The history of drinking herbal infusions goes back many centuries. The word “tisane” is derived from the Greek “ptisane” which refers to a drink made from barley. Tisanes are herbal drinks that may not contain the Camellia Sinensis plant commonly known as “tea.” For instance, Hibiscus is said to contain Vitamin C. Peppermint is supposed to be good for indigestion, Elderflower is good for nerves and gout and Ginseng is said to have powers to invigorate the body and prolong life. Modern medicine has it’s foundation in herbal preparations and many physicians are realizing that some tisanes can work as well as some prescriptions. They also can interact with prescriptions. Be sure to check with your pharmacist or physician. What you drink can interfere with the medicine that is trying to make you well.
A Progressive Tea
by teaattheunicornwineguildllcMost of you have heard of a Progressive Dinner, where the group of diners travels from home to home for each course. The same practice can be used for a Progressive Tea. Each hostess is responsible for one course and the tea that pairs with it. The tea can be as simple or complicated as the group decides and with as many courses as the group decides. A Progressive Tea is a wonderful way to showcase participants’ holiday decorations. It could also be a feature of a Girl’s Day Out where each course follows shopping, a movie, spa treatments or even helping each other decorate for the holidays, wrap presents or bake. By sharing the duties, a progressive tea is an easy way to begin entertaining or start the holiday season in a simple, yet fun manner.
Cookie Swap Tea with a Cause
by teaattheunicornwineguildllcAs the holiday season approaches thoughts turn to holiday baking. For many, this includes baking cookies for a “swap”. It is easy for you to host the event. It can be as simple as a project for a few friends or as big as a project for your woman’s club. Set the date and invite your friends. As soon as you have confirmed the number of participants, let all know the number. Each participant will make a dozen cookies for each of the others. By doing this, you have completed your holiday baking and only have to make one kind of cookie. The more participants, the bigger the variety. Also ask the participants to bring an extra dozen for sampling at the tea, 2) make an extra two dozen for a bake sale and/or 3) ask each participant to make a contribution for a “bakeless” bake sale. You can provide some boundaries if you desire, such as cookies that ship well, bar cookies,
Sounds interesting? If you ask each participant to bring an extra dozen cookies for sampling, you provide the tea, decorations, and place settings for a gathering of friends, as well as a table for placement of the cookies for the swap. Your cooking is done for you (save for the cookies that you make for the swap). Provide some holiday music and let the participants gather in friendship. During the tea time let members tell about the recipes, play a few games (trivia, guess who made what cookie, etc.) and get in the holiday spirit. You might even want to watch a holiday movie together.
It is a good idea to find out from each participant what cookie they are making and let the others know to avoid duplication or, if the group doesn’t mind, just let it be a surprise. If there are eight dozen chocolate chip cookies for each person, so be it.
You may ask that all send you a copy of their recipe in advance and as a gift make little recipe booklets or recipe cards for them so they all have the recipes for future use. If you make the cards you can print them for free either from downloading a template from the Microsoft Word or HP.com (I’m sure there are others), cut them to size and wrap a set for each participant with curling ribbon or raffia. The booklet templates can also be downloaded in Word. Or, you can ask each participant to make enough copies of their recipe to share.
If you ask them to bake cookies for a bake sale, make arrangements to hold it at a craft fair, church bazaar or at a grocery or department store. You will need to arrange for the swap at a time suitable for the bake sale. Donate the proceeds to a worthy cause such as The Great American Bake Sale to help end childhood hunger or the cause of your choice.
If this is too much work for you or your volunteer time is dedicated to other causes, you can ask the participants to participate in a “bakeless” bake sale. In this instance, they would donate the money that it would cost them to purchase the ingredients for the recipe they chose. You would be the “treasurer” for these events and see that the funds get to the proper place.
For more information on how to hold a cookie swap go to www.dominosugar.com/cookieswap or at www.cookie-exchange.com. It can become a wonderful tradition and signal the start of your holiday season. Tea, cookies, friends and the warmth of giving. What could be a better start?
Tea at the Unicorn Wine Guild 