Welcome to our new monthly feature, "Cooking with Tea." Each month we bring you new ideas and fresh takes on how to use tea as an ingredient. Let us know if you try something and what your favorites are. Have a good recipe featuring Tea? Please share!
Contributed by Lisa McDonald, TeaHaus, Ann Arbor, MI
Lisa wants to know, "Have you been having Zoom watch parties or fun google hangout happy hours with friends?" Well, like most of us, chances are you have. This month, Lisa shares a snack recipe and cocktail that is perfect for the occasion.
Lisa McDonald, owner of the TeaHaus in Ann Arbor, MI. While her tea house and restaurant are currently closed during Michigan's covid-19 orders, Lisa has been making use of her time cooking meals for school children and frontline workers. Today, she takes a few minutes to share a fun and easy way to remake your favorite movie snacks or happy hour small plates with tea!
Lisa says, "As much as I love popcorn while watching a movie with friends, a good Chex mix is a great way to elevate the movie snacks. Even better is a Chex mix with a little smoke and spice! Here is what you need [to make] my favorite "
Lisa's Smoke and Spice Snack mix
In a large bowl, mix:
Six cups Chex Mix (I like the kind that has rice, corn, and wheat all mixed, but you can use any kind)
1 cup mixed nut (unsalted is a bit better for you)
1 cup bite-sized pretzels
Lisa's notes, "The mixture doesn't really matter. You can add more nuts, bagel chips, mini crackers, whatever sounds good to you.
One Tbsp Eat More Tea Smoky Souchong #1 Spice Blend
5 Tbsp Butter
Or make your own Smoky Souchong blend with the following recipe:
2 Tbsp loose-leaf Lapsang Souchong ground up as fine as possible- (I use a pestle and mortar but you can put it in a ziplock bag and roll it with a rolling pin until crushed into a fine powder. Or, if you must use bagged tea, use three tea bags cut open and poured into a bowl)
1/2 tsp chili powder
1tsp garlic powder
1tsp onion powder
1/2 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp black pepper
5 Tbsp butter
Sprinkle the spices and ground tea over the butter and meltit in the microwave. When it is all melted, stir and pour it over the cereal mix.Stir and shake it up to coat it evenly. Bake at 250 for about an hour, stirringevery 15 minutes. Spread it on paper towels to cool for about 15min.
Microwave option: Put the mix in the microwave for 4-6 minutes, stirring every two then putting it on a paper towel to cool.
ENJOY!
Lisa suggests pairing this snack with a super simple tea infused Gin and Tonic.
Maple Walnut Gin and Tonic
About 2-3 day before your Zoom party or Google hangout, add 3 tbsp Maple Walnut Rooibos tea (I use TeaHaus 1390 Maple Walnut) to 2 cups of gin and let it sit at room temp (the longer the stronger)
For the drink
2oz tea infused Gin
4-5oz tonic water
serve over ice and garnish with a small wedge of lime