Magazine Heaven

Every now and then it is fun to sit down with a cup of tea and read a magazine from cover to cover. The opportunity is a rare treat. It's one I enjoy doing when at the cabin. It's quiet and there's no electronic media to distract me. Browsing through a magazine is a great way to inspire creativity in kitchen and home.

Bourbon Vanilla Rooibos & Blueberry Crepes

Crepes are a favorite family food. And since the family is altogether for Father's Day, it's only natural that crepes are on the menu. Although the menu sounds fairly traditional, it wasn't without its unique variations. 

I keep a can of coconut milk in the fridge door. It's chilled through and ready to be made into coconut milk whipped topping at a moments notice. It's easy enough. Simply open the can, spoon the mixture into a bowl, and whip with an electric mixer {Kitchen Aid} until creamy. I happen to like the little globs of coconut fat solids, so I don't whip it until it is completely creamy, but you can if you try this yourself and would prefer it. I added a 1/2 tsp. of stevia for sweetness and some of our homemade vanilla.

Pear sauce is another simple filling for crepes and could be used for filling or topping. Our family enjoys this even more than applesauce. We use home canned Bartlett pears and put them in a blender {pears and juice} and blend until creamy. Tasty!

U-picks at the blueberry patch down the road start this week, so I need to use up as many of our frozen berries as possible to make room for a new batch. Usually I heat the frozen blueberries in a kettle with water and stevia or with fresh apple juice. 

This time I decided to try something different, so went to my tea cupboard to find something that I thought would be flavorful with the blueberries. I chose a tisane of bourbon vanilla* rooibos that I steeped and then added to the bluebeerries. They were sweetened with 1 tsp. of stevia and thickened with a cornstarch slurry.

Homemade crepes {gluten free} filled with pear sauce and rolled. Then topped with warm blueberry sauce and coconut milk whipped cream {it melts into the warm blueberries upon contact of cold with warm}. Delicious and just right for Father's Day! 

The china is Royal Doulton Carolyn from the Romance series. 

*From Wikipedia: 

• Bourbon vanilla or Bourbon-Madagascar vanilla, produced from V. planifolia plants introduced from the Americas, is the term used for vanilla from Indian Ocean islands such as Madagascar, the Comoros, and Reunion, formerly the Île Bourbon. It is also used to describe the distinctive vanilla flavor derived from V. planifolia grown successfully in tropical countries such as India.

Tea at a Ghost Town

One of my favorite things to do is to go on an excursion with my family and visit ghost towns of the west. From Oregon to Arizona, there are so many interesting, out of the way places to visit. Each is unique and different. Each offers a picture into history. People who sought adventure in the wild west were brave and courageous. Some were greedy and others were just trying to create a new life that gave hope and opportunity to their families.

Recently we decided to head out to a place we'd never been. We drove over mountain passes and fertile valleys until we reached a narrow highway leading off the beat and track to the ghost town of Sumpter, Oregon. We didn't know what to expect, but we'd heard that this was an interesting place to go.

We were not disappointed. It was a very quiet day. We had the street to ourselves as we wandered past old buildings, Victorian houses, markets, and saloons. This was an upscale ghost town compared to many we've visited. Although this town was in its heyday during the early 1900's when gold mining was the center of attraction, it is still a popular place for retired folk who want a summer cabin and for snowmobilers and ATVer's who enjoy riding miles of trails that take them through 40 acres and more of tailings left behind from a huge gold dredge.

The "general store" was closed. Actually, it is a museum now. And as it usually goes, ghost town museums and shops have very limited hours. It seems like we never find them "open". But that's okay. There is a lot to see from the outside looking in.

I wonder what story this old house could tell?

As usual, I am drawn to the front door. I love old doors leading into old houses. They are not only servicable, but usually have ornate or unusual details that were designed to draw one right into the building.

It seems that someone couldn't wait to find the real thing! How's that for one huge gold nugget?

A pretty porch with plants and flowers invites one to come in and sit a spell.

And the old trading post is solidly crafted from bricks that were probably made somewhere nearby. Standing alone, it is still elegant after all these years. Can you see someone looking at you from a window in this building?

How's this? Any better? Mr. Kitty is curious about us as we wander by.

The edge of town reveals other interesting buildings. Some are barns and some are cabins, both old and new. The old hospital is now a "bed and breakfast", its huge front porch facing south for best exposure to sunshine.

We stopped for tea along the shoreline of the lake nearby. The fragrance of the pines on a hot summer day was tantelizing.

Truffles and pretzels were our snack and enjoyed along with Yorkshire Gold tea.

Of course this is what things really looked like behind the scenes! I enjoyed my tea from the teacup after the photo op. The guys? They enjoyed their snack out of hand and bag. And their tea from Teavana mugs. To each their own. Tea is tea, no matter how it's served.

Do you have a favorite kind of family excursion? Would a ghost town be on your list?

Adventure & Poetry in a Cup of Tea

The Herbs of Autumn

Bee Balm

The first October freeze looms near. The air was chilly this morning, reminding me that it won't be long before a killing frost hits the garden and changes my world!

Grape Leaves

By now you probably realize that I love spring and summer because of flowers and the wonderful gifts that nature provides. When October arrives I start taking jaunts through my yard, simply to appreciate the late season blossoms and greenery.

Bay Laurel

Unlike spring, the foliage this time of year is worn and weary. You have to look for the beauty and appreciate what each water spot or tattered leaf represents.

Sage

It's time to harvest and dry the herbs for winter use. Meadow tea is my favorite way to use homegrown herbs. The dried herbs look so pretty mixed together in a gallon jar, just waiting for infusion in a hot cup of water or a seasonal teapot.

Rosemary

More Rosemary

The rosemary did extremely well this year. I also dried a lot of homegrown lavender. It's time to make my own version of "Rosemary Hill" tea. The recipe will be simple: rosemary leaves, lavender buds, and a great quality black tea.

Stevia

The sweet leaf, stevia, makes a delightful addition to meadow tea as well. Just dry, crumble, and add to the other dried herbs in the jar. The sweetness of the leaf enhances any tisane.

Mint

And of course, one cannot forget the mint. It's been plucked, picked, and appreciated all summer long. The last of the leaves are small and not very prolific this time of year, but the flavor they add to anything on a chilly day cannot be beat!

Have you walked through your yard today to check things out? What's growing in your autumn garden?

A Wonderful Day in the Neighborhood

 

It's not uncommon for someone who enjoys the experience of afternoon tea to have a buddy to share the experience with. I feel so blessed that my friend and neighbor, Karleen, enjoys sharing tea times with me. When she heard that the traveling teapot was at my house awhile back, she invited us to come by for a luncheon tea party. Her invitation said to just "bring yourself and the tea pot". 

Our style is to enjoy the entire process. When the teapot and I arrived, Karleen set me to work arranging a bouquet of flowers. We walked in her garden, selecting blossoms we thought would look pretty on the tea table.

 

 Karleen lives along the river and there's a beautiful view from her living room. So that's where she moved a table and chairs. A quilt, an heirloom from a grandmother, made a pretty tablecloth. Another grandmother's china was set on the table along with some muslin napkins that Karleen had stitched. The floral bouquet and some vintage postcards set the scene for our tea luncheon. 

 

Karleen had prepared a lovely menu of delicious, fresh foods.

 

A cheese and crackers platter was arranged with springs of tarragon, rosemary, lavender, and purple grapes.

 

A colorful "chopped salad" featured toasted pecans and a light vinaigrette. It was delicious!



Deviled eggs were beautifully presented on a tray with a sprig of lavender from the garden.

Fruit kabobs of strawberries, grapes, kiwi, and pineapple were vibrant! Additionally, Karleen served a bowl of cubed watermelon.

Can you see the teapot shaped cheese? Yummy!

Vintage postcards from Karleen's collection added a personal touch to the table.

Everything was so inviting, beautiful, and delicious!

The teapot was set last and took center stage on the beautiful table.

Our tea choice was Buckingham Palace English Afternoon Tea. It was a gift to me from Karleen after her recent trip to London. How fun it was to sip on tea in Karleen's living room that she had purchased at the Queen of England's palace!

Afterwards, dessert was served in the garden.

Thank you, Karleen, for inviting the traveling teapot and me over for a relaxing luncheon tea. Your warm hospitality and friendship is a treasure and a blessing!