A Message from Ruth at Antiques And Teacups

Welcome to the blog of Antiques And Teacups! Let's share a cup of tea and talk about the things we love...like teacups, antiques, collectibles, visiting England, antiquing and learning about victoriana and quirky gadgets. Fun!

Sunday, November 29, 2015

Tuesday Cuppa Tea, Chai Spiced Cookies, Emma Bridgewater, an Interesting Week!

Hello and welcome to Tuesday Cuppa Tea!  I hope all you Yanks had a great Thanksgiving...we were home on Tuesday afternoon after our pre-holidays jaunt so the 2 of us had a streamlined Thanks giving...reasons explained below....but...


We got home on Tuesday to 35 degrees after a strong wind and ice storm. The neighbors tree was downed and just missed their home. We trimmed our trees last fall....a blessing...so we just lost a lot of small limbs. BUT...the heat pump was encased in 2 inches of ice...inside and out. So instead of blithely doing my Tuesday Cuppa Tea post for today, we have been trying to thaw it out while on emergency electric heat before the serviceman gets here Monday...Thanksgiving and a weekend are NOT a good time to get a service call. But, as we did have the emergency electric we are better than a lot of folks...the company says their phones have been constantly ringing with similar problems.
  


So...here is my teacup for this week...I took made us a quick cup of tea in my Emma Bridgewater Happy Christmas Robin mug with a peach Passion fruit scones I had frozen before we left...THAT was a great thing! In between making and shooting hot water into the housing trying to melt the inch of ice...and it's on the north side of the house and hasn't gotten above 30 degrees! But enough of that!!!



As some of you may remember, I am very partial as my English grandmother, my Nana who died at 99 years old in 1976 was named Emma Bridgewater and was also from Leicester where Emma the potter hails from. So...I have been a follower since she began in the 1980s and have amassed quite a collection of mugs...one always seemed to find it's way into our luggage from our annual pottery visits during our yearly trip to England to buy and visit family.


I don't remember if this is from 2 or 3 years back, but it lives in the back of my cupboard and comes out at Thanksgiving when I plan to start decorating for and anticipating Christmas. I love Emma's Birds mugs and have many, and the Robin is a favorite, so loved this Christmas design...plus it's blue!




The tea is one of my most favorite Christmas teas...the Holiday blend from Harney & Sons. Just the right mix of black teas and spice!  






I have interspersed some of the remaining Thanksgiving decor, because with the heating issues the Christmas decor is still sitting in their boxes...




On our way home from Seattle on Tuesday via the Bainbridge ferry, we always stop at Central Market in Poulsbo, WA...an institution! I had a turkey breast, Apple Pear cider and what we needed to the roast vegetables we were having, but thought I'd look for dessert...and was I glad I did! I found THE BEST turkey cupcakes from a San Francisco bakery called Delectable Desserts, and were the ever! Cupcakes covered with chocolate ganache and buttercream frosting. Heavenly!  One turkey, however, slid in it's container on the way home and did a face plant on the side...so one is a Roman nosed guy, but it might have spoiled his looks...but not the taste!






This week I wanted to share this recipe I found on MyRecipes.com for Chai Spiced Shortbread. I have made these before, planned to make them for Thanksgiving, but....life intervened. They are delicious!



Chai-Spiced Shortbread Cookies

Yield:  

Makes 45
Total time: 40 Minutes

Ingredients

1 cup butter, softened 
1/2 cup sugar 
1/2 teaspoon salt 
1 teaspoon vanilla extract 
2 cups flour 
1 tablespoon cinnamon 
1 1/4 teaspoons ground ginger
1 teaspoon ground fennel seeds*
1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom
Leaves from 1 English Breakfast tea bag
1 cup white chocolate chips
Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 350°. Beat butter, sugar, salt, and vanilla in a large bowl with a mixer until smooth. In another bowl, stir together flour, cinnamon, ginger, fennel, cardamom, and tea. Add to butter mixture and beat on low speed until blended. Stir in chocolate chips.
2. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Set 1-tbsp. balls of dough 1 in. apart on sheets and flatten slightly with a floured glass.
3. Bake until cookies are light golden on undersides, 15 to 18 minutes, switching pan positions halfway through baking. Transfer to racks to cool.
*Grind in a clean coffee grinder or in a mortar.
Make ahead: Up to 3 days, stored airtight.


So thanks so much for joining me for Tuesday Cuppa Tea! Below is the list of some of the blog parties I will be part of and there is the linky for your tea related posts...please remember that it is SSSLLLOOOOOOWWWW but if you are patient...it's there! And I love to read your comments, and can find you to visit!
 Tea Cup Tuesday 
 Bernideen’s Teatime, Cottage & Garden

15 comments:

  1. I am so sorry to hear about all your heating and weather related troubles. I do hope they will be resolved shortly. Meanwhile I do like that Emma tea cup. I must look them up. And is that a little fabric "pumpkin" in the first picture. It is very pretty!

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  2. Goodness Ruth, you've had quite the week! Thankfully, all is well now for you. Those turkey cupcakes were a wonderful treat!
    Your Emma Bridgewater mug is so pretty for your tea today. I will need to look for your favorite Holiday blend of tea, as I love seasonsal teas. The chai shortbread cookies sound so perfect for a teatime treat. Thanks so much for hosting!

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  3. Oh, dear, not very pleasant coming home and finding those troubles! Hope things get back to normal today for you. I love your mug, Ruth. English robins are adorable! My Uncle Doug who grew up in England loves them and claims they are his favourite. Your shortbread cookies look wonderful. Thank you for sharing and hosting.

    Blessings,
    Sandi

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  4. Hi Ruth,
    Sorry about all of your weather problems. I do love that dear little Robin mug. My hubby's name is Robin and he does prefer mugs to teacups so I must look for something like that. What adorable turkey cupcakes too! Happy Tuesday Cuppa Tea and Thank you for hosting! Karen

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  5. Hello Ruth, wow sorry about the weather. I hope all is well now. Your Robin mug is cute and the scones, cupcakes and tea and cookies all look delicious. Happy Monday, enjoy your new week!

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  6. Greeting Ruth:
    And Merry Christmas season. Looks like you are off to a great start sharing your pretty items. That looks like a great recipe too! Darling mug and I love the legend of the Red Robin!

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  7. Hello Ruth, I do hope you are staying warm in your chilly weather and that your regular heat is now functioning.
    Thanks for letting us know about the Harney & Sons holiday tea. I saw it on display at Barnes and Noble and was tempted to buy it. Sounds like a wonderful tea that I should try.
    Thanks for hosting!

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  8. What a lovely mug ... and the cookies look yummy. Rats about the weather issues. Hope it gets better soon soon!

    I'm coming to today from Mosaic Monday ... Thanks for a lovely visit.
    Brenda

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  9. Sorry to hear about your heating issues, Ruth. Yikes! I'm also a big fan of Emma Bridgewater. I have an EB milk bottle decorated with hearts and aspire to own a tea set one day! Your turkey cupcakes are almost too cute to eat. Hee! Thanks for hosting and hope your week warms up!

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  10. Love that beautiful Emma Bridgewater Christmas mug, but I do not love the news of your challenges with the heating! (I HATE to be cold!) Those turkey cupcakes look delightful and sound delicious, and I laughed at your comment about the one who face-planted. Thanks for the chuckles!

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  11. Sorry to hear of your heating problems Ruth, not something you need at this time of year. The EB mug is adorable and the chai shortbread looks delicious.

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  12. Hello Ruth,
    What a fine tea post! So much to see! I love your Emma cup, what a sweet pattern! How fascinating about the same names and locations!
    I am sorry about your electric and hope it is back on soon.
    The turkey cupcakes look amazing. Wow, you must have loved it!
    Hugs,
    Terri

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  13. Oh my! What problems you came home to! Hope everything is back to normal now. Love the turkey cupcakes, and the recipe for chai shortbread is something I'm going to try. Your Emma Bridgewater holiday mug is lovely, and there's nothing better than Harney's tea to put in it.

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  14. Ruth I love this mug. They are so pretty!

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  15. Ruth, such lovely things! I am delighted to be able to share a tea post this morning! Something for tea lovers AND for those looking for a gift for a tea lover.

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Thanks for visiting and we love to hear from you! We read every comment. If my husband's health permits, I love to visit andreply. Have a wonderful day and a cuppa tea always at hand! :)

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