Tea At Gail's

Tuesday, July 29, 2014

Yellow Rose Tea

The flowers seemed to have reached their peak this past week which means it must be time for our annual summer garden tea.

A couple years ago tea lady and neighbor Margaret gifted me with a yellow rose teacup. This was the only yellow flowered teacup I had, and since you can't have a collection with only one, the hunt began for enough yellow rose teacups for a tea. An antique outing last week resulted in my 6th rose teacup and a new yellow rose tea pot as a bonus so naturally this had to be a "Yellow Rose Tea".

The table is set and the view of the gardens is the perfect setting for our afternoon tea.

The menu is set and the party begins.

Yellow Rose Tea

Prosciutto, Tomato and Ricotta Tart

Lemon Coconut Scones with Lemon Curd and Devonshire Cream

Chocolate-Almond Surprise Coconut Cakes

Glazed Lemon Cookies

Raspberry Trifles

***

Rosebud Tea

Plantation Peach Tea

Coconut Macaroon Tea

Chocolate Coconut Tea

I've covered the red roses on my tiered server with crocheted potholders and hot pads with yellow flowers. The crocheted hot pads under the teapots belonged to my grandmother and were always on the table for holiday dinners.

The ricotta tomato tarts are ready to go.

Scones, cookies and one tart to complete the tray.

Desserts

Raspberry Trifles

Chocolate Almond Surprise Coconut Cakes

with Johnny Jump up Garnish

The mandatory group photo

Close up view of my new teapot and doily

My first yellow rose teapot and cup with matching pattern in reverse.

My six yellow rose teacups waiting transport to the garden. All different shapes and designs found at antique shops over the past two years. The hunt is what makes collecting so much fun.

Thank you friends for joining me for tea today.

Thursday, July 17, 2014

Tea for the Birds

I've asked the birds to join me for tea in the garden. Although I've seen several I've yet to capture them on film.

There are several places for the birds to visit.

Perhaps they'd like to take tea at this silver teapot house.

Or perhaps they'd like to visit next door at this Victorian House painted years ago by my dear Aunt Margaret.

My Aunt has been gone for several years now but her birdhouses continue to bring a smile to my face and many found memories of a truly talented lady.

The detail of her painting amazes me.

Their progressive tea could continue at this birdhouse located in the shade garden.

The birds often stop and rest on the pergola bench.

The last of the three houses is in "Mables' Garden". This garden is named for another of my Aunts.

"Mabel" is lying on her tummy guarding a bird nest with 3 eggs in her hands. Not much blooming in her garden when this photo was taken.

The birds can wash up after tea at this teacup birdbath.

I hope you've enjoyed tea with the birds in my garden today.

Thursday, February 6, 2014

Cookie Thank You

My thank you cookies are packed and ready to deliver.

My 4-day adventure is chronicled below

My 96 year old Mom has resided at a local nursing home for the last 6 years. There's no way to properly thank the dedicated staff of aides, nurses, activities staff, cafeteria staff and cleaners for the loving care and kindess they extend to the residents everyday but thought I'd extend a show of appreciation with some special cookies for Valentine's Day.

Mom on her 96th Birthday

Making these cookies turned into a 4 day adventure.

Day 1 - I mixed the dough and put in the refridgerator to chill

Day 2 - I rolled out the dough and baked the cookies

Day 3 - Preparation for decorating began by preparing the Royal Icing used for this decorating technique. During the 10 minutes beating process for mixing the icing my mixer set up and I had to send hubby to the store for a new mixer. In our little town this was a dollar store and the resulting mixer had the capablity of whipping cream! I finally acquired the required texture and proceeded to dam and flood the cookies. Damming is the process of piping a border around the cookies. Flooding is done by squeezing a thinner icing onto the cookies. The dam holds the icing and a smooth glassy surface is created as the canvas for further decorating. The cookies have to set overnight for the icing to set up completely.

I wish I had thought to take pictures of this process but really hadn't planned this post until it was too late.

Day 4 - At last the fun part and the decoration begins. Or so I thought. I started with a new mixer and fresh batch of icing but couldn't seem to achieve the right consistancy to hold the designs for piping borders, flowers and leaves. After several times of empting the pastry bag and adding more confectionary sugar to the icing I gave up and settled for dots, squiqqles and waterever else came off the end of the pastry bag.

After 2 hours of decorating cookies and fighting with the icing I was totally exhausted and my kitchen was a total disaster. I placed the cookies on cookie sheets to finish drying and at this point decided that I should take some pictures.

After cleaning up the kitchen (no way was I taking pictures of that mess) it was time for me.

I was much too tired for a fancy tablescape at this point but had to test the product. I made a pot of Victorian Rose tea and grapped a couple cookies that wouldn't fit on the trays (or so I told myself) and crashed. My daughter made the knitted tea cozy for me while visiting at Christmas. She did it in one evening without a pattern and I love it. As I looked across the table at the trays of cookies I decided they didn't look half bad and hope the staff at the nursing home will feel the appreciation I feel for them each and every day.

Saturday, December 21, 2013

Christmas Tea

A Christmas Tea was an enchanting afternoon of relaxation and sharing the holiday spirit with friends.

White Trumpet Swans glide across the

table with grace

Mother and baby polar bear have found a warm place to snuggle.

This beautiful centerpiece was a gift from a new found friend from our trip to Alaska this summer.

Snowman are everywhere in this winter wonderland.

Another snowman and elf are set for the fun.

Add Pfaltzgraff Winterberry Dishes

And a few extra touches

The dining room is ready, now on with the show.

Teapots stand ready and the menu's been planned.

Christmas Tea Menu

Tomato Provolone Deli Spiral

Turkey

Pepper Jack Deli Spiral

Turkey

, Bacon, Ranch Deli Spiral

Spanokopita

White Chocolate Peppermint Scones

Candy Cane Cream

Cheese Cake Sampler

Red Velvet, Chocolate Turtle

Chocolate Chip, White Chocolate Raspberry

Petits Fours

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White Christmas Tea

(White Tea, Peppermint and Ginger Root]

Dream by the Fire Tea

(Caffeine Free with Cinnamon and Vanilla)

Comfort and Joy Tea

(Black Tea with Spices and Fruit)

Holiday Spiced Plum Tea

(Green Tea with Cinnamon and Spice)

The Santa Bakers have been hard at work.

But I decided a little help was in order and gave them a hand

with some of the goodies I sampled at a recent

trip through the grocery store.

The savories were purchased and all very good.

The peppermint white chocolate scones were a new recipe and the hit of the party. They were accompanied with a peppermint whipped cream spread which doesn't show in the picture. This recipe is definitely a keeper.

The dessert course is a combination of homemade and purchased.

More cookies in the kitchen for treats to take home.

Time for the mandatory photo. To my friends on the other side of the table forgive me your photo is not here. Next time remind me to warn you in advance when I'm going to take a picture, to say smile and always take at least 2 pictures.

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night.