A Spot Of Tea

For special occasions, my mother always makes a mousse that’s used as an “intermezzo” or palette cleanser. In my family we call it “shmoose,” a combination of “schnapps” and “mousse,” and serve it in small schnapps cups — though many request it served in 8-ounce cups! Placed in these dainty mini teacups, combined with edible tea bags, this mishloach manos will bring a warm smile to all its recipients.

You will need:

mini cups and saucers (both porcelain and glass are available in many discount stores) 

Shmoose recipe

Cookie Tea Bags (instructions below)

tea bags

sugar cubes

tape

5/8-inch ribbon

Arrange cups and saucers, cookies, mousse, tea bags, and sugar cubes on a tray. Secure with tape and ribbon.

For Cookie Tea Bags you will need:

your favorite sugar cookie recipe

square or rectangular cookie cutter

melted chocolate or cookie dip

thin white string

printed tabs for tea bag label

straw

1.  Using a cookie cutter, cut the cookie dough into rectangular or square shapes. Punch a hole in the top of each cookie with a straw. Using a knife, cut off both corners on the sides of the hole to fashion a tea-bag look. Bake cookies.

2.  Dip ends of cookies in melted chocolate or cookie dip.

3.  Tie one end of the string to the cookie, and tape a tag to the other end.

This article originally appeared in Mishpacha Magazine, Feb 2013.