↑

Raising Three Savvy Ladies

NYC Lifestyle Blog

//

Pure Leaf Holiday Gatherings With Style: Tips By Gail Simmons & Camille Styles #Giveaway

249
To celebrate the changing season, Pure Leaf has teamed up with celebrity Chef Gail Simmons and entertaining expert Camille Styles, author of new book “Camille Styles Entertaining: Inspired Gatherings and Effortless Style” to share simple, seasonal entertaining and cooking ideas.

I was lucky enough to attend this beautiful #LoveofLeaves event  at the New York Botanical Garden’s  Stone Mill  farmhouse to learn all about pairing Pure Leaf Iced Tea drinks with your seasonal meals . With so many tasty varieties, there is a flavor for everyone.
255

257

Fresh brewed, Pure Leaf™ Iced Tea is made from the finest ingredients available. This all natural iced tea begins with the freshest tea leaves picked at their peak. The leaves are then hand-selected by our Master Tea Blenders for their distinctive and smooth flavor.

With the holidays in full swing it is time to start thinking of what meals and holiday decor you will be showcasing.  I have a few easy  recipes and table setting ideas to share with you for the holiday season.  If you are like me and never know what to bring to someone’s home for these special occasions and are tired of the same old floral arrangement then feast your eyes on something that is so easy to do.  When it comes to seasonal entertaining you can start by using real fruits and vegetables and bring them into your home you will find the beauty and simplicity in them.

273

Camille Styles was able to show us how to make a wonderful center piece and garland for your dining room table or even to decorate around the home with. The dried orange garland is so easy to make.

Camille Styles Tips for Creating an Orange Garland 

  • Cut two large oranges into 1/2” thick slices
  • Lay each slice flat on a baking rack that’s nested in a sheet pan, and bake in a 200 degree oven for 6-12 hours, or until oranges are fully dry
  • To allow air to circulate completely, leave oven propped open a few inches throughout the drying process
  • Once orange slices are dried, easily string each slice onto a long piece of thick jute twine
  •  It is best to do this overnight so you aren’t leaving home with the oven on.

264

Oranges have natural holes so it will be easy to string along the twine that you are using.  You can also add leaves or other season items to your garland.267

We all know when having a large group eating together it is better to have name cards for seating assignments and what better way than to make your own is to use green leaves that you can find in your own back yard or on your nature walk.  You may use any kind depending on your table top look.  While searching for leaves use those with a non waxy surface. Now grab your gel roller pens and lightly write everyone’s names. Mix it up by using contrasting colors.269

Next up we learned how to make our own centerpieces by using seasonal fruits and vegetables. to maximize your look use different shapes, textures and of course colors.  image003

Camille Styles, author of new book “Camille Styles Entertaining: Inspired Gatherings and Effortless Style” shows attendees how to create a simple and beautiful centerpiece from fresh produce at Pure Leaf Iced Tea’s Fall Luncheon at the New York Botanical Garden. 

Choose either a vase or vessel, this can be your modern take of a cornucopia farm to table look. Pace selected veggies  in vase and decorate how you wish there is no wrong way to do this. Group your leftover items around it on the table creating a natural and organic centerpiece. Visit your local farmers market to pick up these seasonal items.
image002

Top Chef’s Gail Simmons shows attendees how to pickle radishes with tea at Pure Leaf Iced Tea’s Fall Luncheon at the New York Botanical Garden

Gail gave us some great tips on how to cut up a pomegranate, it can usually be a messy job but not anymore. Cut the pomegranate in 4 and submerge in a bowl  cold water, the seeds with come out easily and fall to the bottom  of the bowl.  Now you can easily strain them and enjoy, Keep some in your fridge to add to club soda or sparkling water.
263

Lemon-Ginger Tea Pomegranate Sparkler

By Gail Simmons

Serves 2

2 tablespoons fresh ginger, thinly sliced

1 cup Pure Leaf Iced Tea with Lemon

1/2 cup pomegranate juice

Cold club soda

2 tablespoons pomegranate seeds, for garnish

2 cinnamon sticks, for garnish

 

Instructions: In a saucepan, combine the ginger and Pure Leaf Iced Tea with Lemon and bring to a simmer. Remove the pan from the heat and set aside to steep, about 10 minutes. Allow to cool in an airtight container in the fridge.

Fill two highball glasses with ice. Pour 1/2 cup ginger-infused tea, then 1/4 cup pomegranate juice into each glass. Top each with club soda, garnish with a tablespoon of pomegranate seeds and a cinnamon stick to stir.

For alcoholic version, add 2 ounces gin or bourbon before adding tea.

Shaved Fall Vegetable Salad with Tea-Pickled Radishes

By Gail Simmons

Serves 4

FOR THE TEA-PICKLED RADISHES:

1 cup Pure Leaf Sweet Tea, warmed but not boiling

1 tablespoon kosher salt

1 cup apple cider vinegar

8 small radishes, thinly sliced or 4 large watermelon radishes

2 garlic cloves, thinly sliced

½ teaspoon whole black peppercorns

282

Instructions: In a medium bowl, combine the tea with the salt; stir to dissolve. Add the vinegar along with the radishes, garlic and peppercorns. Cover and refrigerate at least an hour or overnight. Drain the pickled radishes, reserving ¼ cup of pickling liquid for use in vinaigrette. Set aside.

283

284

Note: The drained radishes can be refrigerated for up to 1 week.

297

FOR THE SHAVED VEGETABLE SALAD:

¼ cup reserved picking liquid

1 tablespoon honey

Kosher Salt

Freshly Ground Pepper

3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

1 large fennel bulb, thinly sliced

2 sweet, crisp apples, such as Gala or Fuji, cored and thinly sliced into half moons

2 small heads radicchio, thinly sliced

4 celery stalks, thinly sliced on a bias, leaves reserved for garnish

2 tablespoons roughly chopped flat-leaf parsley

Tea-Pickled Radishes, see recipe above

Instructions: Pour the reserved pickling liquid into a large bowl. Add the honey and whisk to combine. Season with salt and pepper. Slowly add olive oil in a steady stream, whisking constantly to emulsify. Add the fennel, apple, radicchio, celery, parsley and pickled radishes to the bowl and toss all ingredients together to coat. Season with more salt and pepper if desired and garnish with celery leaves before serving.

 

Once we had finished our decor and cooking segment we were treated to lunch at newly decorated tables that we had all helped with. 301

For starters, we had the Shaved Fall vegetable Salad with tea pickled radishes that Gail had just made.

304

Our entrée was grilled chicken breast with buttermilk mashed potatoes, sweet and sour cipollini onions and butternut squash.

306

We finished off with an apple tart tatin that was out of this world.

 

NYBG

 

Here is a giveaway so that you can try out some of these recipes too.

One lucky reader will  win a basket filled with Pure Leaf product, Pure Leaf product vouchers and a few of Gail and Camille’s cooking and entertaining essentials!. This package retails for around $50.

photo (1)
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Comments

  18. Pure Leaf Tea is so delicious and a healthy tea to drink. I like the recipes and the one that looks so delicious is the Lemon-Ginger Tea Pomegranate Sparkler. I like pomegranates because they taste so delicious and this drink looks refreshing. I will have to make it.

  22. I have tried their sweet tea and it’s one of the best teas I have ever tasted. I would love to try the Lemon Ginger Tea Pomegranate Sparkler recipe. It sounds really good.

  27. The cafe in m offic building has lots of tea choices and i always seem o go back to pure leaf. It’s just good.

  41. I would love to win a gift like this from Pure Leaf Tea. It would be fun to try the different varieties of the tea as well as use some of the extra products they are providing. The Green Tea I think would be my favorite.

  43. i am a huge fan and have seen this product in stores but have never tried it. i would love to give it a shot!

  46. Great decorating ideas and simple recipes. I love the leaf idea too, nice personal touch. Please post that Apple tarting recipe too!

  49. Thank you for all of these great ideas and recipes. I think my husband might really enjoy the pickled radishes. The dried oranges are really great looking and seem so easy to do. I will have to try these out.

  53. I never thought of cooking with tea I especially love the FOR THE TEA-PICKLED RADISHES recipe

  69. The dried orange garland is really gorgeous, I’ll have to try making one of those this year. And the trick with the leaves was just genius!

  71. My hubby loves this tea! He always chooses it when we’re going out for a family day out.

  77. I love Pure Leaf as a brand! They are delicious! That zester looks awesome too! I’ve never had one.

  79. It’s interesting that pickling w/ tea is sort of trending. I can remember my great aunt doing that years ago.

  81. I think this would be really nice both for quiet evenings at home with the family or when you had a bunch of people over!

  83. Thanks for the giveaway…we never considered using tea in cooking / preparing food, but since reading this blog, will have to investigate.

Travel

See More

Movies

See More

Health

See More

Fashion

See More

15 Scone Recipes Perfect for Fall

By

Fall is on the way and I cannot wait to try some of these yummy scone recipes.  So many of these recipes have apples, maple, and pumpkin. All of my favorites!  Head to the links below to try some new recipes!   Apple Scones – Chisel and Fork Apple Cranberry Scones – Tasha’s Artisan Foods[Read More…]

Getting Ready for School Checklist – 10 Tips

By

Maybe it is because I am a teacher that I gravitate towards the early conversations of getting ready to go back to school. It is almost a season and other savvy moms like me are searching for the best deals on clothes, backpacks, and supplies. There’s so much that goes into getting ready for back[Read More…]

20 Halloween Decor Projects that You will Love

By

Halloween is coming and I have a round up of some fun decor projects to help get your house creepy and spooky.     DIY Halloween Glitter Witchs Broomstick – Anne’s Entitled Life DIY Halloween Tombstones – Craftivity Designs DIY Mix and Match Wooden Pumpkin Face Decoration – Drugstore Divas DIY Halloween Wreath for under[Read More…]

10 Ways to Get Ready for Back to School

By

As a mom and a teacher, I know that it is extremely important to start the school year off right. Of course, you’ll want the right supplies, but there’s more than that to help your child get ready for back to school. How to Get Ready for Back to School Ensuring a healthy, safe, and[Read More…]