Jasmine Tea Cookies

Hey - check out the following recipes which include tea in their ingredients...

Cooking with tea has become very popular. We have been very fortunate to have several recipes created especially for Thompson's Fine Teas by Meryl Bennan.
Meryl specializes in Food Communications Services, creating recipes, food styling and writing. If you would like more information about Meryl's services, she may be reached by email at: mk_turtle@yahoo.com.
Jasmine Tea Cookies
• Batter 1/2 cup unsalted butter
• 2 tablespoons Jasmine Tea
• 1/4 cup confectioners' sugar
• 3/4 cup flour, sifted
• 1/4 cup cornstarch
Topping
• 1/4 cup milk or cream, heated
• 1 tsp. Jasmine Tea
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F
2. Melt half of the butter in a small bowl and stir in tea. Allow to steep for 3 minutes.
3. Strain tea from butter and mix together with remaining butter in a large mixing bowl. Add sugar and beat for 2-3 minutes until light.
4. Mix in flour and cornstarch.
5. Shape dough into 1-inch balls and place onto a parchment lined cookie sheet. Flatten into circles.
6. Combine milk and remaining tea in a small bowl. Brush onto cookies.
7. Bake for 20-25 minutes until golden brown.

Source: www.fineteas.com

Coffee - How Fresh is Fresh?

How best to store your roasted coffee beans is a debate that continues to rage throughout coffeeland with little end in sight. Having browsed the Internet, the better coffee sites seems to say that if your beans will be consumed within two weeks of roasting, then it is fine to store your beans within an airtight container in a cool, dark place (say - the back of a cupboard). Any longer, and it's into the freezer (not the fridge though!), wrapped in several radiation proof bags so there is zero chance of the coffee picking up other food smells. When consuming, take out just what is needed the night before, and there you have it - a perfect cupper!

It's all to do with the gases that are emitted from the coffee once it is roasted. But does coffee really go off after only two weeks? Can you really notice a difference? Your expert comments are welcome!