by Laura Childs
¾ cup cream
PREHEAT oven to 350 degrees. In mixing bowl, add flour and salt, then cut in butter. Stir in sugar and raisins. Make a well in the center and add the egg and half the cream. Mix and add the rest of the cream as you go along. If mixture is too dry, add a little more cream. Roll dough out on floured board to about ½-inch thick. Cut into wedges and place on greased baking sheet. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes until golden brown. Yields 6 to 8 scones.
Haley’s Banana Muffins
2 cups flour
1 cup sugar
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1 cup mashed bananas
1 cup sour cream
½ cup chopped nuts
PREHEAT oven to 350 degrees. In large bowl mix together flour, sugar, baking powder, and baking soda. Stir in mashed bananas and sour cream until mixed. Add chopped nuts. Pour batter into well-greased muffin tins and bake for 20 minutes. Yields 8 muffins.
Strawberry Cream Cheese Tea Sandwiches
3 oz. cream cheese, softened
2 Tbsp. strawberry preserves
4 slices thin white bread
COMBINE cream cheese and strawberry preserves in a bowl. Spread mixture on 2 slices of bread. Top with plain bread, trim crusts, and cut bread diagonally into triangles.Yields 8 small tea sandwiches.
Apple Nut Squares
2 eggs
1½ cups sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
1 cup flour
2 tsp. baking powder
½ tsp. salt
2 cups apples, chopped
½ cup walnuts, chopped
PREHEAT oven to 350 degrees. Combine eggs, sugar, and vanilla and beat until light and fluffy. In a separate bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, and salt. Add egg mixture to flour mixture and combine. Stir in apples and nuts. Spread mixture into a greased and floured 8-inch-by-12-inch pan. Bake for 30 minutes. Let cool and then cut into squares. Yields about 12 squares.
Peanut Butter Blossom Cookies
½ cup butter
½ cup granulated white sugar, plus extra
½ cup brown sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
1 egg
½ cup peanut butter
1 tsp. baking soda
1½ cup flour
Milk chocolate or Hershey’s Kisses
PREHEAT oven to 375 degrees. In large bowl, cream together butter, white sugar, brown sugar, and vanilla. Add egg and beat well. Stir in peanut butter, baking soda, and flour until well mixed. Using a spoon, form mixture into small bowls, then roll in granulated sugar. Bake for approximately 8 minutes. Remove from oven and quickly place a piece of milk chocolate in the center of each cookie (chunk of milk chocolate or Hershey’s Kiss). Let cool and serve. Yields 12 to 15 cookies.
Avocado and Chicken Tea Sandwiches
1 avocado, ripe
1 Tbsp. chili paste (or hot sauce)
1 Tbsp. lime juice
6 slices of rye bread
Roast chicken slices
MASH avocado in bowl and add chili paste and lime juice. Spread avocado paste on 6 slices of rye bread. Top three of the slices with roast chicken slices. Add top slices to the sandwiches and trim off crusts. Cut into squares or triangles. Yields 12 small sandwiches.
Cranberry Iced Tea
1 quart tea, brewed and cooled
2 cups cranberry juice
Juice of 1 lemon
2 Tbsp. sugar
COMBINE all ingredients in a pitcher, then serve over ice in tall glasses. Yields 4 to 6 servings.
Quickie-Not-So-Picky Chicken Tetrazzini
2 Tbsp. butter
1 (4-oz.) can sliced mushrooms
¼ cup chopped green pepper
¼ cup diced onions
1 (10-oz.) can chicken gravy
½ cup Cheddar cheese, shredded
1 cup diced, cooked chicken
2 cups cooked spaghetti noodles
¼ cup chopped tomato
MELT butter in saucepan and add mushrooms, green peppers, and onions. Sizzle until tender. Stir in chicken gravy and Cheddar cheese. Heat until cheese is melted. Add chicken, spaghetti noodles, and tomato. Stir until heated. Yields 4 servings.
TEA TIME TIPS FROM
Laura Childs
Silk Road Tea Party
The Silk Road was the ancient trading route from China to the Mediterranean, and it brought many of China’s treasures to new lands. For this tea consider serving gingered pineapple and sultana raisin scones, Chinese chicken salad tea sandwiches, Chinese noodles (Marco Polo’s gift to the West!), and tea bread with plum jam and Devonshire cream. Set your table with Chinese or Middle East–inspired tablecloths, blue-and-white dishes, Chinese lilies or peonies for a centerpiece, and lots of chinoiserie. Yunnan or Lapsang souchong tea would be perfect.
Harvest Gold Tea
Use a patchwork quilt as a tablecloth and add pots filled with late-blooming yarrow and bittersweet. Scatter a few autumn leaves on your table and use simple, homespun crockery. For your food offerings, consider apple scones, corn chowder with cranberry bread, pear and Stilton cheese tea sandwiches, and gingerbread bars for dessert. Serve Keemun tea, a rich, full-flavored tea often referred to as the Burgundy of teas.
Strawberry Tea
Served indoors or out, this Strawberry Tea motif is sure to please your guests. Use a white linen tablecloth, as many pink dishes as you can round up, and decorate your table with pink flowers. Tie your white linen napkins with pink ribbon and add a tiny strawberry charm. Serve strawberry and white chocolate scones, chicken salad tea sandwiches topped with sliced strawberries, a small sliver of cheese quiche, and strawberry tarts for dessert. Floral teas, such as jasmine, or a black tea flavored with strawberry and vanilla, would be perfect.
Sweet Summer Herb Tea
Toss a linen tablecloth on your picnic table and lay out your best china. (Yes, you’re serving tea outdoors!) Dress up your tea table with colorful ceramic pots overflowing with bunches of fresh herbs and give each guest a packet of seeds as a favor. Start your three-course tea with herbed cream scones, then move on to tea sandwiches of cream cheese with chives and egg salad with dill. Herbed bread with crab salad would also be delicious. For dessert, think mint ice cream. A black tea with peppermint would be a perfect accompaniment, as would any type of tisane (French for herbal infusion.)
Japanese Tea
Keep your tea table simple and Zen-like. Decorate it with a Japanese bonsai, a single, lovely orchid, or a miniature water fountain. Small candles, lacquer trays, bamboo place mats, and handmade ceramic plates or bowls contribute to the atmosphere. Serve shrimp tempura with steamed rice—or sushi, if you and your guests are adventurous. You can also grill skewers of scallops and chicken on a tabletop hibachi. Poached pears and almond cookies make a simple but amazing dessert. Your ocha (tea) of choice should be Gyokuro, Japan’s finest green tea.
TEA RESOURCES
TEA MAGAZINES AND PUBLICATIONS
Tea Time—A luscious magazine profiling tea and tea lore. Filled with glossy photos and wonderful recipes. (teatimemagazine.com)
Southern Lady—From the publishers of Tea Time with a focus on people and places in the South as well as wonderful teatime recipes. (southernladymagazine.com)
The Tea House Times—Go to theteahousetimes.com for subscription information and dozens of links to tea shops, purveyors of tea, gift shops, and tea events. Visit the Laura Childs guest blog!
Victoria—Articles and pictorials on homes, home design, gardens, and tea. (victoriamag.com)
Texas Tea & Travel—Highlighting Texas and other Southern tea rooms, tea events, and fun travel. (teaintexas.com)
Fresh Cup Magazine—For tea and coffee professionals. (freshcup.com)
Tea & Coffee—Trade journal for the tea and coffee industry. (teaand coffee.net)
Bruce Richardson—This a
uthor has written several definitive books on tea. (store.elmwoodinn.com/brucerichardson.aspx)
Jane Pettigrew—This author has written sixteen books on the varied aspects of tea and its history and culture. (janepettigrew .com/books)
A Tea Reader—by Katrina Ávila Munichiello, an anthology of tea stories and reflections.
AMERICAN TEA PLANTATIONS
Charleston Tea Plantation—The oldest and largest tea plantation in the U.S. Order their fine black tea or schedule a visit at bigelowtea.com.
Table Rock Tea Company—This Pickens, South Carolina, plantation is growing premium whole leaf tea. Target production date is 2018. (tablerocktea.com)
Fairhope Tea Plantation—Tea plantation in Fairhope, Alabama.
Sakuma Brothers Farm—This tea garden just outside Burlington, Washington, has been growing white and green tea for almost twenty years. (sakumamarket.com)
Big Island Tea—Organic artisan tea from Hawaii. (bigislandtea.com)
Mauna Kea Tea—Organic green and oolong tea from Hawaii’s Big Island. (maunakeatea.com)
Onomea Tea—Nine-acre tea estate near Hilo, Hawaii. (onomeatea .com)
Moonrise Tea—Organic teas grown on Hawaii’s Big Island and packed in rice paper pouches. (moonrisetea.com)
TEA WEBSITES AND INTERESTING BLOGS
Teamap.com—Directory of hundreds of tea shops in the U.S. and Canada.
Afternoontea.co.uk—Guide to tea rooms in the UK.
Cookingwithideas.typepad.com—Recipes and book reviews for the bibliochef.
Seedrack.com—Order Camellia sinensis seeds and grow your own tea!
Friendshiptea.net—Tea shop reviews, recipes, and more.
RTbookreviews.com—Wonderful romance and mystery book review site.
Adelightsomelife.com—Tea, gardening, and cottage crafts.
Theladiestea.com—Networking platform for women.
Jennybakes.com—Fabulous recipes from a real make-it-from-scratch baker.
Cozyupwithkathy.blogspot.com—Cozy mystery reviews.
Southernwritersmagazine.com—Inspiration, writing advice, and author interviews of Southern writers.
Thedailytea.com—Formerly Tea Magazine, this online publication is filled with tea news, recipes, inspiration, and tea travel.
Allteapots.com—Teapots from around the world.
Fireflyvodka.com—South Carolina purveyors of Sweet Tea Vodka, Raspberry Tea Vodka, Peach Tea Vodka, and more. Just visiting this website is a trip in itself!
Teasquared.blogspot.com—Fun, well-written blog about tea, tea shops, and tea musings.
Blog.bernideens.com—Bernideen’s teatime blog about tea, baking, decorating, and gardening.
Possibili-teas.net—Tea consultants with a terrific monthly newsletter.
Relevanttealeaf.blogspot.com—All about tea.
Stephcupoftea.blogspot.com—Blog on tea, food, and inspiration.
Teawithfriends.blogspot.com—Lovely blog on tea, friendship, and tea accoutrements.
Bellaonline.com/site/tea—Features and forums on tea.
Napkinfoldingguide.com—Photo illustrations of twenty-seven different (and sometimes elaborate) napkin folds.
Worldteaexpo.com—This premier business-to-business trade show features more than three hundred tea suppliers, vendors, and tea innovators.
Sweetgrassbaskets.net—One of several websites where you can buy sweetgrass baskets direct from the artists.
Fatcatscones.com—Frozen ready-to-bake scones.
Kingarthurflour.com—One of the best flours for baking. This is what many professional pastry chefs use.
Teagw.com—Visit this website and click on Products to find dreamy tea pillows filled with jasmine, rose, lavender, and green tea.
Californiateahouse.com—Order Machu’s Blend, a special herbal tea for dogs that promotes healthy skin, lowers stress, and aids digestion.
Vintageteaworks.com—This company offers six unique wine-flavored tea blends that celebrate wine and respect the tea.
Downtonabbeycooks.com—A Downton Abbey blog with news and recipes. You can also order their book .
Auntannie.com—Crafting site that will teach you how to make your own petal envelopes, pillow boxes, gift bags, etc.
Marktwendell.com—Mark T. Wendell is the U.S. distributor for Davison Newman & Co Ltd of London, original suppliers of tea for the historic Boston Tea Parties of 1773–1774.
Victorianhousescones.com—Scone, biscuit, and cookie mixes for both retail and wholesale orders. Plus baking and scone-making tips.
Svtea.com—Contact Simpson & Vail to order their teas and gift sets.
Harney.com—Contact Harney & Sons to order their Titanic Blend loose leaf tea or their RMS Titanic tea sachets.
Englishteastore.com—Buy a jar of English Double Devon Cream here as well as British foods and candies.
Stickyfingersbakeries.com—Scone mixes and English curds.
TeaSippersSociety.com—Join this international tea community of tea sippers, growers, and educators. A terrific newsletter!
Teabox.com—wonderful international webzine about all aspects of tea.
PURVEYORS OF FINE TEA
Adagio.com
Harney.com
Stashtea.com
Republicoftea.com
Teazaanti.com
Bigelowtea.com
Celestialseasonings.com
Goldenmoontea.com
Uptontea.com
Svtea.com (Simpson & Vail)
VISITING CHARLESTON
Charleston.com—Travel and hotel guide.
Charlestoncvb.com—The official Charleston convention and visitor bureau.
Charlestontour.wordpress.com—Private tours of homes and gardens, some including lunch or tea.
Culinarytoursofcharleston.com—Sample specialties from Charleston’s local eateries, markets, and bakeries.
Poogansporch.com—This restored Victorian house serves traditional low-country cuisine. Be sure to ask about Poogan!
Preservationsociety.org—Hosts Charleston’s annual Fall Home Tour.
Palmettocarriage.com—Horse-drawn carriage rides.
Charlestonharbortours.com—Boat tours and harbor cruises.
Ghostwalk.net—Stroll into Charleston’s haunted history. Ask them about the “original” Theodosia!
CharlestonTours.net—Ghost tours plus tours of plantations and historic homes.
Follybeach.com—Official guide to Folly Beach activities, hotels, rentals, restaurants, and events.
Keep reading for a special preview of the new series from the author of this book (writing as Gerry Schmitt). If you enjoy pulse-pounding thrillers and intriguing female protagonists, you’re going to love the second book in the acclaimed Afton Tangler series . . .
Shadow Girl
Writing as Laura Childs, this author has brought you the New York Times bestselling Tea Shop Mysteries, Scrapbooking Mysteries, and Cackleberry Club Mysteries. Now, writing under her own name of Gerry Schmitt, she is bringing you an entirely new series of sharp-edged thrillers. Gerry has ratcheted up the suspense, set the stakes even higher, and created exciting, memorable characters that sizzle on the page.
We know you’ll be intrigued by Shadow Girl, the second book in this series, following Little Girl Gone. This thriller again features Afton Tangler, single mom and family liaison officer with the Minneapolis Police Department, as she gets pulled into the bizarre murder of a home shopping network tycoon and goes up against Mom Chao Cherry, a cunning and terrifying adversary.
COMING IN HARDCOVER AUGUST 2017 FROM BERKLEY!
Mom Chao Cherry hunched forward in a broken wicker chair and stared anxiously across the Mississippi River toward the University of Minnesota campus. Almost unrecognizable as a wealthy khunying from Bangkok, she wore a polyes
ter blouse and baggy pants, cheap rubber flip-flops, and carried an eight ball of cocaine in her handbag. Only her red lacquer nails, edged in 24-karat gold, hinted at her ridiculous wealth.
“Time?” Mom Chao Cherry asked in an accent that probably sounded Thai or Chinese to a Westerner, but to a linguist’s ear, clearly betrayed her American heritage.
“Paed nalika,” Narong replied. Eight o’clock.
The corners of Mom Chao Cherry’s mouth crinkled faintly, giving her aging face the appearance of a patient but ravenous crocodile. “Di yeiym,” she said. Most excellent.
She hadn’t been back to America in more than sixty years, ever since her missionary parents had dragged her off to Asia to bring the word of Jesus to the impoverished, war-ravaged people of China. But this homecoming felt incredibly sweet. Like sweet revenge.
Narong, who was old beyond his years at twenty-four, lifted the PF-89 rocket launcher onto his right shoulder and braced himself. Two years of compulsory service in the Royal Thai Armed Forces and another two years in the private employ of Mom Chao Cherry had taught him to truly love all forms of mechanized weaponry. He was in awe of their cold precision and the impersonal way they delivered death. Narong, whose name literally meant to make war, loved nothing better than to sight a potential target in his crosshairs, gently squeeze the trigger, and experience the pulse-pounding rush of total destruction.
They’d come to this fourth floor room above the Huang Sheng Noodle Factory some two hours earlier, right after they’d received the call from their hospital contact. Entering through the back door, eyes downcast, pushing past the cooks and dishwashers who toiled in a hot, humid, clattering kitchen where bean sprouts littered the floors and orders were barked out in greengrocer Cantonese. Where most of the workers spoke little or no English and scattered like roaches when the dreaded INS came to call.