Allyn Nelson for Teacup Tuesday

This cup from the Allyn Nelson Collection is bone china and made in England.

It has a pretty scalloped and gilded edge and I think the full blown roses with the lilacs are very pretty.

The little spray of flowers inside the cup is lovely too.

I don’t know much about this cup and couldn’t find this pattern online.  There are many other beautiful patterns by Allyn Nelson.  

Stop by Terri  and Martha's blogs to see their gorgeous Teacup Tuesday posts and links to many more.  You can also visit Wanda Lee and Pam for Teapot and Tea Things Tuesday.

 

Apple Crisp Pie

This week I have an abundance of apples at my house and realized that I’d better do more to use them up.  These extra large honey crisp apples are delicious to eat plain (sweet and crisp), but I’d never used this variety for baking before.  Seems like Granny Smith are the most often recommended type for recipes.

The October/November issue of The Cooking Club just happened to have a section with apple recipes.

The recipe for spiced apple crisp appealed to me since it doesn’t need a top crust and I had a deep dish pie shell in the freezer.

The pie turned out great.  The apple slices kept their shape and the pie was easy to slice.

This pie was delicious with a nice cup of tea.  A dollop of whipped cream or some vanilla ice cream would also be a nice with the pie.

After the success of this recipe, I’m ready to move on to the Apple Ginger Cake and Salted Caramel Apple Bars from the magazines Apple-licious recipe section.  They will be a nice compliment to my Thanksgiving Pumpkin Pie.

How about you – what’s your favorite way to use up an over abundance of apples?

Teacup Tuesday Miniature Teacups

I’m not sure that I have any teacups that you haven’t already seen on Teacup Tuesday, but I do know that I haven’t shown you my miniature teacups that adorn my tabletop “tea tree” each Christmas.  I’ve been collecting these miniature teacups, teapots, spoons, jugs, tiered tea trays, etc. for many years now.

This one is a Spode cup in the Christmas Tree pattern.  I also have the matching Spode teapots. 

This next one is Old Country Roses and was made for their Ruby Anniversary celebration.  Many of you have these in full size cups.

I’m sure you recognize this Wedgwood Jasper Ware cup and saucer.  This is one of my favorite tea tree ornaments.  I would surely love to own this in a full size cup – what collector wouldn’t?

Many well known china companies produce miniatures.  They are a perfect collectible for people with little storage space or for those that like to collect on a budget.    

Be sure to visit Terri and Martha for Teacup Tuesday and Wanda Lee and Pam for Teapot and Tea Things Tuesday.

Teacup Tuesday–Royal Albert “Regina” Series

Today I’m showing a recent estate sale find.  This is a Royal Albert bone china teacup that was made in England.

This pattern comes in six different colors – aquamarine, black diamond, emerald, opal, ruby and sapphire. 

 It has a lovely shaped handle and an intricate floral swag design in gold.

This was the only teacup I purchased, but I did find some very pretty sugar tongs featuring an acanthus leaf design.

This makes three now, so I have another collection to add to. 

Please visit Terri and Martha for lots more Teacup Tuesday posts.  Also Wanda Lee and Pam of Teapot and Tea Things Tuesday.

Friendship Tea giveaway win

I was the winner of another lovely giveaway at Linda’s Friendship Tea blog.  This time my box arrived unscathed.

What fun to unpack all the lovely tea items.

It was an extra treat to find that Linda had included the program and her table favors from the recent Berea Health Ministry Tea.  You can visit her blog and see all the wonderfully decorated tables, each with a special theme.  This annual tea is a great way to raise funds for the Berea Health Ministry Rural Health Clinic.

Isn’t this a pretty tea mug?  And the English Tea Store Darjeeling tea is delicious. 

This is now the cutest tea towel I own.  Don’t fellow tea enthusiasts have the best giveaways!

Teacup Tuesday–Old British Castles

Today I’m sharing a teacup that I received at the “Teacup Exchange” event I attended last week.  It is a Johnson Brothers cup that was made in England in the popular Old British Castles pattern.

This pattern also comes in blue, but I think it is very pretty in pink.

This Johnson Brothers pattern has been in production since 1930.

It was created in 1928 by Miss Fennel, the daughter of a master engraver.  There are 45 different castles depicted on the various pieces.  One side of the teacup shows Stratford on Avon and the other has Penshurst Kenton depicted in 1792.

This saucer shows Kenilworth Castle in 1792.

Now I’m off to enjoy a cup of tea and a mincemeat square for tea break.

For those who haven’t tried mincemeat squares – they are basically the same recipe as date squares and are made with an oatmeal crust.  The mincemeat is smoothed in the blender.  I was pleased with the results using Borden “Nonesuch” brandy and rum mincemeat.

Don’t forget to visit the lovely Teacup Tuesday blogs of hostesses Terri and Martha.  You can also visit  Wanda Lee at Tuesday Tea for Two.