Steeped in Evil (A Tea Shop Mystery)

by Childs, Laura

  Ricotta-Orange Tea Sandwiches

  1 package fresh ricotta cheese

  6 slices white or whole wheat bread

  1 jar orange marmalade

  SPREAD ricotta cheese on 3 slices of bread. Gently spread orange marmalade on top of that. Top with remaining slices of bread. Cut off crusts, then cut into squares. Yield: 12 sandwiches.

  Church Street Quiche

  2 cups milk

  4 eggs

  3/4 cup biscuit baking mix

  1/4 cup butter, softened

  1 cup Parmesan cheese, grated

  1 (10 oz.) package chopped broccoli, thawed and drained

  1 cup cubed cooked ham

  8 oz. Cheddar cheese, shredded

  PREHEAT oven to 375 degrees. Lightly grease a 10-inch quiche dish. In large bowl, beat together milk, eggs, baking mix, butter, and Parmesan cheese. Batter will remain somewhat lumpy. Stir in broccoli, ham, and Cheddar cheese. Pour into quiche dish. Bake for 50 minutes, until eggs are set and top is golden brown. Yield: 4 servings.

  Fast Bake Crabmeat Casserole

  1 cup milk

  1 package cheese spread (8 oz.), chopped into bits

  1/2 cup butter, softened

  1 jar pimentos (4 oz.), drained

  11/2 cups egg noodles, cooked

  1 can crabmeat (6 oz.), drained

  1⁄4 cup dry breadcrumbs

  PREHEAT oven to 350 degrees. Combine all ingredients together in a bowl except for breadcrumbs. Transfer crab mixture to a greased 2-quart casserole dish. Sprinkle with breadcrumbs. Bake uncovered for 30 minutes. Yield: 4 servings.

  TEA TIME TIPS FROM

  Laura Childs

  Ladybug Tea Party

  Have fun and go a little crazy when you decorate for your ladybug tea party! Think ladybug invitations, red napkins and place mats, and red balloons with black polka dots. You can also buy ready-made ladybugs in craft stores for décor and tie red-and-white polka dot ribbon on the backs of your chairs and the handles of your teacups. Start your first course with coconut scones, then serve ladybug tea sandwiches that you create from the directions in this book. Cheddar cheese and apple chutney tea sandwiches would also be lovely. For dessert, a cake store should be able to provide you with ladybug cake pops. And chocolates with ladybug-design foil wrappers are available in many candy stores.

  Big Hat Tea

  If all your guests are wearing hats, this tea is going to be a little bit more formal. So break out your linen tablecloth, crystal glasses, sterling silver, and nicest china. Start your high tea in high gear with ginger-pear scones and mounds of Devonshire cream. Croissants stuffed with crab salad would make a great second course, and you could also serve baked mushroom and onion tarts. Tea cakes are always a treat for dessert, and your tea flavors might include spiced plum and an Earl Grey floral. For goodness’ sake, don’t forget the fresh flowers and background music!

  White Chocolate Tea

  Dark chocolate is delicious, but white chocolate is a treat all its own! Start with white chocolate chip scones, then enjoy a smoked salmon and cream cheese tea sandwich or chicken salad with cranberries and walnuts. For sweets, consider strawberries dipped in white chocolate, cookies with white chocolate frosting, and white chocolate brownies. Flavored teas such as vanilla-caramel or mint tea would complement all your choices beautifully.

  Pet-Friendly Tea

  Did you know that dogs love taking tea? Oh, yes, they do. Especially when they’re served special dog cookies and treats. Serve the people at your tea party an egg salad tea sandwich on pumpkin bread. Goat cheese with sundried tomatoes also makes for a tasty tea sandwich. And a small can of dog food spread on dog crackers is a lovely second course for dogs. Skip the sweets (you know why!) and focus on the tea. Maybe a cranberry-orange tea for the humans and Machu’s Blend for your canine friends. This is a special herbal dog tea that you can order from Californiateahouse.com. It promotes healthy skin, lowers stress, and aids in digestion.

  Store Bought in a Hurry Tea

  Yes, of course, you’re busy. But that’s no excuse for not inviting your friends in for tea. Start with chicken salad that you buy at the deli. Spread it on cinnamon-raisin bread, top with another slice, and cut off the crusts. Now cut it into quarters. See how easy that was? Maybe you could even manage some cream cheese and sliced cucumber sandwiches. If you don’t have a cutter to make tea sandwich rounds, use a juice glass. For dessert, buy a plain white cake and sprinkle it with edible flower petals. This bit of creativity takes your cake from simply store-bought to showstopper! And you are definitely permitted to cut corners and use teabags. Now send out those e-mail invites and have some fun!

  Mother-Daughter Tea

  Make this is a special tea and serve all the things that moms—and little girls—really love. Start with maraschino cherry scones and dabs of Devonshire cream (or whipped cream for the little ones). Move on to tea sandwiches with tuna salad and ham salad filling. You can also do peanut butter and raisin tea sandwiches or peanut butter and jelly. Desserts might include sugar cookies or lemon bars. Moms might like orange spice or English toffee flavored teas, while little girls are often happy with apple juice or a cup of milk. And remember, dolls and teddy bears have a standing invitation!

  Father’s Day Tea

  Dads enjoy a tea party, too. Especially when you serve mini burgers (think sliders), triangle tea sandwiches filled with roast beef and brown mustard, or tea sandwiches with chicken salad and chutney. Your desserts might include brownie bites and chocolate cake. Some heartier Dad-style teas might include a rich Ceylon tea, or you could even try a spiced chai. And if Dad’s not a tea drinker, remember there are a number of tea-infused vodkas on the market! A vodka-tea-tonic anyone?

  TEA RESOURCES

  TEA PUBLICATIONS

  Tea Magazine—Quarterly magazine about tea as a beverage and its cultural significance in the arts and society. (teamag.com)

  TeaTime—Luscious magazine profiling tea and tea lore. Filled with glossy photos and wonderful recipes. (teatimemagazine .com)

  Southern Lady—From the publishers of TeaTime with a focus on people and places in the South as well as wonderful tea time recipes. (southernladymagazine.com)

  The Tea House Times—Go to teahousetimes.com for subscription information and dozens of links to tea shops, purveyors of tea, gift shops, and tea events.

  Victoria—Articles and pictorials on homes, home design, gardens, and tea. (victoriamag.com)

  The Gilded Lily—Publication from the Ladies Tea Guild. (glily.com)

  Tea in Texas—Highlighting Texas tea rooms and tea events. (teaintexas.com)

  Tea Talk Magazine—Covers tea news and tea shops in Britain. (teatalkmagazine.co.uk)

  Fresh Cup Magazine—For tea and coffee professionals. (freshcup .com)

  Tea & Coffee—Trade journal for the tea and coffee industry. (teaandcoffee.net)

  Bruce Richardson—This author has written several definitive books on tea (elmwoodinn.com/books)

  Jane Pettigrew—This author has written thirteen books on the varied aspects of tea and its history and culture. (janepetti grew.com/books)

  A Tea Reader—by Katrina Avila Munichiello, an anthology of tea stories and reflections.

  AMERICAN TEA PLANTATIONS

  Charleston Tea Plantation—The oldest and largest tea plantation in the United States. Order their fine black tea or schedule a visit online. (bigelowtea.com)

  Fairhope Tea Plantation—Tea produced in Fairhope, Alabama, can be purchased though the Church Mouse gift shop. (thechurch mouse.com)

  Sakuma Brothers Farm—This tea garden just outside Burlington, Washington, has been growing white and green tea for more than a dozen years. (sakumamarket.com)

  Big Island Tea—Organic artisan tea from Hawaii. (bigislandtea.com)

  Mauna Kea Tea—Organic green and oolong tea from Hawaii’s Big Island. (maunakeatea.com)

  Onomea Tea—Nine-acre tea estate near Hilo, Hawaii. (onomeatea .com)

  TEA W
EBSITES AND INTERESTING BLOGS

  Teamap.com—Directory of hundreds of tea shops in the U.S. and Canada.

  GreatTearoomsofAmerica.com—Excellent tea shop guide.

  Afternoontea.co.uk—Guide to tearooms in the UK.

  Cookingwithideas.typepad.com—Recipes and book reviews for the Bibliochef.

  Cuppatea4sheri.blogspot.com—Amazing recipes.

  Seedrack.com—Order camellia sinensis seeds and grow your own tea!

  Friendshiptea.net—Tea shop reviews, recipes, and more.

  RTbookreviews.com—Wonderful romance and mystery book review site.

  Adelightsomlife.com—Tea, gardening, and cottage crafts.

  Theladiestea.com—Networking platform for women.

  Jennybakes.com—Fabulous recipes from a real make-it-from-scratch baker.

  Teanmystery.com—Tea shop, books, gifts, and gift baskets.

  Lattedavotion.wordpress.com—Coffee, tea, and book reviews.

  Southernwritersmagazine.com—Inspiration, writing advice, and author interviews of Southern writers.

  Allteapots.com—Teapots from around the world.

  Fireflyvodka.com—South Carolina purveyors of Sweet Tea Vodka,

  Raspberry Tea Vodka, Peach Tea Vodka, and more. Just visiting this website is a trip in itself!

  Teasquared.blogspot.com—Fun, well-written blog about tea, tea shops, and tea musings.

  Bernideensteatimeblog.blogspot.com—Tea, baking, decorations, and gardening.

  Tealoversroom.com—California tea rooms, Teacasts, links.

  Teapages.blogspot.com—All things tea.

  Possibili-teas.net—Tea consultants with a terrific monthly newsletter.

  Relevanttealeaf.blogspot.com—All about tea.

  Baking.about.com—Carroll Pellegrinelli writes a terrific baking blog complete with recipes and photo instructions.

  Stephcupoftea.blogspot.com—Blog on tea, food, and inspiration.

  Teawithfriends.blogspot.com—Lovely blog on tea, friendship, and tea accoutrements.

  Sharonsgardenofbookreviews.blogspot—Terrific book reviews by an entertainment journalist.

  Teaescapade.wordpress.com—Enjoyable tea blog.

  Bellaonline.com/site/tea—Features and forums on tea.

  Lattesandlife.com—Witty musings on life.

  Napkinfoldingguide.com—Photo illustrations of twenty-seven different (and sometimes elaborate) napkin folds.

  Worldteaexpo.com—This premier business-to-business trade show features more than three hundred tea suppliers, vendors, and tea innovators.

  Sweetgrassbaskets.net—One of several websites where you can buy sweetgrass baskets direct from the artists.

  Goldendelighthoney.com—Carolina honey to sweeten your tea.

  Johnandkiras.com—Hand-painted ladybug chocolates and bees.

  FatCatScones.com—Frozen ready-to-bake scones.

  KingArthurFlour.com—One of the best flours for baking. This is what many professional pastry chefs use.

  Teagw.com—Visit this website and click on Products to find dreamy tea pillows filled with jasmine, rose, lavender, and green tea.

  Californiateahouse.com—Order Machu’s Blend, a special herbal tea for dogs that promotes healthy skin, lowers stress, and aids digestion.

  Vintageteaworks.com—This company offers six unique wine-flavored tea blends that celebrate wine and respect the tea.

  Downtonabbeycooks.com—A Downton Abbey blog with news and recipes. You can also order their book Abbey Cooks.

  Auntannie.com—Crafting site that will teach you how to make your own petal envelopes, pillow boxes, gift bags, etc.

  PURVEYORS OF FINE TEA

  Adagio.com

  Harney.com

  Stashtea.com

  Republicoftea.com

  Teazaanti.com

  Bigelowtea.com

  Celestialseasonings.com

  Goldenmoontea.com

  Uptontea.com

  VISITING CHARLESTON

  Charleston.com—Travel and hotel guide.

  Charlestoncvb.com—The official Charleston convention and visitor bureau.

  Charlestontour.wordpress.com—Private tours of homes and gardens, some including lunch or tea.

  Charlestonplace.com—Charleston Place Hotel serves an excellent afternoon tea, Thursday through Saturday, 1 to 3.

  Culinarytoursofcharleston.com—Sample specialties from Charleston’s local eateries, markets, and bakeries.

  Charlestonteaco.com—This small café on Ann Street sells loose leaf and iced teas and serves breakfast and lunch. They have even blended a special medicinal migraine tea.

  Poogansporch.com—This restored Victorian house serves traditional lowcountry cuisine. Be sure to ask about Poogan!

  Preservationsociety.org—Hosts Charleston’s annual Fall Candlelight Tour.

  Palmettocarriage.com—Horse-drawn carriage rides.

  Charlestonharbortours.com—Boat tours and harbor cruises.

  Ghostwalk.net—Stroll into Charleston’s haunted history. Ask them about the “original” Theodosia!

  CharlestonTours.net—Ghost tours plus tours of plantations and historic homes.

  TURN THE PAGE FOR A PREVIEW OF LAURA CHILDS’S NEXT SCRAPBOOKING MYSTERY . . .

  Gossamer Ghost

  COMING SOON IN HARDCOVER FROM BERKLEY PRIME CRIME!

  It was Halloween again in New Orleans. A week-long, rabble-rousing celebration that just seemed to get bigger, badder, and crazier every dang year. A time for would-be werewolves, witches, fairy princesses, goblins, Venetian lords and ladies, and zombies to dust off their costumes, throw on a wig, howl at the moon, and paint the town the bright red color of fake vampire blood.

  Carmela Bertrand, the owner of Memory Mine Scrapbook Shop in the French Quarter, was no exception. This year she was debating the merits of wearing a medieval ladies costume for the week leading up to Halloween, a Scarlet O’Hara dress for her friend Baby Fontaine’s annual masquerade ball, and a sexy witch dress for the ultra-fancy Pumpkins and Bumpkins Ball.

  After all, what’s a girl to do when she has dozens of party invitations and is dating one of the hottest police detectives in the Big Easy?

  Well, for one thing, it wasn’t so easy.

  Right now, late Friday afternoon, with street lamps just beginning to glow in the darkening purple haze of a French Quarter evening, Carmela was still hunched at her computer trying to figure out which classes to put up on her Facebook page. She’d already offered several Paper Moon classes which had been wildly popular. But she was wracking her brain for something different, a couple of fun crafty sessions that would tickle her customers’ fancies and get their creative juices flowing.

  Maybe a stencil class or a class on painted fabrics? Painting on velvet clutch purses and pillows could generate lots of excitement among her die-hard scrapping ladies. The other thing might be . . .

  She stood up fast and hustled out of her tiny office and into her retail area. Pulling open a flat file drawer, she peered inside. Yes! She had a huge inventory of square and oval jewelry findings. Neat little frames and hearts and ovals that you could slip a tiny photo into. So maybe she could offer a charm and pendant class? That could be loads of fun.

  Carmela nodded to herself, liking the idea more and more, as she rushed back to her office and typed in her new class. There. Done and done. Creating a personalized charm or pendant was almost as fun as creating a miniature scrapbook page.

  Feeling satisfied and a little relieved, ready to call it a day, Carmela grabbed her handbag and suede jacket and headed for the front door. Rushing now, she smoothed back a strand of honeyed blond hair from her short, choppy bob and did a little quick-step. Not quite thirty, Carmela was lithe and youthful, with blue-gray eyes the same flat color as the Gulf of Mexico. And though her fair complexion rarely saw the need for makeup, let alone base or blusher, she did enjoy the natural hydration properties of Louisiana’s industrial strength humidity.