Did you Know that January is National Hot Tea Month?

Well it is!  It is the perfect time of year to sip on some hot tea and read a good book.  Don't know where to start with choosing your tea or your book?  I have the perfect solution.  My new book just came out called The World in Your Teacup: Celebrating Tea and Traditions Near and Far. 

It is a beautiful book photographed by the talented food photographer, Lauren Rubinstein.  In it, you can read and see how eight different countries celebrate tea.  You can learn how to make tea all different kinds of ways and then make recipes that pair with it all from the same country.  It is perfect for a trip around the world, from the comfort of your own home. 

I just returned from the America's Mart in Atlanta, Georgia where my book premiered for the first time.  It was wonderful to share the book with customers from around the country and see their reaction to the book.  Here is a picture of Lauren and me celebrating and signing our new book at the Mart!

Do you know what type of tea is famous in Morocco?  Do you know tea making in France is called "the art of tea"?  Do you know why the Russians like tea from a samovar?  You can learn all of that and more in my new book.  If you have the winter blues and your travel budget is low, pick up The World in Your Teacup for an international excursion of food and drink!

To get started on learning how to make the perfect pot of tea, go to http://www.lisaknowstea.com/ for easy instructions.

Happy Sipping!

Tea Party Animal Annual Family Tea

Tea Party Animal????  Fresh Cup Magazine reviewed my book, Tea with a Twist for their December issue and gave me the title of "Tea Party Animal" which I thought was very amusing!  I never thought of myself in quite that way, but after some reflection, they could be right!   When you think about tea most of the day, conjure up recipes that tea would taste good in, write about tea, speak about tea, teach others about tea, pair tea with foods, and try to get everyone you know to drink tea, tea party animal could describe me. 

Well how does a "tea party animal" celebrate Christmas?  She celebrates with a tea party, naturally.  My husband Joe and my two kids, Zach and Kate, have had an annual Christmas tradition for ten years.  We go have tea somewhere and take time for just us during this crazy time of year.  My son is now in college and my daughter is finishing middle school and they still love our Christmas teas.  It is a time for us to slow down and think about the real meaning of this season and all our blessings. 

Yesterday was our day for our annual Christmas tea!  It was  a great time to reflect on the past year and how far we have come as a family and giggle about the crazy things we have all done.  I love that it is just "us".  One of my passions is for people to know that drinking tea isn't just for afternoons, ladies, grandmas, and children-its for everyone, anytime of the day! 

I hope this may be an inspiration for you and your family to start the tradition of an annual Christmas tea.  It doesn't have to be elaborate.  If the budget is tight, just sitting down as a family while you sip some tea and eat scones or some baked goodies is perfect. It is not about the tea or the food, but the time you spend together and the memories you create!  That is one of the reasons I love tea so much.

Wishing you and your family a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Truffles, Chestnuts, and My Stage Debut

Growing up in South Florida meant the "Winter Wonderland" at Christmas time was sand going between your toes while you walked barefoot on the beach.  The closest we got to chestnuts roasting on an open fire was the crackle and pop the LP made as our treasured Nat King Cole Christmas album played the tune on our record player.  My dad is a huge Nat fan and has collected his albums for years.  In fact, I often wondered if that was why his album was the only holiday music we owned growing up-nobody could out do Nat King Cole. 

My dad was also a singer himself.  For several years, my father was asked to be a part of a Living Christmas Tree production in St. Petersburg, Florida.  When I was around 8 or so, I was asked to be a part of the production.  My role was to just sit still on my dad's lap as he sang the old favorite that I had heard every year-The Christmas Song better known as Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire.  The night of the performance I was so nervous that my mom kept having to take me to the ladies room.  I was afraid I was going to miss my stage debut due to a nervous bladder! 

Alas, my time had come to go on stage. I remember getting up onto my dad's lap and nervously looking out into the audience when I realized I couldn't even see them.  The lights on stage were so bright that all I could see was their bright beams .  So, I just looked at my dad as he sang my  favorite Christmas song to me and I forgot all about the audience.  I have to say his rendition that night of The Christmas Song was the best I had ever heard-even Nat King Cole couldn't out sing my dad!


My South Florida upbringing didn't allow me to experiment with recipes for roasting chestnuts, but as promised here is my Microwave Chocolate Truffle Recipe.  Some of my readers have emailed me that it has  become their "new favorite" Holiday Recipe-so good and so easy.



Easy Microwave Chocolate Truffles
from Tea with a Twist - All About Chocolate Tea Party



Truffles
 ½ cup heavy cream
3 Tablespoon butter cut into chunks
2 Tablespoon sugar
1 Tablespoon vanilla
10 oz good quality bittersweet chocolate (60%) I like Ghirardelli bittersweet chocolate chips* (If not using chip, break up chocolate into small pieces)
½ teaspoon salt


Cocoa Mixture


Mix 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa and 1/3 cup powder sugar together. For a saltier taste add 1/8 teaspoon fine salt.


Microwave cream, butter and sugar in 2 quart microwavable glass bowl on high for 1 ½ minutes. Stir well; heat an additional 1 minute longer or until mixture comes to full boil. Stir in vanilla and chocolate into cream mixture until chocolate is completely melted. Add salt and blend. Chill until firm enough to shape into balls about 3 hours. Shape into 1-inch balls. If desired roll truffles in Cocoa Mixture. Another option is to roll in finely ground nuts and salt. Store covered in refrigerator. Makes about 2 dozen.