Tea Sandwiches

I’ve been trying to cut down on my magazine purchases, but I couldn’t resist the May 2011 issue of Food Network Magazine.  It is priced reasonably ($3.99) and Sam’s Club gives a 30% discount on magazines.

As I was thumbing through the magazine, I came across an article titled 50 Tea Sandwiches – Give an old-fashioned favorite a fun new twist.  It included a little pull out recipe booklet.

 True to its title, there are several favorites (egg salad, chicken salad, cucumber, shrimp, etc.) and some unusual sandwiches.  How about pea-prosciutto, bresaola-artichoke, manchego-quince, pate-sour cherry, lemon berry and many more.

There is also a great recipe for jumbo maple-pecan scones and a section called Mix & Match Quick Bread (lovely for a casual tea).

The 100 Greatest Cooking Tips (of all time) feature is a handy read and I am already planning to try several recipes starting with the decadent Almost-Famous Cheesecake Pancakes shown on the cover.

Getting back to the subject of sandwiches, this is a pic of my adorable grandbaby enjoying her first ice cream sandwich.

Easter Hot Cross Buns

Hot cross buns are made from a rich yeast dough containing flour, milk, sugar, butter, eggs, currants and spices (cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice and cloves).  Some bakers add candied fruit and raisins.  They are marked on top with a cross, either cut into the dough, made with strips of pastry or piped on with icing.

In England, hot cross buns are traditionally eaten on Good Friday.  My Mom always baked them for Easter.  She also made wonderful Chelsea buns year round.  The funny thing is I don’t ever remember her baking scones (maybe because she was a coffee drinker and not a tea granny like me).

Hot cross buns are a wonderful treat for Good Friday breakfast, served buttered (maybe toasted) with a hot cup of tea.

Have A Blessed Easter

Royal Stafford Rose Teacup

Since I don’t have any new teacups this week, I’m going to show this Royal Stafford bone china cup again.  This company was formed in 1952, in Longton, England.   It was formerly the Thomas Poole Company. 

This lovely and feminine teacup is really a little paler blue than it shows in my photo.

It has a dainty scalloped edge and a very pretty gold design.

The handle is a lovely shape (although not my favorite to hold) and the gilded foot and band is attractive.  I’d love to find a book that names the many different handle and cup shapes (please let me know if you know of a really good one).

This pattern is not easy to find online, even though it appears to be numbered 2182 or maybe 2132.  There was one offered for sale on ebay, but with no information listed for pattern name or history.

This Stash tea that I tried today was quite good.  It was fruity, but not too tart.  I liked the idea of the Matcha tea as an ingredient since it is so antioxidant rich.

It certainly brewed to a wonderful rosy color.  This tea has an interesting mix of green tea, chamomile, hibiscus flowers, orange peel, citric acid, pomegranate flavor, raspberry flavor and the Japanese Matcha. 

Please join Terri and Martha for lots more Teacup Tuesday and Sandi for Tea Time Tuesday.

Cup and Saucer Planter

I received several lovely birthday gifts recently, but only one with a tea theme. 

My son and daughter-in-love gave me this cup and saucer planter with a Kalanchoe plant.  They even included some potting soil.

The little coral colored flowers are so pretty and perfect with the colors on the pot.

This was the perfect gift to brighten up the backyard deck.

Birthday Dinner Panna Cotta

It was a fun family get together for my birthday this year.  My hubby looked after all the preparations while I was out caring for my grandbaby.  He did a super job too.   

He grilled burgers and smoked sausage.  The sides were Ground Beef and Baked Beans Casserole from Y’All Come Eat cookbook by the Deen Brothers, mac and cheese, and Arugula Mushroom Salad with Macadamia Nuts from a Publix Apron’s recipe.  On top of all that, Don even prepared a chocolate birthday cake with chocolate icing. 

Impressive yes, but wait till you see the extra special dessert he surprised me with.

I’d been craving some panna cotta since our cruise last year.  It was one of my favorite desserts on board.  I was thrilled that he made some for me, and it was even better in the shape of a teapot.  It was delicious and creamy (I love Ricotta cheese).

There were also flowers, cards, gifts and lots of laughter served up with this memorable birthday meal. 

Victoria’s Secret china

I’d planned to join Teacup Tuesday with a post first thing this morning, but we had quite a storm last night and the internet was knocked out till late afternoon.

This week I’m showing another pretty cup and saucer that I picked up at a recent yard sale.

I’ve not been able to find any information on this particular teacup.  I did learn that Royal Stafford made china for Victoria’s Secret, but this cup is just marked Made in England for Victoria’s Secret.

It has a very pretty floral pattern with pink roses, and also some dainty blue and white flowers.  The handle is comfortable to hold and the cup is a generous size.

Does anyone know if Victoria’s Secret still sells fine china or when the teacups were sold?

Please join Terri and Martha for more of Teacup Tuesday.

Home For Tea At Four

It was interesting to me when I bought this board book, that there was actually a familiar rhyme that was not as familiar as I had thought.

I guess most people never get to the third verse when singing this song.

Cute sign:  The Other Side Welcomes You

I’ll make sure that my grandbaby hears all the verses – wouldn’t want to leave out the last line. 

What a fun illustration and all that rowing would have me ready for a cuppa and a cupcake too.

Brambly Hedge Spring

This recent yard sale find is perfect for the season.  Royal Doulton Brambly Hedge pattern was new to me, but I’ll be on the lookout for more pieces in the series from now on.

According to Replacements, Ltd. the little mice made their first appearance in 1980.  They were from British author and illustrator Jill Barklem, who published four seasonal stories, which have been translated into 13 languages.  You can find these delightful books at Amazon. 

The little mouse on the front of the cup (or beaker) is using his slingshot and the mouse on the back is playing with his toys.  The floral vining and pale yellow touches on this cup are very pretty.

I also learned that in 1901, King Edward VII conferred upon Doulton and Co. the honor of a Royal Warrant for the company’s production of ceramic vessels holding porous stones that filtered pollutants from the Thames River, London’s primary source of drinking water.  The company then became Royal Doulton.

The fact that I only paid $1 for the beaker and Replacements, Ltd. lists it at $49.99 put me in the mood for a treat - my favorite Easter candy, speckled chocolate filled mini eggs.  I like to use them to garnish a pretty coconut layer cake.