Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Before the Tea

I took a few pictures before the guests arrived for our Winter Tea this past Sunday. We set out all the teacups and the teas on the kitchen table.

Teacups

The tea serving station was on the counter. Guests could add cream, sugar, stevia, lemon or honey! I used our antique sugar bowl as a spooner, which worked out quite well. I use butter pats to hold used tea bags.

Tea Prep Area

I placed a variety of cookies on our 3-tiered tray. Included are shortbread, ginger snaps, Meyer lemon and some buttery bakery cookies dipped in chocolate.

Cookies

The bride's basket contained the scones, served with blackberry jam, lemon curd and devonshire cream.

Scones

Two cakes were served, including a store bought lemon pound cake and a homemade tomato pumpkin cake! I've included the recipe for Tomato Pumpkin Cake below. It's very moist and delicious, and a great way to use up green tomatoes at the end of summer.

Cakes

I used my large serving tray to serve chocolate-covered strawberries!

Once our guests began arriving, I got caught up in the conversations and completely forgot about taking more pictures! But you get the gist. Just imagine most of the desserts gone and several teacups and saucers to wash.

_________________________________________________

Tomato Pumpkin Cake

2-1/4 cups sugar
1 can pumpkin
3 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla
3 cups flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1 cup pecan pieces (or walnuts)
1 cup raisins
2-1/2 cups diced green tomatoes (red works fine, too)

Preheat oven to 350º.

In a mixing bowl, combine the sugar, canned pumpkin, eggs and vanilla. Mix until smooth.

In another mixing bowl, combine flour, salt, baking powder, cinnamon and nutmeg. Gradually stir into pumpkin mixture.

Add the tomatoes, nuts and raisins. Pour batter into a greased 9x13 pan. Bake for 1 hour or until toothpick inserted into center comes out clean. If serving with tea, slice into small squares.

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20 Comments:

Blogger Katie@LeBeauPaonVictorien said...

It looks so yummy!!! I love your collection of tea cups!

February 15, 2011 at 9:48 PM  
Blogger Shortbread and Ginger said...

This looks amazing! For ages I've been thinking about having an old fashioned afternoon tea for friends. After looking at these pics, I've decided to do it very soon! Liz

February 16, 2011 at 7:17 AM  
Blogger Rose ~Victorian Rose ~ said...

You will never be forgiven for not inviting me....( only kidding)
OH my goodness...what a nice assortment of teacups and desserts.....looked so fine.

You will have one of my very favorite blog backgrounds...so vivid and charming.

Rose

February 16, 2011 at 7:19 AM  
Blogger Pam of Eastlake Victorian said...

Thanks, Katie! I think I gained 10 lbs. that day. :-)

-Pam

February 16, 2011 at 7:59 AM  
Blogger Pam of Eastlake Victorian said...

Hi Liz-

Welcome to Eastlake Victorian! We've been having afternoon teas for more than 10 years. It's a lovely way to entertain, and really very easy to put together. Let us know when you have your tea. I would love to know how it went!

-Pam

February 16, 2011 at 8:14 AM  
Blogger Pam of Eastlake Victorian said...

Hi Rose-

I know you like my blog background! It's a sample of wallpaper that's available from Aesthetic Interiors. You can grab a digital piece of it from their website... it may be easier for you to play with it in Photoshop that way! :-)

-Pam

February 16, 2011 at 8:17 AM  
Blogger Elizabeth said...

I so enjoyed your pictures of the Tea party. I have had them for my grandaughter and her friends,now you have me wanting to do one of my own.

February 16, 2011 at 1:38 PM  
Blogger La Petite Gallery said...

Bless your heart! You really put on a beautiful tea, That is to say you really went all out, I like the tea bag dishes. I bet they all had a great time..
yvonne

February 16, 2011 at 3:14 PM  
Anonymous Stephen J. Bauer said...

Don't forget our "Iris Frieze" that appears in your margins also, (and some of your previous posts)! Thanks for the mention and links to us also!

By the way, we'd love for you and the Victorian aficionados who read your blog to see our new Persian wallpapers! For that 19th c. Orientalist style!

February 16, 2011 at 7:28 PM  
Blogger Pam of Eastlake Victorian said...

Elizabeth-

Yes, you should have one for yourself! Little girls love tea parties, but "big" girls, and even the men, really seem to enjoy them! It's a great way to visit, and doesn't need to be stuffy or fancy. A tea can be whatever you want it to be! :-)

-Pam

February 16, 2011 at 9:51 PM  
Blogger Pam of Eastlake Victorian said...

Hi Yvonne-

Thank you for your sweet comments, Yvonne. Yes, it was a lot of fun... something we always look forward to!

-Pam

February 16, 2011 at 9:52 PM  
Blogger Pam of Eastlake Victorian said...

Hi Stephen-

What an honor! Yes, I did forget to mention your "Iris Frieze" as being a part of the blog background I pieced together!

I think my next post will be about wallpapers again, and I will bring these topics up. Thank you for reading! Bradbury & Bradbury is the "Holy Grail" of wallpaper, and hopefully someday my house will be covered with it!

-Pam

February 16, 2011 at 9:57 PM  
Blogger Elizabeth said...

Pam, Did you see my last blog? My husband actually took me and our grandaughter to a Tea Room for Valentines Day,I think he did enjoy it,just said he did not get enough to eat.

February 17, 2011 at 8:57 AM  
Blogger Pam of Eastlake Victorian said...

Hi Elizabeth-

Yes, I just saw it! What a nice tea room, and so close by! Your daughter looks so cute in her tea hat. Sometimes when we go out for tea, my husband asks for more food, and they provide more without charge... maybe your husband can try that next time. It can't hurt to ask! :-)

-Pam

February 17, 2011 at 4:46 PM  
Blogger victorian parlor II said...

Yummm! Everything looks beautiful and the food looks delicious!!! Thanks for sharing the recipe-it sounds wonderful:).

Blessings,

Kim

February 20, 2011 at 12:41 PM  
Blogger Pam of Eastlake Victorian said...

Hi Kim-

I think everyone enjoyed the selections. Let me know if you try the cake recipe. I'd love to know if you liked it!

-Pam

February 20, 2011 at 10:32 PM  
Anonymous Antique Jars said...

I love your old fashioned tea jar! It's so dainty and lady like!

February 24, 2011 at 12:12 AM  
Blogger Pam of Eastlake Victorian said...

Hi Antique Jars-

I love it, too! I'm thinking it was originally part of a set, such as the canister sets that would have included Coffee, Sugar, etc. We keep green tea bags in ours!

-Pam

February 24, 2011 at 1:02 PM  
Blogger Teresa said...

Where are the sugar cubes? ;) seeing all the pretty cups makes me sad we missed it!

February 25, 2011 at 9:23 PM  
Blogger Pam of Eastlake Victorian said...

Hi Teresa-

When I knew you couldn't make it, I didn't buy any sugar cubes! Hope KK will be all healed soon. We missed you both!

-Pam

February 25, 2011 at 11:50 PM  

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