Introducing a new Tea Blend - Fruit Infusion

Today we will be at the Elmhurst Garden Walk and Faire 9 AM to 4 PM.  Please stop by and see us.  One of the items we are debuting this summer is a tea made with fruit and herbs,  It is a departure for me to make a tea with fruit, but I found an organic supplier of the items to make it and felt it was finally time to combine my fresh dried herbs with some fruit to make an entirely different taste.

I named the tea Fruit Infusion as it has a combination of different fruits and herbs and it contains: blueberries, cranberries, goji berries, and pear along with hibiscus, chamomile, blackberry leaf, borage, lemon and orange peel.

When brewed it is a lovely shade of pinkish/red with a flavor that tastes of  berries and with hints of apple and citrus.Goji berries and blueberries are super fruits that are high in antioxidants and other wonderful flavonoids that boost immunity, reverser aging and many other beneficial attributes. Blackberry leaf and borage are high in vitamins A & C and anti-inflammatory herbs that can help with management of arthritis, diabetes and other chronic illnesses.

Today in Elmhurst we will have zip seal bags of this brand new blend for the discounted price of  $4.00 or you can buy them on the website with this link.

And if you stop at the booth we will be sampling the perfect Summer iced tea, that I made last year. It contains lemon grass, hibiscus, lavender, rose hips, orange peel and some cooling peppermint. We title this one Summer Surprise and it is getting rave reviews across several states!

Pear and Thyme Fizz - Cocktail Weekend Recipe

Fizz is a category of drink that combines alcohols and flavors with sparkling wine, champagne prosecco or other fizzy liquid to create a bubbly drink.  These make the greatest mocktails, as you an substitute sparking waters for the bubbly and still enjoy the fun.

This recipe uses thyme and pear and is wonderful for fall and winter.

Pear and Thyme Fizz

2 cups apple juice
1 ripe pear, cored and sliced
18 sprigs fresh thyme
1/4 cup orange-flavored liqueur (such as grand marnier)
1 bottle sparkling wine (such as prosecco or cava)

Directions: 
Combine apple juice, pear, 12 sprigs thyme, and liqueur. Stir well and store in fridge for 2 to 4 hours. To serve, divide among 6 champagne flutes, discard thyme, and top with sparkling wine. Garnish each flute with 1 sprig thyme and serve.

To make it a Mocktail: substitute 1/4 cup orange juice for the liqueur and citrus flavored sparkling water for the sparkling wine.

For 2018 the monthly recipe themes will be:

   January - Chicken Soup (ChickJan)

  February - Beef Stew (StewFeb)

  March - Jambalaya (JambMar)

  May - Ham and Shrimp Dishes (ShrHamMay)

  June - Bread recipes (BreadJun)

  July - Grilling (GrillJul)

  August- Garden Delights (GardAug)

  September - Salsa, Corn and Jelly (SCJSep)

  October - Squash Dishes  (SquashOct)

  November - Pumpkin Recipes (PumpNov)

   Decmber - Herbal Cocktails (MockDec)

Spiced Pear Liqueur - Weekend recipe

My new obsession is alcohol based on herb flavors.  I have been searching around and locating different recipes and trying them out on friends.  I have had no complaints yet!

I shared one of these, my apple cocktail, last year.  Now I am going to so something with pears.

Spiced Pear Liqueur

8 ripe Pears (about 4 cups juice)

2 inch piece of ginger root, peeled and sliced

1 whole nutmeg

1 cinnamon stick, about 3 – 4 inches

4 cups vodka

½ cup white wine

Syrup

2 cups sugar

1 cup water

Combine the pear juice, ginger root, spices, vodka and wine in a wide mouth mason jar with a tight fitting lid.  Steep for 5 weeks.  Strain out the lumps, then filter through a coffee filter or cheesecloth.  Make the syrup by bringing water to a boil in a small saucepan, add sugar and stir constantly until sugar is dissolved.  Cool.  Add half the syrup to the liqueur and taste, then continue to add and taste until it is as sweet as you like.  Pour into a bottle, cap and age for about 4 weeks.

You can drink this as an aperitif (it should be ready just in time for summer outings) or serve it over ice cream, mix with seltzer or club soda over ice for a sweet cool drink or even add a Tablespoon to your tea or coffee for some added flare.

Pear Salad - weekend recipe

Here is a quick and easy salad to give you a sweet treat after all that shopping.  It is best this time of year when Pears are in season.


Salad with Pears and Blue Cheese

5 oz. package of salad greens
1 red pear, thinly sliced
1/4 cup crumbled blue cheese
3 Tbls. raspberry vinaigrette salad dressing
2 Tbls. walnuts, finely chopped.

Combine the greens, pears and blue cheese in a large bowl, then add dressing and toss gently.  Spoon onto a plate and sprinkle with the walnuts.

It is also holiday festive when garnished with pomegranate seeds.

Raspberry Vinaigrette Dressing

1/2 c. raspberry vinegar
1/4 tsp. each salt & pepper
4 tsp. sugar
2 garlic cloves, finely chopped (2 tsp.)
2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce

1 tbsp. Dijon style mustard

Combine all the ingredients and mix well. Refrigerate in a container with a tight fitting lid. Will keep for months. Makes 1/2 cup

Raspberry Jam Vinaigrette

1 tablespoon raspberry jam

1/4 cup white vinegar

1/3 cup olive oil

salt and ground black pepper to taste

Vigorously whisk together the raspberry jam, vinegar, and olive oil until thoroughly combined; season with salt and black pepper to serve.