Happy Mother's Day!

An Afternoon Tea at Sweet Remembrances, Sunday, May 8, 2011... a bouquet of flowers for mom...

the Menu
Jezebel Sauce with Crackers and miniature butter/cream cheese roses, violets, and daisiesA plate of tea sandwiches to include: Tomato Basil Rounds with Romano Cheese, May Flower Sandwich, Brie & Peach Crostini, Ham Salad and Swiss Cheese Domino Sandwich, Asparagus & Egg Yolk Butter Sandwich, and a violet topped Rosemary Chicken salad in Phyllo Cups. followed by a Traditional English Cream Scone, Orange Glazed Poppyseed Tea Bread with Mock Clotted Cream, Raspberry Jelly and fresh fruit.
Dessert, Lemon Coconut Cake, German Chocolate Cakette, and White Chocolate Pistachio Truffles and dainty white violets.Happy Mother's Day!

Tea cup Thursday

This little tea cup trio was a gift from a sister.There are no markings on the bottom of any of the three pieces, so its heritage is unknown.
The sweet pansies are beautiful both on the cup and fresh out of the garden. Pansies are edible, provided they are grown organically, and are pesticide free. They make a beautiful afternoon tea sandwich with minimal effort yet yields a stunning presentation. Using a round cookie cutter, cut a circle of bread and spread it with a herb flavored cream cheese or butter and then top it with the pansy. It's guaranteed to elicit sighs of joy from guests. According to Shakespeare, There's Rosemary that's for Remembrance. Pray, love, remember. and there is Pansies. That's for thoughts. So, for a special afternoon, invite some special guests to tea, present a plate of pansy sandwiches, and share your thoughts.

Visit Miss Spenser for links to others participating in Tea cup Thursday.

"Pull Aparts" Mini Herb Rolls

Looking for quick, easy and tasty? Try these 'pull apart' mini herb rolls for dinner. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Melt 3 Tbsp. margarine in an 8 inch round pan. Sprinkle 1 Tbsp. minced dried onion, 2 tsp. dill seed, 1 tsp. poppy seed, and 1/4 tsp. celery seed evenly over the butter in the pan.Open a 10 oz. can of refrigerated biscuits. Separate dough into 10 biscuits, and cut each biscuit into 4 small pieces. Place biscuit pieces and 1/4 c. Parmesan cheese in a bag. Shake to evenly distribute the cheese. Carefully arrange biscuits over the mixed seeds.
Bake in preheated oven for 15 - 18 minutesuntil biscuits are golden brown. Carefully turn biscuits onto large round plate and serve warm.

They will pull apart easily either by hand or with a fork. Oh yum!

Sweet Violets

A sure sign of spring,our garden is full of these precious little violets, popping up all over the place. This fragile little 1909 publication, Sweet Violets, includes a variety of short poems about friendship by authors such as Emerson, Plato, and Longfellow. Even George Washington is included, 'True friendship is a plan of slow growth, and must undergo and withstand the shocks of adversity, before it is entitled to the appellation.'

Another example, Deep within a shady dell Violets were hiding. Take them, now, and let them tell Of friendship all abiding. So may joys shine forth to-day, Shedding fragrance on your way! ~Ellis Walton.

Happy May Day!

Once the coveted gift of a secret admirer, May baskets seem to have gone out of style. Alas, we live in a harried time and a pretty basket of flowers found on our doorstep would indeed be a surprise. In a less stressful era, weaving tiny baskets and gathering mosses to line them were another sure sign of spring. Forget-me-knots, violets, primroses and pretty little wild flowers nestled in the moss were a sentimental offering.* This sweet bouquet of fragrant lilacs tucked inside a delicately hand stitched cone was a gift from a friend. It welcomes spring and announces the first of May. It is a simple pleasure.

*from Mrs. Reppert's TwelveMonth Herbal, 1996, Remembrance Press

The Royal Reception ~ A Gala Affair

It was a spectacular day culminated by a very special evening. Not enough pictures were taken and I'm not certain the pictures would have captured the festive feeling of the event anyway. The guests at the Royal Reception wore a marvelous variety of hats and fascinators. It was as exciting to see their head pieces as it was at the actual wedding. Fortunately, a few pictures of the evening tea were take, and I share both the menu and the pictures here. Enjoy!

The Menu ~ Spring Asparagus Soup with Fresh Dill; Mixed Salad Greens, Regal White Violets, Fresh Chive Cream Dressing, Herbed Croutons;Curried Chicken Pie, Ham & Dijon Puffs, Apple Rosemary Blue Cheese Knots, Sweet 'n Savory Strawberry Cheese, Toasted Pecan Crowns; Royal Tea Scones, Lemon Pecan Scones, True Devon Cream, Orange Curd, Lemon Verbena Jelly, Fresh Oranges, Strawberries, Kiwi; and A Match Made in Heaven:Will's Chocolate Biscuit Cake and Kate's Petite Raspberry Wedding Cake
Mimosas, to toast the happy couple ~ May they live happily ever after!

Note: Thank you to Marcella Farina, the Tea and Hat Lady, for granting permission to share her photos of the salad and the sandwich plate.

Quiet Anticipation

The Royal Reception ~ A Gala Affair at Sweet Remembrances takes place this evening. The beautiful blushing bride and gallant nervous groom softly spoke their vows, promises made, bells peeled, and pomp and circumstance capped the occasion. Tonight, we'll celebrate in our own special way. Can you see the sapphire and diamond ring mimicked in the centerpiece?
The tea room is dark now, the kitchen a hustle, the culmination to our Royal Week will begin in a few short hours. Hopefully, photos to share tomorrow!

Best Wishes and Congratulations to William and Kate!

May they continue to enjoy happiness from this day forth.

Ladies-in-Waiting Tea

SereniTea Wednesday was transformed into a Ladies-in-Waiting Tea to honor the upcoming Royal Wedding. Our guests received a printed menu that featured Wedding Herbs and their symbolism on the cover, a recommended tea list on the inside cover, and the menu for the day.

Windsor Castle Tea, Queen Catherine Tea (Kate will become the 6th Queen Catherine) and Chai Tea were our teas of choice. Chai was selected as it is the most popular beverage among Kenyans, and handsome William proposed to blushing Kate in Kenya.

Pear & Walnut Salad with

Parmesan Balsamic Dressing, Basil & Sweet Violets

Hot Artichoke and Marjoram Baguettes

Pimiento Cheese Royal Crowns

Sliced Turkey with Rosemary Biscuits

Cucumber with Herbed Butter

Kensington Palace Scones

Lavender Scones

Cream, Curd, Pineapple Sage Jelly

Orange Slices and Strawberries

Lady Di's Diamonds

Scottish Thistle Shortbread

Kate's Favorite Sticky Toffee Pudding

Much the way Kate's wedding cake is laden with symbolism using the Language of Flowers from the Victorian era, our menu also featured symbolism. Rosemary for remembrance, lavender for luck, basil signifies good wishes while sweet violets represent faithfulness. Kate's wedding cake will include the four flowers of the home nations, the English Rose (hope, prosperity and unity), the Welsh daffodil (chivalry and rebirth), the Scottish Thistle (bravery, courage, and loyalty) and the Irish Shamrock (unity and good luck). There will be 16 different blossoms that all have special meaning including the bridal rose for happiness, the acorn and oak symbolize strength and endurance, the lily of the valley for sweetness and humility, English Ivy for marriage, and of course Sweet Williams for perfection and gallantry. Although many of these plants and herbs are not edible, they are being made out of decorators icing and marzipan.

Bridal Vignettes

In anticipation of royal wedding week, decorative vignettes have been tucked throughout the tea room. When you first enter the main hallway, you encounter this collection of royal photos complemented with a wispy cloud of wedding veil.Photos of Wills and Kate are predominant, along with a copy of an oil painting by Sir James Gunn, completed in 1950, entitled Conversation Piece at The Royal Lodge. The original portrait hangs in the National Portrait Gallery. It features King George VI, Queen Elizabeth, Princess Elizabeth (now Queen Elizabeth II, seated) and her sister Princess Margaret during tea time. The small commemorative plate honors the Coronation of Elizabeth II on 2nd June 1953. It is a piece of Royal Albert bone china, crafted in England. In the main dining area is this wedding vignette that features portraits of Wills and Kate accompanied by assorted wedding memorabilia.
And of course, a pearl tiara is at the ready for the many royal celebrations taking place this week. Let the festivities begin!

Fairy Tales Do Come True

It started with a fairy tale, many years ago. We were fascinated then and entralled now with this new chapter. Royal Wedding Blends are popping up all over the place, as they did back then. All roads lead to Westminster Abbey.It's the place to be on Friday, April 29, 2011.
If you can't be there, will you join the millions that will be watching on TV? Over 750 million were tuned in for Charles and Diana when they wed at St. Paul's Cathedral. Will the number parallel or exceed that amount this year? Count us in among the millions!
The bells on Big Ben will toll at 11:00 am to signal the beginning of the Royal Procession. Commoner Catherine (Kate) Elizabeth Middleton will marry His Royal Highness Prince William of Wales (William Arthur Philip Louis)with all the pomp and circumstance a royal fairy tale wedding can include yet regal and romantic and perhaps overwhelming as well.
Truly, the stuff of which fairy tales are made.

Victorian Bridal Tea & Program

We are celebrating the Royal Wedding in several ways this month. Our kick-off event was this past Sunday and Monday, April 17th and 18th where we honored Queen Victoria and the devout love she shared with Prince Albert at our Victorian Bridal Tea.
It was our pleasure to welcome Victoriana Lady Lisa Lewis to Sweet Remembrances. Lady Lisa displayed a traveling museum of vintage bridal clothing that she has been collecting since she was 15 years old, with thanks to her Grandmother for providing her with the importance of sharing and caring for these historical treasures.
A Victorian Afternoon Tea was served and included Victorian Chutney with Cream Roses and Crackers, Olde English Sausage Rolls, The Royal Crown Salmon Pate, To the Queen's Taste Brie & Apple Crostini, The Duke of Orange Pecan Sandwich Rounds, Queen Adelaide Ham & Chicken Salad, The Earl of Sandwich Asparagus & Egg Yolk ButterTraditional English Cream Scones, Prince Albert's Apricot Coriander Tea Bread, Devon Cream, Lemon Curd, Raspberry Preserves, Orange Slices and Pineapple CubesThe Royal Ladies Fruit Cakelette, and Victorian Sponge Cake
White Wine Syllabub.

Following the Afternoon Tea, Lady Lisa presented an entertaining and informative program on the entire outfit that any fashionable Victorian Bride would include in her ensemble. Quite an amazing array of layers. For additional Victorian events, pictures and history, please visit Lady Lisa's blog.Thank you Lady Lisa, and also John Grant for joining us. We are pleased you were able to present another program at Sweet Remembrances, and look forward to your return visit next year.

Happy Easter!

Well pleaseth me the sweet time of Easter

That maketh the leaf and the flower come out.

~Bertran de Born