Orange Spiced Madeleines

½ cup butter
2 Bigelow Orange Spice tea bags
2 tbsp boiling water
4 eggs
⅔ cup sugar
1 tbsp orange zest
1 cup all-purpose flour
¼ tsp baking powder

2 tbsp powdered sugar
¼ tsp cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray madeleine pans with nonstick cooking spray.

In a microwave safe bowl, melt butter. Set aside. Place tea bags in 2 tbsp boiling water and steep for five minutes; then pour into melted butter.

Meanwhile, beat eggs and sugar for 5 minutes on medium-high speed. Once the batter is pale and doubled in volume, gently fold in the orange zest.

In a separate bowl, sift together the flour and baking powder. Add sifted flour in three parts, gently folding flour into egg batter after each addition. Slowly pour butter into the batter while folding it in.

Spoon about 1½ tbsp batter into each shell. Bake madeleines for 8 to 10 minutes. Cool completely. Combine powdered sugar and cinnamon and dust cooled madeleines with mixture.

Red Italian Wedding Soup

Meatballs:

1 pound ground turkey or chicken

2 eggs

½ cup Italian bread crumbs

⅓ cup grated Parmesan Cheese

3 tbsp chopped fresh parsley

salt and pepper to taste

Soup:

1 tbsp olive oil

1 small onion, chopped

1 cup sliced carrots, about 3 to 4 whole carrots

2 stalks celery, chopped

8 cups of chicken broth

1 (28 oz) can crushed tomatoes with basil

2 tbsp tomato paste

1½ tsp balsamic vinegar

3 tbsp chopped fresh parsley

1 tsp Italian seasoning

1 tsp red pepper flakes

salt and pepper, to taste

6 ounces fresh spinach, chopped

8 ounces cooked orzo pasta

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a large baking pan with foil and spray with cooking spray. Combine the ground meat, breadcrumbs, eggs, cheese, parsley,and salt and pepper. Gently mix, just to combine ingredients, Form into small balls (bite sized). Place meatballs on cookie sheet. Bake until cooked through, about 15 to 20 minutes.

In a large stock pot heat oil over medium heat. Add onions and saute for 5 minutes. Add carrots and celery and saute 2 minutes more. Add broth, crushed tomatoes and tomato paste to stock pot. Stir in vinegar, parsley, Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, salt and pepper. Reduce heat to simmer and cook for 20 minutes.

Add meatballs and cook for an additional 15 minutes or until vegetables are tender. Add the spinach and cook until heated through and wilted. Stir in the cooked pasta just before serving and simmer until heated through.

Serve with freshly grated Parmesan.

Honey Apple Madeleines

¾ cup all purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp cinnamon
3 eggs
½ cup sugar
2 tbsp honey
½ cup applesauce
7 tbsp butter, melted
1 tsp vanilla

In a large bowl, combine  flour, baking powder and cinnamon and stir well.

In a separate bowl, beat eggs, sugar and honey and stir vigorously for 2-3 minutes. Slowly pour flour mixture into egg mixture and begin to stir. Add in applesauce, melted butter and vanilla and mix until well combined.

Refrigerate dough for 30 minutes.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Spray madeleine pan with cooking spray. Pour batter into pan, filling each section almost to the top. Bake for 11-12 minutes.

Remove from pan and allow to cool in pan a few minutes before transferring to a cooling rack. Lightly dust with powdered sugar.