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Lady Pamela's Tea Parlor

Monday, March 7, 2011

45th Teapot and Tea Things Tuesday, Violets

Welcome to...



45th Teapot and Tea Things Tuesday






"Ah, March, we know you are kind-hearted,

Spite of ugly looks and threats

And, out of sight, are nursing

April violets."

(Helen Hunt Jackson)




A warm winter's welcome to all who gather around the tea table today.  Whether this is your first time or a return visit I consider you a special guest.  Please settle into a comfortable chair as I finish stirring the muffin batter.  It has been another very busy week, I pray you are in a gracious mood, once again.

Spring is closer every day. Our friends to the south have already shared the tips of tulips sprouting in their gardens. But here, we are in that topsy turvy month of March.  The last week teased us with above seasonal temperatures, warm sun, cold winds, rain, freezing rain and heavy snowfalls. With such a grocery list of weather, all in a few days, I know Spring is lurking in the woods. One of the first flowers we will see are the violets even in the snow. Hence my inspiration for my tea today. It seems to me that there are alot of purple flowers in spring. The colour of royalty.  I wonder if God created them, in celebration  for the true King, our Christ?

May all who enter find....an understanding heart, anda listening ear  ...as well as a cuppa tea.


Stand still and consider the wondrous works of God.

- Job 37:14



Getting organized



Favorite white teapot
(Do you see a violet in the snow?)











Decorated sugar cubes


Three pieces of vintage lace
placed together to make a runner





Detail on the handle of the plate






Violet-coloured champagne
to serve butter for the muffins

Using a candy mold to shape the butter.
Place filled mold in freezer for 30-60 minutes
 and pop out promply





Which place setting would you favour?




Violet in the snow





EVER READY MUFFINS 
from Tosca Reno's
Eat Clean Cookbook


These are called "ever-ready" because the batter stays good in the refrigerator for up to 6 weeks. The great thing is that you can mix these up and have them ready at all times for a quick snack. Make sure to add the optional additions just before you bake them, it's best that they don't stay in the batter for a long period of time. The full recipe makes 40 muffins.  I like to use the small muffin tins.  They appear daintier for a tea treat and I can indulge in two and feel decadent. (maybe more)


Dry Ingredients:

4 cups whole wheat flour, Power Flour(see recipe below) or other whole-grain flour

4 cups natural bran (I used wheat bran, oat bran works too)

4 tsp. baking soda

4 Tbsp. flaxseed

2 tsp. sea salt

1 cup Sucanat or rapadura sugar


Wet Ingredients:

4 cups buttermilk (you may use soy or almond milk and sour with lemon or vingar)

1-1/2 cups unsweetened applesauce

3 egg whites + 1 whole egg, well beaten (I used 1 whole egg & 1 egg white when I halved the recipe.)



Method:

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees

2. Prepare muffin tin by lining with paper or silicone cups or by spraying with natural non-stick spray.

3. Combine all dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl.

4. Combine all wet ingredients in a medium mixing bowl.

5. Pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients and mix JUST until combined. Do NOT over mix! Add optional additions and fold in.

6. Spoon batter into prepared muffin cups until 3/4 full.

7. Place in hot oven and bake for 15 minutes or until golden. (Less time required for smaller muffins)

8. Remove from oven and let cool on wire rack.

Optional Additions- 1 cup total: chopped dried fruit, nuts, shredded carrots or apple, coconut or combination thereof. You can also add 2 tsp. or to taste of apple pie spice (see below, I at least double the recipe for convenience next time).

Calories: 107 Protein: 4 g Total Fat: 1 g Fiber: 3 g Sugar: 7 g Sodium: 268 mg


Power Flour:

1/4 cup barley flour

1/4 cup brown rice flour

1/4 cup amaranth flour

1/4 cup spelt flour

1/4 cup kamut flour

1/4 cup unbleached whole-wheat flour (Omit for gluten free)
(Or a combination of above) Again I at least double the recipe for next time. Stores well.

Apple Pie Spice:

1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
1/4 tsp allspice
1/4 tsp. cardamom





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



The more the fun!


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



*************


As always, we cherish your comments and participation


with 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 45th, 'Teapot And Tea Things Tuesday', with Wanda Lee and Pam @







Other favorite places I may visit this week:










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



Monday, February 28, 2011

44th Tea Pots and Tea Things Tuesday Kristina


Welcome to...

44th Teapot and Tea Things Tuesday







In youth we learn: in age we understand.

Marie Von Ebner-Eschenbach



Jamie Lee Curtis



“Is there really a human race?

Is it going on now all over the place?

When did it start?

Who said, “Ready, Set, Go”?

Did it start on my birthday?

I really must know.

Do I warm up and stretch?

Do I practice and train?

Do I get my own coach?

Do I get my own lane?

Do I race in the snow?

Do I race in a twister?

Am I racing my friends?

Am I racing my sister?

If the race is a relay, is Dad on my team:

And his dad and his dad? You know what I mean.

Is the race like a loop or an obstacle course?

Am I a jockey, or am I a horse?

Is there pushing and shoving to get to the lead?

If the race is unfair, will I succeed?

Do some of us win? Do some of us lose?

Is winning or losing something I choose?

Why am I racing? What am I winning?

Does all of my racing keep the world spinning?

If I get off track when I take the wrong turn,

Do I make my way back from mistakes? Do I learn?

Is it a sprint? A dash to the end?

Am I aware of the time that I spend?

And why do I do it, this zillion yard dash?

If we don’t help each other we’re all going to CRASH.”



“Sometimes it’s better not to go fast.

There are beautiful sights to be seen when you’re last.

Shouldn’t it be that you just try your best?

And that’s more important than beating the rest?

Shouldn’t it be looking back at the end

that you judge your own race by the help that you lend?

So, take what’s inside you and make big, bold choices,

And for those who can’t speak for themselves,

use bold voices.

And make friends and love well,

bring art to this place

And make the world better

for the whole human race.”

I welcome all of you to tea.  I hope your week has been as exciting as mine!  I have had tea party every day and better yet it was with my daughter.  Kristina has been home for reading week and we have kept the kettle busy into the wee hours of the night.  So many things to chat about.  Amazing to hear all the things she has learnt on this journy.  I find it so amazing to watch my little girl maturing into a fine young woman.  Back to university tomorrow and the tender care of my dear friend Wanda for a few more weeks.


So I apologize for not making the rounds and to chat you this week, we needed to catch up on two months of tea.  I am always grateful for your visits and your comments.

A Mother and Daughter Tea


The makings of a great occasion



Mother and daughter teacups

A thrifty purchase

Feathers, vintage lace, pearls and china, of course.










A birthday gift from my son and daughter-in-love


Pretty lace

A birthday gift from my Aunt Ruby
many, many years ago.



Cream or sugar??


Reflections


My butterfly is flourishing


Fluttering to take flight



Perspective











Direct your children onto the right path,
and when they are older, they will not leave it.
Proverbs 22:6 (New Living Translation)



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



The more the fun!


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



*************


As always, we cherish your comments and participation


with 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 72nd, 'Tuesday Tea For Two'




~ Tuesday Teatime with Lady Katherine



~ Teatime Tuesday with Sandi



~ Teacup Tuesday with Martha




~ Teacup Tuesday with Terri



~ Tabletop Tuesday with Marti



~ A Return to Loveliness with Kathy




*~ The 44th, 'Teapot And Tea Things Tuesday', with Wanda Lee and Pam @







Other favorite places I may visit this week:


~Tablescape Thursday with Susan



~ Foodie Friday with Michael




~Show and Tell Friday with Cindy




~Sunday Favorites with Chari






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


Monday, February 21, 2011

43rd Tea Pot and Tea Things Tuesday, marmalade recipe



Welcome to...


43rd  Tea Pot and Tea Things Tuesday




Treat your friends as you do your pictures,
and place them in their best light.

Jennie Jerome Churchill


A warm welcome to all


The sun was shining Sunday morning when I awoke, a nice change to be sure!  I decided to take the opportunity to photograph my tea table.  


My tea table is small because our home is staged for selling


A teacup from my mom's collection








Hand made pearl necklace












Antique pearl brooch 






I must retire these items.
The cupcake is a bath bomb.
The chocolate bon bon holds lip loss.
So cute!
We'll be serving scones and marmalade.






























The human spirit is the lamp of the LORD that sheds light on one’s inmost being.




This beautiful plant does well in the hot summer
and adapts to indoors in the autumn



HARALD'S  DWARF  ORANGE  TREE  JAM


METHOD

Wash and clean oranges, chop (remove pits if any)

Weigh oranges and add equal weight of sugar

Place in a large pot (if the fruit is dry add a little water),

Boil rapidly then reduce heat a little (be careful or it will boil over- big sticky mess)

Skim off rising scum

Drop small amount to test on a cold plate until jam gels

Remove from heat and when cooled a little fill,  *prepared jars 


Note!

Always ensure that the jars are clean, preheated and standing on wooden surface during filling.

Allow to stand and cool a little before closing securely.








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




The more the fun!


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



*************


As always, we cherish your comments and participation


with 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 43rd, 'Teapot And Tea Things Tuesday', with Wanda Lee and Pam @







Other favorite places I may visit this week:







Our dear felow blogging friends. ~ Life and blogging teaches us well:

"If at first you don't succeed; try, try again!".., and .., "3rd times a charm!"

..,Wink! ~ WL.


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