Innehållsförteckning för January - February 2009 från TeaTime

Some of my favorite letters are those that communicate how party ideas and recipes found in TeaTime magazine have been used by readers hosting special teas to celebrate a life event: a birthday, an engagement, a bridal tea, or Mother’s Day. Other letters tell of a more intimate sharing of steaming cups of tea between dear friends. I speak for the TeaTime staff when I express the pleasure these missives bring. We think other readers would like to read about some of these tea parties, so we are introducing a new feature titled The Tea Diaries. This journal-style article will allow readers to share their tea experiences. We invite you to tell us about your favorite party at home or a special event you have celebrated in a tearoom. Watercolor…

From birthday packages wrapped with care and topped with big, crisp bows to the streaming strands that curl around the Maypole to velvet bows trimming a Christmas wreath, ribbons and bows have long been associated with celebration and festivity. Originally quite expensive to make, ribbons were seen only in the elaborate courts of European nobility. With the introduction of mechanized looms, ribbons became more commonplace, but they have retained their function as winsome adornment. A satiny ribbon or silky bow can make anything more charming. Tie one to your keys for a lovely yet useful way to keep track of them, or use a beribboned key as minimal decoration. Gathered together, ribbons become a lush tassel, and a lovely pearl charm turns a simple velvet ribbon into a unique bracelet.…

As we brave the frostiness of February, the most satisfying place to find warmth is in expressions of our love. From a sweetly crafted note to your sweetheart to a thoughtful gift of freshly baked scones, there’s nothing cozier than sharing affection. 1. The garlands on these letterpressed cards from Austin Press are based on an antique French embroidery pattern. Soft, smooth, 100 percent cotton paper feels and looks luxurious, and the crisply pressed initial and design are beautifully nostalgic. 2. An impressive-looking confection needn’t take all afternoon to perfect. A silicone pan from Zanda Panda produces a cake that looks like the view inside a kaleidoscope—and each slice is shaped like a heart. 3. Everyday office products are so much more fun to use when they’re made with trendy…

There was a time when milk glass was considered the poor man’s porcelain. In fact, the ever-durable opaque glassware was once marketed specifically as a less-expensive alternative to delicate porcelain, but thanks to a legion of loving collectors and dedicated manufacturers, its secondhand status is no more. Dean Six, author and director of the West Virginia Museum of American Glass, says the rise in supply and demand of milk glass can be traced to the mid-nineteenth century. At that time, French glassmakers and American manufacturers such as Atterbury Glass Company and Fenton began producing it in volume. Decorative but functional figurals were among the first milk-glass items to become “wildly popular” with the Victorians, according to Dean. Especially appealing were covered candy dishes made in novelty shapes such as hens,…

Noted nineteenth-century epicurean and writer Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin once said, “Tell me what you eat, and I’ll tell you what you are.” Had Mr. Brillat-Savarin had the pleasure of enjoying the Choco-Chewy Scotch Bars served at Lana’s The Little House in Forestville, New York, he would no doubt have described his demeanor as “everything nice.” Though there is no spice per se in these heavenly bar cookies, there is sugar aplenty and chocolate to spare. Decadently divine to taste and oh so simple to make, Choco-Chewy Scotch Bars are perfect treats for Valentine’s Day, when they are typically served at Lana’s. Set in a quaintly fairy-tale-like cottage, the tearoom is renowned for its delicious tea and foods, as well as its enchanting atmosphere. In fact, owner Lana Lewis is so…

As we honor the newly elected leader of our country on February 16, let us also pause in remembrance of the many women who have helped shape the White House as well. As Lady Bird Johnson so eloquently said of the position, “The First Lady is, and always has been, an unpaid public servant elected by one person, her husband.” Though undisputedly the nation’s premier hostess and arbiter of elegance, the First Lady also has a role of leadership and strength. She is expected to follow the dictates of American tradition, maintain a highly visible persona, and distinguish herself through social and political initiatives. Many former First Ladies—Abigail Adams and Eleanor Roosevelt among them—also acted as advisers to their husbands in office, helping to guide the country and its policies…

Look for these and other elegant tea-themed gifts and accessories at your nearest TeaTime preferred retailer. ARKANSAS Sara Kathryn’s LTD 479-444-9991 CALIFORNIA Apple Farm www.applefarm.com The Aubrey Rose Tea Room www.theaubreyrosetearoom.com FLORIDA Camellia Rose Tea Room & Gifts 813-659-8287 HAWAII A Cup of Tea 808-230-8832 INDIANA Ladybugs Gift & Décor and Simply Elegant Tea Parties 812-337-9908 MARYLAND Reynolds Tavern & Tea Room 410-295-9555 MINNESOTA DB & Company 952-474-7428 MISSOURI Country Expressions 816-669-3490 NORTH CAROLINA Summerbrooke Gardens, LLC www.summerbrookegardens.com OKLAHOMA Distinctive Décor www.distinctive-décor.com Dragonmoon Tea Company 918-742-8322 The Bazaar of London Square 918-747-2531 TENNESSEE Lace Emporium 423-476-5836 TEXAS Galaxy Hallmark 281-335-1211 Lavender House www.lavenderhousedecor.com Paper & Chocolate 214-357-2737 The Vintage House www.thevintagehouse.net VIRGINIA Roland’s Inc. 540-943-6418 WEST VIRGINIA Willow Gift Gallery www.willowgiftgallery.com To become a TeaTime Preferred Retailer, call 1.800.253.7627…

Cover Candied flowers, available through Meadowsweets. Wedgwood “Colonnade” teapot and china, available at Replacements, Ltd. Lindsay’s List Page 10: Austin Press monogrammed letterpress note cards, $12/set of 4, available through Austin Press. Zanda Panda 9-inch silicone Kaleidescope Heart Mold, $19.99, available through Zanda Panda. Black Damask File Folders, $16/set of 9, and Spiral Notebook, $16, available at Traylor Papers. Sticky Fingers Bakeries Cocoa Chocolate Chip and Tart Cherry Scone Mixes, $5.95 each, available through Sticky Fingers Bakeries. Embroidered note cards, available at World Market. Page 11: Illume “Violet Rose” candle, $25, available at Wrapsody. HomArt Boxed Matches, $12, available through www.homart.com. Felix Doolittle “Green Tea” 5x7 writing papers and envelopes with return address, $70/set of 50. Journal made from vintage fabrics, silk-screened onto leather, $70, available at Christine’s. Tea and…

Q At a recent bridal tea, I enjoyed a nice cup of Darjeeling with a slice of lemon. When I returned to the pourer for an additional cup of tea, I wasn’t sure whether to reuse the first slice of lemon or ask for a fresh slice. When I have a second cup of tea, what is the etiquette for using lemon slices? A Many people enjoy the delicate taste and aroma that a thin slice of lemon adds to teas such as a black Darjeeling or a green Japanese sencha. If you desire an additional cup of tea, the server should remove the slice of lemon from your cup and then pour your tea or give you a fresh cup. You or the server may add a fresh lemon…

Tropical Layered Salad—Mango-flavored black tea (iced or hot) will be a great pairing and will bring out the freshness of the dish. Crab Salad on Blue-Corn Blini—Th e ginger in Teatulia Vasaka Laka, a light tisane, will beautifully complement the seasoning in the salad. Goat Cheese and Tomato Crostini—Try a green tea infused with rosemary, fennel, or anise flavoring; the herbal notes will balance this Mediterranean-inspired dish. Ham and Sweet-Potato Biscuit Sandwiches—Th e spiciness of the Teatulia Tulsi will go well with the delicate flavors of the sweet potatoes and will highlight both the salty and sweet tastes of the ham. Poulet Chasseur Cups—Th e smoky character of Lapsang Souchang is a nice complement to the moderately hearty flavors of Poulet Chasseur. In particular the smokiness pairs very well with…

SAVORIES Vegetables and herbs offer a variety of flavorful finishes for savory menu items. Sweet leaves of basil, pungent oregano, and sprigs of dill, thyme, or rosemary all bring exuberance of taste, fresh color, and texture. It’s best to choose an herb that is already part of the recipe so that it does not compete with other flavors. Or if no herbs are called for, choose one that complements the taste of the dish it is garnishing. For instance, if using Boursin cheese as the filling for a tea sandwich, garnish with flat-leaf parsley or chives; if serving a seafood-based or an egg item, dill is sure to please. Vegetables bring color, texture, and shape to savories. Black and green olives are always pretty, as are colorful bell peppers, thinly…

A True First Lady Consider the cake before you. It is a derivation of Martha Washington’s Great Cake recipe, a favorite of hers and one served often to her family and guests. In fact, the nation’s true First Lady was renowned for her social graces. She entertained frequently in her home at Mount Vernon and hosted lavish affairs during her husband’s tenure in office. But it was not all dinner parties and dancing. Though it is an almost forgotten fact, when the Continental Congress was unable to send supplies to the war-torn soldiers at Valley Forge, Martha Washington stepped in. Armed with food, sewing supplies, and medicines, she left for the battlefront. Once there, she immediately set about caring for the men and stayed with her husband for the duration…