Monday, June 6, 2011

Afternoon Luxury: Biscuits and Tea (and Cheese!)

One of the little luxuries I look forward to in my day is afternoon tea time (this, of course, after my afternoon nap :p). Cheese makes a wonderful addition to any tea time, and in fact, the Chilean version of afternoon tea, "onces", most definitely includes cheeses into the prized ritual.

My perfect tea time would include a biscuit, cheese, fresh fruit and a strong, fragrant Earl Grey, perhaps a touch of milk. (Now, doesn't that sound healthy?) Shortbread is a standby favorite and fits my requirement for a biscuit perfectly, but recently was sent a package of Newtons Fruit Thins Blueberry Brown Sugar to try and now truly, have found a lovely addition to my tea-time regime.
Newtons Fruit Thins

Newtons Fruit Thins are quite a bit different from the iconic fig newton (is there any other cookie on the market like a fig newton?) Crisp and crumbly like a shortbread, pleasantly fruity and not-too-sweet, this is one stellar cookie! Large round flat circles with a scalloped edge makes them a lovely component of a plate for entertaining as well.

The Blueberry Brown Sugar Thins offer a subtle-but-distinct flavor that goes nicely with mozzerella cheese. I can even skip the fruit element if I don't have any on hand that day since in keeping with the Newton fruit theme, they are made with real blueberries. Absolutely a smart option, with only 5 grams of fat, 130 calories, per 3 cookie-serving-- much better than a muffin or slice of cake-- add the protein-dense cheese, you won't be hungry for a while.

Really now, when you come to think of it, there are only a few food groups that a person needs in life: cheese, wine and cookies.

Disclosure: The cookies were sent to me, but opinions expressed here are very much my own!