Make New Friends, But Keep The Old....

www.allposters.com - Afternoon Tea - Alexander Rossi

One is silver and the other gold.

Do you remember that little song?

I am busy preparing for our church's Ladies Tea. The theme this year is Friendship. I am decorating with fall things; pumpkins, leaves, natural things. But I am doing a little twist - the pumpkins are going to be either gold or silver. How will I do this? Spray paint! It is so fun to do. One lady at each table will have the chance to take the pumpkin centerpiece home.

I am bringing all the scones and all the things that go with scones; lemon curd, jam, Mock Devonshire Cream, Maple Butter.

I am making the Pumpkin Scones, regular sweet scones and I think Cranberry - Orange scones.

I also am bring the tea and all the tea items. Good thing I have been collecting for years! I also am making what I call "Holiday Tea." Here is the recipe.

Holiday Tea

5 tea bags of regular black tea

2 cups boiling water

2 cups sugar

1 1/2 teaspoons of cinnamon

6 ounce can of orange juice concentrate

6 ounce can of lemonade concentrate

Pour 2 cups boiling water over the 5 tea bags and let it steep for about 15 minutes. Then add the sugar and stir to dissolve the sugar. Add the rest of the ingredients. This makes a concentrate. To serve add 3 Tablespoons of concentrate to 1 cup of hot water. To serve many use 1 cup of concentrate to 5 cups of hot water!

I usually make up the full batch, and serve it from my stoneware crock. It stays hot and is so delicious to drink. At many of the teas I have planned, this tea is the favorite. It is similar in taste to mulled cider. Perfect for fall and winter!

Would you like the recipes for the Cranberry - Orange scones and the regular sweet scones?

Cranberry - Orange Scones

2/3 cup sour milk

1 egg

3 cups flour

4 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

8 Tablespoons (1 stick) butter, cut up

1 cup Cranberries (I use frozen)

1 tsp grated Orange peel

Heat oven to 375 degrees. Make sour mild w/ mild and 2 tsp vinegar. Beat in egg with a fork and set aside. Mix flour, baking powder, baking soda in a large bowl. Add butter and cut in with pastry blender or rub with your fingers until it looks like fine granules. Add cranberries, sugar, orange peel; toss lightly to mix. Add milk mixture. Stir until a soft dough forms. Turn out onto a lightly floured board and need 5 or 6 times. Form dough into small balls. Place on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 12-15 minutes or until medium brown in color. Remove to a wire rack. Brush with soft butter and let cool.

Sweet Scones

2 1/2 cups all purpose flour

1 Tablespoon baking powder

8 Tablespoons (1 stick) cold butter, cut up

1/3 cup sugar

2/3 cup milk

Heat oven to 425 degrees. Mix flour and baking powder in a large bowl. Mix well. Add butter and cut in with a pastry blender or rub with fingers until looks like fine granules. Add sugar - toss to mix. Add milk and stir with a fork until soft dough forms. Turn out onto a lightly floured board - knead about 10-12 times. Roll out 1/2 inch thick; cut with a round cutter. (I use a small canning jar) Bake on ungreased cookie sheet 12 minutes until brown. Cool on a wire rack.

Making these scones will keep us busy this week!

What are you up to this week?