In Review ~ December



Holiday Tea, November 25

FestiviTea ~ Sunday, Monday,December 4, 5

Take Tea! December 10

 


In Review ~ January - July



Mother's Day, 2011




Queen's Tea, June, 2011




Sentimentally Yours, May, 2011





Victorian Tea, June, 2011




Tea Party for the Wee Folk, July 2011



Honor Thy Father

Thank you dad, for teaching us the value of community, for giving of your time as Mayor of Mechanicsburg, for sharing history, and for documenting it in your book, Mechanicsburg.

January 2011~Booksigning

We are grateful dad, for teaching us the importance of friendship, and for sharing a good story and enjoying a good laugh with friends near and far.

September 2009~Hawaiian Luau Party

 



September 2009~Welcoming my Japanese penpal

 Thank you for encouraging us to save, but understanding the importance of a special outing!

August 2009~Birthday Tea for Nancy

 Thank you dad for your dedication to your country as a proud and courageous Marine, and for teaching us about honor, loyalty, and dedication to God, Country, Corps, Family, and Self.  Once a Marine, Always a Marine. We are grateful for your honorable service during WWII.

February 2009~Marine Museum with the Grandkids

Thank you for loving your family, protecting your family, guiding your family, and teaching us about our family roots, our past, present, and future.  Simply, Thank you!  We love you and miss you!

January 2007~With Granddaughter and GreatGranddaughter

 



 

September 2006~Go Penn State!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD! 

Forever in our hearts!

Merry Christmas!

The Reppert and Brill Families

of Sweet Remembrances and The Rosemary House

wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas!

In Anticipation

the stockings were hung by the chimney with care...

Tea cup Thursday

As we march quickly towards Christmas day, we'd like to share A Cup of Christmas Tea as we join Miss Spenser and others today on Tea Cup Thursday.  This beautiful Bone China tea cup was introduced in 1992 to accompany the book by the same title, authored by Tom Hegg and illustrated by Warren Hanson.  Written in rhyming verse, it tells the story of a young man who reluctantly visits an elderly aunt at Christmastime, and shares the unexpected joy it brings as they both enjoy the memories of Christmas past over a cup of Christmas Tea.

The other book shown here, A Cozy Christmas Tea is a little treasure of recipes, quotes, and beautiful paintings by Sandy Lynam Clough.  The author encourages you to celebrate the joy and peace of the season with a cozy Christmas Tea, and what better way to do so than with this delightful tea cup specifically for a cup of Christmas tea. 

Der Belsnickel

We welcomed Timothy Essig to the tea room recently.  A Landis Valley Museum educator, he presented a first person interpretation of the rascally Pennsylvania Dutch holiday character, Der Belsnickel, or loosely translated, Nicholas in Furs. The tradition of Der Belsnickel was brought to America by German immigrants and is very regional to Pennsylvania and Maryland, perhaps into New York.  Dressed in furs and bells, often wearing a mask, he carried a bag of goodies in one hand for the good kids and a switch in the other for the naughty children.

All Belsnickels dress slightly differently, but furs and bells were common.  They were scary with unruly hair and raggedy pants.  Typically, the Belsnickels were neighbors or relatives, and visited on Christmas Eve.  The tradition of Der Belsnickel eventually fell out of favor as the kinder gentler Santa evolved.  It was fun to welcome this rascally fellow to the tea room as he announced that there was no such thing as a good kid.  He proceeded to tell stories about the naughty activities of the guests in attendance, all in good fun, of course.

Edible Snowflakes

It was by chance we happened upon this little package of Edible Snowflakes, imported from Germany.  The package states that they are 'great for decorating your holiday treats', and indeed, that is how we have enjoyed using them.

These sturdy little snowflakes, made from potato starch and corn starch, have been placed on assorted dessert offerings.Here they have been tucked into a chocolate topping before it dried, and are now securely held in place as the chocolate became firm.  Quite festive and fun!

A delicate statement is made by placing a few of the blue and white snowflakes alongside some sugar dusted desserts.

Let it snow!

Boxwood Table-top Tree

A Boxwood Table top Christmas Tree is an easy decoration to create.  It does require a fair amount of boxwood, a full size block of oasis and a bowl that will hold water.    We began by taping the soaked oasis to the bowl for some added security.   Next we placed 5 boxwood pieces to create the triangular shape of a tree.  On piece at the top and then one on each side of the oasis on the bottom.   Those pieces were our largest and after that we continued poking in boxwood pieces, each one progressively smaller, thus forming  a lovely tree.
Final touches were put on the wreath with ribbons, red ornaments, red birds, peppermint candies and gold bells.   Everyone could choose their own  decorations and many left the tree all green.

In the oasis, these charming tabletop trees will easily last throughout the holiday season. 

Tea cup Thursday

Running behind schedule, but better late than never, I thought I better share this teacup before it's January.  We're happy to join Miss Spenser and others for Tea cup Thursday.

The newest addition to the holiday tea cup collection is this beautiful Royal Albert, bone China, made in England, Flower of the Month series which features the Christmas Rose.
With its cheerful white blossoms and delicate shades of red, pink, and green with red berries and holly leaves, it has been a joy to place this on the holiday table.  A special thank you to sister Marj for finding this treasure, and presenting it to me early so that I could enjoy it throughout the season.

Santa's Coming to Town

Once again this year, the Santa collection is on display in the tea room.  They merrily great you as enter the main hallway, right inside the front entrance.

The smallest Santa on the shelf was a souvenir from Spain.  And the rotund wooden one behind him, with the droopy hat with a tiny bell was purchased in Germany. 

One of my favorites, the jolly old elf pouring tea was a gift from a good friend.  He fits right into the collection as if he's been here since forever.

Another friend of the family stitched the small framed piece which sits on the oak side-by-side.  If you look closely, it says Santa's pot of tea, a perfect accompaniment to the little Santa tea pot that rests beside it.  What type of tea do you suppose Santa prefers?

Gingerbread Houses

Last December, the kids were shuttled to a friend's home where they created these fun gingerbread houses.  Friend Matt mixed, chilled, rolled, measured, cutout, and baked these little treasures.  It was then up to the kids to build their house and decorate it at whim, using assorted candy pieces, pretzels, gumdrops, and more.
Guided by their imaginations and desire to create, they crafted fairyland houses!  Each one colorful and unique.  They are eagerly anticipating, hoping, that there will be another gingerbread decorating adventure this year.

Oh Christmas Tree!

The tea themed tree is in its place...adorned with all types of tea related ornaments, a few tea caddies, some jewelry pieces, even a bookmark.  Anything having to do with tea might be found on the tree or under the tree.  A swirl of cloth with colorful teapots circles the tree and a miniature teaset sits below it, waiting for little hands to enjoy a pretend tea party.

If you look closely, you might find this small enamel tea pot, adorned with holly leaves and berries.

Or this sweet Spode tea pot with a colorful plaid holiday ribbon, a Christmas present from years past.

Or this fragile little teapot, hanging gaily from the tree. 

It's a tree full of discoveries! 

Blog Giveaway! ~ Dainty Dining ~

December!  In celebration of the month of gift giving, we are happy to offer this new tea related book, Dainty Dining, by Angela Webster McRae. Angela, an award-winning journalist and freelance writer from Georgia (and long distance blog friend), also pens the blog Tea With Friends.  She has been researching the history and collecting vintage recipes from America's department store tea rooms, many you might recognize; Gimbel's, Hess's, Nieman Marcus, and John Wanamaker, just to name a few.  The factual history documented in this creative publication is not only interesting, but informative.  The photos that accompany the familiar recipes, inspire me to make them!  Some are even photographed on the original china dishes.  Picture postcards of the department stores are scattered throughout the book, along with other memorabilia that Angela has found; copies of old menus, advertising flyers, and other fun treasures.  This book was obviously a true labor of love, well researched, well indexed, well laid out.

A great addition to any tea enthusiast's library, I immediately ordered a copy for myself.  When the book arrived, Angela had included an extra copy to share with our readers.  If you would like a chance to win this book ,please leave a comment on this post between now and Sat. Dec. 3rd.  We'll announce the winner on Sunday.

For additional information about department store tea rooms, Angela has launched a new blog, Dainty Dining.  There is also a link on her blog to order your own copy.  Be sure to check it out! 

The winner of this Blog Giveaway is Garden of Daisies!  Congratulations!

Super Soup Recipes

We're happy to share a few of the recipes for the Souper Soups that we enjoyed during our special event a few weeks ago.

The Creamy Sweet Potato Soup recipe, originally a recipe from Bon Appetit magazine, was found on the Internet.  The recipe can be found here.

Apple Pie Soup

This fun soup slowly cooks in a crock pot.  Once it's done cooking, process in a food processor until smooth.  Refrigerate until serving time.  Garnish with heavy cream and walnuts.
1-1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1 teaspoon ground cloves

1 teaspoon allspice

1 teaspoon ground nutmeg

3 cups water

3 cups apple cider

4 large Granny Smith, peeled, cored and sliced

2/3 cup raisins
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
4 tablespoons honey
1 cup vanilla yogurt
Heavy cream, whipped and chopped nuts (garnish)
Combine the spices, water, cider, apple slices and raisins in a slow cooker. Cover and cook on low 6 hours or until apples are quite soft. Puree the soup in a food processor, a partial batch at a time, until all the apples and raisins are pureed. Stir in the lemon juice and honey.  Just before serving, blend in vanilla yogurt.  Garnish as desired.

Italian Vegetable Soup
1 pound ground beef
1 c. diced onion
1 c. diced celery
1 c. sliced carrots
1 garlic cloves, minced
1 can (16 oz) tomatoes
1 can (15 oz.) tomato sauce
1 can (15 oz.) kidney beans, undrained

2 c. water
5 tsp. beef bouillon granules
2 Tbsp. dried parsley
1/2 tsp. dried oregano
1/2 tsp. dried basil
1/2 tsp. black pepper
2 c. shredded cabbage
2 c. frozen green beans
1/2 c. small elbow macaroni
salt, to taste
Freshly grated Parmesan cheese, for garnish
In a heavy stock pot, brown beef; drain.  Add all ingredients except cabbage, green beans, and macaroni. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover, and simmer 20 minutes.  Add cabbage, green beans, and macaroni.  Bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover, and simmer until vegetables are tender.  Serve garnished with Parmesan cheese.  Yield:  10 - 12 servings.

Surprise "giveaway" on Rosemary's Sampler tomorrow! 
Be sure to leave a comment on tomorrow's post to enter in the drawing.

Super Soups for Supper

Earlier this month, we offered Sensational Super Soups for Supper as a special event in the tea room.  Every soup spoon available was put into use for this fun evening!  Nancy prepared a wide variety of soups while Susanna presented an informative program between each course that included historical information, seasoning tips, and garnishing techniques.

The first course featured a Chilled Fruit Medley, a recipe from Lunchtime in Gettysburg, a cookbook from the now closed Civil-la-tea Tea Room.  Served in a clear glass punch bowl and garnished with ruby red pineapple sage blossoms, it was a sweet and creamy beginning to the super supper.

The second course was Rosemary Corn Soup accompanied with Cheddar Chive Crisps. A fresh sprig of rosemary garnished this hearty corn soup.  A Creamy Sweet Potato Soup, garnished with a star shaped crouton and served with a moist Pumpkin Bread was the next soup in our 5-soup menu.  Organic, fresh, local sweet potatoes were cooked and then pureed to create a creamy tasty soup. 

The main course was a hearty Italian Vegetable Beef Soup, garnished with Parmesan cheese.  Warm Parmesan Herb Biscuits accompanied the bowl of soup.

For dessert, a chilled Apple Pie Soup, garnished with heavy whipped cream sprinkled with walnuts    completed the assortment of soups. All in all, it was a fun evening!