THE SOUND OF MUSIC AND LINZERTORTE

Sing along with me....."The Hills Are Alive....with the Sound of Music".

 Do you remember the Von Trapp Family? Lately I have been determined to actually make some of the unique and meaningful recipes which have a special story behind them.  This includes the LINZERTORTE Recipe from the Von Trapp Family Lodge in Vermont.

This simple Austrian Pastry is delicious and easy to make.  Last year I had gotten permission from Sharon O' Connor (Menus and Music Series) to print this recipe on my blog.  It was presented to her by Marshall Faye, Pastry Chef of the Trapp Family Lodge and is featured in her "Holidays" Edition Cookbook and CD Combination. 

 Last night I made the torte and it was lovely all hot and bubbly coming out of the oven....

I still have my Sound of Music piano book and it brings back many memories of this wonderful movie with Julie Andrews and that incredible voice!

Here is the recipe so that you can make it: 

 LINZERTORTE

You will need:

 3 sticks of butter at room temperature, 1 1/2 cups of sugar 1 egg, 1 1/2 cups of ground walnuts, 3 cups all purpose flour, 

1/2 tsp ground cinnamon, 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg, 1/4 tsp ground cloves, 1/4 tsp salt, 1/3 cup currant jelly and 1/3 cup raspberry jam ( I used 2/3 cup raspberry jam only) 1/4 cup sliced almonds (I had none in the pantry so skipped)  Powder sugar for sprinkling if desired.

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. In a large bowl, blend together the butter and sugar until creamy.  Beat in the egg, walnuts, flour and spices until a stiff dough is formed. Divide dough into 4 equal parts.
Grease and flour two 8" round cake pans. (I used a 9" tart pan with a removable bottom and only made one torte)

Pat 1 portion of the dough into a layer on the bottom of each pan.  On a floured surface, roll the remaining 2 portions of the dough into rectangular sheets about 1/4" thick. Cut the dough into3/4" wide strips.  Line the sides of each pan with 1 layer of the strips, pressing firmly.  

In a small bowl, combine the currant jelly and the raspberry jam, then spread half of this mix evenly onto the bottom of each torte.   Criss-cross the remaining strips of dough on top and sprinkle with sliced almonds. Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes or until the pastry is golden brown and the jam bubbles.  Remove and let cool.  Remove from the pans and sprinkle with powdered sugar.  Makes two 8" tortes

THINGS FOR A ROMANTIC TABLE

Valentines Day is such a perfect

time to have a few friends over

for Afternoon Tea or plan a

romantic dinner.  I think roses are

certainly a romantic flower.

One of my New's Year's Resolutions was that I would have more time for blogging - ha!  I can't seem to find more hours in the days...does anyone know where they go?

This morning I collected a few

things to you on a more 

romantic table.

The hydrangeas from my Sister-in-law have been a welcome this winter.  I have seen quite a few blogs which feature the "already happening" signs of spring.  Here in Colorado, I know better as we will have substantial snow before that happens.  We actually MUST  have snow as this is how we get our drinking water here.  Also, the skiing industry depends on the snow!

I have enjoyed reading "Scones & Tea" lately and want to remind you there is a chapter on Glutten Free which is very helpful! My grandmother gave me this vase when she was still living.

Winter is the perfect time to dig into your tea books and try new things. The hot oven only makes the house warmer and it is always fun to try something new for a change.  We dream about our gardens but they are sleeping right now.  Time to be "indoors".

WHIMSY AT THE VALENTINE TEA TABLE

I hope you have been invited to someone's home for a Valentine Tea - if not - why not go out for tea and support your local tea room or invite some friends over and have a tea yourself!  Your friends will love you!

This morning I took a few moments and set my dining room table for tea:

Several years ago I sold the bone china tea set with the hearts - but sadly they are discontinued and no longer made.....  it was called "Lucy's Love".  A friend said she

found some at a Home Goods Store a

few years ago.

The little heart plates are also no longer produced.  If you see one sometime in an antique mall - grab it! They were made by THT which stood for Tender Heart Treasures which was a popular company importing from China back in the early 21st century.

Gather round the table here..............

LIME COCONUT SCONES ARE WONDERFUL!

Last week I spent quite a bit of time reading Hoffman Media's new book "Scones and Tea" and even googled a number of the tea rooms they featured.  I also became enamored with the Lime-Coconut Scones recipe in the Gluten Free Section of the book.  This morning I baked them - only with regular flour!  You will find this recipe on  page 83. 

My new bouquet of dried hydrangeas came from my sister-in-law -Vivian's garden in Des Moines, Iowa.  My husband brought them back in December and some were 12" from top to bottom.  

I found these scones easy to bake before work this morning - I used a 2 1/2" scone cutter and rolled the dough out onto a pastry cloth. It made 16 scones.  I used more key lime zest than the recipe called for and was GLAD I did. 

 They are wonderful!  I highly recommend this book: "Scones & Tea".

I love this Scottish "Mrs Bridges Lemon Curd" because it was just the right "tartness" for these scones.  I sell several types in my store and  would recommend this one for this scone - rather than a more "butter" based curd.

FIRESIDE TEA FOR ONE

The wind begins to howl

as the trees in rhythm bend -

a copper kettle whistles on

as heat my wood stove sends.

A cozy spot is set nearby

where warmth is found in measure

with quiche and salad waiting there

and a teapot full of  treasure!

Bernideen Canfield

The song "In The Bleak Midwinter"  comes to mind lately!  My yard is so brown and dreary.

 We need moisture here in Colorado and I am well aware I will need to water on some warmer days to feed any perennials that cry out for a drink of water.  I think we loose perennials here unless we understand that.

The recipe for the quiche is so easy:


Preheat oven to325 degrees.  Boil a bunch of broccoli till tender- 
 about 1 1/2 cups chopped -  drain - set aside

Butter a pyrex glass pie plate. In a medium bowl, mix together 1 cup bisquick baking mix, 1 cup milk, 2/3 cup sour cream, 2 eggs 1/2 tsp salt, 1 cup colby cheese and 2/3 cup sour cream. 
Bake for 1 hour but watch as could be less