If you read the post I made on March 25, 2025, for Old Fashioned Rice Pudding, I explained about a very old recipe book that I had found in my mother's things after she passed. To call it a book, is being kind, as it was just a collection of hand typed (on a manual typewriter!) recipes folded in the middle and stapled together. No front or back cover, no information of where it came from. The pages are so ancient they are dark tan in color.
Anyway, the recipes in this old gem are from a time before I was cooking. Some of them are recipes for foods I have never heard of like Strawberry Fool or Fruitinays. I love reading through the pages and some times I find a recipe that I want to try. This is how I came across the recipes for the perfect afternoon snack: Spiced Tea and Honey Nut Bread.
This first time I made the bread, I found it delicious, but it seemed to be lacking something to go with it. I tried coffee, but it didn't fit, I tried iced tea and it was completely not a match. I was stumped. So I went back to the recipe book and looked under "Drinks." When I saw the spiced tea recipe, I knew I had hit the jackpot. Cinnamon and fruit juices sounded like a great combination! I got up and made some right then and there. It was exquisite! The flavors blended together perfectly and they were just right with the honey nut bread. It really is the perfect snack!
Spiced Tea
Ingredients
Juice of one lemon
Juice of two oranges
2 Plain teabags (more if you like it stronger)
1 teaspoon all spice
1/4 teaspoon cloves (optional, if you like clove flavor)
1 and 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 and 1/2 cups sugar
6 cups water
Instructions
- Put spices in a small bag
- Bring 4 cups of water to a boil and add the bag of spices.
- Boil for 10 minutes and remove the spice bag and turn off the stove.
- Add teabags to the spiced water and steep for 10 minutes. Remove teabags.
- Boil the remaining 2 cups of water and add sugar. Stir until sugar melts.
- Pour the sweetened water into the tea and stir until mixed.
- Add the fruit juices and mix well.
If you want it drink your tea cold, chill the mixture in the refrigerator and serve over ice. If you are like me and prefer it hot, place it back on the stove and boil. I put mine in a carafe so it stays hot to enjoy with our next recipe: Honey Nut Bread.
Honey Nut Bread
Ingredients
1/2 cup coarsely chopped nuts (whichever type you like)
1 cup flour
3 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 egg
1/2 cup of honey
1/2 cup of milk
2 tablespoons melted butter
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 350 degrees.
- Sift dry ingredients and stir in nuts.
- In a bowl beat the egg and add honey, milk and melted butter and mix.
- Combine the wet and dry ingredients and mix until the ingredients are moistened and mixed.
- Grease a bread pan and pour in the mixture.
- Bake for 45 to 50 minutes.
Honey nut bread is also great with toppings like:
Apple Butter
Fruit Jam
Honey Butter
Flavored Cream Cheese (like strawberry)
Lemon Sauce
I have even made French Toast with honey nut bread. I trade in the syrup for some hot honey and it is really delicious.
I really love this old cookbook, it has so many unusual recipes in it and it also has a 'Hints and Tips' section that is pretty funny. Maybe I will share some tips in my next post, I think you all would find it pretty entertaining!
Enjoy your snack!
Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”
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