Passport to Egypt Afternoon Tea

We recently 'traveled' to Egypt via an Afternoon Tea prepared by Guest Chef Faith Cohick. We are grateful that Faith takes us around the world with her culinary creations. The first course featured a Confetti Couscous Salad, not only colorful but flavorful, there was a burst of flavors to start our 'journey'.

The sandwich featured a wide assortment of bite size tea sandwiches, including a Curried Chicken Salad triangle on white bread, a Cucumber mummy with roasted red pepper spread on sourdough bread, radish and sweet pepper round on white bread, a warm cheesy mushroom swirl, egg salad on white bread with an adorable pumpernickel camel cutout, and an Egyptian Feta spread with balsamic drizzled tomatoes on a pita wedge. Tucked in the center was a warm turmeric honey chicken bite.

Cardamom, date and butterscotch scone was served with Faith's sweet cream and fig preserves alongside a very moist sour cream banana bread.

The dessert trio included a camel cut out sugar cookie, a brownie bite with peanut butter mousse with the Egyptian flag, and a creamy baklava tart. All very tasty! Special thanks to Faith for her specialty teas. And additional thanks to Ayla Bell for sharing her photo albums and adventures while traveling in Egypt.

 

Mechanicsburg Art and Wine Walk 2023

The Mechanicsburg Art and Wine Walk will be held Saturday, May 13, 2023 from 11 am to 4 pm.  Our featured guests at The Rosemary House include Jen Vogelsong from Bits of Glory Creations. Jen will display her pressed flower creations including pressed flower artwork and jewelry on the side porch and Essiem's Apiary of Monroe County will be serving honey mead wine under the pavilion. They produce the mead from their own hives "creating an amalgamation of ancient elixirs with a modern flare". Stop in on Saturday to get your herb plants before the selection dwindles, visit with Jen and Essiem's apiary, too. 

If you wish to visit all the other participating businesses you will need a ticket, ($30.00), which supports the Downtown Mechanicsburg Partnership. Tickets may be purchased in advance via this EventBrite link. All tickets purchased online must first be redeemed on the day of the walk at Buhrig's Gathering Place at 25 E. Main Street. Here you will receive your map of participating businesses and select your wine glass.

A Royal Coronation Tea

The tea room was adorned with traditional British Union Jack bunting in celebration of this historic event. Gold charges, and fresh flowers graced the tables, all befitting a king. The menus announced what was yet to come.

The first course featured a Charcuterie Cup filled with imported English Cheese, an Stilton with Apricots and Cotswold Double Gloucester, Fresh fruit, strawberry, pineapple, and blueberries were on one skewer. Another skewer held Genoa salami while the other had bologna. Pretzel crackers and pita crackers were tucked in the up while honey roasted peanuts and pistachios nuts were hidden in the bottom of cup. It was a treasure trove of nibbles to begin the event.

The Coronation Quiche featuring local organic spinach and fava beans, a recipe shared by King Charles and Queen Camilla was served alongside a whole food plant based (WFPB) carrot salad with ginger and pistachios. The king is known for his environmental stand, he limits meat to only two or three times a week, and limits dairy to once a week. We honor his commitment to the earth by serving a WFPB menu selection.

The sandwich selection included a marinated Roast Beef Croissant, Olde English Sausage Roll and a Veggie Confetti Crown. All hearty sandwiches, fit for a king.

Today's scone recipe is from the Claridge Hotel in London served with true imported Devon Cream and violet jelly. This was served with a WFPB Carrot Raisin muffin and fresh fruit. We shared the scone recipe in this blog post from years ago. The violet jelly recipe was shared in this blog post last year. 

The dessert medley included Sticky Toffee Pudding with a warm toffee glaze, an Earl Grey Cupcake with golden sprinkles, and a Poppyseed Cake Supreme with a miniature gold crown.

Many of our guests had their best fascinators and spring bonnets. This lovely trio came to celebrate the special occasion, too. Seventy years have passed since the world has witnessed a coronation. We celebrate living history.

 

Ginger Joy

Ginger (Zingiber officinale) is the herb of the year, 2023 as designated by the International Herb Association. This recipe, adapted from Bertha Reppert's booklet Herb Teas for Pleasure, features ginger in both the ground form and crystallized. The combination of the ginger and curry coupled with the sweet ginger creates a very flavorful spread for crackers. Enjoy!

Ginger Joy

6 oz. cream cheese, softened

1/2 c. crushed pineapple, well drained

1/4 c. sugar

2 tsp. ground ginger

2 tsp. curry powder

1 tsp. crystallized ginger (optional)

Mix all ingredients together until well blended. Serve as a dip using crackers or celery sticks.

This recipe is adapted from Bertha Reppert's booklet Herb Teas for Pleasure. Available at The Rosemary House, in person or via mail-order. Follow this link for details.

Happy May Day!

 Once the coveted gift of a secret admirer, May baskets seem to have gone out of style. Alas, we live in a harried time and a pretty basket of flowers found on our doorstep would indeed be a surprise. In a less stressful era, weaving tiny baskets and gathering mosses to line them were another sure sign of spring. Forget-me-knots, violets, primroses and pretty little wild flowers nestled in the moss were a sentimental offering. Excerpt from Mrs. Reppert's TwelveMonth Herbal, 1996, Remembrance Press

These sweet little May Day baskets filled with colorful fresh spring blossoms have adorned our door knobs over the years. Whether you use a hand crafted birch bark basket, or a cheerful wicker basket, the joy you share with a friend on May Day is certain to be memorable. May Day celebrations are held all around the world. One enchanting little tradition involves secretly putting a pretty bouquet of fresh spring flowers on your neighbor's doorknob. If they discover you doing this, they must give you a kiss! What a sweet little tradition! This lovely little nosegay includes smiling pansies, sweet lily-of-the-valley, a petite spring tulip, and lovage greens. This delicate little bouquet is in an embroidered hankie that has been folded and neatly pressed into a cone. A satin ribbon, with two bows is attached to the hankie in order to hang it on the door.

Happy May Day!