Wishlist Wednesday - Pippa's Real Tea - Not Your Grandmother's Tea Room @PippasRealTea

I'm trying to get into the swing of things, but it's been difficult. My family had a great summer vacation...and then, my daughter came down with the coughing crud once we got home. Ugh, airplanes.  Forgive me if I'm in-and-out for the next few weeks because she's still sick.

While vacationing around Seattle, we'd planned to do a ferry hop to Victoria, B.C. Unfortunately, my husband was unable to renew his passport in time to make the trek. I lived in Victoria for several years as a child, and really wanted to show our daughters around. So, as crappy as the situation was, we decided to part ways for the day.

My husband is British--I swear he can smell tea from miles away. He ended up at Pippa's Real Tea located in Port Townsend, Washington. If you haven't visited Port Townsend, I highly recommend that you do. It's a charming, little harbor town founded in 1851 approximately 40 miles northwest of Seattle. They have all sorts of shops to visit and several excellent cafes.

Anyone who knows me, knows I'm an avid coffee lover. Gevalia French Roast is my favorite. I'll drink herbal tea from time-to-time, but only if it's licorice, and only before bed. My husband bought me a bag of Pippa's Licorice Love. It's so good, I had to share. I'll definitely be ordering this tea online and I'm willing to bet their other teas are just as good. I may have to experiment.


Pippa's Real Tea 
636 Water Street, Port Townsend

Website
Facebook
Twitter @PippasRealTea

#MeatlessMonday-Earl Grey Tea Shortbread #dessert

Photo courtesy of t&t bild(A)welt via Flickr

Starting on Tangled Tuesday, I'll post another week of short stories-- a gift from me to you. Happy Holidays!

I'll share a shortbread recipe today. You can substitute any tea leaves but Earl Grey has that nice scent of bergamot. Make sure you grind the leaves well--a mortar and pestle works best. Enjoy!

Earl Grey Tea Shortbread

1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup powdered sugar, sifted
1/2 tsp salt
1-T Earl Grey tea leaves, ground
1 cup flour, sifted

Preheat oven to 325F

Lightly butter 8 inch round pan
Beat butter with electric mixer until light in color, about 1 minute
Gradually mix in sugar, salt and tea leaves. Mix in flour until just combined

Press dough into pan. If desired, sprinkle with sugar and make patterns with a fork before baking.

Bake 30 minutes
Cut into 12 wedges

#MeatlessMonday-Cream Scones #dessert

Photo courtesy of Astrid Kopp via Flickr

This is a family recipe. Good with jam, lemon curd or Devonshire cream.

Cream scones

2 cups flour

1T baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

2T sugar

1/4 cup butter (cold and diced)

1 large egg

1/2 cup light cream.

Preheat oven 425F.

Combine dry ingredients and cut in butter with pastry cutter until mixture is crumbly.

Whisk egg and cream together in separate bowl. Add to butter/flour mixture.

Stir quickly and briefly to make soft and sticky dough (add more cream if needed).

Gather into a ball and place on lightly floured surface.

Knead gently with floured hands and pat out to 1/2 inch thickness.

Cut into rounds with cookie cutter and place on baking sheet. 

Brush lightly with milk.

Bake for 12 minutes.