Canada, obviously UK buyers will have to pay for shipping. If you become a tea subscriber you will receive one 1 -2 ounce pouch of tea every week of your subscription. They were the North American Tea…
Did you know that if you add dried fruit to your recipes it can actually be better for you than fresh fruit, as the dehydration process can make some nutrients more concentrated. The antioxidants in dried cranberries and grapes are twice as potent as in fresh fruit. Make sure you check the sugar content of some of them in particular cranberries, as they can be very high.
Research has shown that 300g of coffee (2-3 cups) has a huge benefit on alertness and attention span for up to four hours after drinking it. So make sure you don’t drink it to late at night :):)
They say that dark chocolate may help treat patients with cirrhosis of the liver, as the antioxidants compounds in the chocolate are thought to dilate or widen blood vessels and improve blood flows.
Place the egg in a bowl of water, if it sinks and lies on its side, it’s fresh. If it sinks and stands large-end up, it’s on the turn so use within a couple of days. If it floats, bin it, as it’s gone off.
The new Breville One-Touch Tea Maker is a revolutionary tea experience. The fully automated tea basket moves down, then up, gently agitating the leaves to precisely infuse your tea. Push the basket button and watch the basket cycle in and out of immersion. Seeing is believing. Different tea varietals such as Black, Green, White, and Oolong require exact water temperatures and controlled brew times to allow their unique flavors and aromas to develop during brewing. The One-Touch Tea Maker eliminates the guesswork so you can enjoy a perfect cup of tea, every time. http://steepster.com/teas Fully programmable for all types of…
Did you know that if you put used tea bags in the base of your plant posts it will help to stop the compost dropping out of the holes in the bottom of the pot.
Did you know that there is an art to steeping your tea ? Get it wrong and the tea can taste quite different. Follow the guide below to the temperature and time you should steep your tea for. Black Tea – 206°F – 97°C – 2-3 minutes Green Tea – 175°F – 79°C – 1 minute Herbal Tea – 208°F – 98°C – 4-5 minutes Oolong Tea – 195°F – 90°C – 3 minutes White Tea – 175°F – 80°C – 30 seconds Rooibos Tea – 208°F – 98°C – 5-6 minutes Chai Tea – low boil – 10-10 minutes…
The Ramada York, Fairfield Manor has an elegant afternoon tea with scones which they serve in their Garden Lounge or out on the patio on a sunny day. Relax in the Yorkshire countryside at this !8th Century Hotel which blends modern with old-world style. Fairfield Manor is an impressive country house which stands in six acres of private grounds and the perfect place to stop for afternoon tea. You can sink into a deep armchair and curl up with a book while enjoying your afternoon tea of home-made sandwiches, fruit scones and the obligatory clotted cream and jam. http://www.ramadajarvis.co.uk/hotels/fairfieldmanor.aspx Ramada…
According to The Telegraph, Earl Grey Tea fans are up in arms about the ‘new recipe’ for Earl Grey from Twinings. Maker Twinings trumpeted that adding “a dash of lemon and a touch more bergamot” would create its “best ever” tipple. Apparently there is trouble brewing as hundreds have complained on the company’s website and a Facebook campaign page called ‘Bring back the original Twinings Earl Grey tea’. Twinings was founded by Thomas Twining after he opened a tea room on the Strand in London in 1706. It launched the first brand of Earl Grey tea in 1831, naming it…