STRAWBERRY TIME "Tea In The Garden"

Last night I baked some strawberry tea breads which I am sharing today for 

Tea In The Garden.

This is such a simple recipe and you could freeze one of your breads for later or give it away now!  I will be giving one away.

Please pour yourself some

 Strawberry Tea too! 

We had some more welcomed rain last night. 

 This was wonderful and we sure need it!  
Of course, the garden loved it!

Here is the recipe:

Strawberry Tea Bread

You will need (2) loaf pans about 5 1/2"  x  9 1/2"  which you will grease with Crisco and then flour

In a large bowl combine:  3 cups sifted flour, 1 tsp baking soda (reduce 1/4 tsp in high altitude) 1 tsp salt, 1 Tb ground cinnamon, 2 cups sugar, 4 eggs beaten, 2 cups frozen strawberries, thawed, 1 cup Wesson oil  For the strawberries I cut up fresh ones and froze them for 15 minutes and then used them

Bake at 325 degrees for 50-55 minutes until a wood skewer comes out clean when inserted.  Cool cakes and then remove from pans.

Glaze:  place 1/2 cup chopped strawberries in medium saucepan with 1 cup confectioners sugar and 1 Tb. cornstarch - bring to a boil and stir down lumps from cornstarch.  Cool this mixture and then pour over tea cakes.

JUNE TEA IN THE GARDEN

It's Tuesday and that means Tea In The Garden Time is here:

As the sun rises across the yard, there are many shadows. I had some extra sunny

issues with these photos.

This morning I set up a little table so I hope you have a few minutes for a cup of tea.  Things are a little crazy at my house as we are moving on in our projects and you know what that means - messes here and there.

  Work on another shabby chic piece has begun.  I had a piece at my store we are converting to something to hold DVD's and CD's.  Will share that later!

I am sharing my blue "birdies" teapot today and an old vintage embroidered topper I recently found.  Do take a seat on the bench and pour yourself a cup of tea!

STRAWBERRY DEVONSHIRE TART

The lovely month of June means that strawberries are finally ripe on the vine and sweet for desserts!  

Last night I baked this Strawberry Devonshire Tart and in no time we were enjoying it!

I had cut this recipe out of a

 magazine many years ago.

Pastry Shell:  1 cup of flour, 1 Tb sugar, 1-2 Tb ice water, 6 Tb butter at room temperature, 1 egg yolk  Combine flour and sugar, then work in butter with fingertips.  Add egg yolk and 1-2 Tb. ice water and work with fingers until dough holds together.  Pat into a flat round and press into a 9" tart pan with removable bottom.  Bake at 375 degrees  for 15 - 18 minutes  until brown.  Cool shell

Strawberry Devonshire Tart Filling:

3 oz of softened cream cheese, 3 Tbs sour cream whipped together and spread on the bottom of the cooled shell - refrigerate

You will need: 1 1/2 quarts strawberries, 1 cup of sugar, 3 Tb cornstarch, red food coloring.  Wash and hull the strawberries. Mash  enough to fill  one cup.  Mix sugar and cornstarch.  Put 1/2 cup water and 1 cup of strawberries in medium saucepan on  stove.  Add cornstarch and sugar and boil for 1 minute until thick.  Stir in red food coloring  and cool.

Put remaining fresh strawberries on top of cream cheese filling in the pie shell stacking them from the center out.  After the cooked strawberry mixture cools, pour over fresh berries and decorate with whipped cream.  Chill.

1 3 oz cream cheese, softened, 3 Tb dairy sour cream, 1 - 1 1/2 quarts strawberries, 1 cup sugar, 3 Tb cornstarch, red food coloring

CELEBRATING LILACS for "Tea In The Garden"

My lilacs aren't very pretty this year (the lighter ones in the bouquet) but I did find some that were dark, rich and thick.  The scent is heavenly!  Time to CELEBRATE LILACS because they are gone all to quickly!  My Flower Fairy will guard these for me.

It's a very sunny day as the sun rises on the east side which is our backyard.

I have an old embroidered topper with lilacs but I am using a Violet English Teapot and 2 Bavarian Violet Cups and Saucers - please forgive!

My vase is one of those old milk glass Anchor Hocking Planters - a recent $5.00 thrifting find!

I hope your week is lovely!