Passion:

What is passion?
While working in the garden the other day(something I love to do and would rather ditch the house work any day for ) I started thinking about passion. What is it? I believe passion is that feeling one gets when thinking or doing a particular thing that really makes you so consumed that nothing else matters or can compare. That tugging in your mind that draws you away from almost any other activity you may be doing. Chocolate is good-but oh, nothing is as satisfying as your passion. Nothing else will keep you up, make you miss appointments or crucial family gatherings and yes-even make you forget to eat as what you are passionate about.

What is your passion?
Have you defined it yet? I believe we are never complete until we know what it is that fulfills our thoughts-our life-our being. That is who we are. That is the being that God created. When you have declared what your passion is-you then are a complete fulfilled person.

What is my passion?
You. Yes-you. You are a part of my passion. My tea business is my passion and you are a part of that. Tea parties, afternoon tea, tea houses, tea bars, tea sets, tea ware, herbal tea, black tea(with cream-of course), tea in the morning, tea before bed, tea foods, tea baskets, tea gifts and on and on tea, tea, tea, tea, tea. Now you see-this is my passion and I believe that passion or dream can become a reality (real-tea) if you persue it and not give up. Will it always turn out great the first try? Hardly ever. But if you are truly passionate about it you will continue to strive for success. Thank you for being a part of my passion. Not a dream-because it is real. Tea is my passion. You are my passion. You are real.

Have a cup for me,

Lady Caroline


Tea Cakes (I thought this was appropriate)

Ingredients
1 cup granulated sugar
6 eggs, slightly beaten
1 tablespoon lemon juice
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup unsalted butter (no substitutes), melted and cooled
1 tablespoon finely shredded lemon peel
4-1/2 cups granulated sugar
2-1/4 cups water
1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
1 tablespoon lemon juice
6 to 6-3/4 cups sifted powdered sugar

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350 degree F. Grease a 13x9x2-inch baking pan. Line the bottom with waxed paper. Set aside.
2. Place the 1 cup sugar and eggs in a 3- to 4-quart heatproof mixing bowl. Place bowl over 1 to 2 inches hot water in a large saucepan (bowl should not touch water). Heat over low heat, stirring occasionally, for 5 to 10 minutes or until egg mixture is lukewarm (105 degree F to 110 degree F). Remove bowl from saucepan. Add the first 1 tablespoon lemon juice and vanilla.
3. Beat egg mixture with electric mixer on high speed for 10 minutes. Sift about one-third of the flour over egg mixture. Gently fold in flour. Repeat sifting and folding in one-third of the flour at a time. Gently fold in melted butter and lemon peel. Spread batter into prepared pan.
4. Bake in preheated oven for 25 minutes or until a wooden toothpick inserted near the center of the cake comes out clean. Cool cake in pan on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Remove cake from pan; peel off paper. Cool thoroughly on rack.
5. Combine the 4-1/2 cups granulated sugar, the water, and cream of tartar in a 3-quart saucepan. Bring mixture to boiling over medium-high heat, stirring constantly until sugar dissolves. Reduce heat to medium-low. Clip a candy thermometer to side of the saucepan. Cook until thermometer registers 226 degree F, stirring only when necessary to prevent sticking. Mixture should boil at a moderate, steady rate over the entire surface (this should take about 15 minutes). Remove saucepan from heat. Cool sugar mixture at room temperature, without stirring, to 110 degree F (allow about 1 hour). Stir in the 1 tablespoon lemon juice. Stir in enough powdered sugar to make icing that is easy to drizzle. If necessary, beat the icing with a rotary beater or a wire whisk to remove any lumps. If the icing gets too thick to drizzle, beat in a few drops hot water.
6. Using a serrated knife, trim sides and top of cake to make the edges smooth and straight. Cut cake into 1-1/2-inch squares, diamonds, triangles, and/or circles. Brush off crumbs. Place the cake pieces on wire racks with waxed paper underneath.
7. Insert a 2- or 3-prong, long-handled fork into the side of one cake piece. Holding the cake over the saucepan of icing, spoon on enough icing to cover sides and top. Place frosted cake piece back on the wire rack, making sure it doesn't touch other cake pieces. Repeat with remaining pieces. Let cakes dry 15 minutes. Repeat with a second layer of icing, except set cake pieces on top of the fork prongs (do not spear them). Repeat with a third layer of icing. If necessary, reuse the icing that has dripped onto the waxed paper, straining to remove crumbs. Tint any remaining icing with food coloring as desired and pipe or drizzle atop cakes. Makes about 48.

Hello, Ladies.

I have been thinking about friendship and how our ancestor's had generations of family around them that were there to mentor, nourish, and yes-be friends one to another. Today, in our very busy world, we are missing so much of that precious time shared with mothers, daughters, aunts and cousins that reaffirmed who we are in the world and helped mold our personalities.

Last week I attended a tea with the Ladies Tea Guilde in which I belong . As very active women in today's society, I noticed we were all a little beat up. We attended a tea that was scheduled for a couple of hours and when I left after five hours, many still lingered. I did not want to depart but as expected, I had other obligations. As we shared our woes and insites, I watched a rejuvenation taking place. The more we shared, the more alive we became and the creative juices began flowing. When I left, three years of teas had been planned and the color was returning into the faces of my colleges. This is what it must have been like in generations passed when the women got together to sew, cook, can, or birth a new life into the world.

I encourage you to take the time to call a friend or family member and spend the afternoon .
No special spas are necessary-just good old fashion friendship.

Well, of course this got me thinking of cooking and baking so I dug out an old recipe that seemed appropriate. Remember this one sisters of the past? Of course I had to immediately make it.

Friendship Cake

You will need a 1 gallon glass jar
To this jar add:
1 lg can sliced peaches
2-1/2 cups sugar
Stir once a day for 10 days

To the peach mixture add:
1 lg can crushed pineapple
2-1/2 cups sugar
Again, stir once a day for 10 days

To the above mixture add:
1 jar marshino cherries
2-1/2 cups sugar
Stir once a day for 10 days

After the 10 days, drain the fruit and put in
a very large mixing bowl.
To the fruit add:
1 dozen eggs
3 yellow cake mixes (pudding in the mix)
3-2/3 cup oil
Stir by hand and pour into loaf pans
Bake at 325 degrees for one hour

Wrap Friendship Cakes in decorative foils and share with your
friends. Save one for your family and one to share with guests.

This would be a great time to stock up on our customer appreciation private tea sale
going on during the month of August (or until supply runs out). Save 40% on call tea.

Thanks for being my friend,

Lady Caroline