Pages

Monday, July 17, 2017

Tuesday Cuppa Tea, Shelley, Strawberry Scones and A Giveaway!!!



Hello and welcome to Tuesday Cuppa Tea! I am back enjoying life again...the wind has died down and the severe allergies have receded. I always have problems with high pollen, but this year, with the long winter in our area with record rainfall caused a late and extreme pollen load...haven't had it like this in years...but it passes...and it has! WooHoo!!!


I have a strawberry scones tea today...actually had it all ready last week, but...good thing I had photographed it already as the goodies are all gone!



As I was deciding what to use for this tea, I got to a Shelley tea set I have and decided to use it, because I love the aqua and white of the Drifting Leaves pattern...



This set is in the Gainsborough shape and so the teapot is very curvy...which I love!



The pattern was a true mid century design with it's stylized leaves a "snow crystals? and was only made from 1956 to 1966 when the pottery closed. The pattern number is number 13848.


The teacups are so sweet...I love the Gainsborough shape...actually one of my favorites!


 The mark again...the set was made late enough in Shelley's history that the pieces are always marked with the pattern name.


Many earlier china only had numbers, not marks, and then they became more consistent with marking with the name.


I am using another of my embroidered tea cloths...this has multicolored Daisies. It has a few stains, so I have a projest next week to see if I can get those out. I recently found a forgotten box of linens in the back of the closet I brought home from an England trip just before a move that I had completely forgotten about! Just like Christmas!




I also have luncheon plates in the Drifting Leaves pattern, and a creamer and sugar basin and a cake plateau which I forgot to get out, although I remembered the sandwich tray!....






And a rectangular sandwich tray...those are really hard to find... on the tray are the fresh Strawberry Scones I made...the recipe is below...





And now... a Giveaway! I don't know if you noticed, but at the back of the tea table is a book....
Summer At Fairacre by Miss Read.

I have collected the entire series of her books. The series features school teachers in small Cotswolds villages of Fairacre, Thrush Green, Caxley and surrounding areas and cover from the late Victorian to the 1970s in varipus books. They are wonderful! I was first given one by my new sister-in-law after marrying my husband in 1974 and visiting his family in England, and was instantly hooked. 




My husband and I were at our local library monthly book sale and he picked it up for me, knowing how I love the auther. The hardback book is a dulpicate, so I will pass along the joy to a new...or already hooked...reader...






To enter...just comment  "EnterMe" on this post. I will draw a winner on Monday, July 24th, and post it on this blog as well as on Facebook and Google +. Please check back on the blog, because some commenters are hard to reply or contact with the new blooger commenting rules.


We get 2 kinds of organic strawberries here...the larger American variety seen at the top of the blog...perfect sliced for pies or dipped in chocolate...and the smaller English variety seen in the photo above, with a different and more intense strawberry flavor that we love. They are the straberries I used in this recipe, although both are good!



The Strawberry Shortcake Scones recipe I used is from the blog BellyFull at




STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE SCONES

PREP TIME
COOK TIME
TOTAL TIME
Tender flaky scones with fresh strawberries throughout and a dreamy glaze!
Serves: 12
INGREDIENTS
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 tablespoon baking powder
  • 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 6 tablespoons chilled unsalted butter, cut into 1/4-inch cubes
  • 12 small strawberries, hulled and diced
  • 3/4 cup half and half
For the glaze
  • 3 cups powdered sugar
  • 1/4 cup half and half
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
DIRECTIONS
  1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  2. In a large mixing bowl, combine flour, baking powder, sugar, and salt. Add butter and cut in with a pastry blender (or your hands) until mixture resembles crumbs.
  3. Toss in strawberries and coat lightly with the flour mixture. Add half and half and fold together gently until the mixture just begins to come together and form a soft dough. (Do not knead or over mix the dough.)
  4. Turn dough out onto a floured surface and pat into a 1-inch thick rectangle. With a sharp knife, cut the rectangle into 6 squares, then cut the squares on the diagonal to form 12 triangles. Place scones on prepared baking sheet and bake 16-18 minutes or until cooked through and golden.
  5. Place a sheet of parchment on a work surface, then place a cooling rack over top of parchment. Remove scones from pan to cooling rack. Cool about 10 minutes.
  6. In the meantime, make glaze by whisking together powdered sugar, vanilla, and half and half until smooth. (If glaze is too thick, add a bit more cream. If it’s too thin, add more powdered sugar.)
  7. Generously drizzle scones with the glaze. (Glaze will firm up when scones are completely cool.) Eat and enjoy!


There you go! They didn't last around here! Moist and tender...delicious!
I will be joining:


Thanks so much for joining me for tea!  Here is the Tuesday Cuppa Tea linky for your tea related posts...please remember that it is SSSLLLOOOOOOWWWW but if you are patient...it's there!  I am so looking forward to visiting you!


29 comments:

  1. The strawberry scones sound delicious! :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Your scones look wonderful, Ruth! Love the tea set and Gainsborough is a favourite shape of mine too. The book sounds delightful so if this is open to your Canadian friends, please do Enter Me. Thanks for sharing and I'm so glad you're feeling better. Have a beautiful day!

    Blessings,
    Sandi

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hi Ruth - wow - what a beautiful post! Your Shelley set is so beautiful- light and lovely = looks perfect for summertime!

    Thank you for your recipe - funny Angela McCrea just posted a tea house she visited that served strawberry shortcake scones. : - )
    And I was thinking, since strawberries are so in season right now that it is time I looked up the recipe - only to find you have shared yours with us. Much obliged, ma'am!

    I have never heard of that author, and I should be delighted to win, please throw my name in the hat.

    So sorry I have been missing the last few months. I posted today though - about my granddaughter's first birthday party this weekend past. Glad to be back and hope to post more regularly if time allows.

    I am so sorry to hear you've been feeling poorly. Good health to you, sweet lady. Hugs.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hi Ruth! Just reading about the strawberry scones have made my mouth water. Thanks for the recipe. I love your Shelley Floating Leaves set. I don't believe I've seen it before. So many wonderful patterns and so little time! Ha! Thank you for hosting and Happy Tea Day. Good health to you!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Enter me, Please!

    I love Miss Read. A calm and peaceful world inhabited by lovely, gentle people. A cup of tea and two chocolate digestive biscuits and life with Miss Read is wonderful.

    I love aqua, a much under appreciated colour.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Enter me, please; I enjoy English stories, and have not read any of these. The scones look wonderful!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Hi Ruth! I LOVE your blog and look forward to it weekly. Please "EnterMe" in the drawing. I would just treasure the book. Thanks!

    I can't figure out how to create a profile name...my name is Tracy and I live in Orlando, FL. :)

    ReplyDelete
  8. Hi Ruth!I am glad you are better...I loved your exquisite porcelain!How gorgeous!Love your tablecloth too,I love embroideries...Your scones look delicious!Thanks for sharing,hosting and visiting!Hugs.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Glad that your season allergies have eased up! Your pretty Shelley tea set reminds me of my "Serenity" teacups. The strawberry scones are perfect for a summertime tea. Thank you for hosting and enjoy the rest of the week.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Please enter me in your book giveaway. It seems the perfect book to read while enjoying those strawberry scones. I love the tea set, it's quite different.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Hello and Happy Tuesday Tea to you, Ruth and Ladies,

    I can't wait to try these scones!!! I love scones anyway and make several kinds already. Looking forward to trying these once I have some fresh strawberries.

    Have a lovely day,
    Barb :)

    ReplyDelete
  12. I'm glad that you're feeling better, Ruth! Congratulations,on your FB milestone, too. Your strawberry scones would be something that I'd love to try...I love anything with berries. Please enter me in your giveaway. I've never read any of Miss Read, but would love to, as I love stories set in England or Scotland. Thanks for hosting, Ruth!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Your scones look delicious. I so enjoyed your photos. I have heard several people say the Miss Read books are good but I have not read one so please Enter Me in the contest.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Love your blog . Enter me ! :)

    ReplyDelete
  15. ENTER ME! PLEASE! What a lovely post. Thank you so much for sharing the strawberry scone recipe. It looks delicious! Have a blessed week Ruth.

    ReplyDelete
  16. P.S. Please "Enter Me" in your drawing. I also pinned several of your photographs including the book under my Tomes to Read board on Pinterest. Thank you for the chance! :) Barb

    ReplyDelete
  17. I love these books. Please enter me. Your scones look fabulous. You've inspired me to make some. Thanks for a chance to win.

    ReplyDelete
  18. I have a monthly tea party at my house for the young moms that go to my church. We have three courses - Scones, Savories, and Sweets. These scones will be a perfect selection! Please Enter Me for the book. I am always looking for something "English" to share at my parties and this would be a great addition!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Please enter me! Your Shelley set is beautiful, and the description of the strawberries is intriguing. I find only with apples do you know what you are purchasing at our grocer? Just bought some strawberries will have to try your delicious recipe :)

    ReplyDelete
  20. Your scones do look so very delicious and well prepared. Thank you for sharing all your interesting information and this lovely Shelley set. Such a unique pattern!

    ReplyDelete
  21. Dear Ruth, I enjoyed seeing the photos from your tea time. The scones look to die for and just made me get muffin as a little treat for myself.
    Please "Enter Me" in you drawing. The book sounds like a lot of fun!
    Have a nice rest of the week!
    Warm regards,
    Christina

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. And the winner, drawn by random.org is organicgardendreams! Please send me your name and snail mail address...email me...the button is on my left blog sidebar, or an antiquesandteacups at gmail dot com! Congratulations!

      Delete
  22. Dear Mrs. Ruth:

    Would you please enter me in the giveaway for your book? I don't have a blog. I do enjoy reading your posts. I've pinned multiple things to my Pinterest for reference. I am a third grade teacher turned Homeschool teacher. This book series sounds like something I can relate to. :)

    Thank you ever so much!
    Melinda

    ReplyDelete
  23. Enter me please. I love tea parties had them since I was a kid and still have them with grown up ladies.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Ruth, This set of china is wonderful. I love the color a lot. Strawberry Scones sound delicious. Have a great week. Sylvia D.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Ruth, I'm glad you're feeling better. Keep it up! I'm not always a fan of midcentury modern, but this set is lovely. I'd love to be having one of your strawberry scones right this minute!

    ReplyDelete
  26. Hi Ruth,
    Your Shelley tea set is just beautiful! I have never seen it before and love the colour! Your scones look just delish too. Thank you for hosting! Blessings, Karen

    ReplyDelete
  27. And the winner, drawn by random.org is organicgardendreams! Please send me your name and snail mail address...email me...the button is on my left blog sidebar, or an antiquesandteacups at gmail dot com! Congratulations!

    ReplyDelete
  28. How wonderful is this tea. The strawberry scones look delightful. Thanks for sharing at Home Sweet Home!

    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! :)