Saturday, October 24, 2015

Apple Pear Spiced Autumn Tea~A Cozy Plaid Fall Day

You are cordially invited to partake of tea at Quaker Hill Farm. We are serving Apple Pear spiced Tea in our very quaint Apple cups. The cups are real apples which have been hollowed out and then the tea added. It is being served with a slice of orange and a cinnamon stick to swirl to your hearts content! We have found our coziest plaid blanket in the colors of fall to serve you. Our last blooms of fall were gathered right before the frost to grace our tea.

A quaint little teapot looks like it gathered its sweetness from the nearby woodland. It is graced with small little flowers in the prettiest rose colors. It blends with the flower blooms almost seamlessly.

The apple cups to serve the tea are most simple to make. Simply choose a large apple in your choice of color and then hollow out the center of the apple with a melon ball tool or a spoon. Leave about 1/2 inch of the apple next to the outside. Squeeze lemon juice over the apple to prevent it from turning brown. I chose a red delicious apple for the beautiful color-and that is my husband's favorite apple! (Hint you may have to gently slice a very small amount from the bottom of the apple so that it will sit properly.

I love the taste of apples and pears for the fall of the year so a tea was made with that combination. Swirl the orange slice with the cinnamon stick for the sweetest taste!

I do so enjoy doing things which are a little different! What a surprise tea it would be to serve your guests with these unique little cups.

What glorious blooms to complement the tea. The beautiful colors of fall. Add that cozy plaid blanket, sip on the tea, and drink in the quietness and beauty!

Apple/Pear Spiced Tea

From Quaker Hill Farm

Preparation time: 30 minutes

Cook time: 20 minutes

Makes 8-10 cups

Ingredients

2 Oranges
3 Cups Water
2 (12 oz) cans Pear Nectar
2 Cups Apple Juice or cider
1 Tablespoon Honey
4 cinnamon sticks each stick 1 inch long Then 4 inch sticks to swirl tea
1 teaspoon whole cloves
6 Tea Bags of your choice
Small orange slices halved for garnish

Directions

From the orange use a vegetable peeler and remove 3 wide strips of peel from the orange then set the peel aside.
Juice the orange into a large sauce pan.
Add water, pear nectar, apple juice or cider, and honey to the orange juice
Make a spice bag pouch from 100% cotton cheesecloth
Place cinnamon sticks, cloves, and orange peel on top of cheesecloth then bring edges together tying with 100% kitchen string.
Add the spice pouch to the pear apple mixture and bring to a boil.
Reduce heat and simmer 10 minutes.
Add Tea Bags then cover and let stand another 5 minutes.
Remove the tea bags and the spice pouch
Pour your tea into the teapot
Pour the tea into the apple teacup or teacup of your choice. Use half moon orange slices to garnish tea and then add a 3 or 4 inch cinnamon stick to the tea to swirl.