tisdag 29 maj 2012

Tea Time Tuesday!


Vädret i helgen var underbart!
Perfekt för en te stund i trädgården.
Jag ville ha pigga färger och valde gult blått och cerise.


I värmen var det gott med jordgubbar och Ris a la Malta..
Ris ala Malta på LCHF vis med grädde, kvarg, vaniljsocker.
Toppat med lite mörk choklad
Jättegott och nästan inga kolhydrater.


Koppar och fat tillhör en servis som jag köpte på 80- talet.
Billigt och på Ikea.
Men märkligt nog så är det inte märkt IKEA utan...
Churchill England.
De måste ha haft ett samarbete.


Mönstret är Willow.
Det bygger på en berättelse från Kina.
Om två älskande som kämpade för sin kärlek. 


Text hämtad från Wikipedia
The Willow pattern, more commonly known as Blue Willow, is a distinctive and elaborate pattern used on ceramic kitchen/housewares. The pattern was designed by Thomas Minton around 1790 and has been in use for over 200 years. Other references give alternative origins, such as Thomas Turner of Caughley porcelain, with a design date of 1780. Willow refers to the pattern, a specific treatment, either applied transfer, or stamp, known as transferware. Background colour is always white, while foreground colour depends on the maker; blue the most common, followed by pink, green, and brown. Assortment, shape and dates of production vary.

[edit]Legend behind the pattern

In order to promote sales of Minton's Willow pattern, various stories were invented based on the elements of the design. The most famous story usually runs as described below. The story is English in origin, and has no links to China.[1]
The Romantic Fable: Once there was a wealthy Mandarin, who had a beautiful daughter (Koong-se). She had fallen in love with her father's humble accounting assistant (Chang), angering her father (it was inappropriate for them to marry due to their difference in social class). He dismissed the young man and built a high fence around his house to keep the lovers apart. The Mandarin was planning for his daughter to marry a powerful Duke. The Duke arrived by boat to claim his bride, bearing a box of jewels as a gift. The wedding was to take place on the day the blossom fell from the willow tree.
On the eve of the daughter's wedding to the Duke, the young accountant, disguised as a servant, slipped into the palace unnoticed. As the lovers escaped with the jewels, the alarm was raised. They ran over a bridge, chased by the Mandarin, whip in hand. They eventually escaped on the Duke's ship to the safety of a secluded island, where they lived happily for years. But one day, the Duke learned of their refuge. Hungry for revenge, he sent soldiers, who captured the lovers and put them to death. The Gods, moved by their plight, transformed the lovers into a pair of doves (possibly a later addition to the tale, since the birds do not appear on the earliest willow pattern plates).[2]
The Secret Shaolin Message: The Shaolin Monastery is burned by the Imperial troops of the Manchu rulers, called invaders by Chinese nationalist and later communist factions. Souls of the dead monks take a boat to the isle of the Blest. On the bridge are three Buddha awaiting the dead souls: Sakyamuni, the Buddha of the Past; Maitreya, the Buddha of the Future; and, Amitabha, the Ruler of the Western Paradise. Beyond them is the City of Willows – Buddhist Heaven. The doves are the monks' souls on the journey from human to immortal life.
The teller narrates the tale while pointing to various designs on the plate.
Cultural impact of the story: The story of the willow pattern was turned into a comic opera in 1901 called The Willow Pattern. It was also told in a 1914 silent film called Story of the Willow PatternRobert van Gulik also used some of the idea in his Chinese detective novel The Willow Pattern. In 1992, Barry Purves made a short animated film relating the story, transplanted to Japan and entitled Screen Play.
The old poemTwo birds flying high,
A Chinese vessel, sailing by.
A bridge with three men, sometimes four,
A willow tree, hanging o'er.
A Chinese temple, there it stands,
Built upon the river sands.
An apple tree, with apples on,
A crooked fence to end my song.

                                        
Mjölkkannan och sockerskålen är inköpt på Pingstkyrkans loppis.
Matrilalet är tenn och det är tillverkat i Norge.


Den cerisa pelargonian har jag ställt i en blå kruka.
I trädgården blommar det för fullt.
Igår slog häggmispel ut och vårlökarna har påbörjat sin final.
Pärlhyacinter, narcisser, tulpaner blommar för fullt.




Kaprifolen har börjat få knoppar så snart kommer kvällarna insvepas i dess ljuva doft.
Tills vidare njuter jag av hyacintherna.
De är så stora att jag fått sätta stödpinnar för...
 att de inte skall tippa.


De röda tulpanerna i bakgrunden förstärker pärlhyacinthernas djupblå färg.


Min dillpion har stora knoppar.
Det dröjer inte länge innan den börjar blomma.
Värmen gör att allt går så fort.
Igår bakade jag kolakakor på LCHF vis.
De blev riktigt goda.
Knäckiga och precis lagom söta.


Det känns smått fantastiskt att kunna..
Äta så mycket gott och ändå gå ner i vikt.
Jag har tappat tolv kilo på sju veckor.
Receptet kommer ifrån Annika Rongneby utmärkta bok.. 
"Bakglädje med LCHF- baka utan socker och mjöl
Kolakakor á la LCHF
Recept för ca 15-20 bitar


100 g smör
1 dl sukrin
2,25 dl mandelmjöl
0,5 tsk bikarbonat
0,5 tsk vaniljpulver (rent vaniljpulver utan sockertillsats)

Sätt ugnen på 175 grader
Vispa smör och sukrin krämigt
Blanda alla torra ingredienser och vänd ner i smeten. Rör till en kaksmet
Dela degen i två delar och rulla till två längder. (Det går lättare om degen får vila en stund i kylen innan utbakning)
Lägg rullarna på en plåt med bakplåtspapper och platta till dem lite lätt. De kommer att flyta ut rejält vid gräddning.
Grädda mitt i ugnen ca 12-15 min
Låt svalna lite och skär sedan längderna på snedden.




Jag önskar alla en skön vecka!
Zinnia


14 kommentarer:

Snap sa...

It's wonderful to have tea in the garden. I love blue and yellow. Blue willow is one of my favorite patterns. Happy Tea Day!

Sandi@ Rose Chintz Cottage sa...

Good morning Zinnia,
What a lovely garden you have, a sweet spot for a tea table! I love the Blue Willow pattern and I have some dessert plates in that pattern also by Churchill. Thank you for sharing your pretty tea with us and joining me today. Have a lovely week.

Blessings,
Sandi

Antiques And Teacups sa...

What a lovely and colorful place for tea. I love your Churchill Blue Willow...always a favorite! Your garden is wonderful! I have not seen that type of peony before. How fun! Thanks for sharing your garden tea and linking to Tuesday Cuppa Tea!
Ruth

Pamela Gordon sa...

Your garden is very pretty as is your tea table set out in the flowers. A lovely setting. Pamela

CEO Lisa Anne - L.A sa...

Your gardens are so lovely. What a beautiful place to have tea. I love your blue Churchill Willow. Have a wonderful day.
Blessings,
Lisa

Terri sa...

Hello Zinnia,
Your post is wonderful to read! So much to see and comment on. I think your out door tea is just what you wanted, colorful and lively. It looks pretty. The sugar and creamer are very nice as well. The Churchill cups are lovely too.
I tried to read the story, but sadly, the translator does not do a good job.
Your garden is so delightful with everything blooming! I have never seen Dill Peony...I would love to see images of yours when it blooms.
Thank you so much for sharing your tea and garden with us.
Hugs,
Terri

Maria Andrade sa...

Great tea in your beautiful garden, Zinnia!
Thanks for sharing.
Hugs

Two Cottages And Tea sa...

I love the colors of your tea setting. Yellow and blue go so well together and are so spring like. You have a gorgous garden, perfect for tea parties! Have a wonderful week.
Nancy

Beth sa...

Hi Zinnia! Beautiful tea, beautiful gardens, and I love the Blue Willow. The dessert looks good too.

Rizzi sa...

YOUR TEA PARTY IS SO CHARMING....AND VERY COLORFUL....LOVE YOUR WILLOW PATTERN TOO........YOUR COTTAGE CHEESE PLATE SOUNDS YUMMY....MUST TRY THE CHOCOLATE SHAVINGS.....RIZZI

Red Rose Alley sa...

I love those chairs with the polka dot seats. I am a polka dot girl too. I also like the blue tea cup. For some reason, I love the blue tea cups more than any. My wedding china was even in blue. Is your other blog still active? I went over there first. Have a sweet day.
~Sheri at Red Rose Alley

Johanna Gehrlein sa...

Hi Zinnia,
thank you for this interesting story about the Willow pattern. I didn't knew that before. The pattern is really nice and even more interesting, when knowing the history to it. Your garden is blooming wonderful. That makes a great background for a tea time.
Best greetings, Johanna

Kathy sa...

Blue Willow is such a romantic pattern - I love it set with your bright yellow tablecloth. Your garden is gorgeous and I can just imagine the heavenly fragrance! I do appreciate you sharing with A Return to Loveliness,
Kathy

Cindy Adkins sa...

Beautiful! I love Blue Willow china. Thanks for sharing.
Cindy