Inspiration for living a luxuriously and balanced life

▼

Tuesday, October 2, 2012

Tea with Elizabeth and Lady Carlye

My dear friend Elizabeth, who spent the last 3 months of 2011 and the better part of 2012 traveling the world, finally returned home. After coordinating our schedules we were able to catch up in late summer over a cup of tea and some yummy treats. The weather was extremely hot so, we sat comfortably inside looking out  to the gardens. Come along and join us for tea...


I had not seen Elizabeth since our trip to Paris in October 2011 ~ at the end of our week in Paris, I flew home, while Elizabeth went off to see the world. 
During our time in Paris,  Elizabeth introduced me to Mariage Frères Maison de Thé  (definitely a must go to - when you are in Paris). To celebrate her return home I decided Casablanca tea from Mariage Frères would be perfect! served in my Lady Carlyle teapot by Royal Albert,


For the desserts I choose this hand painted robin egg blue pedestal plate, Porcelain de France.





I found this serviette holder during one of my exploration country drives...


an antique milk bottle ...

perfect for displaying fresh flowers from our garden...


Our teacup, saucer and dessert plate are also Lady Carlyle - by Royal Albert

 The center of the saucer is beautifully decorated with flowers ...



I love to use items in unexpected ways ... here I'm using a knife rest to give the dessert fork a little lift. This beauty is part of  our antique French Christofle Coquille knife rest set, which I was fortunate to acquire from our dear friend Mariette's on-line boutique;  Mariette's Back to Basics Boutique. (if you are looking for unique, quality gifts for someone special I encourage you to visit her boutique).

Table is almost set ....

Add... scrumptious pastries from a local bakery!! 

Some yummy home baked brie cheese (recipe at end of post)

and tea is served .... Welcome home Elizabeth!!!


I hope you enjoyed tea today with Elizabeth and Lady Carlyle ....

Now for the Baked brie recipe... 


all you need is 1/4 - 1/2 cup of dried cranberries; 1/4 - 1/2 cup of sliced almonds;  and 2-4 Tablespoons of Disaronno (or your favorite liquior); and a round of brie cheese.


Mix the liquior with the almonds and cranberries, warm in microwave for 25 SECONDS (stir and let stand for a minute); remove the rind from top of cheese round; place cheese in a brie baking dish; cover brie with almond & cranberry mixture; place in pre-heated 350 degrees oven for 12-15 minutes.

Voila!!!

Serve brie with sliced French bread... and ENJOY!!






sharing this post with:  The Tablescaper for Seasonal Sundays  ~Twig Studios for Sunday Show Off ~ Under the Table Dreaming for Sunday Showcase Party ~ Mosaic Monday ~ Antiques and Teacups for Tuesday Cuppa Tea ~ Rose Chintz Cottage for Tea time Tuesday ~ Artful Affirmations and Martha's favorites for Teacup Tuesday  Table Top Tuesday ~  A Return to Loveliness Tuesday ~  between naps on the front porch Thursday ~ Farm Fresh Friday -Feathered Nest Friday
On the Menu Monday *  Mouth Watering Monday  * Melt in your mouth Monday *  Tempted My Tummy Tuesday  *  Tasty Tuesday * What’s Cooking Wednesday *  Full Plate Thursday  * Home and Garden Thursday *  Feasting in Fellowship Friday 

at

24 comments:

  1. DeniseSeptember 30, 2012 at 12:30 PM

    Beautiful photos of your tea setting.Wonderful yummy food.Pretty pic. of yourself-enjoyed your tea party :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Belle Inspiration MagazineSeptember 30, 2012 at 12:38 PM

    Bonjour Celia,
    What a wonderful aftenoon spent with a close friend. Your tea service is beautiful. Elizabeth looks wonderful, all her travels must have agreed with her.
    Glad to see all your posts again, it is so calm and refreshing over here!
    Big hugs mon amie,
    Mimi

    ReplyDelete
  3. CEO Lisa Anne - L.ASeptember 30, 2012 at 1:57 PM

    Hello Celia,
    What a beautiful tea setting to share with your friend. I love your teacups and teapot. Those desserts and brie look so delicious. Thanks for sharing your recipe.
    Lisa

    ReplyDelete
  4. collettakaySeptember 30, 2012 at 2:09 PM

    I can't imagine traveling the world! What a wonderful welcome home you gave your friend! That little piggy cupcake so super cute ;)

    Colletta

    ReplyDelete
  5. BethSeptember 30, 2012 at 2:48 PM

    Hi Celia, Welcome home to Elizabeth! Glad you two had the chance to catch up. Your teacup and teapot are beautiful and the pastries look great - love the little piggy! Your milk bottle reminded me of when I was a child, my grandmother would bet whole milk in those type of bottles and she would let it sit and the cream would rise to the top; she would then skim the cream off the top.

    ReplyDelete
  6. UnknownSeptember 30, 2012 at 3:42 PM

    Hello Celia.
    Elizabeth is quite a lucky friend. You sure did up a nice tea. Nothing like an afternoon tea and friends. Sigh....
    Thanks for sharing.
    Cheers, Gee

    ReplyDelete
  7. Judith @ Lavender CottageSeptember 30, 2012 at 4:31 PM

    Hello Celia
    You hosted an elegant tea for the return of your friend Elizabeth. I'm sure there was lots of catching up over the delicious food you served.
    The farm where I buy my eggs is now carrying non-homogenized milk in bottles. It is pasteurized of course but letting it sit allows cream for coffee to rise to the top. We tried some but after using skim for so long, found it too creamy for drinking.
    Have a lovely week.
    Judith

    ReplyDelete
  8. AnonymousSeptember 30, 2012 at 6:39 PM

    Celia,
    A very elegant tea table. Lady Carlyle is very pretty china. A special tea for a special friend.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Mariette VandenMunckhof-VedderSeptember 30, 2012 at 10:01 PM

    Dearest Celia,

    What a surprise to come to this post! Thanks for the shout out for my on line boutique and for letting me see those fabulous Christofle knife rests again. You served such an elegant tea for friend Elizabeth with your Lady Carlyle china. Certainly I made a note of this yummy recipe. Great for serving to friends, either tea time or as an appetizer.
    You always know how to present things so lovely and elegant!
    Hugs to you,

    Mariette

    PS It rains cats and dogs, just got back from a lovely afternoon + evening with friends. Great food and fine company. I was in bed the clock round because I'd twisted my ankle and it was so swollen and painful. We went yesterday with the same best friend to a nursery and I probably walked too much on that leg... But now it no longer hurts. At times we have to listen to our body and take a REST. ♥♥

    ReplyDelete
  10. AlessandraSeptember 30, 2012 at 11:35 PM

    Lovely photos and super yummy food!

    ReplyDelete
  11. miss bOctober 1, 2012 at 6:48 AM

    Tea always tastes so much better in beautiful china cups like these! Always so nice to catch up with friends - sounds like a wonderful afternoon.
    http://missbbobochic.blogspot.co.uk/

    ReplyDelete
  12. Mariette VandenMunckhof-VedderOctober 1, 2012 at 11:42 AM

    Dearest Celia,

    So this post was also the 5th anniversary for Angel Papa...
    Tight hugs to you,
    Mariette

    ReplyDelete
  13. Antiques And TeacupsOctober 1, 2012 at 11:50 AM

    Fabulous Celia! You 2 must have and a wonderful time! I love Lady Carlyle and the napkin holder is wonderful! What a great idea! Thanks for sharing your wonderful tea and linking to Tuesday Cuppa Tea!
    Ruth

    ReplyDelete
  14. Sandi@ Rose Chintz CottageOctober 1, 2012 at 6:37 PM

    Hello Celia,
    I am so happy you have joined me for tea today. Your tea is just lovely with your Lady Carlyle! I so love that pattern and the teapot is one of the prettiest, I think! The tea treats you served look quite scrumptious and that lil piggie grabbed my attention right away; so cute! The Brie sounds yummy with french bread too. Thanks so much for stopping by to have tea with me and I'm glad your friend is finally home so you and she can enjoy many more cups of tea.

    Blessings,
    Sandi

    ReplyDelete
  15. Tea in TexasOctober 2, 2012 at 9:54 AM

    How lovely to spend time with a dear friend! The Royal Albert pattern Lady Carlyle is one of my favorites and your tea table is beautiful set with the china. I especially love the sweets on the french porcelain blue stand and the best is the darling pig. I have owned Lady Carlyle china for many years and have the teaset but instead of cups and saucers I chose tennis or snack sets for serving tea and treats. The photos are very pretty of your tea time!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Pamela BatesOctober 2, 2012 at 10:55 AM

    in love with the knife rest. must be on the lookout for a set for myself. lovely setting for tea with a good friend. that brie sounds amazing!

    ReplyDelete
  17. ZaaOctober 2, 2012 at 10:56 AM

    OMG What an elegant home coming for Elizabeth.. Such a beautiful display of photos.... Lady Carlyle always delights the eyes. You're brie recipe is a "must try".... and so different with the almond and cranberries....Yummy ... Fabulous post Celia...HUGS

    ReplyDelete
  18. TerriOctober 2, 2012 at 1:12 PM

    You really treated your friend Elizabeth with a fabulous Welcome Home tea! Everything looks beauitful, and delicious! That french dish is so gorgeous! I do love the Lady Carlyle pattern, I have a tea cup of it as well!
    What a lovely time you had!
    Hugs,
    Terri

    ReplyDelete
  19. AnnOctober 3, 2012 at 2:21 AM

    Your photos are lovely...
    from them one can feel the great time you've spent with your friend.
    Love your tea pot and cups.

    ReplyDelete
  20. ElisabethOctober 3, 2012 at 9:34 PM

    Loved reading your post, Celia' The tea set and china is absolutely stunning, and those French pastries are divine' Everything is so elegant and perfect. The napkin holder is so unique, and a great conversation piece.
    As for Elizabeth enjoying tea...it looks more like a glass of mine to me! Cheers:)

    ReplyDelete
  21. susan jakovinaOctober 4, 2012 at 9:22 AM

    How beautiful! From start to finish.
    And can I just say how cute that little pink piggy pastry is?

    ReplyDelete
  22. CarolynOctober 4, 2012 at 8:30 PM

    I am sure Elizabeth is glad to be home with a welcome like that! I love your teapot and teacups as well as the blue stand with the goodies.

    Carolyn

    ReplyDelete
  23. Christy @ Our Southern HomeOctober 5, 2012 at 5:33 PM

    How pretty and special! Love all the china and the way it is displayed!

    ReplyDelete
  24. KathyOctober 10, 2012 at 7:45 AM

    How very special to share this tea with your friend. It sounds like she's had quite the adventure. Who else can help you find the best things in Paris than a good friend! Love the pedestal dish and the service ware! The teacup is simply gorgeous and the baked brie divine! I appreciate you sharing with Home and Garden Thursday,
    Kathy

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for taking the time to comment. Know that each one is appreciated and read. Any questions posed in comments in will be responded to via the Reply button below your comment. - Live Life Luxuriously!