Posts by Judy Larkin
POETRY CONTEST 2021
POETRY CONTEST CELEBRATES TEA & NATIONAL POETRY MONTH MARTINSBURG, West Virginia — Tea and poetry have long been celebrated for the experiences they can evoke — warming the body from the inside out. To honor the way a perfectly steeped cup of tea can taste or how a poem can make the heart race with…
Read MoreWEST VIRGINIA HOT TODDY
Ingredients: Prep Time: 5 minutes Total Time: 10 minutes Yields: 1 1 cup water 1 cinnamon stick 1 star anise 1 tbsp. oolong tea (We used Ti Kuan Yin) 1½ oz. moonshine whiskey Juice of half lemon Lemon slice and star anise for garnish In a small pan, combine water, cinnamon, anise and bring to a boil. Remove from heat and add oolong…
Read MoreARMAGH POTATO APPLE GRIDDLE CAKE
My good friend, Sinéad Moss, has shared her grandma’s Armagh Potato Apple Griddle Cake recipe. Served with cream, it makes a delicious treat for high tea and of course, don’t forget to make a pot of Irish Breakfast Blend tea to go with it. Armagh Potato Apple Griddle Cake 1 lb. cooked potatoes, mashed. Must…
Read MoreBELGIAN SNACKING CAKE
This unusual cake which is moist with a surprisingly light texture is an ideal way to finish up any left-over mincemeat. Needs to be cold before slicing and the taste and texture is actually better the next day. Ingredients: 4 oz. unsalted butter (softened) 3 oz. soft brown sugar 2 eggs (beaten) 5 oz. self-rising…
Read MoreECCLES CAKES
The Eccles cake is named after the town of Eccles, which is in the historic county of Lancashire and now classified as a town in the City of Salford, Greater Manchester. They are part of a Lancashire food tradition, with similar cakes being found in other parts of the County of Lancashire. Eccles cakes were traditionally…
Read MorePumpkin-Ginger Oat Scones
INGREDIENTS: 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour ½ cup old-fashioned oats, plus more for sprinkling ½ cup granulated white sugar 1 ½ tablespoons baking powder 1 teaspoon kosher salt 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice 8 tablespoons of unsalted butter, chopped into chunks ¾ cup finely chopped crystalized ginger* ¾ cup canned pumpkin puree (NOT pumpkin pie…
Read MoreGreen Tomato Pie
When the frost arrives and brings the tomato-growing season to an end, try baking this very different pie made of green tomatoes. I discovered this recipe, which had been cut out of a magazine from probably the 1970’s, stuck in an old cookbook someone had given me. Had it for years but never got around…
Read MoreWhat Gives Earl Grey its Unique Flavor?
Earl Grey is probably the most recognized tea blend in the world. It is flavored by Bergamot oil to deliver a calming and aromatic citrus character. The oil comes from bergamot orange (Citrus Bergamia) which is a citrus fruit grown chiefly in Italy. The tree yields a yellow-green pear-shaped fruit, the peel of which is valued by…
Read MoreOverabundance of Zucchini?
It’s that time of the year again when gardeners are facing a glut of zucchini. If you can’t bestow any more of the vegetable on your friends and neighbors here are three excellent recipes to create items for your afternoon tea menu. MISS VERA’S ZUCCHINI BREAD This is one of the best zucchini breads I’ve…
Read MoreJuly 29th is National Lipstick Day
Why should we celebrate Lipstick Day? One good reason is because adorning the lips with a bright color helps elevate the mood and create joy and confidence. Another reason, currently, don’t we just need something to celebrate and feel good about? Lipstick have a long history. It dates back to 2500BC when the first lipsticks…
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