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, July 31, 2016

Madeleines And Aynsley For Tuesday Cuppa Tea

Can you believe it's August tomorrow???That is amazing! But the weather here has certainly been summer...up to the high 80s for us...and that's warm for us! An added complication is my husband's Parkinson's Disease doesn't react well to heat...it's a stressor to his system which makes everything worse...so life has been interesting this week...so no fancy Tuesday Cuppa Tea...just sharing the last baking I did at the first of the week before the heat climbed...



I have a Madeleine French cookies pan that periodically I get out, and did so last Monday. So here was tea in the sunroom...when it wasn't too hot. We've had it up to the mid 90s in there, even with all the blinds down this week...



I found a new Aynsley, England recently in an unusual color...a really goldenrod yellow with a gorgeous pink rose in the cup interior...




I have had their corset shaped cups before...which is what this shape is called...and several with different exterior colors and rose interiors, but this is a new and striking color to me!




I believe the number is 2957, and it is unnamed as far as I can tell, and from the 1940s....very fun color! Quite a pop for a tea table!



I have been making Madeleines since I was a teenager...love their romantic look, and very easy to make, and they look so good!  I will give the recipe later in the post. I have them on a bone china saucer from Royal Victoria from the 1970s...

I think it's fun, because it is the same pattern as Shelley's Rose, Pansy and Forget-Me-Not...which isn't such a surprise as I explained in another blog post about pattern copying....



The recipe I used is from a smallish book titled The London Ritz Book Of  Afternoon Tea by Helen Simpson published in 1987...I picked it up at the Ritz as a souvenir after having tea there that year for my birthday....



I love the chapter title of the book which includes the Madeleines recipe...Foreign Cakes And Wicked Cakes...and says:


"Such cakes hold a frisson of wickedness to the English cook, as they glory in quantities of cream and chocolate and tooth-deep frosting. Sweet sirens of the cake world, they are as smooth and rich as film stars."

Little French sponge cakes Proust said were "richly sensual under it's severe religious folds"...well!

Ingredients

2 medium eggs
1/2 cup sugar
8 tbs or 1 stick unsalted butter, melted
finely grated rind of 1 lemon and juice of 1/2 lemon
1/2 cup self rising flour

Method

Preheat oven to 375 degrees
Lightly butter 2 madeleine tins.
Beat the egg yolks and sugar until thoroughly mixed but still bright yellow. Beat in the melted butter, lemon rind and juice, then sift the flour over the surface and fold in. Stir in egg whites with a fork; then beat them well into the mixture

Spoon a small amount of the mixture into each mould and bake in the center of the oven for 20 minutes. Cool slightly in the moulds before gently easing onto wire racks to cool completely.
Makes 24 madeleines

There you go!  Thanks for joining me and hope you are staying cool...we have a cooling trend, bringing us back to normal beginning tomorrow..hooray!

I am joining:


Thanks so much for joining me for tea!  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 I do read every one if I can find and can get to you to visit!  If you comment from Google+…it isn’t easy...so forgive me if I am not replying to comments you so kindly leave...I am trying!

Sunday, July 24, 2016

Tuesday Cuppa Tea Beatrix Potter's 150th Anniversary, Tiara Pan Tea Infused Peach Dessert, Shelley Of Course!

Happy summer! It is definitely summer here...finally! Temps in the high 70s...wow...we aren't used to this!  And I have been a busy bee freezing fresh organic peaches, blueberries and green beans from our local organic farms...



 But now...it's time for Tuesday Cuppa Tea! First of all, July 28th is the 150th anniversary of Beatrix Potter's birth...



Her books and characters are still favorites of adults and children all around the world. I had them in the kindegarten class I taught, and the children loved them!



My favorite character is Mrs. Tiggy-winkle...I guess that's why I have always been so thrilled to come across a hedgehog on our English visits...although the sightings diminished as the years passed...



Her illustrations were so cute! You have to go a long way to find someone as talented...I couldn't begin to do a post that honors her work enough. 




Britain magazine did a great article about her and how to celebrate which you can read HERE



I had a bit of difficulty finding a teacup for today as I like to choose thematically. I only have a Beatrix Potter mug by Wedgwood, so I tried to think of one that went with the peach dessert that I will be sharing...and remembered a Shelley...what else!


This pattern is called Fruit Center, and I have always thought it looks like peaches, so humor me and say so to! The shape is Boston and this was made between 1963 and 1966 when the pottery closed and is pattern number 14208. I love the blush pink too!




The pattern was made in several different exterior colors, so it is always fun to find a different one. I do love Shelley! So...a fruit center teacup is perfect with the Tiara dessert I made with our fresh organic peaches...the most flavorful we have had in several years!



When we were married in 1974 or shortly thereafter, we got this Tiara Dessert pan by Ekco Baker's Secret for Duncan Hines, but I haven't used it for years. But a Facebook dealer friend in Oregon posted a photo of her strawberry dessert she made in one, and it was an...Hey, I have one of those!...moments. So dug around and found it in the back of my pan closet. You bake the cake and when you invert it on a plate it has a well to be filled with whatever. Williams Sonoma apparently released their own version they called a Mary Ann

Pan in the 1990s. So...here is the  finished product, then the recipe:

Tiara pan

This came with the original Duncan Hines tiara dessert pan.

Basic Flan/cake recipe

3/4 c. sugar
1/4 c. butter
3 egg yolks
1 1/4 c. flour
2 t. baking powder
1/2 t. salt
1/2 c. milk
1/2 t. flavoring**

Mix sugar, butter and eggs. Add milk with remaining ingredients and then combine all.Pour into well-greased pan and bake at 350° for 25 min. Remove from oven and let cool 10 minutes before inverting on serving plate. Cool and then pour filling in the center hollow. Garnish edges with cool whip if desired. Pretty!!

**Cherry pie filling is good with almond flavoring
Peach pie filling is good with rum flavor, but I like almond with peaches as well 

My friend said to be sure to grease really well, and it was difficult getting it out of the pan. Because there are just the 2 of us, and with sauce of some filling to go in the well, we didn't fill it, but added sauce to a bowl with it...here is what it looked like on a plate...after half was gone and I remembered to photograph it! Lol!



I had the peaches, so wanted to use them...a remembered I had a tea infused peach dessert sauce recipe...originally from Celestial Seasonings Tea many years ago....originally with Celestial Seasonings Peach herbal, but I used...Republic Of Tea's Ginger Peach decaffinated black tea....



Ingredients

1/2 cup brewed peach tea
2tbs cornstarch
4 cups sliced peaches
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 tsp nutmeg
2 tsp vanilla...I used 1 tsp vanilla and 1 tsp almond flavor

Whisk together tea and corn starch and transfer to a saucepan. Cook 2-3 minutes stirring constantly until clear .
Add sugars and spices and cook stirring frequently for 1-2 minutes. Add the peaches. 
Simmer until thickened, about 10 minutes. 
Remove from heat and add vanilla. Let stand 5-10 minutes to finish thickening. Will keep in refrigerator several day, and is also great on pancakes or waffles.

Absolutely delicious!  I served our with Coconut Bliss vegan non dairy "ice cream".   There you have it! 


Wanted to mention that Antiques And Teacups is participating in Shabby Cottage Shops Christmas In July from July 24-28th...check out my Christmas in July category with items 25-40 percent reduced for this event!

Hope you have a wonderful week, and thanks for joining me for Tuesday Cuppa Tea! I am joining: 


Thanks so much for joining me for tea!  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 I do read every one if I can find and can get to you to visit!  If you comment from Google+…it isn’t easy...so forgive me if I am not replying to comments you so kindly leave...I am trying!








Thursday, July 21, 2016

Prince George's 3rd Birthday on Friday, More Lavender!

Hi there! It has been summer here in the Pacific Northwest...and I have been happily up to my ears in farm fresh lavender, blueberries and peaches! But...


Friday, July 22 is Prince George's 3rd birthday...amazing! Love the Getty image above...so cute.


It really does seem like a few months ago, instead of July 2013 that he was born...


And he is certainly a typical little boy! Last weekend he visited an RAF base and sat in the helicopters his Dad trained in, and is reported to be getting a new puppy for his birthday from his parents. Cute!


You may remember from my Tuesday Cuppa Tea post, that at the George Washington Inn B&B as part of the Sequim Lavender Festival last Friday we had afternoon tea, which included Lemon Lavender bars. You can read that post  HERE if you missed it...

but while looking through old magazines I found this in the October 2013 issue of Country Living:


Haven't made them yet, but in case you have the issue they are page 121. Here are a few other Lavender Fair photos...


Outdoor Sequim band concert in the park...


I'd call this outdoor sculpture...at a Cedarbrook Lavender...


At Purple Haze Lavender...a mini Lavender market, with food and live music as well...


Lavender quilts at one of the booths...what a fun long weekend it always is!

Hope you have had a great week, and I'll see you on Sunday with Tuesday Cuppa Tea!

Sunday, July 17, 2016

Sequim Lavender Festival Tuesday Cuppa Tea


Hello and welcome to Tuesday Cuppa Tea! I am writing this on a very busy weekend here in Sequim...it's our annual Sequim Lavender Festival!



We have 30 lavender farms in a 10 mile radius...and as I said in my last post...you had better love the smell...and taste...of lavender, and be very partial to purple...because it predominates...especially for this long weekend every year.




Friday, the opening day of the 20th Annual Sequim Lavender Festival, we drove the 3 miles to the coast from our home to the George Washington Inn B and B, home of the Washington Lavender Farm for their annual festival afternoon tea. We go the first day, as it is the quietest, less crowds and shorter distances to walk from the parking area, which we now do because of my husband's Parkinson's Disease...




The inn was built in 2008 and is an exact replica of Mount Vernon...very fun!




They have beautiful grounds, with the main house, a shop a farm store and an attached sun room that faces the ocean, that they call the Piazza...which is what George Washington called his at Mount Vernon...where the tea is held.



We came early to tour the festival booths and listen to the live music, and we had a scoop each of Chocolate Lavender Mint ice cream while we waited...divine!




There were 3 seatings for the tea on Friday, and we had reservations for the 1 pm. White wicker, purple tablecloths, purple violet china....we were seated with 2 ladies on a day trip from 2 1/2 hours away....



And is often the case, I forgot to take photos until we were well into the sandwiches....here is the menu:


Raspberry Lavender Black Tea



Caprese Tea Sandwiches
white bread circles with basil ricotta and tomato slices

Salmon Mousse Tea Sandwiches
marbled rye with salmon mousse

Guacamole Tortilla Roll Ups
small corn torillas with an avocado, chives, cilantro and pepper filling



Cranberry Currant Lavender Scones

Orange Peel Lavender Scones


Strawberry And Mango Fruit Skewers

Lemon Pie Bars With Lavender

Cookie Spoons with Chocolate Mousse


And a George Washington re-enactor was on hand...he is a Washington specialist and does a marvelous job of being totally in character and answers any questions from an 18th century perspective...he was around the grounds as well as table hopping at the tea. Wonderful!



Today was the Lavender Street Fair downtown, and there are also a car show, concerts, art shows, quilt shows, sculptor show, several dances and lots of fun things. So...there you have my tea experience this week...what was yours???? I am joining...

Thanks so much for joining me for tea!  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 I do read every one if I can find and can get to you to visit!  If you comment from Google+…it isn’t easy...so forgive me if I am not replying to comments you so kindly leave...I am trying!


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