Mamas Old Fashioned Russian Tea Recipes

RUSSIAN TEA CAKES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
• In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to cream together butter, vanilla, almond flavoring and sugar.
• In a separate bowl, sift together flour, baking soda and salt. Add flour mixture to the butter mixture and mix to combine. It will look crumbly at first, but keep mixing until it comes together in a thick dough. Mix in walnuts.
• Shape dough into balls (about the size of golf balls). Place about 1 inch apart on parchment or silicone-lined baking sheets.
• Bake for 10-12 minutes, or just until set and firm to the touch (but not browned). Allow the cookies to cool for a few minutes, then roll the warm cookies in powdered sugar. Transfer to wire racks to cool completely. Once cool, roll the cookies in powdered sugar again.

INSTANT RUSSIAN TEA

Steps:

• Mix all ingredients well and store in tightly closed container.
• Add to hot water as many teaspoons as desired to taste.

PECAN FINGER COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Cream the butter, add the sugar and blend together. Add remaining ingredients, mixing well.
• Chill dough for about 10 minutes to make it easier to handle.
• Shape into small finger shaped logs and bake at 350 degrees F for 10 to 15 minutes or until lightly browned.
• May also bend and shape dough into a crescent shape for Crescent Cookies or Cocoons, or roll into a ball for Snowball Cookies.
• Let cool slightly so that you can handle them but while still warm, roll in the extra powdered sugar to coat; re-roll in the powdered sugar several times if desired. I usually roll mine two or three times.
• Set aside to cool completely before storing.

MAMA'S OLD-FASHIONED RUSSIAN TEA

Steps:

• Boil water with cloves and cinnamon sticks for 20 minutes in large non-aluminum pot.
• Remove from heat, add the tea bags and cover.
• Allow mixture to"steep" for at least 4 hours, preferably overnight.
• After steeping process is completed, combine in another sauce pan the orange, pineapple, and lemon juices with the sugar.
• Heat gently, stirring to melt and mix the sugar.
• Drain spices from tea mixture.
• Combine the tea and juice mixtures.
• Heat and enjoy!
• NOTE: Preparation time does not include"steeping time".