Cottage Spiced Tea Food

SPIKED SWEET TEA

Steps:

• Steep 8 black tea bags in 1 cup boiling water, 6 minutes; discard the tea bags. stir in 1 1/2 cups raw sugar and the zest of 1 lemon (in strips). let cool; strain into a pitcher. add 3/4 cup lemon juice, 2 cups southern comfort, 4 cups ice cubes and 1 sliced lemon. stir to partially melt the ice. pour into glasses.

SPICY CHAI LATTE

Steps:

• Combine the tea bags, peppercorns, cinnamon sticks, ginger and 4 cups water in a large saucepan. Bring to a simmer over medium heat. Add the almond milk and sugar. Reduce the heat to low and allow to simmer gently for about 10 minutes.
• Strain the mixture into a small slow cooker to keep warm during a party or ladle directly into 8 mugs, taking care to leave the spices in the saucepan. Serve with rye on the side for guests to add 1 ounce themselves, and garnish with orange twists, if desired.

SPICED ICED TEA

Steps:

• Combine water, cloves, and cinnamon stick in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil. Remove from heat.
• Place tea bags in spiced water, cover, and steep for ten minutes.
• In another saucepan, combine sugar, orange juice, and lemon juice. Bring to a boil.
• Strain tea into orange juice mixture.
• Chill, serve over ice.

SPICED TEA MIX

Steps:

• In an airtight container, combine the first five ingredients. Store in a cool, dry place for up to 6 months. Yield: about 7-1/2 cups total. , To prepare tea: Dissolve about 1 tablespoon tea mix in boiling water; stir well. Yield: 1 serving., To prepare punch: In a 3-qt. slow cooker, combine the juices, 1/4-1/3 cup tea mix and cinnamon sticks. Cover and cook on low for 4 hours. Yield: about 12 servings (6 ounces each).

SPICED TEA MIX

Steps:

• Mix all ingredients in a large bowl and stir with a wooden spoon until all of the ingredients are well blended.
• Store the mix in an air-tight container.
• When ready to serve, place 3 teaspoons of the mix in a coffee mug and add 1 cup of hot water. Stir with a whole cinnamon stick, and serve while hot.
• NOTE: Measurements are approximate; adjust ingredient amounts to suit your taste preferences.
• GIFT-GIVING TIP - This is a wonderful treat that is suitable for gift-giving. Place about 1 1/2 cups of the mix in a decorative glass jar, a strong cellophane bag, or a pretty holiday tin. Tie a festive holiday ribbon around the neck of the jar (or top of the bag), or secure a pretty bow to the top of the tin. For special touch, attach 3 or 4 cinnamon sticks to the ribbon. Be sure to add a label to the package with instructions to place 3 teaspoons of the spiced tea mix to a coffee mug and add 1 cup hot water.

TEACAKES

Steps:

• Warm the milk with the butter in a pan until the butter has melted, then add 100ml water to cool the mixture to room temp. Tip the flour, yeast, sugar, spice and 1 tsp salt into a bowl, making sure the yeast is on the other side of the bowl to the salt. Make a well in the flour mixture and pour the milk and butter in, mixing until it forms big flakes, then bring together with your hands. Tip on a surface and knead until smooth (about 5 mins). Put the dough into a large, lightly oiled bowl, cover with a damp tea towel and leave until doubled in size, so about 1-1 ½ hours.
• Line a tray with baking paper. Tip the mixed dried fruits into the dough and knead them in, trying to disperse them evenly throughout the dough. Cut your dough into 6 even-sized balls, take each ball and, using the cup of your hand, and pressing down a little with your palm, roll the ball in a circular motion on the surface to create tension across the top of the bun and a neat round shape. Place onto a tray about 5cm away from each other and press down with your palm to flatten the dough down a little, creating the teacake shape. Cover loosely with an oiled sheet of cling film, for a further 45 mins, or until they have doubled in size.
• Meanwhile, heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas mark 6. Brush the top of each bun liberally with the egg wash, then bake for 20 mins on the top shelf of the oven, until the buns are golden and well risen. Allow to cool on a wire rack, then slice in half, toast and slather with butter if you like.

COTTAGE SPICED TEA

Steps:

• Mix all ingredients well. Add 1T to 1 c hot water. Store in an air-tight container.

SPICED THYME AND LIME ICED TEA

Steps:

• Bring 6 cups water, sugar, thyme, cinnamon sticks, lime juice and lime zest to a boil in a 5-quart saucepan over medium-high heat. Remove the pan from the heat and add the tea bags. Steep the tea for 15 minutes. Remove the tea bags and allow the mixture to cool to room temperature, about 1 hour. Strain the mixture into a pitcher and refrigerate until ready to serve.
• Pour the tea into 4 ice-filled glasses and serve.

SPICED TEA

Steps:

• In a large kettle or Dutch oven over medium heat, bring 1 qt. of water to a boil. Remove from the heat; add tea bags. Cover and steep for 5 minutes. Remove tea bags. , Place cloves and cinnamon sticks in a double thickness of cheesecloth; bring up corners of cloth and tie with a string (or, if desired, place loose spices in pan and strain tea before serving). , Place the cheesecloth bag in pan; add the concentrates, sugar, tea and remaining water; bring to a boil. Boil, uncovered, for 6 minutes. Serve hot.

ALMOND TEA

Steps:

• In a saucepan, bring 2 cups of water to a gentle boil.
• Add the tea bags; cover and remove pan from the heat source.
• Steep for 10 minutes.
• Take out tea bags and don't squeeze them.
• Pour the tea into a 2-quart pitcher.
• Add in the sugar; stir until dissolved.
• Add in the vanilla, almond extract, and lemon juice; stir to mix.
• Add the remaining 6 cups of water and stir.
• Let tea cool to room temperature, then chill in the refrigerator.
• Serve in glasses over ice.