Monday, March 11, 2013

Guinness with Your Tea



Guinness Soda Bread Scones, and other delectables

It was tea-times-two on Saturday!  A friend joined me for a tea party at my home before heading to our Japanese Tea Ceremony class, where she was the guest instructor on kimono dressing.

With a nod toward St. Pat's, I served the following.  All of these were vegan, except for the salmon and the macarons.  (I've had a nasty respiratory virus and am off dairy.)

Sandwiches:
  • Blood Orange sandwich - This time, I used vegan cream cheese, blood orange rind, a drop of vanilla and a drop of orange extract
  • Smoked salmon on rosemary butter (vegan spread) 
  • Sprouts (made by the DH) on rosemary butter (vegan spread)
Scones:  Guinness Soda Bread Scones These were a big hit!  To make them vegan:
  • Use 4 Tbsp of vegan margarine
  • Use 1/4 cup of nondairy milk with 2 Tbsp vinegar to curdle it
  • Use agave or sugar instead of honey
  • I started with 1/4 cup of Guinness and added 3 Tbsp.  This kept the dough firm enough that I could cut out shapes.
  • This version is just as good as the non-vegan...you won't notice the difference.
  • PS - It just occurred to me, after I'd posted this, to check if Guinness is vegan. Technically, it's not.  If this is a concern for you, read more here.
Desserts: 
  • Dates stuffed with pecan
  • French macarons from a local bakery
  • Fresh Strawberries!  I'm so happy because I wait for the CA ones each spring.

7 comments:

Angela McRae said...

Sounds like a great teatime, and I absolutely love how pretty your tea tray looks!

cha sen said...

I'm inspired by your post to plan a tea get together soon!

Rosemary said...

Everything looks yummy!

Teresa's New Life said...

Really pretty and even though everything is vegan it sounds delish! What is vegan cream cheese made from Steph? Thanks!

Marilyn Miller said...

I wait until March for strawberries too. What a huge treat. I love seeing your mostly vegan tea. That can be a challenge and you did it so well.

La Tea Dah said...

Such a beautiful presentation --- a lovely vegan tea!

Unknown said...

Gorgeously looking. I want to experience this taste. Moreover, it has so many healthful properties:
Healing tea.