39th Tea Pots and Tea Things Tuesday, soup and cranberry dishware in kitchen

Welcome to....

38th, Teapot And Tea Things Tuesday

Winter is the time for comfort,

for good food and warmth,

for the touch of a friendly hand

and for a talk beside the fire:

it is time for home.

Dame Edith Sitwell



Thank you for dropping by today.  Its a perfect day to ”nest” and savour the aroma and warmth of a steamy brew with a heart-warming chat .  Perhaps today you will linger a little longer for lunch.  Homemade soup is simmering on the stove.  I will  arrange our luncheon in my hearthroom, by the fireplace.

Cold! Artic, bone chilling cold.

Windy! A wind so strong that it ensures its frigid fingers
grasp your very essence.

The wind is a fierce force of nature today. I can hear the
roar of each gust, echo in the ravine outside my home.  As I watch the
cardinals perched on the barren branches, dancing hither and yon I
too feel an unsettling in my soul.

Each day this week has brought its challenges and with that, decisions on
what direction our lives should take.  With an eye to the future, and its
uncertainties, I am trying to look at it, as opportunties, with positive
possiblities.   I suspect, if God wasn’t blowing change into my world, I
wouldn’t even take a glance outside my comfy circumstances any other
way or embrace the idea of change.

Getting organized in my kitchen

Cute detail - button hole in napkin

What better way to serve a piping hot soup than in

pretty cafe au lait cups that my friend Wanda, gifted me with.

Perhaps some fresh bread and butter to accompany our soup

Better yet, tea biscuits or soda bread.

My favorite McKelvie's Bannock

(I will tell you more about that in a future post)

They know tea time is coming

We have counted up to 15 cardinals

and their mates in the woods at one time.

Cozy cushion

Muffie is wanting patiently for you

I would like to share a recipe for soup that my family enjoys on cold days, like today.

RIB STICKIN' BEAN & BARLEY SOUP

1  TBSP  olive oil
2             large carrots,  sliced
2             stalks celery, sliced
1             large onion, chopped
1 BOX     (900mL)    Campbell's Ready to Use Organic Vegetable Broth
1 CAN     (19 oz/540mL) red kidney beans, rinsed and drained
2 CUPS    diced plum tomatoes, fresh or canned with liquid
1/4 CUP   uncooked pearl barley
2 CUPS    firmly packed chopped fresh spinach leaves, washed

Ground pepper, garlic, your favorite herbs to taste

1.   Heat oil in large saucepan, over medium-high heat.  Add the carrots, celery and onion, fresh garlic.      Cook and stir until vegies are tender.


2.   Stir in broth, beans, tomatoes and barley.  Heat to a boil.  Reduce heat to low.  Cover and cook for  30 minutes or until the barley is tender.


3.   Stir in spinach and seasonings to taste .  Cook until spinach is tender.




OPTION

I have used  homemade chicken stock or ready to use chicken broth and added leftover chicken or turkey, for a heartier soup.

( the link for that other half of our weekly tea party with Wanda Lee is @
http://silkenpurse.blogspot.com/).

~ I encourage you to stop by and savour another cup of tea while you enjoy her pretty vignettes.

The more the fun!

*Mr. Linky will arrive soon.

We don't want to miss a single teacup or teapot!

As always we cherish your comments and participation

in our Tuesday meme.

~You will be warmly welcomed if you choose to

become a follower!~

Welcome to,
Tuesday Tea Time In Blogland!

These are the links to the other oh-so-delightful tea parties and tabletop parties that I attend.
I invite you to drop in. Many thanks to those who faithfully host each week.

~ Hope to see you there!!

(Our own memes are marked with an asterisk*):


*~The 67th, 'Tuesday Tea For Two'
@ http://theplumedpen.blogspot.com/

~ Tuesday Teatime with Lady Katherine
@ http://www.ladykatherineteaparlor.blogspot.com/

~ Teatime Tuesday with Sandi
@ http://sandimyyellowdoor.blogspot.com/

~ Teacup Tuesday with Martha
@ http://marthasfavorites.blogspot.com/

~ Teacup Tuesday with Terri
@ http://artfulaffirmations.blogst.com/

~ Tabletop Tuesday with Marti
@ http://astrollthrulife.blogspot.com/

~ A Return to Loveliness with Kathy
@ http://blissfulrhythm.blogspot.com/

*~ The 39th, 'Teapot And Tea Things Tuesday', with Wanda Lee and Pam @
http://breathoffreshair-paperbutterfly.blogspot.com/
and http://silkenpurse.blogspot.com/


Other favorite places I may visit this week:

~Tablescape Thursday with Susan
@ http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/

~ Foodie Friday with Michael
@ http://www.designsbygollum.blogspot.com/

~Show and Tell Fridays with Cindy
@ http://romantichome.blogspot.com/

~Sunday Favorites with Chari
@ http://happytodesign.blogspot.com/



Cheers and hugs from Pam and Wanda Lee; ( Wanda Lee is the other half of our weekly blog tea party meme; 'Teapot And Tea Things Tuesday'.., @ http://silkenpurse.blogspot.com






* Photo credit - "Cardinal in Snow Storm" by Jayne

A Cup of London Fog

A CUP OF LONDON FOG

 for FOODIE FRIDAY



I love researching recipes. I am always looking for the BEST recipe that is fail proof and the least complicated and tastes the BEST. Don’t get me wrong I love to play gourmet but I enjoy savouring the product of my labour more.

                                                                          

EARL GREY LATTE
London Fog (also known as Vanilla Tea Misto or an Earl Grey Tea Latte) is the name of a drink which originated in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, http://en.wikibooks.org/

Things to Know Before You Start

Tea
If you have a refined palate for tea, you would no doubt use only the finest loose leaf Earl Grey tea with a tea infuser. For simplicity today I will use tea bags, but excellent quality tea non the less.
Earl Grey tends to get a little bitter if it is oversteeped, so be sure to use double the amount of tea to get double strength tea for your tea latte instead of simply letting the tea sit longer. You are making Earl Grey tea concentrate. Let steep for 2-4 minutes to achieve optimum flavour.

Milk:
You will just have to find your own middle ground in this department. You may choose from skim, 2%, up to half-n-half. Not to be forgotten is a variation  Manchester Fog - steamed soy milk with a sugar free vanilla syrup in Earl Grey tea.
 
Vanilla and Sweetness
Here is where I found several variations. You choose:

The simplilest
1.
brown sugar
1/2 tsp.pure vanilla extract /per serving

OR
2.
3 tbsp pure vanilla syrup/per serving( see bottom of recipe) or purchase

OR
3.
agave Nectar
1 tsp pure vanilla extract/per 2 serving


The Recipe
2 Earl Grey teabag or 1 tsp loose
1 cup of boiling water
1 cup of steamed milk, (your choice skim, 2%, half-n-half)

2 Tbsp. brown sugar,1 tsp. pure vanilla extract

OR
6 tbsp pure vanilla syrup

OR
agave Nectar
1 tsp pure vanilla extract

Pour hot Earl Grey tea into a large mug or other serving glass. Stir in sweetner and vanilla or vanilla syrup.
Steam milk, or heat it in the microwave and whisk until very frothy, and pour it into the sweetened tea.
Tea for two.

Garnish
An elegant touch is to put a cinnamon stick in along with the tea bag and leave it  to steep in the pot or mug Or sprinkle cinnamon, drizzle honey on foam
Serve in a large mug, settle into a large chair and enjoy.

                                                                                     


Vanilla Bean Simple Syrup

1 1/2 cups sugar
3/4 cup water
1/2 vanilla bean

In a medium saucepan, combine sugar and water. Slice vanilla bean lengthwise and drop it into the saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring once the mixture comes to a simmer, until all sugar has been dissolved. Remove from heat and scrape vanilla seeds out of the vanilla bean and into the syrup. Cool completely, then store in the refrigerator to use as needed.   Many other uses.

Herbal Infusions suggests two options to using Earl Grey

• Loose Leaf Tea – Dorian Grey Blend (its our version of Earl Grey but along with Bergamot contains apple pieces, elderblossom, linden and mallow flowers, daisy white, cornflower petals, and a subtle caramel finish) or Buckingham Palace (black tea, jasmine, cornflower petals, and bergamot). I find both to be not as overpowering as straight Earl Grey and have a few more layers of complexity to them.
Can be purchased online http://www.herbalinfusions.ca/


DAN  from

                                                       

                                

How to Make a London Fog Gourmet Tea Latte

eHow.com

http://www.bukisa.com/

http://www.herbalinfusions.ca/

http://breweddaily.com/

The 7th Teapot And Tea Things Tuesday; How Does Your Garden Grow?

Welcome to the 7th,

Teapot and Tea Things Tuesday

God loves each of us as if there were

only one of us.

St. Augustine

I am constantly amazed by the delicate, intricate designs of the flowers in nature. How many different hues of color on each petal. What a miracle each and every plant is! be it prolific or rare, each with its own unique fragrance and qualities.  Just like us. How incredibly awesome God's imagination must be!



So this tea is to honour the gardeners in our midst. Those of you who have a passion for all things living and green, outdoors and in. Those compassionate souls who nurture seedlings and cuttings; water, fertilize and tug out the weeds with determination, from the damp cool days of spring to the dog days of summer. To you I want to say thank you. Thank you for the multi coloured gardens that speak to my soul. Thank you for being such great stewards of God's paint brushes and assisting the master in creating such awe inspiring splendor. I savor the stimulus it gives my senses in sight, smell and wellbeing as I walk by your tended gardens. It is a gift you share with those looking over your fences and this is my note of appreciation.


And so I was inspired to choose tea treasures with delicate flowers from my china cabinet to share with you, this week. I do hope you have a moment to sit, chat and rest over a cup of tea.  Warm scones from the oven, butter and fresh strawberry rhubarb jam .
Simple and simlpy delicious, because I am sharing them with such good friends.  You can tell me how your garden is growing.

The table is being set...

My mom always had an embroidery project

on the go. Don't you agree, she did beautiful work.

I look forward to showing more of them in future posts.

I felt the need for an all white teapot.

I thought it wouldn't distract from the other floral china.

I am sure it will be used for many other occasions.

Homesense $14.99

Cornflower cream and sugar,

just like my Aunt Orpha's.

Depression glass dish for either

lemon slices or rose-shaped butter pats.

Cake stand for the scones and

a creamer with a spoon for the jam.

Which one would you like?

Or maybe one of these?

Some how all colours go together in a garden.

My friend Edith made these before she moved away.

How I miss Edith and her creative spirit.

Three or four on top of white sugar cubes add a

sweet touch of colour.

Just fo fun.

Silhouettes

It has been a pleasure to spend time with you.  Always feel so honoured when my friends take the time to drop in. Hope you feel refreshed and ready to resume your projects in the garden.

Wanda and I would love to know who has dropped in.

Please sign in the guest book with a comment.  We are excited to see what your favorite tea treasure is this week. 

Luke 12:27 (NIV)
"Consider how the lilies grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.

Luke 12:27 (The Message)
25-28"Has anyone by fussing before the mirror ever gotten taller by so much as an inch? If fussing can't even do that, why fuss at all? Walk into the fields and look at the wildflowers. They don't fuss with their appearance—but have you ever seen color and design quite like it? The ten best-dressed men and women in the country look shabby alongside them. If God gives such attention to the wildflowers, most of them never even seen, don't you think he'll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you?


I look forward to seeing your creative adventures in pictures this week. I may see you at the following blogs.
I will also be joining the other tea ladies this week for, 'Tuesday And Wednesday Teatime In Blogland', at:

~Tabletop Tuesday @ astrollthrulife.blogspot.com

~ Tuesday Tea For Two @ http://theplumedpen.blogspot.com/

~ Teapot And Tea Things Tuesday @ http://silkenpurse.blogspot.com and  http://breathoffreshair-paperbutterfly.blogspot.com/

~Teatime Tuesday @ http://ladykatherineteaparlor.blogspot.com/

~Tuesday Teatime @ http://sandimyyellowdoor.blogspot.com/

~Teacup Tuesday @ http://www.marthasfavorites.com/

~Wednesday Tea For Me And Thee@ http://theplumedpen.blogspot.com/



~Tablescape Thursday @ http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/









Cheers and hugs from Pamela, (and also from, Wanda Lee) @ http://silkenpurse.blogspot.com

TEAPOT AND TEA THINGS TUESDAY #4:

Welcome kind friends to the 4th,

 'TEAPOT AND TEA THINGS TUESDAY'!.., 

 I am so glad that you stopped by.  Find a comfy chair in the garden while I pour the tea and place some sweet treats on a pretty plate.

Wanda and I want to thank you all for your kind words and your beautiful contributions the last few weeks.  I have been humbled and inspired by each of your table settings, precious tea treasures and kind comments. It is wonderful to hear the sweet memories that some of you have shared surrounding your china.

I look forward to seeing your creative adventures in pictures this week.


I was inspired by the sunshine that we enjoyed this weekend and chose yellow to inspire my post. ( See Friday's post..."Two days of sun and I don't have to wear 2 layers of clothes, it was a fantastic weekend. If I have spent time with family and friends it was the best weekend".)

There aren't any special memories that I can recall connected to these cups.  I think they have come from at least 3 different family members. It's not where they came from that unites them but what they have in common (how they compliment each other.) I try to think the same way about family and friends. Its not what family we were born into but the relationships we cultivate between each of us and the way we inspire each other .

Vingette in Yellow

Bluebird of Happiness, perhaps?

I love butterflies!

Four lovely teacups

Vibrant

Demure

Regal

A yellow rose for friendship

"Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up."

Ecclesiastes 4: 9,10


"A friend is one who strengthens you with prayers, blesses you with love and encourages you with hope."



If you have a moment to leave a comment I will reply as soon as I can.  I am glad you stopped by. I may see you at the following blogs.

I will be visiting the other lovely tea ladies at:


~Tabletop Tuesday @ astrollthrulife.blogspot.com

~ Tuesday Tea For Two @ http://theplumedpen.blogspot.com

~ Teapot And Tea Things Tuesday @ http://silkenpurse.blogspot.com and http://breathoffreshair-paperbutterfly.blogspot.com

~Teatime Tuesday @ http://ladykatherineteaparlor.blogspot.com/

~Tuesday Teatime @ http://sandimyyellowdoor.blogspot.com/

~Teacup Tuesday @ http://www.marthasfavorites.com/


~Wednesday Tea For Me And Thee@ http://theplumedpen.blogspot.com
~Woo Hoo Wedmesday @ http://alwaysnesting.blogspot.com/

~Tablescape Thursday @ http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/




Cheers and Hugs til next time.  Pam

You may enjoy an older post titled, "Teacups and Friends: Never Too Many" here