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Welcome To Our May TeaZine

Welcome To Our May TeaZine

by Babette Donaldson

Sat, May 14, 2011

Serious tea lovers' favorite time of year is in the Spring. Some of the finest teas were harvested in the first week of April and are just now arriving in specialty shops and tearooms. Even though most of these are considered gourmet teas, and not what the majority of people drink every day, I highly recommend an adventurous visit to a tea store if there is one in your area. If not, there are many wonderful online tea shops specializing in teas from around the world. When I visit schools I'm finding that children are fascinated with loose leaf teas and stories from countries where tea is grown. They love watching the way that dry leaves come back to life and are charmed by some of the delicate flavors.I sincerely believe that this is a wonderful way for all ages to learn about the world and can be fun for the entire family. Your specialty tea store will give you information the country of origin and how best to brew the tea. You don't need to be an expert to brew it well. I hope you enjoy our story, teatime tips and recipes. Have a wonderful Spring! . . . . . . . . Babette Donaldson, Author of The Emma Lea Books and Family Tea Time

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A New TeaTime Story

Girley Girl Tea Parties

Girley Girl Tea Parties

Sun, Apr 03, 2011

Our May Tea Story has been contributed by Ana Vilas-Boas Smith who shares something of her European background as well as her transition to the U.S. It's always interesting how our melting-pot culture thrives most on shared family traditions.

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Tips for Family TeaTime

A Tip For May Teatime

A Tip For May Teatime

Sat, May 14, 2011

One of the easiest ways to make a simple teatime fancy is to cut sandwiches into shapes. You can use cookie cutters. Even young children can press large, open shapes through the bread. Usually, it is easier to build the sandwiches with the filling before cutting. But it's also possible to cut the shape in the bread and then top for an open-faced sandwich.

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Family Cookbook Recipes

Orange Chamomile Tea

Orange Chamomile Tea

Sun, May 15, 2011

Chamomile is one of the better known herbal teas because it is caffeine free and has a reputation for being an excellent way to relax. But the flavor is one that not everyone loves. We found that by adding a slice of fresh orange, the blend of flavors sometimes temtps those who aren't chamomile fans.

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Chocolate Cracker Cookies

Chocolate Cracker Cookies

Sun, May 15, 2011

One of the criteria we use to choose recipes for our Family Teatime suggestions is that they use ingredients we are likely to have in the cupboard and that there are several fun steps so that everyone in the family can enjoy sharing time together in the kitchen. It goes without saying that we want the results to taste delicious and taste good with tea. This has recently become a favorite. When that happens it seems to inspire creative adjustments.

Emma Lea's Family Cookbook is our print version of the recipes but we're always making additions and improvements. This update to Chocolate Cracker Cookies on page 41 is so much better, I'm not sure why we didn't think of it before. This is an improvement.

What we especially like is the versitality. There are certainly many ways to make it your own.

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Strawberry Flowers

Strawberry Flowers

Sat, May 14, 2011

Another way to play with your food! This recipe is also a fun activity that can be a creative project for family teatime. May is the month where most people begin to see lucious fresh strawberries come back into season. This favorite celebrates our fruity harbingers of Spring with some fun food sculpting that is easy even for young children. Once an adult or older child has gently cut the strawberry, everyone can decorate their own. As pretty as the look on the plate, don't wait too long to eat.

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More Reasons To Celebrate With Tea

May Themes for Your Family Tea Times

May Themes for Your Family Tea Times

Sun, May 15, 2011

If you didn't already love the month of May for the Springtime tea themes, Mother's Day, Cinco De Mayo and Teacher Appreciation Week, you have to be inspired to celebrate because it is National Family Month and we hope that you will be inspired to include at least one teatime celebration. Can you think of a better reason to get out the best china and gather together for an afternoon cuppa than this?

Our definition of Family Tea Time is to turn off the electronics, set aside about 15 minutes and let the fun of tea inspire conversation. If you need additional motivation, we've collected a few more suggestions.

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