Tea Time Can Be Anytime!

The Tea Lady has begun organizing all of the digital images on the computer into neat little folders. This has required a great many pots of tea and there is still quite a bit more to do. One of our family's favorite places to get away from it all is Cumberland Island National Seashore. The photos from our many trips there are the ones I have worked on recently. The island is only accessible by boat, there are no stores, one private B&B, some private homes (that revert to the park service in 2010..sad) and camping opportunities. Camping means a tent and bringing everything with you.

Of course the Tea Lady will not travel without tea no matter how primitive or remote the location. The beauty of taking tea is that it doesn't always have to be fancy and formal served in the parlor. Taking tea is the epitome of simplicity. All that is required is potable water, a heat source, tea and a vessel to brew it in.

Some of the best tea times I have had were in most assuredly non-traditional tea settings. The most recent was our last trip to Cumberland in January 2009. My husband hikes quite a bit and has a tea pot with a cozy he takes along on expeditions. We bought some neat origami type resuable tea cups for this trip. After setting up camp our first day at Stafford Beach we made our tea and walked out to the beach. The picture pretty much says it all:

It was lovely to wake up each morning snuggled in the hammock, listening to the sounds of nature waking up and being greeted with a nice pot of tea. Our last night of the trip the weather turned more winter-like with grey, moist skies. We moved our gear to Sea Camp for the night as it was closer to the ferry we had to catch the next morning. Again, we set up camp and the next item of importance was the tea. Out to the beach, even in the inclement weather, we shared another lovely tea time.

Next time you think you don't have time for tea remember that Tea Time Can Be Anytime!

What is a Crumpet?

Most everyone has probably heard the phrase "tea and crumpets," but what exactly is a crumpet? A crumpet is a bread made from flour and yeast that is cooked on a flat-top griddle instead of being baked in an oven. Most crumpets are round and are cooked in a ring mold but sometimes they are square. Since crumpets are toasted after cooking, a square shape is perfect for popping in a toaster. Another fun way for toasting crumpets is using a wire shaped "crumpet toaster" over an open fire. This celver device has a long handle and 4 "fingers" that hold the crumpet securely. Here is a link to a website where you can purchase your own crumpet toaster or just see what one looks like
http://www.re-foundobjects.com/product/view/135

Crumpets on their own are very bland as the basic recipe is just flour, yeast, leavening and a pinch of sugar. Very similar to an english muffin with its characteristic nooks and crannies the crumpet is the perfect foil for butter, jam, honey, peanut butter or other favorite toppings. The toppings, especially butter, sink into the nooks and crannies creating a flavorful bite all the way through. Here is a recipe: http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/database/homemadecrumpets_70053.shtml

There is also a Scottish crumpet which is more like a pancake. They are cooked on a flat griddle, but not reheated after cooking. The Scottish crumpet is generally filled with fruit or jam and folded over like a crepe.

With winter upon us here in North Georgia the Tea Lady is picturing a cozy fire, toasting crumpets over the flames, then slathering the warm disk with real butter and this summer's strawberry/fig jam. Lots of napkins will be needed as the butter and jam melt into the nooks and crannies. A perfectly brewed pot of Yunnan Superior on the coffee table completes the scene.