Hot #Cinnamon Tea for #Fall by Karen Rose Smith

 

Are you looking for a fall tea? Or just one that’s a little different in taste?

At Daisy's Tea Garden that my sleuth Daisy Swanson and her aunt Iris run in an old Victorian house, they are constantly mixing and discovering new flavors.  So am I.

This week I’m drinking Harney and Sons Hot Cinnamon Tea. Last winter when my throat was scratchy, I looked for a different type of tea to soothe it. At first I found the caffeinated tea. I like the sachets that look like delicate silky bags. Since I prefer this tea lightly brewed, I use them twice. 

 

Both caffeinated and decaf are sweetly spicy. They remind me of the taste of “red hot” candies that I sometimes use in baked apples. The tea sachets hold a combination of black tea, 3 types of cinnamon and sweet cloves. Each sachet can brew a 12 oz. cup. I prefer this tea hot. Harney and Sons Cinnamon Tea

 

If you like cinnamon, I believe you’ll like this tea. 

 

Murder With Oolong Tea tidbit this week!

Will Shakespeare’s wife’s name was Anne Hathaway. This is a clue leading to why a 60 year old English teacher used a fake ID! 

 

Until next time...

NOW AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER 

MURDER WITH OOLONG TEA

Release Date: DECEMBER 29, 2020

PRE-ORDER ON AMAZON

PRE-ORDER ON BARNES AND NOBLE

Toasted Nut Brulee Oolong #Tea by Karen Rose Smith

 

I write a cozy mystery series for Kensington Books.  My Daisy's Tea Garden series is set in Lancaster, PA Amish country in a fictional town named Willow Creek.  Many of the scenes are set in Daisy's tea garden that she owns with her Aunt Iris.  In the next weeks, I'll be tasting teas that are new to me and blogging about them.  I'll also share a hint about my next release that will be available at the end of December, MURDER WITH OOLONG TEA.

To brew tea, I use a teapot I heat on the stovetop rather than an electric pot. 

I have a variety of china tea pots for brewing, many handed down by my mother. I enjoy using them to evoke memories or simply to make me smile. I use an infuser that can easily hold six teaspoons of loose tea, though most of my teapots hold four cups.

This teapot is a James Sadler made in England. The vintage tea cup belonged to my mom. It’s Royal Sealy China. I believe that atmosphere you create when brewing tea can bring a sense of calm and a return to a refined time. 

 

 

This week I’m tasting Toasted Nut Brulee Oolong Tea. This caffeinated tea is hand blended by Plum Tea Deluxe.  I brewed a teaspoon a cup for six minutes. It’s just what the name purports it to be—the flavor of nuts and a velvety, rich smoothness on my tongue. I particularly like this tea hot. My husband likes it iced. It’s a mixture of oolong, black tea, rooibus, apple pieces, along with nut and flower essences.

 

In Murder With Oolong Tea, Daisy is serving tea at a teacher appreciation luncheon.  She hears a scream coming from the pool area...

 

Til next time...

NOW AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER 

MURDER WITH OOLONG TEA

Release Date: DECEMBER 29, 2020

PRE-ORDER ON AMAZON

PRE-ORDER ON BARNES AND NOBLE

Thankful For A New Release--MURDER WITH CHERRY TARTS

I have so many things to be thankful for and I could write about the traditional thanksgiving list of family, friends, health and on and on--all the things that surround me on a daily basis.  Truthfully as I grow older, I reflect on these things every day.  The one thing, as I get wrapped up in my day to day writing chores, that I sometimes forget to appreciate is the fact that I was gifted with the talent of telling stories in the written word and that I was fortunate enough to be able to share my stories with my readers.  So it seems significant that I celebrate my 103rd release this week with the publication of MURDER WITH CHERRY TARTS, the fourth in my Daisy's Tea Garden cozy mystery series for Kensington Books.  And today I want to thank my faithful readers through the past twenty-seven years for believing in me and trusting me to produce a story that will warm your hearts and touch your spirit.  I have appreciated all of your kind words and supportive notes through the years.

MURDER WITH CHERRY TARTS is a cozy mystery which revolves around Daisy's outreach to a homeless single father and his darling daughter.  I created a yummy cherry tart recipe for this book that is included in the back of the book. 

Pirated Treasures is an antiques shop that also plays a significant
role in the mystery.  Daisy purchases a Burton and Burton Victorian design teapot atop a teacup from the owner of the shop on one of her many visits to the shop while she is gathering clues to solve the murder of the store owner's nephew.  Notice its uniquely-shaped infinity handle.

What could better than a steaming cup of tea, delicious food and delicate china to soften the sometimes terrifying search for a murderer in the community of Willow Creek, Pennsylvania, deep in Amish country!

Here is a little summary of the book which is now available:

Keith Rebert is homeless with a sad story that includes the death of his wife and medical bills that decimated his finances. Daisy and her friend Jonas Groft meet him through one of Daisy’s employees and offer help. But soon Keith is caught up in a murder investigation. He was supplying the shop Pirated Treasures with antiques, including Gettysburg Battlefield memorabilia. The nephew of the shop’s owner, Barry Storm, was lowballing merchandise that Keith brought in. One day Keith and Barry vehemently argued. Soon after, Barry was found dead, killed with a marble rolling pin that held Keith’s fingerprints. Daisy’s special for the month, cherry tarts, was found spilled on the floor next to him. Keith is the number one suspect.

Keith finds a job on a farm where he can live in a cabin with his daughter Mandy. A friend of Barry’s lived and worked there before the murder, then suddenly moved out. As Daisy finds clues that give insight into Barry’s life and prepares for her daughter’s wedding, she faces danger, verbally battles with the detective on the case, and tries to figure out what part Jonas Groft plays in her life. When she finds the ultimate clue that tells her exactly what Barry Storm was involved in, she almost loses her life. 

MURDER WITH CHERRY TARTS on Amazon

MURDER WITH CHERRY TARTS on Barnes and Noble

Cinnamon #Scone #Recipe created by Karen Rose Smith

When I developed the cinnamon scone recipe for my latest cozy release, MURDER WITH CINNAMON SCONES, it became a favorite.  I've made it multiple times.  I hope you like it too!

Daisy's Cinnamon Scones

Preheat oven to 400 degrees

2 cups all-purpose flour

1/3 cup granulated sugar plus 2 tablespoons

1 teaspoon cinnamon (1/2 teaspoon in dough and 1/2 teaspoon mixed with 2 tablespoons sugar)

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

8 tablespoons (1 stick) grated unsalted butter (I let it sit out 5-10 minutes before grating)

3/4 cup cinnamon chips

1/3 cup ground pecans

1 large egg

3/4 cup reduced fat buttermilk

In a large mixer bowl, stir together flour, 1/3 cup sugar, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda and salt.  Add grated butter to flour mixture and beat it in.  Stir in cinnamon chips and pecans. 

 

In a separate bowl whisk the egg with the buttermilk, then mix into flour dough with mixer.  Scoop out eight large scones (I use a 1/4 cup scoop or measuring cup with handle) and place on a cookie sheet lined with parchment.  Sprinkle with cinnamon/sugar mixture.  Bake 17-19 minutes at 400 degrees until golden brown.

MURDER WITH CINNAMON SCONES on Amazon

MURDER WITH CINNAMON SCONES on Barnes and Noble