Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Long Island Green Tea Recipe-Great Weekend Drink!

Long Island Green Tea Recipe:
From www.foodnetwork.com

  Got another great one for all you tea drinkers out there.  This would make a great start to a Friday or Saturday night!

 

Ingredients

  • Ice
  • 2 ounces Green Tea Vodka, recipe follows
  • 1/2-ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • 1-ounce orange liqueur (recommended: Cointreau)
  • 1/4-ounce golden rum
  • 2 to 3 teaspoons Simple Syrup, recipe follows

Directions

Flowery Ice Cubes, for garnish (optional)
Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add Green Tea Vodka, lemon juice, orange liqueur, and Simple Syrup. Cover and shake until mixed and chilled, about 30 seconds. (In general, the drink is ready by the time the shaker mists up.) Strain into a tall glass filled with Flowery Ice Cubes, if using.
Copyright (c) 2007 Television Food Network, G.P., All Rights Reserved.

Green Tea Vodka:Check out www.tropicalteaco.com for this tea

Place both tea bags into the vodka. Cover, shake, and let steep for 2 hours. Remove and discard the tea bags.

Simple Syrup:

Put the sugar and water in a small saucepan. Cook over low heat, stirring, until the sugar dissolves. (Alternatively, heat in the microwave.) Store in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 1 month.
Yield: about 1 1/2 cups

Flowery Ice Cubes:

Edible flowers
  • Water
Drop 1 edible flower into each segment of an ice-cube tray; fill with water and freeze.

Monday, March 8, 2010

Tea Cakes with Earl Grey Icing!

I got this one from the latest edition of the Food Network Magazine and thought I would send it out to all the Earl Grey fans out there.  This is the "Sarah's Tea Cakes with Earl Grey Icing".  Here ya go:


FOR THE CUPCAKES
  • 6 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped
  • 2 sticks unsalted butter, cut into pieces
  • 1-1/2 cups of sugar
  • 3/4 cup cake flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 4 large eggs
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
FOR THE ICING
  • 1 Cup Sugar
  • 4 Large white eggs
  • 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice 
  • pinch of salt
  • 2 teaspoons of Earl Grey Tea, if loose leaf tea mince into fine peices
1.  Make the Cupcakes:  Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.  Line two 24-cup mini muffin pans with paper liners.  Melt the chocolate and butter in a heatproof bowl set over a saucepan of simmering water (do not let the bowl touch the water).  Whisk until smooth, then remove the bowl' keep the water simmering in the saucepan.  In another bowl, whisk the sugar, flour and salt; mix into the melted chocolate.  Add the eggs, one at a time, then whisk in the vanilla until smooth.
2.  Divide the batter among the prepared cups, filling each three-quarters of the way.  Bake until the cakes spring back when touched, 15 to 18 minutes.  Remove from the pans and cool on rack.
3.  Meanwhile, make the icing: Whisk the sugar, egg whites, lemon juice and salt by hand in the bowl of a stand mixer.  Add the minced Earl Grey tea to the bowl, then set the bowl over the sauce pan of simmering water and whisk until the mixture is hot and the sugar dissolves, about 2 minutes.  Transfer the bowl to the stand mixer and beat with the whisk attachment on medium-high speed until the mixture holds stiff peaks, about 5 minutes. Transfer to a large resealable plastic bag, snip the corner and pipe the icing onto the cupcakes.
 
There you go and if anyone out there makes these be sure to post some pics and reviews!! 

Thursday, March 4, 2010

March Madness Day 4-

Well you tea junkies are CRAZY!  Although it has only been 4 days it feels like 30, but I am not complaining.  Just wanted to give everyone an update that we have sold out of our Lime colored 2 cup teapots, Purple 3 cup teapots, and our red 6 cup teapots.  We still have some great teapots that are at a crazy low price not to mention the amazing selection of teas that we offer.  I wanted to let everyone know that I have been on a Chai kick and would like to hear anyone's Chai recipes.  Let me know what they are and I will try them and post what I thought.  In order to be fair I must know what chai you use in your mixture and the exact way you take it.  I hope everyone is having a great March and getting ready for an even better weekend!!

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

You Have to Try it!!

Okay Fans,

  I have been getting tons of emails about this whole Chai thing.  The normal question is "do you really put milk and sugar into your tea?". I have to tell you that when I first heard of this age long concept many years ago, I was like "NO WAY".  Finally I took the jump by brewing some of my favorite Cochin Masala Chai and added 1/2 teaspoon of sugar and a touch of milk and boy was I pleasantly surprised.  I must confess that I was once an avid Starbucks coffee drinker and I still remember......"Can I get a triple vinte toffee nut latte?".  I will tell you that my Cochin Masala Chai with milk and sugar took coffee out of my life for ever!!  So I challenge everyone out there to take your favorite spiced chai, brew a cup and put a little sugar and milk.  Let me know what you think, I cant wait!!!

Monday, March 1, 2010

The March Madness Sale is Out of Control!!

Hey gang,
  Just wanted to let you know that we are almost sold out of our teapots and it has only been going for 3 hours now.  So if you are thinking about getting in on this sale hurry!!!  www.tropicalteaco.com--- If not stay tuned because this has been so much fun that we will have to put a crazy sale like this out there again!!