Scones

Over the years I have found great pleasure in the book If Tea Cups Could Talk by Emilie Barnes. It is from the pages of this book I found inspiration to host teas for the simplest reasons. Treasured friends, a comforting tea for a hurting child, a milestone tea, or even a bribe tea. When one of my daughters was considering going off to college I often made her tea and scones. I'd say something to the effect, "if you go to college close to home, I'll make you tea and scones". She did and I often made her tea and her favorite scones for her study time. She chose a University close enough to home to commute for other reasons than my tea and scones but, it was fun to bride her and we do have that special memory. She is far from home now. Japan. We are looking forward to tea and scones together at Christmas. O the joy!

A simple cup of tea can bring comfort or celebration. I have found beauty in fixing up a tray with china cup and saucer, the tiniest spoon that can be found, cute little containers to hold sugar and milk, a tiny sprig of flower a folded cloth napkin and a stemmed glass with fruit. Usually things that I already have on hand. It is amazing what you can add to that little tray when your imagination takes over. Maybe a note card with a verse or poem or even a funny cartoon. It is most always met with big eyes and an exclamation "For me?". (shh ... boys like them too)

Thrift stores, auctions and yard sales are wonderful places to find treasures for your tea tray. Often people get rid of beautiful sets that have missing pieces or there is only one piece of something beautiful and that will be the piece that you treasure. You will be pleased at how it will add to your collection.

I found my silver tea service at an auction for twenty dollars. Full, with two tea pots, or is one a coffee pot?, sugar and creamer and a beautiful large tray with comfy big handles. Those odd little pieces of stemware were so cheap the price has escaped me. I like using that miniature teacup and saucer my Aunt Carol gave me to hold sugar or as you can see here sugar packets. I would even put a treasure in there, like mints, a favorite candy or nuts if it were going on a tea tray. I might use the stemware for jam or butter. I would enjoy hearing how you set up your Tea Tray. Following is the scone recipe that I use. It is from the Emilie Barnes Book. Tell me what you think.

Plain Scones
2 cups flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
2 tablespoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
6 tablespoons butter
1/2 cup buttermilk
Lightly beaten eggs

Mix dry ingredients. Cut in 6 tablespoons butter until mixture resembles coarse cornmeal. Make a well in center and pour in buttermilk. If you don't have buttermilk use regular milk. Mix until dough clings together and is a bit sticky--do not over-mix. Turn out dough onto a floured surface and shape into a 6-8 inch round 1 1/2 inches thick. (do this by hand not with a roller) Quickly cut into pie wedges. The secret of tender scones is a minimum of handling. Place on un-greased cookie sheet, being sure sides do not touch each other. Brush with egg for a shiny, beautiful brown scone. Bake at 425 for 10-20 minutes or until light brown. Of course you can add to your plains scones. Chocolate chips, blueberries, nuts, cinnamon, apples, currents, ginger, orange or cranberries. I have even glazed scones for the sweet tooth lover.
Enjoy!

"Commit your way to the Lord. Trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass."
Psalm 37:5 NKJV

Tea

Tea at my house.

After helping to form and serving on the leadership team of a local homeschool group for several years I "moved on". These ladies honored my husband and I with a very special gift, I wanted to say thank you from the bottom of my heart. Knowing how much these ladies like to get together for reasons other than "meetings", and rarely do, I decided to host a Tea in their honor.

They asked that I post the recipes, and pictures. I will post a recipe each day starting with the last on the menu, the dessert. I will even share with you what I put in their gift bags. Can you guess? My hope is that you make some of these dishes and serve them up to your family in your best dishes with a flower sprig or a lighted candle. Truly your family is your best investment.

"Never tire of loyalty and kindness.
Hold these virtues tightly.
Write them deep within your heart."
Proverbs 3:3

Following is the menu.

Menu
Poached Peaches with Cottage Cheese
Field of Green Strawberry Bow-tie Salad
Wild Rice Chicken
Scones
Lemon Curd and Blackberry Preserves
Tea/Coffee/Punch
Chrysanthemum Chocolate Mousse Cake
Chocolates

Chocolate Mousse Cake
Ingredients:2 c. boiling water,1 c unsweetened cocoa powder, 2 3/4 c all-purpose flour, 2 t baking soda, 1/2 t baking powder, 1/2 t salt, 1 c butter, 2 1/4 c white sugar, 4 eggs 1 1/2 t vanilla.
Directions: preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease 3- 9 inch round cake pans. In medium bowl, poor boiling water over cocoa, and whisk until smooth. Let mixture cool. Sift flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt; set aside. In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs one at a time, then stir in vanilla. Add the flour mixture alternately with the cocoa mixture. Spread evenly between the 3 prepared pans. Bake 25-30 minutes. allow to cool. (allrecipes.com)
Mousse: Purchase your favorite mousse mix. Prepare according to package directions. Line 2 9 inch round cake pans with wax paper. Spread evenly between the 2 pans. Freeze until ready to assemble the cake.
Frosting: 2 3/4 confection sugar, 6 T cocoa powder, 6 T butter, 5 T evaporated milk, 1 t vanilla. Mix until smooth. Assembly: Place 1 layer of cake on a serving plate then 1 layer of mousse, anther layer of cake then mousse end with a layer of cake. Frost. Decorate. I used chrysanthemums for my cake.

Teaching Myself to Knit

I've been teaching myself to knit. A body can find a lot of help on youtube. These wash clothes are some of my first projects. I have been knitting like my life depended on it. I've made a neck scarf and a pair of fingerless gloves as well. Can you guess what people will be getting from me this Christmas? Right, something knitted! I am looking forward to making a wash clothe for each person on my list. I learned to knit in mid-August and am having so much fun. I love it!
If you "google" knitting patterns you can find many projects. I am looking forward to making a rug for my "new" laundry room. I might try my hand at "felting". It looks so easy. The computer can be put to such good use. Hope you are enjoying yours.
Thanks for looking.
Becky

Pillows Covers

I've wanted to make pillows for my back yard for some time. Being the one that usually doubts her abilities I took the plunge. Finding material to give it a try would be my first challenge. I did not want to pay much for fabric. Knowing that outdoor fabric can be costly, I decided that I would not be picky when it came to color choices. I did have a couple of stipulations. The material had to be a remnant from the clearance section and machine washable. What do ya know, there were only two pieces of outdoor fabric to choose from, both happen to be blue with strips; one was machine washable the other was dry clean only. I do have a few blue lawn ornaments and the hammock is near the pond. Decision made. Boy that was fast. Isn't it nice when it all comes together like that.The total cost $3.32. Not bad. I already had the thread and buttons so I think I did pretty well with this project. I am curious to know how much these little pillows would have cost had I purchased them. I am truly inspired to tackle some bigger projects now.

I did use ideas from http://www.craftandfabriclinks.com/freepatterns/pillows.html. The pillow with the buttons was my idea and made up pattern although I'm sure someone has a real pattern out there for a pillow cover with buttons.






This picture shows both pillows. The button pillow is basically a pillow case idea with the buttons added for interest and to keep the little pillow securely in place. The other pillow is an envelope style pillow case using a pattern from the website mentioned above. Years ago I purchased travel pillows for our family. They are now inside the new cases.


My son.

Pizza

Crust:
1 pkg yeast
1 c. water
3 Tbsp. sugar or to taste
2 Tbsp oil
1 egg
4 c. flour
Mix water and yeast; add sugar, egg and oil. Stir and knead in flour. Place in oiled bowl and let rest for 1 hour. Roll crust our and add saue and your favorite toppings. Bake at 425 for 10-15 minutes.

Sauce:
12 oz. can tomato paste
1 1/2 cans water
1/4 c. sugar or to taste
2 tsp. oregano or to taste
salt and pepper
Mix all ingredients and stir thoroughly. Heat on top of stove or in microwave for 3-5 minutes.

Sweetness of Life

Often things just happen in life that make you, well, appreciate life. My brother, the youngest of twelve children, married for the first time this month at the age of 33. He will agree that his Jenny was worth the wait.

It is my mother, however, that I keep seeing in my minds eye when I review the time spent together with family for his wedding. What a pleasure it was just to see the joy on her face as she witnessed the marriage of her youngest son. This, through the Grace of God. You see, a year and a half ago she had cancer.
I am grateful to my dear husband for capturing the above photo.

My sister married when she was 40 of course thinking the time for children was passed for her. Today at 47 she is the mother of baby Isaac. When she was a younger woman the a doctor told her that it would be best if she waited to have children since she had curvature of the spine. God's timing is perfect.

"As for God, his way is perfect..." Psalm 18:30a

Recipe for Poppy-Seed Muffins

This post includes the recipe of the poppy-seed muffins shown in the previous post.

If you haven't already done so get yourself one of those cheap photo albums that you can find at a dollar store or hundred yen store, if your shopping in Japan like one of my sweeties. Just cut the recipe out and pop it into a sleeve and there you have it. You will be glad you did. Don't try to get all perfect and cute, it will lead to a slim recipe collection. I have found comfort in mine for many years.

The album with "Cookies" across the front was from a church Christmas Cookie exchange. Everyone sent their recipes in ahead of time and a gal took time to put each recipe in this little photo album turned Cookie recipe book. Fun.

Some of the recipes in my book are hand printed while others were simply cut from the back of something.

Interestingly, the bread and pancakes recipes that I always use are securely taped to the inside of one of my cabinet doors. Hmm... I'd love to hear how you organize your recipes.

Poppy-seed Muffins

Ingredients

• 3 eggs
• 2 1/2 cups sugar
  
• 1 1/8 cups vegetable oil
  
• 1 1/2 cups milk
  
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 1/2 tablespoons poppy-seed
• 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 teaspoons almond extract
• 3 cups flour
  

Glaze

• 3/4 cup white sugar
• 1/4 cup orange juice
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
• 2 teaspoons butter (melted)

Directions:
Beat together eggs, sugar,oil. Add milk, salt, baking powder, poppy-seeds, vanilla, almond and flour. Mix well.
Bake in muffin cups filled 3/4 full or use loaf pans. Bake in a 350 F degree oven (17 degree C) 15 - 20 minutes for the muffins or 50-60 minutes for the loaves. Tops should be golden brown and tooth pick inserted should be clean.
While still warm dip into the glaze. Pour over loaf.

To make glaze: In saucepan combine glaze ingredients warm until dissolved. Dip or brush onto room temperature muffins and loaf pans.