A FALL "TEA IN THE GARDEN"

We are so happy to experience lower

temperatures here in Missouri.

There isn't a lot of visual evidence of fall

yet in my yard.  I dread all the leaves that

will be falling across the back of our

yard but that hasn't happened yet.

I have found myself saying these things

late: "I think I'll bake some brownies."  Well, I did do that yesterday!  I have also said "I think  I'll make some gingerbread" and "I think I'll bake a pumpkin pie."   It's a good thing I'm at 8 weeks now of walking an hour a day.  

I do have these lovely brownies and I have

shared a link to Brenda's recipe before and 
you
 can get it here in the link if you like.

The teapot is a very old lusterware
English Sadler.

We might even get some rain tonight
and that would be wonderful.

I just saw this video maker in
my photo editing so I decided
to try it.  I never understand
these things but if they
work - sure!

I hope you have a lovely week!

THE GATHERING OF FRIENDS for "Friends Sharing Tea"

Over the holidays I was invited

to have lunch with tea at Janice's

home...it was great fun.  She blogs
at "Curtains In My Tree"  This is
my kitchen table below where I am
enjoying tea now.  Also, you see,
your cup is poured too!

 Janice introduced me to some
 books I had not heard about before
 but immediately wanted.

The books are called "The Gathering

of Friends" and there are 7 volumes filled

with recipes and decorating ideas.
They are $32.50 each but I ordered a
used set on ebay.

Let's take a few minutes 

and check out Volume One:

There are wonderful recipes
 to make and decorating ideas
 and table settings.  I could sit here 
for hours just absorbing.  I think
wintertime is perfect for books.

If you want to bake my brownies - 
they can be found here by Brenda 
at Coffee Tea Books and Recipes.
I make these often.

EDITH HOLDEN'S BOOKS for "Tea Not In The Garden"

I usually do my "Tea In The Garden" post 

on Thursday but yesterday with

 temperatures in the 90's and doing 

other projects - it just didn't happen. 

 So this morning I thought we'd just

 stay inside where we can be cool and  comfortable.  I apologize

for arriving a little late.

I promised my husband I would keep the teapot displays out of the "living room". 

 I am happy to have this spot in my

 Victorian parlor near the kitchen for

 my armoire and what
not shelves:

I think I am a little slow about finding out

 how you can get great books on Amazon

 and used ones work great for me too. 

 Several of the books I ordered have come

 and I have been enjoying them. (very inexpensively) I already had a copy of

 Edith Holden's "Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady".  This week two

other books that I ordered arrived:

 "The Nature Notes of An Edwardian

Lady" and "The Edward Lady" - 

The story of Edith

Holden compiled by Ina Taylor.

With my tea chest nearby you can pick
from the many types inside:

Edith Holden grew up in the Edwardian

 era and was an artist who loved birds, flowers and nature.  She kept a diary

 where she drew the  birds and flowers she
had seen each day on her walks in the nearby woods.

I am just getting a chance to look at these

 new to me books and since this is August

 let's see what she

 drew for this month.

And please help yourself to tea and one

 of these Buttermilk Brownies I baked

 last night.   Really, they are more like a cake than a brownie.  I had baked a Quiche last night and since the oven was already hot it seemed like a good idea

to just keep it going! 

Here is the recipe for the

 Buttermilk Brownies:

Ingredients: 1 stick butter, 4 Tb cocoa, 

1/2 cup vegetable oil, 1 cup water, 

2 cups flour, 2 cups sugar, 1/2 cup 

buttermilk, 2 eggs, 1 Tsp vanilla, 1 Tsp 

baking soda, 1/2 tsp salt

Melt the butter, add the cocoa, oil and water.  Boil for several minutes.  Pour this mix over the flour and sugar, mix well, add buttermilk, eggs, vanilla, soda and salt and mix again.
Bake in greased and floured 13 x 9" pan 25 minutes at 350 degrees.
I also added 1 cup chopped walnuts to this batter.

Frosting:
1 stick butter, 4 Tb cocoa, 6 Tb buttermilk, 3 3/4 cups confectioner's sugar, 1 cup chopped walnuts, 1 tsp vanilla

Melt the butter and mix in the cocoa and buttermilk in mixing bowl.  Add this mix to the sugar and vanilla - mix well pour over the brownies while they are slightly warm. 
 Sprinkle the nuts evenly on top.

I feel like we have had a wonderful summer.  Yes, it has been hot as expected.  We are supposed to enjoy some temps in the 80's

 here soon so if that happens - I won't complain. 

We have spent our summer working on the long list of projects and repairs here on our house.  My husband is currently staining the deck.  

BROWNIES AND FLOWERS

Do you need some yummy brownies this weekend?  Maybe some extra chocolate energy needs to come your way.  The truth of the matter is that many people buy those expensive box mixes and brownies are so easy - we are talking about flour, eggs, cocoa, sugar and butter.  You can do this!

I have the same lilies I have been keeping for 2 weeks.  I have realized that as long as you cut off the "overly ripe" ones - the unopened ones keep opening.  It seems to me, lilies are a better value when you are perusing the flower stall at the market.

And now on to the brownies: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and butter and flour a 9 x 12 pan

Brownie Ingredients: 2 sticks of butter, 6 Tb cocoa, 2 cups of sugar, 4 eggs, 1 1/2 cups flour, dash of salt, 2 Tb milk and 1 cup chopped walnuts.

Icing ingredients:  1/2 stick of butter, 4 Tb milk, 2 cups confectioners sugar, 3 Tb cocoa and 1/2 cup of walnuts to sprinkle on top at the end.  Cut when totally cool for best results.  We can never wait that long!

Melt the butter and the cocoa and mix with all other ingredients in a large bowl.  Spread evenly in pan and bake at 350 degrees for 25-35 minutes.  Let cool...make the icing by melting the butter and cocoa in a saucepan on the stove on medium, - add confectioners sugar and milk till creamy.  Spread on top and sprinkle nuts!

Have a great weekend....I'm guessing you aren't like to 

Dowager who asked:

"What is a weekend?"

A CUP OF TEA WITH "ANNE OF GREEN GABLES"

And since little girls do love brownies,

I also want to give you the recipe for these delicious "Favorite Bakery Brownies" which are so easy to make.

I have several books including a book that opens back and ties to present Green Gables with two levels and all the rooms we have loved - including Anne's bedroom.

I own another book which just has wonderful craft ideas for children and another with recipes such as Diana Barry's Raspberry Cordial.  We sometimes make it at Christmastime.

Here is the recipe for the brownies:

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees

To make these brownies you will:  melt 2 sticks of butter in a medium saucepan, and add 6 Tablespoons of cocoa adding 2 cups of sugar and beat until all melted.  Remove the pot and add 4 eggs, and 1 1/2cups sifted flour and mix well.  Add 1-2 tablespoons of milk as needed for moisture.  Lastly, stir in 1 cup chopped walnuts.

Pour batter into a butter greased and floured 9 x 12 baking pan 

and bake for 30 minutes

After you have taken the brownies out of the oven to cool slightly, melted 1/2 stick of butter in a small sauce pan on low, stir in 2 cups of confectioners sugar and 3 Tbs cocoa plus 1-2 Tbs milk  Use a mixer to blend all quickly after warm and pour on top spreading evenly across.  Sprinkle 1/2 cup chopped walnuts on top.  After they cool - cut them into squares or rectangles. 

The wonderful books by L. M. Montgomery would be perfect for your child to read this summer!