Just like you, Theodosia thought to herself. Just like you, Detective Tidwell.
Teacups clattered as Henry approached, bearing a silver tray laden with a lovely blue ceramic French tea service. Henry poured steaming cups of tea for everyone, then passed them around.
“Delicious,” declared Tidwell, taking a loud slurp. “And what kind is this?”
They turned inquisitive faces to Henry. He had, after all, brewed the tea.
“Why, I prepared the tea Mr. Conneley brought over,” Henry said in his papery, proper voice, even as a faint smile tugged at his mouth.
“The gunpowder green!” exclaimed Drayton and Haley together.
Timothy rose to his feet and held his teacup aloft. “I’d like to propose a toast,” he announced. “To Theodosia.”
“To Theodosia,” everyone chimed in.
“Just like her marvelous tea,” said Timothy, “you discover what she’s really made of when you put her in hot water.”
“Hear! Hear!” cried Drayton. “Describes our girl perfectly.”
Theodosia just smiled and sipped her tea.
Recipes From
The Indigo Tea Shop
1¼ cups water
1 Tbs. sugar
Freshly squeezed juice from 2 lemons plus rind
2 Tbs. Earl Grey tea leaves
1 egg white
Bring water, sugar, lemon juice, and lemon rind to a boil in saucepan and allow to boil for four minutes. Add tea leaves, cover, remove from heat, and let steep until cool. Strain into a bowl, cover, and place in freezer until mixture is slushy and half frozen. Beat egg white until stiff, then fold into mixture. Freeze until sorbet reaches desired consistency. To serve, scoop sorbet into parfait dishes and garnish with fresh fruit or a lemon cookie.
1 Tsp. baking powder
1 Tsp. granulated sugar
1 cup all-purpose flour
¼ tsp salt
1 Tbsp. orange juice
½ cup milk
½ cup raisins
Mix dry ingredients together in bowl, add orange juice and milk. Mix into a dough, then add raisins. Place 8 scoops onto a greased baking sheet, bake in preheated 425 degree oven for 15 to 20 minutes. Serve hot with plenty of butter and jam. Yields 8 scones.
1 1/3 cups strong Irish Breakfast Tea
1 1/3 cups apricot nectar
1 1/3 cups sparkling water
Combine tea, apricot nectar, and sparkling water. Pour into ice-filled glasses. Make 4 servings.
2 large chocolate bars (Ghiradelli or Dove work well)
12 large, fresh strawberries
Wash and dry strawberries, leaving stems on. Break chocolate bars into bits and place in microwave safe bowl. Heat in microwave on high for 30 seconds or until melted completely. Hold each strawberry by its stem and dip into melted chocolate. Place on waxed paper to cool.
1 lb. cooked lobster meat
2-3 stalks celery
small onion
Prepared mayonnaise
1 cucumber
Chop the lobster into small pieces. Chop and dice the celery and onion into very small pieces. Combine ingredients in a bowl and add a small amount of mayonnaise. If mixture seems dry, add a little more mayonnaise, then add salt and pepper to taste. Peel cucumber and slice into very thin slices. Spread lobster salad on slices of cocktail bread, top with cucumber, top each sandwich with another slice of bread. Carefully cut each sandwich into two triangles and arrange on platter.
2 lbs. chicken liver
1/3 cup canola oil
2 eggs
1 fresh clove of garlic
3 cups wheat flour
Mix chicken liver, oil, eggs and garlic in food processor. Pour into mixing bowl and combine with flour. Pour into well-greased 9'' x 11'' pan. Bake 350 degrees for 40 minutes. When completely cool, cake can be lightly frosted with low fat cream cheese.
Serve as many of these as you’d like, but always in small quantities. This is the time to use your fancy glass plates or two-tiered serving tray.
Cream cheese balls rolled in chopped walnuts
Tiny cucumber sandwiches (buy small loaves of bread and remove crusts)
Thin slices of Swiss or jarlsberg cheese
Wedges of brie or camembert
Deviled eggs garnished with pimento
Cranberry or zucchini bread
Chicken salad on small croissants
Chutney or honey butter on toast points
Crab salad on English muffins
Macaroons
Scones with jam
Unwrap grandma’s teapot, round up all your mis-matched cups, saucers and tiny plates. Set out thin slices of lemon, sugar cubes, a tiny pitcher of milk, and a small pot of honey. Gather fresh flowers from your garden or adorn your table with pots of ivy. Light the candles, play a favorite CD, indulge in the relaxing ritual that is tea time.