Random Tea Room

We journeyed to Philadelphia earlier this week to attend the World Tea East Expo, a gathering of tea enthusiasts, hopeful tea business owners, and peers.  It provides the opportunity to advance your knowledge about tea, to network, to rejuvenate, to connect with friends, to sample tea, and sample more tea, and meet and greet familiar names in the world of tea.  Before we went to the Expo, we planned to visit a few tea locations in Philly.  One of our stops was the Random Tea Room located on 4th Street.  Open six days a week, sadly, we were there on Monday, the day they are closed.
Billed as a place to restore the spirit and wow the palate, they offer a variety of teas and the chance to sit and relax.  Also a curiosity shop, there is a wide variety of fun stuff!  Peeking in the window offered a glimpse into what could have been a fun place to find a new trinket!  Alas, it was not meant to be.  Monday was our travel day, and the only day that offered the most time to get 'out and about' in the city.  It certainly looks like a fun place.  We were not the only ones standing forlornly on the doorstep, another patron stopped by for a spot of tea, only to be turned away by the closed sign.

Pumpkin Juice

Pumpkin Juice is a favorite fall beverage on the Hogwart's Express.   Harry Potter fans of all ages will enjoy this sweet and yummy recipe.
Pumpkin Juice
1 C canned pumpkin pulp
2 C apple juice
1 C white grape juice
1 C pineapple juice
1 t pumpkin pie spices

Combine all ingredients in a pitcher and stir vigorously until combined and dispersed well.   Chill until it is very cold.  Before serving shake or stir well.

In the Pumpkin Patch

Nestled among the lemon balm, are these pumpkins... one true, one a gnome (or fairy) house.  Isn't that little house a cutie, complete with front door, gazing windows, and a chimney.

Fall is in the air, and pumpkins have moved front and center.

Zucchini Pesto Bread

Fellow herbalist, and family friend, Jim Long of Long Creek Herbs recently shared a post about freezing pesto for the summer on his blog Jim Long's Garden.  It was quite a timely post as another family friend recently shared a tremendous harvest of large leaf basil with us that was patiently waiting to be turned into pesto for the freezer. Along with the basil, there was a pile of zucchini too.  As if Jim knew what was in excess in my kitchen, he shared a recipe for Zucchini Pesto Bread that simply sounded quite delicious. Recipe + ingredients on hand + a free day = make pesto first, then make zucchini pesto bread. 
It was begging to be made, and with volunteer gardeners scheduled to arrive to help weed and tend the garden, anticipating dinner after their chores, it was definitely the right time to make this bread.  So Friday was spent picking basil leaves, whirling pesto in the Cuisinart, and making quick bread.  The bread was a hit at dinner, very solid, very moist, very flavorful.  Be sure to visit Jim's blog for the recipe, and other herbal inspiration.

Wissotzky Tea - Classic

A friend recently journeyed to Israel, and upon her return, shared some packets of Wissotzky Tea. (Thank you, SB!) This company was founded in 1849 in Russia, and subsequently established tea production in Israel in 1936.  They are the leading producer and exporter of tea in Israel with their tea production plant located in Galilee.  The Classic tea (shown here) is a blend unique to Wissotzky and is comprised of tea varieties from around the world. It is a smooth drinking, bold black tea, a perfect get-up-and-go tea. What an excellent souvenir to share with a tea lover!  For additional information about this company, they have an informative website here. 

 

Macarons

While traveling in England, I first heard about Macarons, the delicate French confection that consists of petite colorful almond meringues sandwiched with a soft sweet filling.  They are nothing at all like Macaroons, with two o's.  Since then, I've been hearing more about them, seeing fabulous pictures of them on blogs, and drooling over Lauderee's colorful variety of flavors.  And then, Angela at Tea With Friends shared her success with making Macarons, and ever since, I've wanted to try my hand at these delicate little cuties, perfectly suitable for the tea tray.  Angela  posted about her experience in January, and ever since, my desire to make them has been stewing!  Then, one day while shopping in ACMoore, I happened upon this fun little recipe book with detailed instructions, beautiful photography, and a myriad of recipes, and into my cart it went. 





So, I finally took the plunge and made my first batch, lemon macarons with a mascarpone filling.  Simply, Yum!

 

Cosy Cupboard Tea Room, Convent Station, NJ

Our final stop on the Traveling Herb Seminar was a visit to the Cosy Cupboard Tea Room where we were treated to the Avon Lea evening tea service, with tea and delicacies provided by waitstaff in black and white garb.  A variety of teas were offered throughout the evening, including English Breakfast, Cherry Sencha green tea, a herbal blend, and decaffeinated Ginger Peach.
Royal Albert Old Country Roses china graced the table accented with beautiful gold flatware.  Very festive and royal indeed. 
A generous salad with assorted toppings and a balsamic vinaigrette was presented as the first course.

 Individual sandwich plates included a variety of petite sandwiches: egg salad, chicken salad, ham and cheese, cucumber with herbed cream cheese, and a small shrimp salad.  All very fresh and tasty.

A choice of scones was offered, butter or poppy seed accompanied by a generous portion of cream and jelly.











Dessert was a slice of glazed pound cake with a fruit drizzle alongside mixed berries.  Owner James Howard proudly states that the Cosy Cupboard Tea Room is  Morris County's premier destination tea room.  We were pleased to be able to experience this tea room.

Wick Farm at Jockey Hollow National Park

Henry Wick's prosperous 1,400 acre farm was home to Washington's Continental Army for three very harsh winters (1779-1782).  The army built rows of log huts.  The Army consumed more than 600 acres of trees to build shelter, cook meals and heat the huts.  During the harshest winter (1779-1780) the Wick home itself served as the headquarters for Aurthur St Clair, commander of the Pennsylvania Line.   National Park Service of New Jersey, operates this site.

The Herb Society America Unit  of Northern New Jersey, works to maintain the Wick House Family Gardens.  The vegetables and herbs grown in the garden are those you would have found in a Revolutionary Era family garden.    The labels in this garden were excellent.  Large wood pieces, painted white and then the common name of the plant, its use, and its Latin name were all on the large, easy to read (without bending over) label. 

A large garden with vegetables, herbs, a few flowers, beverage plants, broom corn (to make booms), medicinal plants and more.  It was a fun visit.

Shown here, Rhubarb, also commonly known as Pie Plant.

 

Greenwood Gardens, Short Hills, NJ

Oh, my photos of Greenwood Gardens, simply do not do this marvelous garden justice at all.    Greenwood Gardens combines formal gardens, open meadows, woodlands, and is a true time capsule of New Jersey's past.  It was a haven of tranquility for those from the very busy New York Metropolitan area.    As you walked through Greenwood Gardens, which has just completed Phase 1 of its extensive restoration, it is so easy to envision what must have been a glorious estate at one time.  I could easily see the ladies in their finery strolling the grounds and hear the children running and playing.  This is an amazing estate that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.  Our guides were so enthusiastic and eager to share Greenwood with us and that made the tour even more special.

Greenwood Gardens quickly transport visitors to an era of country estate, gentleman farmers, and elegant tea parties on wide swaths of lawn. Above is a sampling of the historic Arts and Crafts-inspired architecture.

  This out building is the Tea House,  complete with tiled floor, a water source and a fire pit to heat the water.   Below, a rainy day, but an amazing view back toward the house.

Matilda's Tea Garden ~ Frelinghuysen Arboretum

Matilda was the only daughter of George G. Frelinghuysen, a patent attorney and Sara Ballantine of Newark, the granddaughter of the founder of the P. Ballantine Brewing Company.  Shown here is Matilda's Tea Garden, full of flavorful herb plants that can be brewed by themselves for a tasty caffeine free beverage, or dried and added to black tea to add subtle flavor.  Although difficult to discern, this cute little tea garden is outlined with bricks to form the shape of a tea pot.  Just another one of the clever little nooks and crannies to be discovered while strolling the grounds of the Frelinghuysen Arboretum, a gift bequeathed to the people of Morris County, NJ from Matilda.

Frelinghuysen Arboretum

Our most recent bus tour was to New Jersey, The Garden State, and it did not disappoint!  While the weather was overcast with a rain shower here and there we had a wonderful day visiting three interesting gardens and a tea room, too.  All within about 20 miles of each other! Our first stop was Frelinghuysen Arboretum.  A little jewel in the Morris County Park System, this estate was left to the county by Matilda Frelinghuysen with the plan that it was to become an arboretum.  What we loved about this stop were all the nooks and crannies and how they were filled in with an interesting display.  Shown here, is a fernery nook.  All ferns were well labeled and tucked in a boxwood alcove.  Even the furniture in front featured a cut out fern design in the iron bench.

Turn the corner again and there is a little water garden and rock garden display. 

Fall color in the garden was warm and inviting.

 Knot gardens are always fun to see and this one was particularly full and attractive.

The original home on the estate now houses mostly offices but it is open to walk through and to enjoy the vistas from the home.

Buttermilk Scones ~ Morning Snack

Buttermilk Scones, fresh from the oven

We're off on a Traveling Herb Seminar today... to gardens in the Garden State of New Jersey. We anticipate a visit to the Frelinghuysen Arboreteum, the Wick House Herb Garden and the Greenwood Gardens with a dinner stop at the Cosy Cupboard Tea Room in Convent Station, NJ.  But, before all that happens, our travel companions enjoy a Morning Snack aboard the bus.  The featured snack for this trip happens to be Buttermilk Scones with a few blueberries and cinnamon chips tossed into the mix.

Buttermilk Scones
3 c. flour
1/3 c. sugar
2-1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
3/4 tsp. salt
1-1/2 sticks butter
1 c. buttermilk
2 Tbsp. cinnamon chips
1 c. blueberries

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.  Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.  Cut in butter until small pieces are formed.  Toss in cinnamon chips.  Add buttermilk, mixing just until dry ingredients are moistened.  Carefully add blueberries.  Knead a few times on lightly floured board.  Cut dough in half.  With half of the dough, form a large ball, and gently flatten into a 6" circle with a rolling pin.  Cut circle into 8 triangles.  Repeat with second ball of dough.  Brush with egg white, sprinkle with sugar.  Bake 13 minutes, until golden.  Yum!

Scones packaged for Morning Snack