MORE BEHIND THE SCENES
More peeks of the up and coming Autumn Champagne Tea In The Woods. Here's the great decor we dreamed up for Fall parties or the perfect elopement. I hope you really get inspired and geared up for the season looking at all these goodies. The recipes are my treat . . . . .
THE MENU
Pumpkin Soup with Red Pepper and Tomato Trapenade as Garnish
Assorted Cheeses
Pita Bread
Apples and Pomegranates
Almond Cookies
Persimon Leaf Tea
Gloria Ferrer Champagne
Pumpkin Soup
1-1/2 cups of fresh or canned pumpkin
1/2 cup of chicken broth
1-1/2 cups of milk or half and half
1 cup sour cream
Dash of lemon pepper
1/2 tsp. curry powder (optional)
Mix the liquids then add pumpkin and dry ingredients. Use electric mixer or blender till smooth. Heat in a pot or microwave. Garnish with trapenade. Serves 4.
Almond Cookies with Icing
Ingredients
For the cookies:
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
Pinch of salt
2 sticks unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg, at room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon almond extract
For the frosting:
1 stick unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 1/2 teaspoons almond extract
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 3/4 cups confectioners' sugar, sifted
Silver nonpareils or Jordan almonds, for topping
Make the cookies: Whisk the flour, baking soda and salt in a medium bowl. Beat the butter and granulated sugar in a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment on medium speed until fluffy. Beat in the egg, then beat in the vanilla and almond extracts. Reduce the mixer speed to low; add the flour mixture and beat until combined. Cover and chill 1 hour.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Scoop 1-inch mounds of dough onto the prepared baking sheets, about 2 1/2 inches apart; flatten the mounds with your fingers. Bake until the cookies are golden around the edges, about 10 minutes. Let the cookies cool 10 minutes on the baking sheets, then transfer to racks to cool completely.
Make the frosting: Beat the butter, almond and vanilla extracts, and salt in a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment on medium speed until light and fluffy. Add the confectioners' sugar and beat until smooth and creamy. Transfer to a piping bag fitted with a small star tip. Pipe the frosting onto the cooled cookies and top with nonpareils or Jordan almonds.
Almond Cookies with Icing
Ingredients
For the cookies:
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
Pinch of salt
2 sticks unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg, at room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon almond extract
For the frosting:
1 stick unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 1/2 teaspoons almond extract
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 3/4 cups confectioners' sugar, sifted
Silver nonpareils or Jordan almonds, for topping
Make the cookies: Whisk the flour, baking soda and salt in a medium bowl. Beat the butter and granulated sugar in a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment on medium speed until fluffy. Beat in the egg, then beat in the vanilla and almond extracts. Reduce the mixer speed to low; add the flour mixture and beat until combined. Cover and chill 1 hour.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Scoop 1-inch mounds of dough onto the prepared baking sheets, about 2 1/2 inches apart; flatten the mounds with your fingers. Bake until the cookies are golden around the edges, about 10 minutes. Let the cookies cool 10 minutes on the baking sheets, then transfer to racks to cool completely.
Make the frosting: Beat the butter, almond and vanilla extracts, and salt in a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment on medium speed until light and fluffy. Add the confectioners' sugar and beat until smooth and creamy. Transfer to a piping bag fitted with a small star tip. Pipe the frosting onto the cooled cookies and top with nonpareils or Jordan almonds.
