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Sunday, March 20, 2016

Tuesday Cuppa Tea, Easter Tea, A Winner!



Hello and welcome to Tuesday Cuppa Tea for the week before Easter...Holy Week as it is known to many. Sometimes Jewish Passover overlaps Easter, but not this year...Easter is early.  


It seems we just finished Saint Patrick's Day, so I have a very simple Easter afternoon tea in the sunroom...just changed the tablecloth and decor today....


I kind of centered it around a new Shelley teacup and some giant yellow Easter egg cookies I found at our organic bakery yesterday....



I know that I have shared several elements before...like my green cross which is always out in the sunroom, reminding me of John 3:16 

For God do loved the world
that He gave His only Son
that whoever believes in Him
shall not perish but have
everlasting life


And I always have out my cute little lamb to remind me about new life and to tie into the Lamb Of God and also an element on the Passover plate which I will share about next month during passover.  The eggs speak to me of God the Three In One, and also new birth as well...and is an international symbol...I love this antique Russian Orthodox Easter postcard...it says "Christ is Risen!"


To get back to my tea, I have another vintage tea cloth or embroidered tablecloth...linene with pastel embroidered flowers and an art deco basket design...


And how about these egg sugar cookies! How fun is that! I have Hot Cross Buns coming from the bakery on Tuesday, but today...just  Easter Egg cookies...


I put them on a Shelley Dainty yellow Rosebud plate from the shop...I don't have much in yellow...this colorway is seldom seen really...mostly the red/pink Rosebud pattern.


I had some difficulty finding yellow, but did have this Royal Albert Tea rose cream and sugar set, 


and a pair of 1940s Georgian style English EPNS sugar tongs...




And here is the Shelley teacup, in the footed Oleander pattern with wonderful sunny yellow exterior, pale yellow interior and the Dresden pattern, in pattern number 13438/516. The 516 after the / indicates the color.




The pale yellow doesn't show up well. The teacup was made from 1940 until the pottery closed in 1966.




I always love the pretty molded shape of the Oleander, and the burnished gold  trim is just beautiful!


And to serve the tea...a green jasperware teapot...but not by Wedgwood!




Jasperware has become synonymous with Wedgwood, but several other companies made it as well...Adaams and Dudson did, and this is a Dudson, England teapot from the 1940s. The pattern is the same as Wedgwood's Sacrifice Figure pattern, but then, the English potteries of Staffordshire had  copying each other...and the entire industry came out of a desire to copy the wares coming into England from Japan and China in the 1700s...hence the name "china" for fine dishes!




I'll be saving the other teacup for later...there's a history attached I don't have time for here, so....




I found this great recipe for a bunny shaped cake in Good Housekeeping magazine and thought I'd add it here...as it's Easter bunny time fast approaching.




I thought it was so cute!!

Pineapple-Coconut Bunny Cake

Serves: 16
Yields: 16 servings
Prep Time: 35 min
Prep Time: 25 min

Ingredients

2 1/2 cup(s) all-purpose flour
2 1/2 teaspoon(s) bakingpowder
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup well-stirred cream of coconut (from 15-ounce can)
1 can (8 ounces) crushed pineapple in juice
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups sugar
1/2 cup/ 1 stick butter or margarine, softened
3 large eggs
Silky Coconut Butter Frosting
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup well-stirred cream of coconut
2 tablespoons well-stirred cream of coconut
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup/2 sticks unsalted butter (no substitutions), softened

Decorations
1 bag(s) (7 ounces, or 2 2/3 cups) sweetened flaked coconut
2  pink Jordan almonds
1  blue jelly bean
1  red heart-shaped tart candy
2-inch lengths black licorice lace

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour 13- by 9-inch metal baking pan.

Prepare Pineapple-Coconut Cake: On waxed paper, combine flour, baking powder, and salt. In 2-cup liquid measuring cup, combine cream of coconut, pineapple with its juice, and vanilla. 

In large bowl, with mixer at low speed, beat sugar and butter just until blended. Increase speed to medium-high and beat 3 minutes or until creamy, occasionally scraping bowl with rubber spatula. Reduce speed to low; add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. 

Beat in flour mixture alternately with pineapple mixture just until blended, beginning and ending with flour mixture and occasionally scraping bowl.
Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool cake in pan on wire rack 10 minutes. Loosen cake from pan; invert onto rack to cool completely.

Meanwhile, prepare Silky Coconut Butter Frosting: In 2-quart saucepan, combine sugar and flour. Gradually stir in cream of coconut until smooth. Cook over medium-high heat until mixture thickens and boils, stirring frequently. Reduce heat to low; cook 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove saucepan from heat; stir in vanilla. Cool completely.

In large bowl, with mixer at medium speed, beat butter until creamy. Gradually beat in cream-of-coconut mixture. Makes about 3 cups.


When cake is cool, transfer to large flat platter. Using pattern and knife, cut out bunny's body and ears from cake. Place some cake trimmings on tail and ears to add height. With metal spatula, spread frosting over side and top of cake. Gently press coconut into frosting on cake. Decorate bunny with Jordan almonds for ear, jelly bean for eye, heart-shaped candy for mouth, and licorice for whiskers.
*Reserve cream of coconut remaining in can (1 cup plus 2 tablespoons) to use in frosting recipe.

And we have a winner!!!! Congratulations to Linda of Linda's Life Journal

who was picked by Random.org as the winner of my giveaway for the Jan Karon book A Common Life. Please email me your snail mail address and I'll get it off to you ASAP!



Okey dokey, that's it for today. May this be a blessed week for you with lots of tea and goodies! I am joining: 




Here 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! Thanks so much for joining me for tea!




18 comments:

  1. I am so THRILLED to be the winner in your giveaway!! Thank you!
    This was a beautiful post and I really do like your blue egg wreath!

    ReplyDelete
  2. I'm always so delighted to be hosted here, dearest Ruth !
    Thank you for this wonderful post of yours and congrats to the winner !

    Hope your week is off to a great start,
    I wish you wonderful days to come, sweet friend,
    with gratitude

    Dany

    ReplyDelete
  3. Good morning, Ruth! Your Shelley teacup sure is a beauty, with its color, shape, and the pretty flowers inside. It goes well with those giant Easter egg cookies for your tea today on your lovely embroidered tablecloth. Happy Easter week, Ruth, and thanks for hosting.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I really enjoyed seeing your yellow tea things! My mother's wedding china pattern was yellow roses (can't remember the exact name), similar to your sugar and creamer, and they brought back some nice memories. Love the vintage post cards, too!

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  5. Congrats to your winner! I love Jan Karon's books! You have shared so many pretty pieces of china today, Ruth. I love the dainty Shelley plate and yellow teacup. The bunny cake is too cute. Thanks for sharing and hosting. Happy Easter!

    Blessings,
    Sandi

    ReplyDelete
  6. Happy Spring Ruth! I don't have a teacup to share today but stopped by anyway because I so enjoy your informative posts. Your teacups are lovely, and the cookies! I like what you said about the lamb and the cross. Have a blessed Easter week.
    Gina

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  7. Hi Ruth, I love your vintage postcards. Those cookies ... wow... I think one would take days to eat! I love the bunny cake. Fun fun! Beautiful Shelley teacup and your Jasperware teapot is gorgeous. Happy Spring and Happy Easter. Thanks for hosting!

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  8. Your Easter tea table looks lovely with your beautiful china and the egg cookies. The bunny cake is adorable! Happy Spring and a very Blessed Easter to you Ruth.
    Pam

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  9. I so missed visiting you Ruth. Your table looks amazing. Have a wonderful Easter my friend. Hugs, Martha

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  10. Yellow is one of my favourite colours so I'm loving the pretty Shelley teacup and egg cookies. I have a teacup featuring a yellow rose (by Paragon, I think?) that would go well with your RA sugar and creamer. Thank you for hosting and have a wonderful Easter!

    ReplyDelete
  11. The blue egg wreath is lovely and that bunny cake, oh well, it's making me crave for a piece with a cuppa tea! You must have the mold tin for it too.
    Thanks for the recipe too.
    Thank you for hosting.
    Happy Easter.
    FABBY

    ReplyDelete
  12. Hi Ruth,
    I had a difficult time linking up today and this is my third attempt after turning my computer off and on. Lol. Sorry I am late. Oh that yellow Shelley is so perfect for spring and I love your Wedgwood teapot. Your china collection is exquisite! What a dear Easter bunny cake too. Happy Easter Dear Ruth! Karen

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  13. That is a beautiful Shelley! Looks just like a spring flower. I love the vintage postcards, especially the Russian one. And the embroidered tablecloth. I love decorating for Easter, but have done nothing yet. So have to HOP to it!!
    Have a blessed Holy Week Ruth. Love, Deborah

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  14. Hi Ruth, do I ever love your Shelly teacup! So lovely for spring! I use to make a bunny cake like yours when my kids were young! Lots of good memories!
    Wishing you a wonderful Easter,
    Nancy

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  15. Dear Ruth:
    I love all your yellow pieces which are so pretty for spring. I have to comment too on the pretty tablecloth. I do adore embroidery although I would never have the patience for doing it myself. Your cake is super sweet. Happy Easter Ruth and thanks for sharing and linking. Yes - we are unpacking every day now and it will take a while. We know they had a blizzard today in Colorado because in a phone call the bank said they were closing early. It was 70 degrees here in Missouri. Ha!

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  16. I love your beautiful teacups and seeing your Jasperware reminded me of my mother. But, my favorite here is that lovely tablecloth.

    Thanks for sharing at SYC.

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  17. Hello Ruth, Happy Easter and Happy Springtime!
    Your post is lovely, full of beautiful tea cups, and vintage post cards. Lovely!
    Wishing you the best day,
    hugs,
    Terri

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  18. Loved your sharing of the Easter wares, especially the symbolism and meaning of things. Of course I am always drawn to vintage postcards too (they just don't make anything as pretty today!), and I am stunned to learn that your Jasperware teapot is not by Wedgwood. I started to say, "Who knew?" but the answer is, "You did," ha!

    ReplyDelete

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! :)