My version of a diet

has little to do with most people's ideas of a diet.
Instead of starving myself, or eating ridiculously limited menus that starve my body of all of the nutrients it needs, I eat smaller portions of healthier foods.
....and by healthier, I do not mean 'low fat', 'low calorie', or any of the other drivel marketed as 'healthy' by too many bad commercials.
I mean good, whole foods prepared with care and eaten with mindfulness.

So my next few weeks of losing weight- which I'm calling, "Project Cheapskate," as the main reason I'm losing weight is because I refuse to buy a new wardrobe- will involve examples of easy, delicious, flavorful foods I prepare for my family.

So I'll begin with my favorite tea recipe, and add a second one I'm coming to adore.

Ginger-Orange Arnold Palmer

In gallon pitcher, have ready 2 family sized teabags, scant 1 1/3 cup sugar, ~1/4c honey, 1/2 cup lemon juice. Pour approx 2 liters (or one full electric kettle's worth) boiling water.
Start another kettle, and meanwhile prepare 1 pot's worth Elmwood Inn Orange-Ginger Tea. 
When the kettle is ready, pour into teapot, let steep 20 minutes, then pour into pitcher. Refrigerate until cold, and enjoy.

Tazo Passion Palmer

In gallon pitcher, have ready 2 Tazo Passion Iced Tea Bags, scant 2/3c sugar, ~1/2c honey, 1/4c lemon juice. Pour approx 2 liters boiling water over, stir, then add approx liters cool water. Refrigerate until cold & enjoy

Ladies Afternoon Tea

My tea went off without a hitch. My darling Actaeon served us all, and we had a total of 5 ladies and 1 gentleman who popped in and out (my roommate).

The menu:

• Cornish Pasties (recipe to follow)
• Ham-apple chutney sandwiches (recipe to follow)
• Avocado Bacon sandwiches (recipe another post)

• Pumpkin Spice scones (see this recipe but remove the chocolate and fruit and add 1/2 TB of pumpkin pie spice)

-with Devon/clotted cream and homemade apple butter (recipe another post)

• Pecan and Pumpkin Pie Tartlets (bought from Costco, gimme a break)
• Assorted cookies (also bought, again gimme a break)

The tea was Teavana's Thai Tea Blend which has a strong enough flavor to complement the foodstuffs.

I chose the menu based on the season: it's late fall, and much pork is being put ont he market because, well, it's slaughtering season. Apples, pumpkins, and various spicy things are also in season, hence the theme.

I wish I'd taken a picture of the table. The Ladies all chose their own teacups (I have a rather large collection of antique teacups and saucers) and the table was set with a cream-colored linen tablecloth, china dessert plates with hand-painted roses, and short water glasses.

Tea was served from my Denby Regency Green Collection, a wonderful housewarming gift from a dear friend , and courses were served in the order listed.

Recipes:

Cornish Pasties

These are incredibly simple. I browned ground sausage (specifically, cut up brats) with a few TB of queso cheese, and then mixed them with garlic mashed potatoes until I liked the flavor and consistency.

I used prepared pie crust and placed small rounds of it in an empanada maker, a small spoonful of the sausage mixture, closed the pastries, and baked them at 350F for about 10 minutes until the pie crust was golden. They had to be turned over about 6 minutes in.

Tips: Keep the pie dough cool or it will tear, making your pasties open in the oven

Don't use too much filling or the pasties will break open and/or not close properly

These would also be good with, well anything, but specifically any ground meat or meat substitute and starch/veggie.

Ham-Apple Chutney Sandwiches

These were an experiment that was incredibly successful. I chopped 1/4lb of ham fairly finely, and most of one Granny Smith Apple. Added about a teaspoon of dijon mustard and about a tablespoon of honey mustard, and mixed. This was a super-simple, wildly successful experiment :)

I will post the Apple-Cranberry Butter in a separate post, promise :)

Late Fall Afternoon Tea

On November 15th, I will be hosting a tea for 5 women whom I adore. I don't have a menu yet, but I am currently thinking of a spicy tea, apple and walnut sandwiches on some homemade bread, perhaps little apple or pumpkin tarts... we will see :)