Tea Thyme-y and Hummingbird Bread!

Bee Balm (Monarda spp) Mint Family, bergamot or sometimes Oswego Tea --  It is a beautiful scarlet flowering native American mint.  The foliage has a perfume fragrance.  The flowers are so very popular with bees hence the name American bee balm.  The entire plant emits a strong fragrance similar to citrus, but most like that of the tropical tree, orange bergamot, hence the nickname bergamot. The scent is suitable for use in potpourris and other scented mixtures.  The bright red flowers attract bees, hummingbirds, and butterflies and make striking, long-lasting cut blooms.  The blossoms provide the flavoring for the famous Earl Grey tea.  The flowers are also edible.  Bergamot or bee balm is a part of American history; it is a source of tea which was a popular substitute for the imported variety amongst the mid-Atlantic patriots in the wake of the Boston Tea Party.  Among the foremost growers of this herb in the United States were the Shakers, who had a settlement near Oswego, New York.  The Shakers were among America's great herbalists; they valued bergamot not only for tea and culinary uses, but for its medicinal virtues.  The leaves can be used to flavor apple jelly, fruit cups, and salads.

This watercolor on vellum botanical illustration of Monarda didyma (bee balm) by Pancrace Bessa appeared in an eight-volume 19th century work, "Herbier General de l'Amateur," considered the most important French flower periodical of its day. It appears in the exhibition "Virtues and Pleasures of Herbs through History: Physic, Flavor, Fragrance and Dye" at CMU's Hunt Institute for Botanical Documentation.

Bee Balm Ice tea
1/2 C. Bee Balm flowers and leaves
8 C. boiling water

Pour the boiling water over the Bee Balm. Cover and steep until cool, about an hour. Strain and discard flowers. You can sweeten with sugar if desired. Chill until ready to use and serve over ice. 

~ Hummingbird Bread ~ 

1 package dry yeast - 1/4 cup warm water - 2 tbls. margarine - 1/2 tsp. honey - 4 cups flour - 1 cup bee balm flowers (the outer soft petals) - 1 cup water at room temperature - 1 egg, slightly beaten

Dissolve yeast in warm water in mixing bowl.  Add margarine and honey; mix thoroughly.  Add flour and flower petals alternately with water; beat down after each addition. Knead the last of the flour/flowers mixture into the dough by hand.Shape into a ball and place in a greased bowl, turning once to oil all surfaces.  Cover with a damp towel; allow to rise in a warm place until doubled in bulk.  Punch dough down; turn onto lightly floured board and knead for 5 minutes.  Divide dough in half and shape into two round loaves.  Place loaves 4 inches apart on a greased cookie sheet and cover with a damp towel.  Allow to rise for 30 minutes.  Brush top with beaten egg white and spread more bee balm blossoms that have been dipped in the egg white over top of the bread.  

Bake in a preheated 400' F oven for 45-50 minutes, or until loaves are lightly browned.  This bread is best when allowed to rest in the refrigerator overnight. It's crumbly texture makes it difficult to use for sandwiches, but thick slices are delicious when toasted and served with a favorite spread.  

Recipe from the Sage Cottage Herb Garden Cookbook by Dorry Baird Norris -The Sage Cottage: Herb Garden Cookbook : Celebrations, Recipes, and Herb Gardening Tips for Every Month of the Year

Whenever I think of having a spot of tea, which admittedly is not that often, this cheery little song “I’m a Little Teapot” that my mother taught me when I was young inevitably pops into my head and makes me smile, no matter how downhearted I may be that day.  So, today I decided to look it up to find out  exactly where that song came from and here is what I found -- 

Clarence Kelley and his wife ran a dance school for children, which taught the "Waltz Clog," a popular and easy-to-learn tap routine.  This routine, however, proved too difficult for the younger students to master.  To solve this problem, George Sanders wrote The Teapot Song, which required minimal skill and encouraged natural pantomime. Both the song and its accompanying dance, the "Teapot Tip," became enormously popular in America and overseas.  

Though many variations have arisen over the years, the original lyrics are as follows (dance motions in parentheses)

Teapot SongFirst verse:I'm a little teapot,Short and stout,Here is my handle (one hand on hip),Here is my spout (other arm out straight),When I get all steamed up,Hear me shout,Tip me over and pour me out! (lean over toward spout)Second verse:I'm a very special teapot,Yes, it's true,Here's an example of what I can do,I can turn my handle into a spout,Tip me over and pour me out!Finding these dance moves was an added delightful stroll down memory lane as it reminded me of just how wonderfully goofy life can be!