Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Tea time

Come take a little walk with us.................it's going to be one delicious walk! At the end, you will get a yummy recipe for my Japanese Almond Tea Cookies......all Gluten free!

Japanese Tea Gardens

Here we go....through the garden gate...........into the Hagiwara Japanese Tea Gardens, in San Francisco............over the stepping stones, across the little pond with water lilies.......

Stepping stones


Lily pond

Breathe in the fresh springtime blossoms! The pink flowery blossoms were falling like snow, all around us.

Camelia

Pretty pink Camelia flowers blooming.....petals falling like a pink blanket on the ground

under the pagoda

Under the sparkly orange pagoda! I am loving the gorgeous painted flowery detailing under the roof of this structure. And the vibrant orange! It is the best!

detail under pagoda

Such gorgeous detail work!

Pagoda

This was just one little sampling of gorgeousness we got to take in, last week! I could go on and on with the photo flattery of this fine garden, but for now I will leave you with your tea and cookies.


Japanese tea garden inspired:

Almond Tea Cookies (gluten free)

1/2 cup salted butter, softened
1 cup sugar 0r 3/4 cup agave nectar*
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 teaspoons almond extract
3/4 cup tapioca flour
1 1/4 cups brown rice flour
1 teaspoon xanthan gum
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda

almonds for putting on top of the cookies

Preheat oven to 345 degrees F.

Using an electric mixer, beat the butter, egg, vanilla extract, almond extract, and sugar, until fluffy. Add dry ingredients and mix until blended. The dough should be crumbly when squeezed into a ball. Form the dough into 1 inch in diameter balls. Place them two inches apart on un-greased cookie sheet. Using your finger, press one almond into the center of each cookie. The dough will crack a bit. Using a pastry brush, lightly brush the cookies with beaten egg white.
Bake the cookies for 9 minutes. Once cookies come out of the oven, let cool on cookie sheet.

Place on cooling rack.

Makes 36 cookies

*note: if you are using agave nectar for sweetener, you will need to add more brown rice flour to thicken the dough.

~ Enjoy with a steaming hot cup of Jasmine tea! ~

Almond Tea Cookies (gluten-free)*


Almond Tea Cookies (gluten-free) on FoodistaAlmond Tea Cookies (gluten-free)

5 comments:

Sara Wright said...

Laurie- I've recently found out I have a gluten allergy and while I feel so much better physically, I have always been a carb girl and am suffering from serious withdrawl from bread, cookies and pasta. I'm still learning about how to eat gluten free- thank you so much for the recipes. Where do you get your supplies such as tapioca and other gluten free flours? Do you buy them online or locally?

Brandy said...

Hi Laurie, Thanks for stopping by my blog..if it's okay I will link you-I love your blog! Isn't it nice to find people again who we knew back when! Obviously you have that artistic gene that must run in the family. I enjoy the beautiful photos and craft stuff..and recipes..
To sum up..HELLO again and well met old friend.
Brandy

UK lass in US said...

Ah, lovely. I ought to stop by our local gardens - I bet they're looking beautiful right now.

paige said...

love your coach shoes!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and was the tree flower in these gardens inspiration for your awesome felt ones? great photos, looked like FUN!

XUE said...

The gardens are really something. That's the Japanese - they pay attention to every details. We are lucky to be living here, in Tokyo. Also a place for beautiful fabrics!