Linderhof


Gardening, Cooking and Decorating on the Prairie of Kansas


Welcome to Linderhof, our 1920's home on the prairie, where there's usually something in the oven, flowers in the garden for tabletops and herbs in the garden for cooking. Where, when company comes, the teapot is always on and there are cookies and cakes to share in the larder.

Monday, September 22, 2014

A Lavender Tea

A Lavender Tea, you say!

I see another blue and white transfer tea set

No lavender there!
And no lavender flowers, either!

So where is the lavender?

How can you have a lavender tea
with blue china?


Tea on the porch this afternoon
With a friend

And yes, there was lavender for tea


The cookies were lavender cookies
Not in the cookies but the jam on the cookies!

The tea set is my Wedgwood one,
It's Asiatic Pheasant in pattern
It fits well on the tea tray
and also comes with sugar and creamer
I've had it "forever"


The jam?
A gift Saturday from a friend
Lavender jelly

I baked my favorite thumbprint cookies
And instead of raspberry or apricot jam,
used the lavender jelly

Oh, and instead of the almond extract called for in the recipe,
I used lemon and for an extra hint of lemon, grated the rind of one lemon into the dough.

Lavender and lemon seem to have an affinity for one another.

And for the friend,


I sent her home with a sack of lavender cookies
and
lingonberry cookies
(for she gave me some lingonberry jam as well)
(And tomato bacon jam but that's not for dainty tea cookies --
it's a "man's" jam!)

We spent a pleasant afternoon
Talking food
nibbling cookies
And sipping tea
(Earl Grey -- not lavender!)

The recipe -- from Tasha Tudor
I make these quite often for they are a perfect tea cookie!
And you really can use any kind of jam you like -- raspberry is not mandatory!


TASHA TUDOR'S JAM THUMBPRINT

1 cup butter
1/2 c. sugar
1/2 t. salt
2 egg yolks
2 cups flour
1/2 t. almond extract
Raspberry jam

Preheat oven to 350.   Line two cookie sheets with parchment paper or silpat.   

In a large bowl, mix together all the ingredients except the jam.    Chill dough for a half hour.    Roll dough into small balls and make an indentation with your thumb; fill indentation with jam.

Bake for 10 - 12 minutes or until golden brown.    Place on a rack to cool.

I like to sprinkle with powdered sugar after they cool.




It's Tuesday and I'm sharing my lavender tea with Sandi at Rose Chintz Cottage for Tea Time Tuesday.

7 comments:

Snap said...

What a lovely way to spend an afternoon! I really like your transfer ware. Your Lavender tea looks like it was a hit ... delicious looking cookies! Happy Tea Day!

Judith @ Lavender Cottage said...

Just a hint of lavender is perfect to have with tea, your cookies look and sound delicious.

Beth said...

Hi Martha, Your china is so pretty, and your tea is just perfect! You're such a great and imaginative cook, Martha.

Millie said...

Your cookies remind me a bit of "sunny side up" eggs! They look so delicious and I am sure your friend enjoyed them. I think lavender and lemon would be very tasty.

Sandi@ Rose Chintz Cottage said...

Martha, your lavender tea looks just lovely. I have made thumbprint cookies many times but always with jam never lavender jelly. Oh my, would that be wonderful! Loving your blue china. The Asiatic is such a pretty pattern.
It's always a pleasure to have you join me and Happy Autumn!

Blessings,
Sandi

Zaa said...

Beautiful Teaset Martha ...It's almost a teal blue, isn't it.... and the ' Lavender" theme is lovely ... Lavendar jelly sounds divine...You've inspired me (Ha Ha) THANKS

Tea in the Library said...

I enjoyed seeing the pattern in blue. I have 1 bowl in black which hangs in my dining room. Thumbprint cookies with homemade jam - Sounds like a good thing to me !