Fruit Jewels and Carols

 

There are just some cook books that you turn to time and again, and this is one of those books for me! Every recipe I have prepared using Gail Greco's Tea Time at The Inn has been delicious. Whenever I'm planning to have guests, especially for tea, I crack open my dog-eared copy. The book includes 200 recipes and detailed descriptions of the teas held at 41 inns, and Greco offers readers countless ideas for hosting their own parties. When College Girl said she was in the mood to bake yesterday I suggested making Fruit Jewels. So, she rolled up her sleeves and preheated the oven while I got a Christmas c.d. playing.

• 2 sticks butter
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 2 egg yolks
• 1 TB lemon juice
• 2 and 1/4 all purpose flour
• 1 and 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 each cinnamon and salt

Preheat oven to 350. Cream butter and sugar, add yolks and lemon juice. Beat until smooth, then add remaining ingredients and blend into a ball. Roll into balls - 1 TB each and place in mini muffin tins lined with petit fours papers. Make a small dent in the center of each cookie ball and fill with an assortment of jams. Bake 20 to 30 minutes, until golden brown.

    

When the cookies were cool I set up the living room tea table for an evening teatime by the tree~

 We used our Mikasa Holiday Season teacups and a festive striped cozy I made a couple of years ago.

I love the delicate embossed bells and holly adorning the saucer and sides of the cup - it's so textural, and I enjoy running my fingertips across it.

 There are two different Partridge In a Pear Tree pillows nestled with a Santa pillow on the sofa. The Santa pillow has a pocket on the back for last minute notes for Ol' St Nick - so we keep it near the tree in anticipation of his visit. :)

I could not decide between raspberry jam and plum jam filling, so I had one of each! I always mix and match dish patterns because I find it charming and less formal, especially at a cozy tea for two.  

 

I filled the lantern with ornaments from the 99 Cents store and some pine cones from our neighbor's tree - inexpensive, but pretty, don't you think? College Girl and I chatted about  this and that. Our thoughts turned to a recently acquired cabinet, placed in the dining room for now. It has dentil molding along the top and handsome Marlborough legs.

The front drawer is functioning and it has movable glass shelves. Handyman and I discovered this little beauty at a shop in Old Towne Orange, which has several inviting antique stores. We are trying to decide where to place it and what to display in it. We offered to let College Girl have it for her collectables, but we'll see - I am tempted to use it myself if she hesitates too long!

Keeping all those impacted by the tragedy in Connecticut in prayer. John 16:33

Also, remembering Megan Rough and the selfless gifts she bestowed so that others could thrive. Megan was a perfect example of Theta love.

Sharing this post with~

Mosaic Monday 

Make It Pretty 

Rose Chintz Cottage 

Martha's Favorites 

Artful Affirmations 

You're Going To Love It 
Table Top Tuesday 
The Brambleberry Cottage Time Travel Thursday 
Share Your Cup 
Cuisine Kathleen 

 

You Suit Me to a Tea!

Last week I could not post anything on my blog and never did figure out what was wrong. So, until I get help from Blogger, I am using a new browser and posting this belatedly~ 

 I decided to make shortbread cookies for our February 14 teatime. My daughter showed me a photo of cookies that looked like teabags and I couldn't wait to try making some! Use any basic shortbread recipe. I used one from my Winnie The Pooh Teatime Cookbook~

After I rolled out the dough, I used a piece of parchment cut in the shape of a teabag, as a pattern. I used a knife to cut out the cookies, then my daughter made a small hole at the top of each with a drinking straw. Into the oven they went~

When they were cool, I melted chocolate and brushed it onto the bottom half of the shortbread teabags. I think when I make them again, I will dip the bottoms in chocolate and see if the surface comes out smoother. Next, I stamped small squares of card stock with cute images and tied them to the cookies. (I used an empty clear teabag wrapper and slipped one of my shortbread cookies into it for the photo).

I put together a light snack when my daughter got home from school, and the three of us- Daddy included- exchanged our Valentine cards. Not every teatime needs to be a formal meal. 

 
We decided to sample some shortbread along with fresh apple slices sprinkled with cinnamon~

Our cups were filled with Kusmi Troika tea served from our cozy covered Bodum pot. I thought the plump red strawberries on the cozy made it a lovely addition to the table.

 Notice the variety of sweeteners I arranged on a plate? There are sugar cubes, honey drops, and natural turbinado to choose from.

 
 The pink napkins are a keepsake from a special dinner served to us at the hospital when my daughter was born...the hospital brought a candlelit table into my room with dinner on it for my husband and me the evening after I gave birth. It was our first dinner as parents!
I brought a beautiful Camellia blossom in from the back yard and floated it in a small pudding dish.

 

 We used our footed monogram cups for the occasion. We bought these sweet cups at Anthropologie. 

There were heart shaped boxes on the table, as well as a framed picture and festive red and white glittery balls~

If you have never tried a sprinkle of cinnamon on fresh apple slices give it a try...it is yummy.

We used blue and white luncheon plates that have a variety of teapots pictured on them. I like the combo of red, white, blue and black~

              Here is the mark on the back of the dishes~

I used a place card holder to display a Valentine image I printed, then punched with a circle punch~

I received a wonderful package in the mail that really added joy to my week. This came from a new friend who resides in the Netherlands, and she sent tea. What a treat!  She also sent 6"x6" paper pads, baby roses, and a hand-made card.

I also got a package from a beloved friend who does monthly scrapbook exchanges with me...isn't this gorgeous? It was filled with love~

I bet you can spot the festive sparkly balls she included in the packaging...these are what I sprinkled on the tea table :)

sharing this post with:

Terri at Artful Affirmations 

Marthas Favorites 

Rose Chintz Cottage 

                                 Kathy at Delightsome Life
                                      Bernideen's Tea Time
                                         Cozy Home Scenes
                                     Brambleberry Cottage 

The Birthday Teacup~

At our home the 'birthday' person gets to use the Royal Doulton Brambly Hedge Birthday set when celebrating their birthday. Starting with breakfast, and ending the day with a slice of cake, whoever is adding another candle to their celebration has the honor of using these charming dishes. I have the matching teacup and saucer, naturally!  Most recently it was my turn to see little Wilfred learning to play his new birthday whistle, pictured on the cup and plate.

The images are by artist Jill Barklem who also wrote and illustrated several children's books with her wonderful world of mice living in Brambly Hedge~

The mice surprised Wilfred with a little picnic and some fun toys.

Everyone shared a big pink cake made by Mrs. Crustybread~

After the feasting, the grown-ups took a nap~

My daughter baked up some Oatmeal Flaxseed Cookies for our own little picnic~

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchens/oatmeal-flax-chocolate-chip-cookies-recipe/index.html

Flaxseed are small brown seeds that you can easily grind in a blender. We tried using the food processor and they just flew around! They are nutrional powerhouses. You can add them to many baked items.

I am sharing this post with~
Martha's Favorites
Artful Affirmations
Uncommonly Yours

Baking with Tea!

Ok ladies, I know you have had tea with cookies but have you baked tea in cookies?! Here is a recipe from Food Network's Claire Robinson for Earl Grey Shortbread~

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons loose Earl Grey tea leaves
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 cup confectioners' sugar
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1 cup (2 sticks) butter, room temperature

Directions

In a food processor, pulse together the flour, tea, and salt, until the tea is just spotted throughout the flour. Add the confectioners' sugar, vanilla, and butter. Pulse together just until a dough is formed. Place dough on a sheet of plastic wrap, and roll into a log, about 2 1/2-inches in diameter. Tightly twist each end of wrap, and chill in refrigerator for 30 minutes.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Slice the log into 1/3-inch thick disks. Place on parchment or silpat lined baking sheets, 2 inches apart (2 probably needed depending on size of sheets). Bake until the edges are just brown, about 12 minutes. Let cool on sheets for 5 minutes, then transfer to wire racks and cool to room temperature.

I recommend you use quality loose tea, but if all you have is bagged Earl Grey tea you can still make these yummy, buttery cookies.

If you are looking for my BLOG Anniversary Giveaway, you can click on the PEETS Holiday Breakfast Blend photo on my sidebar or see the Blog Post for Nov 29. Enter by December 6!

Here is a card I made using the Recollections Naughty Or Nice Paper pad~

I stamped the sentiment three times. The small Pansies are Prima. I sewed a bit on this card and stamped behind the patterned paper too~

Home baked Cookies~

My daughter, Miss R., decided to bake cookies yesterday afternoon, which was fine by me! I'm not one to turn down home made chocolate chip cookies. I'm a baker and cake decorator from way back and she has picked up my cooking hints  and knowledge. A few years ago she went to a friend's birthday party and was in the kitchen while her friend was quickly trying to frost her birthday cake and struggling with the task. Miss R offered to help and deftly snatched up the icing spatula and completed the cake with a flourish! Anyway, for this batch of cookies she used the food processor to grind dry oats and chocolate chips together to mix with the flour. I love the flavor and texture of this combo much better than plain-flour 'Toll House' cookies.
When the cookies were cool, we took a plateful over to the tea table.

We used my Victorian Chintz cups and lunch plates while the strawberry tea cozy I made went on the teapot. My husband bought this sweet set of dishes for me when we were newly married. See the big roses? I'd love to add to it as I only have a creamer, sugar bowl, two cups with saucers and two luncheon plates. It is just right, however, for Miss R and me.

I prefer this style of cozy because I do not need to remove it to pour the tea. There is elastic at the bottom and it ties at the top with ribbon.

 I love the red and white of this pattern. It looks fabulous mixed with blue and white accessories for July, or all white for Valentine's Day.

              Here is the recipe Miss R used yesterday~It can be halved for a smaller batch.
Oatmeal Chocolate Chip cookies
2 sticks butter, softened
1 cup packed brown sugar and 1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 and 1/2 cup all purpose flour
1 tsp. baking soda
3 cups uncooked oats
1+ cup chocolate chips (or you could use raisins)
Our Favorite Tip~ Grind 1 cup oats and 1/3 cup chocolate chips in a food processor together. Set aside.
Beat butter and sugars until creamy. Add eggs and vanilla, mix. Combine flour, baking soda and ground oat mixture and stir into egg mixture. Add oats and remaining chocolate chips. (or raisins)
Bake 10-12 minutes or until golden brown. Cool 1 minute on cookie sheet, then remove to wire rack. About 4 dozen. Bar Cookies: bake 30 minutes in ungreased 13x9 metal baking pan.
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Sharing Cookies and tea with me are:
Terri and everyone at Teacup Tuesday
Martha
Trisha
Snap
Miss Kathy
Miss Spenser

Tea and Cookies~

I saw fabric  fortune cookies years ago and always wanted to try my hand at them. The other day I remembered how cute they were and looked online for a pattern. There are not many patterns or directions available, but Martha Stewart's' version popped up, and her site actually has a short tutorial. I experimented with a variety of materials and methods, starting with Fun Foam. Cut a 4 inch circle from the Fun Foam. Martha instructs you to use a piece of wire inside. Place a 3.5" piece of wire down the center of the circle. Fold the circle in half (wire sitting in the fold, straight), then bend wire in 'U' shape, bring corners toward each other. Insert a printed 'fortune'. It was cute, easy and quick to make!

Next I tried felt as Martha directs. She says to glue ribbon over the wire, to conceal it, but this was difficult to do and is not really neccessary. The nice thing about foam and felt is that no hemming or finishing is neccessary, and you need only cut one round per cookie! Fun Foam or felt would be nice if you don't mind the texture and look of each, and you want to make a bunch of cookies fast. Next, I got out my fabric scraps  and cut two 4" circles, placed them right sides together and sewed around the edges. I did not leave an opening to turn because I did not want to have to close the gap later. I used an old quilting technique of separating the layers and snipping a cut/slit in the center of one side.

After I cut the slit, I turned the cookie circle and pressed it. The floral wire I was using was green and heavy, so I decided to try white pipe cleaner. Lay it on the circle, fold fabric over like making a taco, wire is sitting along the fold and is straight inside. Then bend the wire into a "U" shape, bringing the fabric points/corners toward each other. A peak will form on one side of the cookie. At this point, you can use a small dab of hot glue at the curve of the "U" to keep it secure, if desired.  

The red and cream cookies were made with felt. The gingham, red stripe and tan cookies are fabric. I discovered that you can dispense with using wire if you use a bit of hot glue inside the cookie before folding.  This takes practice and is a bit more tricky than the wire method. This project, in felt or foam, would be a great thing for Scout Troops to make! Yesterday, at Big Lots, I saw adorable Chinese style food-to-go containers ~~ wouldn't these look adorable in one of those?  "Bake" up a batch for your Valentine and have fun writing you own 'fortunes' or love notes~