The Secret Ingredient: Tea Tips and More Treats

      Hi! I've got more recipes for you guys, as well as Tea Treatment tips. But let me bore you for a minute with a few things about my personal life. I don't mean to, but this blog can't be all about Tea and Crumpets, can it?

      I've been out the whole day today and haven't had much time to to my homework so this one's going to be a quickie. ;) Okay, well, right now I'm in a room full of kids, and they are not quiet kids either. So I have to put on my head phones and turn the music up high in order to drown the sound out. And even that can't get me to focus completely.

      Yesterday, my sort-of uncle told me that Justin Bieber and Lady Gaga were following him on twitter. Since I don't have a twitter account myself, I wasn't sure if it was a big deal or anything. But LADY GAGA and JUSTIN BIEBER?! Now that's a big deal. I was a little skeptical at first because I had no idea why these super-famous-celebs would follow my uncle on twitter. But I'm still going to find out. OMG wouldn't it be so cool if Katy Perry, Taylor swift and Selena Gomez followed my uncle (on Twitter) too? I would just DIE!!! But I would definitely somehow get their autographs first!

     And now, Tea Time! Shall I give my opinion? Yes, I think I should. Well, first of all, my favourite tea is Peppermint, with lots of sugar and no cream. It really helps me cool down, to relax and de-stress. And the closest thing to a scone I've ever eaten is the Popeyes famous "biscuits". Yeah, scones are hard to find in Singapore. But I'm telling you, those "biscuits" are THE BEST IN THE WORLD! I love eating them with butter or jam (or both) or just by itself. Eating it with Peppermint tea is the best of course.

      Okay, time for some Tea Treatment tips from The Secret Ingredient! But before that, my promised Tea quotes:

Come oh come ye tea-thirsty restless ones - the kettles boils,

bubbles and sings, musically.

                       ~Rabindranath Tagore

 

Tea Toner

Steep a generous portion of green tea in 1/2 a cup of hot water for 4 minutes. Mix together with 1/2 cup of aloe gel (look for soothing aloe gel near the sunscreen at your drugstore or grocery store). Apply this mixture to you face in the morning or at night. It's great for sensitive skin!

Herbal Tea facial

Steep a table spoon of peppermint tea in a large teapot. After 2-3 minutes of steeping, pour the tea into the bowl. Hold your face directly over the bowl and place a towel over over your head and the bowl. You can soak up the steam as long as you feel like it. Your pores will clear out, and the peppermint aromatherapy will wake you right up!

To kiss is like drinking tea from a tea-strainer -

you always want more.

                        ~ Old Chinese saying

      Hoped you found the tips useful. now here's something you can actually munch on. Oh, and I read more of the book and found out that the secret ingredient is actually tea leaves! But I have no idea how you put that in a scone. So, here ya go!

Delicious Bacon Scones

Might sound weird, but taste delish!

Ingredients
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder

2 tablespoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons cold butter
2 eggs
3/4 cup grated sharp cheddar cheese
1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes,diced
1/2 cup crispy bacon
3/4 cup buttermilk
1/2 teaspoon secret ingredient
1 table spoon milk

How to cook

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees farenheit. Mix the dry ingredients together first, then cut in the butter. Add the secret ingredient. In a small bowl beat one egg. Stir the beaten egg and add cheese, tomatoes, and bacon. Slowly, add the buttermilk to form a thick dough.You may need slightly more than 3/4 cup. Knead the dough on a board, roll into 1-inch thickness, and cut the dough into 2- inch triangles. Place each triangle on a greased cookie sheet, beat the remaining egg with milk, and brush the tops with egg wash. Bake for about 12 to 15 min until golden brown; serve warm. Makes 12 scones.

Make tea, not war.

             ~Monty Python

       I hope you liked that recipe, those tea treatment tips and the tea quotes. If you did, visit my blog again for another savoury recipe from The Secret Ingredient. :D