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Show c Landers C3 Weddings C4 DArtsC5 The Daily Herald Tuesday, January 7, 1997 Birkebeiner a small but pleasurable restaurant jr Birkebeiner Restaurant at Stein Erikson Lodge 7700 Stein's Way mg ss fear & ,m m$ Park City Manager: Vivi Rivera Hey all you skiers: We've found a cozy little spot for you to rest your weary dogs at the end of a day on the powder. A comfortably small bistro in the Stein Erikson lodge, the new Birkebeiner (say that had a quiet ambiance on Saturday night when we arrived. We didn't have reservations, but it's not a bad idea to make them if you're going to take the drive up the winding, sometimes icy road into Deer Valley's winter wonderland. burk-byne- r) Food for Thought f ) i world, more and to are carve 9 out some mean more people looking ingful time with friends. When they get together, it's not just to socialize... but to share a love of reading and unwind with a cup of herbal or flavored tea. today's hurried, Jw J From Lipton n hi-te- ch These Literary Tea Parties are a fun, relaxing way to spend time with friends. People seem to linger a little longer over a cup of herbal tea... it provides a mental escape and a way to "connect" with others. Reading has a similar effect... it slows people down and helps them to see the world with a new perspective. Whether you like to read fiction, magazines or current events, you can tailor a Literary Tea Party to suit your interests. For example, if your group usually reads fiction, why not broaden your reading list to include parenting, self-helhistorical and educational topics, or poetand Or, ry, plays biographies. try a "How-t- o Tea," focusing on hobbies of interest to the group gardening, home decorating, photography, computers, crafts, cooking, quilting and sewing. You can use special-intere- st magazines or books on the topic of your choice to spark discussion. and working moms can plan a "Mothers' Tea." Organize a group of friends who have children of similar ages, and create a supervised play setting. While the children are absorbed in their activities, you can discuss favorite articles in parenting or women's service magazines and indulge in specialty tea drinks. The children may want herbal tea recipes, as well. to try some of the naturally caffeine-fre- e p, Al A. Mode The host held our jackets at the door and offered us a table near the warm room's corner fireplace. Our server, Rob, quickly brought fresh slices of the restaurant's multi-grai- n wheat bread for us to nibble on as we perused the menu. In case you think a plush room of tables, cloth napkins and carpet is too stiff, you're sure not to be bored by the chefs who make your dinner in front of an open window on one side of the dining room. The three chefs who were on board for our evening cooked up a chatter as they danced around each other, filling the three tables' worth of orders at 7 p.m. Appetizers of all kinds take up the first portion of the menu. We selected the Wild Mushroom Bruschetta ($7) from the list, pass-rin- g up the Baked Five Onion Soup, Grilled Flatbread Pizza and Warm 'Crab and Artichoke Gratin, to name only a few. The bruschetta was a blend of roma tomatoes, mushrooms and asiago cheese on thick, toasted slices of bread. The mushroom flavor was very distinct, but not overbearing. For entrees, my partner couldn't decide between Pan Seared Ocean Catfish, Lemon Pepper Linguini, Birkebeiner Meat Loaf, Free Range Chicken Salad or the Grilled Pork Chop. The pork chop finally won out ($19), seared with a peppercorn sauce and served with wild mushroom mashed potatoes. It was the most tenderly-cooke- d pork chop we'd ever tasted, however, my partner asked to have it cooked a little longer because the n was nearly raw. Rob apologizingly accommodated her request and the chop was still as succulent on return. While I temptingly eyed the Grilled Atlantic Salmon, I gave in to the Roasted Chicken ($16), a tenderized and served with a delectably light poultry sauce, with wild mushroom mashed potatoes for an accompaniment as well. We found the mashed potatoes rich and creamy with a light mushroom flavor. A tasteful side of lightly grilled vegetables including onions, peppers and carrots also came on both of our plates. Other entrees include Braised Lamb Shank, the Chef's Daily Selection Fish Special and, if you must, Stein's Cheeseburger. Be sure to save room for a wonderful Creme Brulee ($7) with raspberries at the end of your meal. It came perfected with traditional caramelized sugar on top and a curled wafer cookie. It was but more importantly, provided much pleasure on the taste buds. My partner tried the New York Cheesecake, topped with fresh raspberries ($6). While it was the anticipated rich cake, it was also surprisingly salty, which forced her to steal a few bites of my brulee. Other desserts include Chocolate Velvet Torte with raspberry coulis and Stein's Ice Cream Sundae, which comes with a daily selection of ice cream, hot fudge and whipped cream in a tall parfait glass. The Birkebeiner is also open for breakfast and lunch during the winter perfect in case you break a leg on the ski course early in the day. rose-print- well-balanc- mid-sectio- n, ed At-ho- MINTING Peggy Vishnupad has been meeting with friends monthly over tea and books for the past six years. The original group, which lived in the same Brooklyn apartment building, enjoyed crafts together before switching the focus of their monthly gatherings to reading. A The over group mostly enjoys reading contempoand BOOKS rary writings from women authors such as Amy Tan, Jane Smiley and Jane Hamilton. "We don't take it too seriously. If someone comes to a meeting without reading the book, we don't hassle them about it," says Peggy. "We're there to relax, have fun, and catch up on what's new with each other." Part of that fun is setting the right mood with the drinks and food served at the party. As a hostess, Peggy replicated the high tea experience by preparing an array of confections scones with fresh cream, finger sandwiches, lemon and pecan tarts and shortbread cookies. She also served an assortment of teas including Lipton Soothing Moments herbal varieties, as well as teas she brought back from the famous Victoria Hotel in Vancouver, Canada. with FR1KNDS Ti; Developing Relationships The group's diversity makes for lively discussions. The friends range in age from 30 to 70 years of age, with most in their early 40s. The group includes both married and single women, and backgrounds mom with two children to vary from a retired teacher and an those employed in the education, finance, fashion merchandising and public relations fields. "Those who are teachers come at it like gangbusters," says Peggy, a former elementary school teacher who is now a learning specialist in Manhattan. "If we really have strong feelings about the book, we really hash it out. We're all quite opinionated." Despite the group's "differing opinions" on the books they read, they have developed close friendships over the years. They even take an annual vacation together (with money saved from their $5 meeting dues) and create a monthly newsletter to help stay in touch between Whether you're planning a Literary Tea Party or simply curled up in your favorite chair with a novel or the newspaper, you'll enjoy these delightfully different specialty tea recipes. Photo courtesy Lipton Whether you're planning a Literary Tea Party or simply curled up in your favorite chair, you'll enjoy delightfully different specialty tea recipes like Apri- - (pictured) 1 9Uaa and a Literary Tea Party The type of party you plan will peel 6 orange herbal tea bags 3 tablespoons firmly packed brown sugar In medium saucepan, bring water, apricot nectar and lemon peel to a boil. Simmer covered 2 minutes. Remove from heat and add orange herbal tea bags; cover and steep 5 minutes. Remove tea bags and lemon peel; stir in sugar. Pour into teacups and garnish, if desired, with additional lemon peel or orange slices. Makes about 4 servings. Mi depend on the dynamics of your group. However, here are a few simple tips to keep the fun high ana the preparation time low. Select a specific time and One way is to elect a different day (such as 7 p.m. on the "discussion leader" for each first Thursday of every also who brings questions party, month) to hold your parties, about the book or topic. Anothw Keep the menu simple. Serve er approach is for everyone to herbal and flavored teas, or prepare questions and take turns prepare ahead of time asking them at the party. specialty tea drinks, Be creative with your quesconfections or light finger tions. For example, for a biografoods (see recipes). Or, purphy, you might ask: What was chase an assortment of tea the most fascinating thing you sandwiches, scones, biscotti, learned about this person? Could you relate to him or her muffins or cookies. Serve an herbal or flavored in any way? If the topic is partea that fits the genre of the enting, you might want to explore effective discipline book or topic being disor share favorite cussed. For example, serve a techniques activities for rainy days. delicate brew, such as a How to select the readings. chamomile tea, when disElect a different person for each cussing a romance novel. For party to bring a few readings or an afternoon "How-t- o Tea" nave everyone contribute ideas. on gardening, select a flavorReview book jackets, bestseller lists and book reviews to help ful, fruity blend, such as cinnamon apple herbal tea or you make a selection. Set a hostess schedule for the orange & spice flavored tea. mt Keep your gathering to a year. This way everyone is manageable number (about aware when it's his or her turn five to eight) to keep the par- - to host a party. Decide who wiU prepare the ticipation high. menu. Will the hostess be Keep costs down by borrowfor preparing or responsible ing books from the local the refreshments, or purchasing I library or choosing ones that will everyone bring something are available in paperback. different to the party? , easy-to-ma- ke peel chamomile herbal tea bags 1 tablespoon honey In small saucepan, bring water, mint and lemon peel to a boil. Simmer covered 5 minutes. Remove from heat and add chamomile herbal tea bags; cover and steep 5 minutes. Remove tea bags, mint and lemon peel; stir in honey. Pour into teacups and garnish, if desired, with additional mint. Makes about 2 .) servings. (7-oz- IIONKY-AI'RICO- INS 1 12 cups water 12 cup pineapple juice cinnamon tea bags 2 2 12 cup water cinnamon apple herbal tea bags ar small saucepan, bring water and pineapple juice to a boil. Remove from heat and add cinnamon apple herbal tea bags; cover and steep 5 minutes. Remove tea bags; stir in sugar. Pour into mugs and garnish, if desired, with cinnamon .) sticks. Makes about 2 servings. In (8-oz- (;iv;kr-okan(;i- ; T (pictured) 34 cup milk 4 honey & lemon flavored tea bags flour 34 cups 1 14 cups sugar 34 teaspoon baking soda 34 teaspoon baking powder 12 teaspoon salt 2 egg yolks 13 cup whole almonds, lightly toasted 13 cup coarsely chopped dried apricots Preheat oven to 350F. 2 2 tablespoons flour 23 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar 1 tablespoon baking powder 12 teaspoon salt 18 teaspoon ground nutmeg 5 tablespoons lightly salted butter, softened 1 egg, beaten Preheat oven to 400F. mini mufSpray two (12-cufin pans with nonstick cooking spray; set aside. In small saucepan, bring water to a boil. Remove from heat and add cinnamon apple herbal tea bags and raisins; cover and steep 5 minutes. Remove tea bags and squeeze; cool. In medium bowl, combine 12 cups flour, 23 cup sugar, baking powder, salt and nutmeg. With pastry blender or two knives, cut in 4 tablespoons butter until mixture is size of small peas. Gently stir in egg and tea mixture just until moistened. Spoon batter into prepared pans; set aside. In small bowl, mix remaining 2 tablespoons flour and 2 tablespoons sugar. With pastry blender or two knives, cut in remaining 1 tablespoon butter until mixture is size of small peas. Evenly sprinkle onto batter, pat lightly. Bake 15 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center of muffins comes out clean. On wire rack, cool 10 minutes. Remove from pans and cool completely. Makes about 24 mini muffins. 1 apple herbal firmly tablespoons packed dark brown sug- sconks IMSCOTTI (pictured) 12 cup raisins 1 12 cups plus tka 3 AITI.KSTKIl SKI, se you're planning, remember that this is a party. So, keep rules to a minimum, relax and have fun! Here are some guidelines: Facilitating the discussion. As cups water 2 sprigs mint leaves 2 strips lemon 2 cup apricot nectar strips lemon l I hf.rbalcinnamon-imnkapimj- : (pictured) 3 cups water 4 Tea or Chamomile Soother. Accompaniments like Apple Streusel Muffins or Honey Apricot Biscotti makes tea a treat. cot-Oran- CI IAMOMILK SOOTHKR AI'HICOT-OKANtJMTK- 2 How to Plan V ft: Ct se In small saucepan, bring milk to the boiling point. Remove from heat and add honey & lemon flavored tea bags; cover and steep 5 minutes. Remove tea bags and squeeze; cool. In large bowl, mix flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder and salt. With electric mixer, beat in tea mixture and egg yolks to form a dough. Stir in almonds and apricots. Turn dough onto lightly floured surface, then knead lightly. Divide in half. On greased and floured cookie sheet, with floured hands, shape each dough half into a almost flat by log. Bake 35 minutes or until pale golden. Remove from oven and let cool on wire rack 10 minutes. Cut each log into diagonal slices. Return slices to cookie sheet, cut side down, and bake, turning once, an additional 10 minutes or until golden. Makes about 36 biscotti. 12 cup milk 3 orange herbal tea bags 2 14 cups flour 3 tablespoons PLUS 12 teaspoon sugar 1 tablespoon baking powder 12 teaspoon salt 5 tablespoons lightly salted butter, softened 3 tablespoons chopped crystallized ginger 2 eggs Preheat oven 425F. In small saucepan, bring milk to the boiling point. Remove from heat and add Gentle Orange herbal tea bags; cover and steep 5 minutes. Remove tea bags and tablesqueeze; cool. Reserve spoon tea. In large bowl, mix flour, 3 tablespoons sugar, baking powder and salt. With pastry blender or two knives, cut in butter until mixture is size of small peas, stir in ginger; set aside. Beat eggs and steeped tea. Make well in center of flour mixture; add tea mixture. With fork or spoon, stir just until flour is moistened. Turn dough onto lightly floured surface and press into. circle. Cut into 2 12-inrounds. Press scraps of dough together; repeat. Brush tablespoon reserved tops with then tea, sprinkle with remaining 12 teaspoon sugar. Arrange on ungreased cookie sheet and bake 15 minutes or until golden. On wire rack, cool 5 minutes. Makes about 7 scones. Substitution: Use 1 12 tea-- , spoons ground ginger and 3 table-- , spoons raisins. 1 ch 1 . ' |