Roses and Teacups

Here comes Mother’s Day again.  Is it POSSIBLE that this is the second one without my mom?? 

I will be spending the weekend at a bird watching festival in Wisconsin with my daughter, a bird fanatic.  Pontoon boats, Bed and Breakfast, and binoculars, here we come!

The following weekend, oh joy and fun, I will be heading to Arkansas to “work” face to face with Julie.  For us, work is play.

Julie and I both have Mother’s Day issues, but as with the rest of the pain in our lives, those issues just fuel our work, and there is plenty to accomplish!

Last year I spoke of finding my mother in a bakery.  This year I found her in the smell of crabapple blossoms.

For 18 years, my bedroom window had a huge crabapple tree right in front of it, and as I was on the second floor, I would be practically face to face with the blossoms every spring as I sat at my desk.  The smell was intoxicating.  Do I hear the clinking of ice cubes downstairs?  Is my mom making lemonade….

I woke up today and the sun was shining and it was NICE out!

None of my children were sick.

We got where we needed to be VERY close to on time.

Julie was online so I could chat with her right away.

I got to put the new silk roses on two orders of Victorian Calling Cards before I shipped them.

My husband stripped the sheets for me.  (king bed; big job)

My husband put the new but not-wanted toilet that’s been sitting in a box in our living room for YEARS out on the curb last night, and some happy soul now owns it!  YEA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My son is hanging out on the bed with me while I do site coding.  He is reading the Reader’s Digest.  He will be 14 in a couple of weeks, but he still hangs out with me.  BLESSED!

I felt like getting up, going into the kitchen, and squirting whipped cream onto my finger and eating it!  So I did!  Ha!

Baked BrieBaked Brie is such an elegant dish to serve at your tea party. This recipe of Baked Brie in Phyllo dough makes a beautiful presentation to any tea party menu, when served on a beautiful plate with the strawberry jam running down onto to the plate.  Don’t forget to add a pretty crackers to the plate along with a cheese knife to cut into the baked brie.  I’m sure this dish will be one of the first to disappear from the table.

BAKED BRIE IN PHYLLO

1 (6-inch) round of brie
4-5 sheets phyllo dough, defrosted
4 tbsp. butter, melted
3/4 cup good quality jam (raspberry or strawberry)
½ cup additional strawberry or raspberry jam

Serve with your favorite crackers

Butter each sheet of phyllo dough and place in a pie plate or quiche dish, with the ends hanging over the edge.

Spread half the jam in the center of the dough, top with brie and the rest of the jam.

Bring the edges of the phyllo dough up over the top and seal well, using most of the remaining butterTurn the “package” over and brush the top well with the rest of the butter.

Bake in a preheated 375 degree oven for 20 minutes.

Remove and let sit for at least 20 minutes before serving.

In the microwave, warm ½ cup strawberry jam and pour over the top. This can be served as an hors d’oeuvre at a large party or as part of a brunch menu.

Serves 10 or more.

Yes, it’s April already!!! And most of you know the jingle “April showers bring May flowers”.  So, let’s have April Showers Tea Party!!  For your decorations you will need lots of those “tropical drinks” umbrellas; any party store should have some.  If you have access to little parasoles, that would be great too!!

Think “spring colors” for your table; yellows,pinks, white, lilac. Did you treat yourself to a new tea pot???? Be sure to look over Nancy’s fabulous selections!!

Your tea cups can be pastel colors, too. Pastel napkins too! Any thing that gets you through those dreary days that can come with our April showers.

The Menu? This will be fun!! Spell out the word SHOWERS, and, ask each guest to bring a food beginning with one of the letters. Give each guest a letter and let them have some creative fun.

For example:

S - strawberries, sponge cake
H - honeydew melon, Homemade cake
O - olives in a pretty little tray, orange slices (candy or the real thing)
W - whipping cream - yum
E - eggs (deviled eggs)
R - raspberries
S - sandwiches (little tea sandwiches)

You can pose each guest with a pretty umbrella and take their pictures.  Or have several guests crowd under one umbrella, just like you did in grammer school!! They can even make those funny little faces!!

What has 4 legs, 4 eyes, 2 laptops, can’t stop laughing, eats cheesecake, and jumps on hotel beds?

Why it’s the 4th ”in-person” Roses and Teacups staff meeting talking place once again in an Arkansas hotel!

Oh boy!  Julie and I are so excited!  Although we instant message and phone call all day long, we know that when we get together in person, sparks fly and inspiration flows.

We’ll be getting together the weekend of May 16-18, and we are counting the days.

If you live in Arkansas, watch out; you may feel the state shake! 

Roses and Teacups is hoping and planning to print our own Victorian Christmas Gift Wrap using these gorgeous images for which we have purchased a use license.

We are taking pre-orders up until June 15th for wholesale purchases of this limited edition gift wrap.  If you would be interested in purchasing 25 or more rolls at the cost of $10.99 per 25 sq ft, plus exact UPS shipping, please let us know as soon as possible.

We will need an email address so that we can send you an invoice.  Payment will be needed by June 15th with delivery by September 5th.

If you are planning to purchase one or more rolls at the retail price, we certainly don’t mind knowing that ahead of time, as well, for planning our order quantities.

Thank you!  Nancy & Julie

Do you celebrate the Passover?

Nancy’s family does, and it is a highpoint of our year.

Tomorrow evening we will have 25 people sitting on the floor of our basement… don’t worry, it’s not concrete!  We will celebrate God’s deliverance and remember the Exodus from Egypt long ago.

We get out the musical instruments and sing traditional songs, we eat matzo with horseradish to remember the bitterness of the Israelites slavery, we dip parsley into salt water to remember their tears, we eat the sweet charoset~chopped apples, walnuts, cinnamon and honey.

God is still delivering today!

Of marriage for Nancy!  I have no idea how that happened, but it did.  Gee, I must be getting old!  I do have a most wonderful husband, and I have to brag a little bit here.

Robert is one of the most unselfish, hardworking, faithful people that I have ever met.  He looks cute in a TShirt, and in a tuxedo, well, let’s just say my knees go weak.  He is funny, creative, smart, and extremely kind. 

I would say that in 20 years of marriage I have gotten REALLY mad at him maybe 8 times, and I think that’s pretty good.  I have no idea how many times he’s been REALLY mad at me, but hopefully we’re about even. 

I am not an easy person to live with, but somehow he has pulled it off with grace.

Julie and I both appreciate that Robert let me fill our home with inventory for a couple of years, and now lucky Glen is sleeping on pink crinkle paper and jumping over stationery in Arkansas.

Here’s to the GUYS behind the GALS at Roses and Teacups!!

Mighty March Tea Tips

~ There have been a few cases of tea making people sick in the last few years. Tea can become contaminated just like any other food source.

~Brewing and Storage ~ Always store tea, bags or loose, in a cool, dark, dry place, away from any heat or cooking source.

Tea absorbes odors very easily. Never leave brewed tea at room temp for more than a few hours…4 to 6 at the most. Clean and sanitize all tea making and storing equipment daily.                       

~ Tea and Exercise.~ After workout, a cup of green tea will maximize fat loss. Tea flushes away unwanted toxins at a much faster rate than any other liquid.

~Tea in Cooking? ~ Tea is an awesome substitute for other liquids in many recipes. (just steep the tea and substitute for any other liquid) Add green tea to cookie recipes and bake with a healthy sweet product, such as Stevia..the kids or you will get a great treat and a healthy dose of all things good.

EatWell-BeWell Bea Kunz   http://www.sagehillfarmsandvintagestore.com

Tea and Crumpets

The most famous traditional dessert to serve with tea is Crumpets.  When you top those delicious Crumpets with the oh so elegant Devonshire Cream, your taste buds will thank you!  To make these delicious Crumpets, search the Internet or your local gourmet shop for Crumpet rings.  They are not expensive and will make your Crumpets real treat.

Crumpets Recipe

1/2 cup warm water (105 - 115 degrees)
2 teaspoons sugar or honey
1 tablespoon active dry yeast
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour or bread flour
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/2 cups milk

In a large bowl, stir the sugar or honey into the warm water.  
Sprinkle the active dry yeast over the top and let it sit until it bubbles, about 5 minutes.
Stir in the remaining ingredients.
Cover and let it sit for about half an hour in a warm place.
Grease a griddle or frying pan and the crumpet rings or cookie cutters.
Place the rings on the cooking surface and preheat all.
Pour about 3 tablespoons of batter into each 3″ ring and cook over medium low heat until set, about 10 minutes. (Avoid cooking them too quickly.)
The top should be full of holes when they are ready to turn.
Remove the crumpets from the rings, turn, and brown the other side, if desired, for a minute or so.
Repeat until all the batter is used. Serve warm with butter and jam or clotted cream and jam.
Makes 16 crumpets.

Devonshire Clotted Cream

True Devonshire Cream is a very thick, rich cream actually very similar to butter. It is unsweetened, so it pairs very well on a crumpet.

1 cup heavy (whipping) cream
1/4 cup confectioner’s sugar
1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

OR

1cup heavy whipping cream
1/2 cup mascarpone or 1/4 cup softened cream cheese
1 Tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

The directions are the same for both cream recipes: Combine all ingredients in a medium bowl and beat with a mixer until stiff.
Refrigerate until ready to use.
Best when prepared and served the same day.
Makes 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 cups.

 Hello Everyone!!! This is our 3rd “Tea Party-Theme-Party”. 

We hope you had a wonderful Valentines Day with your families.

March has 2 wonderful celebrations. One is the Easter Celebration and the other is St. Patrick’s Day.

We would like to throw a “St.Patrick’s Day” Theme Party with a little twist:

I adore my family, but, I have wonderful gal-pals that are treasures in my life.

#############

“Girlfriend, I’m so “lucky” to have you in my life Tea Party”.

So, let’s begin with lots of green. Once again, you should have available lots of St. Patrick’s Day decorations.Store bought or homemade.

Just make it your own.

Each place setting must have this little “friendship-bag”:
1 rubber band - to remind you to give a tight hugs to those you love.
2. A piece of candy to spread sweetness wherever you are.
3. A tissue to help dry a tear.
4. A bandaid to heal hurt feelings.
5. A copper penny to remind you to share God’s love.
6. A daily prayer to never forget to pray.

A small cloth drawstring (green, if possible)should hold all your “charms”. You could type/print out the above items with a sweet “to my friend” card. Just paper punch a hole,and thread it through a lovely green ribbon.

Make your menu your own. There are many traditional Irish desserts; stretch your imagination. You can choose to do the treats all yourself or have a Pot-luck with your girlfriends to see who can bring the “greenest treat”!!!

Have fun and take time to appreciate your “angel-girlfriends!!

See you next month!!!

Favorite things about upcoming changes to our website:

Better use of space

Still gorgeous

Much easier to work with

I figured it out myself!!