A Solitary Tea

Every afternoon at half past three I stop for a cup of tea . . . and a treat! The birds have been very active the last few days and Squire Squirrel also has been to the feeders more than once a day!

Tea includes classical music playing softly in the background and often a book -- this day it was my latest (which just arrived in the mail) an 1897 copy of Pot-pourri from a Surrey

Garden by C. W. Earle.

I have two small teapots -- perfect for tea for me. This one is Asiatic Pheasant. A very British pattern. I love the softness of this blue and white!

Tulips (from the market -- not from my garden) in an old Mason pitcher and a glass pedastal

filled with . . .

Palmiers. A favorite of mine. There is usually a sack in the freezer waiting to be baked off and they go so perfectly with tea!

Palmiers

2 cups granulated sugar

1/8 t. kosher salt

2 sheets puff pastry, defrosted

Preheat the oven to 350.

Mix sugar and salt together. Pour 1 cup of the sugar/salt mixture on a flat surface. Unfoled each sheet of puff pastry onto the sugar and pour 1/2 cup of the sugar mixture on top, spreading it evenly on the puff pastry. This is not about sprinkling, it's about an even covering of sugar. With a rolling pin, roll the dough until it's 13 x 13 inches square and the sugar is pressed into the puff pastry on top and bottom. Fold the sides of the square towards the center so they go halfway to the middle. Fold them again so the two folds meet exactly at the middle of the dough. Then fold 1 half over the other half as though closing a book. You will have 6 layers. slice the dough into 3/8 inch slices and place the slices, cut side up, on baking sheets, lined with parchment paper. Place the second sheet of pastry on the sugared board, sprinkling with the remaining 1/2 cup of sugar/salt mixture and continue as above. (There will be quite a bit of sugar left on the board.) Slice and arrange on baking sheets lined with parchment or silpat.

Bake the cookies for 6 minutes until caramelized and brown on the brown on the bottom, then turn with a spatula and bake another 3 to 5 minutes, until caramelized on the other side. Transfer to a baking rack to cool.

It's Tuesday which means that it's Tea Time . . . . Let's join these parties!!!

Tabletop Tuesday with Marty at A Stroll Thru Life

Tea Time Tuesday with Terri at Artful Affirmations

Tea Cup Tuesday with Martha at Martha's Favorites

Tea Pot and Tea Things Tuesday with Pam at Breath of Fresh Air

Tea Time Tuesday with Katherine at Lady Katherine's Tea Parlor

Tuesday Tea for Two with Wanda Lee at The Plumed Pen

Tea Time Tuesday with Sandi at Rose Chintz Cottage