Cross-stitch teapot

This is the latest piece of tea theme cross-stitch that hubby has completed for me.  I knew this transferware teapot would be beautiful.  I’m very pleased with this piece and can’t wait to have it framed and displayed. 

You can see how quickly he worked since I posted about it here at the end of May.  He has now started a cross-stitch birth announcement for my younger daughter’s first baby.

Makes me think that I need to get back to my sewing and paper arts and quit wasting so much time on Words With Friends and Candy Crush Saga.  ☺ 

Breville Variable Temperature Kettle

I’ve always used electric kettles – they are so convenient.  It drives me nuts on vacation when I must boil my water for tea in a pot on the stove – seems to take forever and it is tricky to pour the water out without spilling it all over the place.

One of my longest lasting kettles is my Russell Hobbs.  I still use it once in a while and sometimes take it with me when I travel.  My everyday kettle is a UtiliTEA model by Adagio.  I like that you can set the temp for boil or just hot for green tea.  That said, I’m not sure that the temp control is all that accurate.

The Breville Variable Temperature kettle above will be my next model.  I love that you have buttons for green tea, white tea, oolong, French Press and black tea.  It seems well made in stainless steel and is detachable from the base, a really handy feature.  And if you put the kettle on and then get distracted by something, there is a hold button to keep the water at the right temp for 20 minutes. 

   

This kettle is a quite pricey ($129.95 on Amazon).  Before I decide if this would be a smart purchase, I’d really like to hear if any of you have used this kettle and how do you like it?

Tea Time–Blue & White Issue

If you love tea time and blue and white china, then you won’t want to miss the latest issue of Tea Time Magazine.

The July/August 2013 issue is filled with great features, articles, recipes and photos. 

I’ve always been a predominantly black tea drinker, so this page featuring teas from several companies and the beautiful blue & white china cups and saucers was great.

The photos are lovely and there are lots of ideas for birthday teas, tea on the porch and much more.

Many of the recipes in this issue appealed to me, including Chilled Succotash Salad and Tomato-Feta Tarts.  There were lots of recipes for yummy sweets like Key Lime Shortbread Tarts, Chocolate-Dipped Shortbread Cookies and Strawberries and Cream Scones.

If you relish learning about the history of tea, you’ll  enjoy the article by Jane Pettigrew on the British tea-dance revival.

I’m thoroughly enjoying this issue of one of my “favorite” magazines.  Hopefully, things will settle down for a while (no vacations, family weddings or health issues) and I can get back to visiting all my blogger friends.  ☺

Sweet Tea Revenge

Just finished reading the latest book (14th) in one of my favorite series – A Tea Shop Mystery by Laura Childs.  The lovely city of Charleston, SC is the location for these mysteries and Theodosia Browning, owner of the Indigo Tea Shop, is the main character (along with co-workers Drayton and Haley). 

In this installment, Theo’s flighty friend Delaine Dish is left at the alter when her groom to be is found dead in his suite at the Ravenscrest Inn just minutes before their wedding.  So begins another murder investigation for Theodosia, this time at the request of the bereaved bride.

I love how the daily workings of the Tea Shop are intertwined with her ongoing investigation.  One of my favorites this time was Drayton’s Scottish Tea for the Highlanders’ Club.  It included a great menu with cock-a-leekie soup, smoked salmon tea sandwiches, shortbread, scones and more.  He even convinced Haley to prepare cupcakes with tartan designs.

There are always lots of ideas for teatime table  settings and menus, along with recipes and tea resources at the back of the book (including Peach Scones, Drayton’s Cock-a-Leekie Soup and Haley’s Espresso Bars).  I’d definitely go broke eating lunch at the Indigo Tea Shop everyday if it was a real place.  ☺

The murder mystery itself is exciting and entertaining, although I’m never as concerned with “who done it” as I am with just relaxing into the story with its great location and characters.

You might enjoy watching a Sweet Tea Revenge trailer and exploring the Tea Shop Mystery series, if you aren’t already a big fan like me.  I should also mention that Laura Childs has a couple of other book series – Cackleberry Club Mysteries and Scrapbooking Mysteries.

           

Transferware Teapot

A while back I mentioned a pattern that I admired in Just CrossStitch magazine that I asked hubby to stitch for me.

It is a lovely red transferware teapot that is the first in a six part series.  The designer of this elegant pattern is Donna Giampa.

After completing an adorable “baby's first lock of hair” keepsake piece for my daughter, hubby has begun work on my transferware teapot pattern choice.

I can see already that this will be one of my favorites - it will be gorgeous.  Then I’ll have the challenge of choosing the right frame and mat, a task my hubby always assigns to me.  A fair trade off, don’t you think?

And just in case you wanted to see the piece he did for our new granddaughter, I’ve shown a section of it above.  It is quite cute with the garland held by two birds (you can see where it has a little space in the center for the lock of hair) and the bunny wielding a pair of scissors.  It also includes her name and birth date.  Now all we need is the lock of hair.  ☺

True Honey Teas

For all of you that love your Keurig machines and also drink tea, this honey enhanced K-Cup tea is a terrific idea.  I like to add honey to my tea occasionally as a special treat.

From the True Honey Teas website:

K-Cups have been around for years now, becoming an easy and convenient addition to millions of kitchens around the country. While it has made it easier to make a cup of coffee or tea, one thing still alludes this 'all in one' device: the fact that you still have to add creamer or sweeteners afterward.

After getting my first Keurig machine 8 months ago (and falling in love with it!), I grew tired of this extra step. One day, I was looking at a jar of honey next to my Keurig machine and it occurred to me, "why can't the sweetener just be added into the K-Cup?"

I’m looking forward to learning which teas with honey will be offered in these new Keurig K-Cups.

From Yucky to Yummy

One of my favorite series of cookbooks is Company's Coming by Jean Paré.  I’ve been using her recipe for banana bread for years now. 

It is quick and easy to put together and the results are consistently good.  My eldest grandson loves this bread (without nuts) and warns everyone not to eat any more bananas once there are only three left in the bowl. The bananas can be really ripe and black - as long as they aren’t fermenting, they’re good to go.  ☺

Banana Bread

½    cup butter   
1     cup sugar   
2     eggs   
3     mashed ripe bananas   
1 ¾ cup all-purpose flour
1     tsp. baking soda
½    tsp. baking powder
½    tsp. salt
1     cup chopped walnuts (optional)

Cream butter and sugar.  Beat in eggs one at a time.  Add mashed bananas and blend in.

In second bowl, stir together dry ingredients.  Add to banana mixture and stir till just moistened.  Transfer batter to a greased 9 x 5 x 3 inch loaf pan. 

Bake at 350° for about an hour until inserted toothpick comes out clean.  Let stand for 10 minutes, then remove from pan and place on a rack to cool. 

This bread is yummy with a nice cup of strong black tea.