Kitchen Spells...Something Special is Brewing!

Hello my Friends!!!

 I am back again with another Concoction from my Kitchen, this time I will share my quick and simple recipe for an iced tea Blend that is purrfect for any occasion! Zoey Beth agrees...I am sure you will too!

~Jasmine Infused Tea~
A Kitchen Spell by Dena K. Miller

Ingredients as follows:
4-6 Organic Jasmine Green Tea Bags
Approx 6 cups of Hot Water
Sugar or other sweetener optional(such as a simple syrup)
Ice

How to:
Fill a large pitcher with hot water, I do not use boiled water because I like the tea to steep/brew slowly.
Next add 4-6 Jasmine Green Tea Bags

Allow to steep/brew until the water turns a lovely color...the longer you brew, the stronger the tea.
Next remove the tea bags and fill your favorite glass with the Jasmine infused tea
Add ice and enjoy.

If you want to add sugar, I suggest doing so before your tea is chilled from the ice.  I have found that it will mix better that way.  Now, if you would rather add a simple syrup mixture, you can add it before or after the ice.  Some of you may want to add your sugar or syrup directly into the pitcher.  That is fine to do too if you want the entire brewed mixture to be sweetened.

For the simple syrup ...just mix equal parts sugar and water, stir constantly and bring to a boil. Let the mixture cool completely.  You can store this mixture in your refrigerator for about 2-3 weeks.  When I make it, I like to do a large batch so I can add it to other things I stir up in my kitchen....Hmmm, perhaps at another time, I will share my Kitchen Spell recipe for Coffee Liqueur♥ Are you interested? 


Thought you might like this...Here is some info on Jasmine Tea:

Jasmine tea is consumed in China, where it is called jasmine-flower tea pinyin: mò lì huā chá). Jasminum sambac flowers are also used to make jasmine tea, which often has a base of green or white tea, but sometimes an Oolong base is used. Flowers and tea are "mated in machines that control temperature and humidity. It takes four hours or so for the tea to absorb the fragrance and flavour of the jasmine blossoms, and for the highest grades, this process may be repeated as many as seven times. It must be refired to prevent spoilage. The spent flowers may or may not be removed from the final product, as the flowers are completely dry and contain no aroma. Giant fans are used to blow away and remove the petals from the denser tea leaves. In Okinawa, Japan, jasmine tea is known as sanpin cha
 Source http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jasmine

Well then, there you have it!  My way of making Iced tea is so easy!  I started making tea this way because I would set the pitcher out in the sun(Sun Tea).  Instead of using hot water, I would fill the pitcher with cold water.  I found however, that I could use hot water from the start and speed up the brewing process. Please give this a try, you can make any kind of tea that you want.  Let me know if you try it out, what you think of this method.  I believe that you will like it, it saves a lot of time.

Stay tuned for my next Kitchen Spells post...
~Garden Grilled Zucchini and Artisan Bacon Lettuce & Tomato Sandwiches with Sweet Red Onion♥

Much Love,
♥♥♥
Milady Leela

Tea Party Time!!!!

Hello My Lovely Friends!  Welcome to my Tea Party!!!!  Those of you that know me, know that I enjoy Drinking Tea, Tea Party's and Books about Tea Party's....So for this year's 6th Annual Mad Hatter Tea Party, I have chosen to share with you several lovely Books that I really enjoy and reference quite often.
The First one is a book by Tracy Stern.

 Oh Me Oh My.....You will find a section for creating your own Mad Hatter Tea Party!!!

Next up...who does not love a Country Tea Party?  This book is by Maggie Stuckey.

Inside this beautifully illustrated book is a collection of themed Tea Party's according to the months of the year....July is Tea and Roses♥

Now envision yourself in a Floral Garden for an Afternoon Tea Party.  This next book is by Susannah Blake.

Now for the Perfect Afternoon Tea...How about this Recipe Book by Antony Wild and Carol Pastor.

 

 The Recipe's and the Photo's in each of these books are so delightful!!!! Perhaps you could take a day to spend time in a book store and browse through them.  I can bet that you will come home with at least one!  If so, let me know..I would love to hear what you think♥

So....I have also a video for you to enjoy.  I filmed this back in January and speak about the tea's I was loving then and still do enjoy.



Since we are into the Summer Solstice, I am drinking a lot of Iced Tea's.  I have been making all sorts of yummy concoctions.  Currently, I an enjoying a fresh pitcher of Earl Grey Tea.  It is so yummy either alone or with a bit of cream.  My method for iced tea is very simple, I fill up a pitcher with hot water...add three to four tea bags and let it steep.  Sometimes, I will put the pitcher outside to sit in the sun.  Either way, it turns out  perfect every time. I recommend to remove the tea bags as soon as the color is what you enjoy....light for a weaker tea and dark for a strong tea.  I prefer a stronger Tea myself.

How do you make your Iced Tea? What is your favorite? Have a recipe to share for the perfect Iced Tea Blend?

Finally My Dearest Friends, I leave you today with a give a way!!! Yay, who doesn't like a give a way?
But wait.....first I must say....
Last year, I made some new friends from participating in all this Tea Party Madness!!!  I am looking forward to making new Friends again this year....so I must say Thank You so very Much to our Hostess Miss Vanessa at afancifultwist.  She is preparing a Grand Party that you are all invited to.  Please stop on by and pay her a visit here:http://www.afancifultwist.typepad.com
...and now, for my give a way...... I will select one lucky winner at random to receive this adorable little book all about planning a tea party.

 Your name will be written inside the book and signed by me along with the date♥

 Please leave me a comment so I know that you have stopped by in order to enter the give a way.  I will select the winner at random by July 20th and will notify you via email....so please be sure to leave your comment before the deadline.  Good Luck♥

Thanks so much for stopping by today and joining me at my Tea Party!!! It has been Mad Fun...wouldn't you say?

Much Love,
♥♥♥
Milady Leela

A Party Fit For A Princess

I mentioned in my previous post the Celebration of Summer!  It was my Grand Baby's Birthday and she wanted a Party...A tea Party to be exact.
What a sweet time it was!

Yummy Chocolate Cake...with Sweet Butter Cream Icing
.

Pretty Party Tableware.

Preparing for her Guests.

Smile for the Camera.

 Yes it was a Perfect Day to Celebrate Summer!

Much Love,
♥♥♥
Milady Leela

Tea Party Princess Girls Costume, CHILDS MEDIUM (Google Affiliate Ad)
Fun Rugs Olive Kids Tea Party Rug (Google Affiliate Ad)