Southern Tea Cakes

 

 

Southern Tea Cakes

Slightly adapted from Country Weekends by Lee Bailey
Makes about 30 cookies

1/2 cup unsalted butter (1 stick)
3/4 cup sugar
1 egg
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons white distilled vinegar
2 1/3 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
Coarse grind sugar for topping (optional)

In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, mix the butter and sugar together on high until light and creamy. Add the egg and mix well. Dissolve the baking soda in the vinegar and add to the batter, mixing well. Combine the flour and salt and gradually add to the mixer on low speed until the ingredients form a stiff batter.

Remove the dough onto a sheet of plastic, shape into a disk, wrap and chill for 30 minutes. Roll the dough out on a floured board to 1/4 inch thick. Cut 30 (2 1/2”) rounds using a plain or fluted cutter. Sprinkle the tops with coarse grind natural sugar, if desired.

Place the cookies on lightly buttered or Silpat lined sheet pans, leaving about 1” between cookies allowing room for them to spread slightly. Bake at 350° for about 12-15 minutes, or until lightly golden brown. Remove to a cooling rack. Store cookies in container with a tight fitting lid. The favor of the cookies improves if they are made a day or two ahead of serving.

Photo from Bijoux

A Father's Day Picnic On The Lake

If you want to give Dad a real break, why not pack up a hearty picnic and go somewhere for the day.  If you are not blessed with a lake, a pool, or the seashore, go camping (if he's athletic) or just pick out a site, lay out a tablecloth and hang up the hammock.  Then again, maybe he's just the type who enjoys staying at home this year and watching the soccer match.  Whatever.  Save the grill for another day and let him enjoy his day.

It is unbearably hot here in Georgia, with temperatures in the 90's.  There is nothing more cooling and refreshing than this cucumber soup so bring it along, particularly if you are going to be outside.

You can make all this the day before and pack it up that morning.

No Fuss Father's Day Menu

Cold Cucumber and Spinach Soup

Pulled Pork Sandwiches*

Cole Slaw

Outrageous Brownies

Beer!

*If you really don't want to work, the smoked pulled pork from Kirkland at Costco is terrific.  No kidding, I passed it off as home made just the other day and nobody noticed, sshhh!  It is that good.  Do make your own sauce, that's a must!

You can find this year's Father's Day menu at Lindaraxa's Garden by clicking here

Photo: Julieta Cadenas

Kick Off Football Season With Kentucky Beer Cheese

A great appetizer for football season or Derby Day! This has always been one of my favorite spreads, together with the Pimento Cheese spread posted in Lindaraxa's Garden. There are as many variations of this spread as there are of chili, some with cream cheese, others with mayo, take your pick! But this one is my adapted recipe from a couple of good sources and the one I serve most often. Make it as hot as you dare. I like mine just hot enough to have a bite.


Makes about 2 1/2 Cups


Ingredients

1/2 lbs Extra Sharp Cheddar Cheese
1 8 oz. cream cheese
1 garlic clove, minced
1 TB minced fresh chives
2 Tb minced onion
1/2 tsp. dry mustard
1 TB Worcestershire Sauce
pinch of cayenne
Tabasco Sauce to taste
1/4 tsp. salt
1 C lager beer


Procedure

Shred Cheddar finely in a large mixing bowl, add cream cheese and mash with a fork until well blended. Add the garlic, chives, onion, mustard, Worcestershire Sauce, Tabasco, cayenne and salt and beat in an electric mixer until well blended. Gradually add the beer until spread is smooth (to transform into a dip, add about 1/4 C more beer).

Scrape into a crock, cover tightly and chill overnight.

Serve with toast points, crackers or rye rounds. (as a dip, serve with raw vegetable sticks)