A Springtime Afternoon Tea
Springtime brings flowers, sunshine and longer days; an afternoon tea or a treat of cheesecake and lemon verbena tisane just hits the spot. Natural Lemon Verbena leaves when steeped as a tisane are not only refreshing, they have been said to be an anti- inflammatory aid ~ a delicious complement to my cheesecake recipe.
Afternoon Tea Cheesecake
©Ellen Easton
Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (Spray the bottom and sides of springform pan(s) with PAM™ Baking Spray or Vegetable Oil, dusted with Domino White or Light Brown Granulated Sugar. Note~ if using a dark, nonstick pan lower the oven temperature to 300 degrees F
DARK BROWN SUGAR GRAHAM CRACKER CRUST: 1 ½ cups Honey Maid Graham Crackers Smashed into Crumbs| ⅓ cup unsweetened, no salt butter, melted over a low heat| 3 tablespoons dark brown sugar. Mix crumbs, butter, and sugar until combined; press firmly onto the bottom of a 9-inch or other springform pan.
BROWN SUGAR GLAZED PINEAPPLE RINGS: DOLE (or other) Sliced Pineapple Rings with juice|2 Tablespoons Dark Brown Sugar
Place pineapple rings with enough juice to coat the bottom of a skillet. Sprinkle dark brown sugar over pineapple. Over a low heat allow sugar to melt into the juice. Flip pineapple over spooning juice on top. Do not over heat the pineapple. Remove from pan and set aside to use to top cake before serving.
CHEESECAKE INGREDIENTS: 4 (8 ounce) packages Philadelphia Cream Cheese, softened| 1 cup granulated sugar| 1 teaspoon Nielsen Massey Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla Extract| 4 large eggs. Optional ~ 2 teaspoons Nielsen Massey Lemon Paste
In a large mixing bowl beat the cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla until smooth. Add the eggs, one at a time, (optional~ now add lemon paste) mixing on a low speed until blended together. Pour over the crust into the pan. Bake on the middle rack in the preheated oven until the center is almost set, approximately 45 to 55 minutes. Using a flat knife or offset spatula loosen the cake from the rim of the pan. Allow to cool before removing the rim. Refrigerate for 4 hours before serving. For balls, when ready to serve scoop 1- Tablespoon of cheesecake with crumbs into a rolled ball into a candy cup. Place cut piece of brown sugar pineapple ring on top. Yield 1~ Nine inch round cake. Cheesecake Base adapted from Philadelphia Cream Cheese
Amazon Link to purchase organic lemon verbena teabags:
©Ellen Easton
Ellen Easton, author of Afternoon Tea~Tips, Terms and Traditions(RED WAGON PRESS), an afternoon tea authority, lifestyle and etiquette industry leader, keynote speaker and product spokesperson, is a hospitality, design, and retail consultant whose clients have included the Waldorf=Astoria, the Plaza and Bergdorf Goodman. Easton’s family traces their tea roots to the early 1800s, when ancestors first introduced tea plants from India and China to the Colony of Ceylon, thus building one of the largest and best cultivated teas estates on the island.
