Green Tea Truffles

The Altitude Adjustment Section
Green tea powder is a cool ingredient to add to things like ice cream and sorbet. I even had a green tea tiramisu at San Q which was pretty great. But how about making truffles with it? Oh come on, live a little!

Ingredients
2 cups finely chopped white chocolate
1/2 cup heavy cream
2 green-tea bags
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tablespoon green tea powder
For rolling
1/4 cup green-tea powder
3/4 cup powdered sugar
1/2 cup crispy brown rice cereal, crushed

Procedure
In a double boiler, partially melt the white chocolate over simmering water until it's semi-liquid but still lumpy. Place the cream, tea bags, and salt in a small sauce and heat just until they simmer, then cool for 1 minute. Remove the tea bags. In a medium bowl, stir together the cream mixture and the melted chocolate. Add the vanilla and 1 tablespoon green tea powder. Keep stirring until the mixture smooths into a well-blended ganache. Cool the ganache in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes. Using a small scoop, scoop small balls of the ganache onto a baking sheet. Roll the balls with your hands into smooth, uniform shapes and chill 30 minutes. Sift the green tea powder and powdered sugar together in a small bowl. Mix in the cereal. Dip each ganache ball into the tea mixture and shake off the excess.

West Indies Punch

Refreshing Beverage of the Week
I thought — being that I am in the large-party-picnic-cocktail-party mood — I would offer up another punch recipe. This time I went to an old classic drink recipe book, the Trader Vic’s Bartender's guide. It has hundreds of drink variations and I found a great punch recipe for a West Indies punch. This makes a lot of beverage, so pace yourself! But you do need to start it the night before.

Ingredients
1/2 pound fine bar sugar
2 cups strong green tea
1 dozen limes
1 cup guava marmalade
2 cups boiling water
1/2 bottle dark rum
1/2 bottle light rum
2 cups cognac
1 bottle Madiera

Procedure
Dissolve sugar in hot green tea. Halve the limes and squeeze the juice into the tea and then throw in the lime halves. Dissolve the guava marmalade in the boiling water and then mix with the tea mixture. Now add the rum cognac and wine and let sit overnight. Next day remove the lime shells and pour mixture over a festive cake of ice into a punch bowl and serve.

Green Tea Martini

Refreshing Beverage of the Week
Green tea is really good for you. Or so they tell me. The secret of green tea lies in the fact it is rich in powerful anti-oxidants: besides inhibiting the growth of cancer cells, it kills cancer cells without harming healthy tissue. It has also been effective in lowering LDL cholesterol levels, and inhibiting the abnormal formation of blood clots. The latter takes on added importance when you consider that thrombosis (the formation of abnormal blood clots) is the leading cause of heart attacks and stroke. Here's is a cocktail which incorporates pseudo good health and leisure distraction. It's so Santa Fe! You'd better start drinking these cocktails right now!

Ingredients
2 oz lemon vodka
1/2 oz Grand Marnier or other orange liqueur
1 oz chilled green tea

Procedure
Combine ingredients in a martini shaker with ice and shake until chilled. Pour into a martini glass rimmed with lime juice and sugar. Garnish with lime slices.