On the Way to Cape May: Tea by the Sea

Angel of the Sea B&B: from top left- exterior, sign with namesake's mermaid angel, tea cups and saucer collection, view from the porch. photos Cpaul2013

While any summer day at the beach is a delight, I find what could be called the "off-season" is one of my favorite times to escape to the seaside. These short weeks just before the rush of tourists arrive or just after the last of the crowds dissipates at summers end, when the weather is still sunny but mild, are perfect for exploring the quiet beaches and local area charm. 

Recently, I was lucky to be treated to a quick Spring girls getaway- (Mother, Aunt, and friend in tow) to the charming town of Cape May NJ., known for it's history, (one of the oldest seaside resorts) galleries and shops, and especially its delightful Victorian architecture.

 We stayed at a charming historic B&B called Angel of the Sea which hosted afternoon tea on the lovely open porches. Of course, once back home, this served as inspiration for a by-the-sea themed tea party featuring ocean inspired sweet treats to kick off summer, even in my landlocked backyard. (Plus I had bought an adorable shell sugar & creamer set for $5.59 I was itching to use)

On the Menu: Sand Dollar cookies, Pearl shortbreads, Sea Glass Candy and assorted hot and iced herbal teas

I used simple blue and white tea cups

Casually mismatched china  (I don't have a matching set of anything anyway) and a wicker basket gives a relaxed beachy feel. A scrap of blue lace picks up the color scheme.

Sea Glass Candy

Sea Glass Candy in brown sugar "sand"

It's amazing how something as undesirable as broken glass becomes somehow enchanting after a long tumble about in the waves. As a child finding a magical piece of sea glass was akin to finding a precious jewel. So why not pay homage to these beach-combing gems with a sweet and pretty treat.
 A quick internet search found countless recipes to create a sea glass candy that mimics the real thing. Some recipes call for boiling down sugar syrup but past experiences have put me off that process (yes candy thermometers can explode!) so I found a shortcut version using colored hard candy and powdered sugar. 

beachgirl image from graphics fairy

You'll Need:

hard candy in appropriate colors

powdered sugar

cooking spray

Simply line a cookie tray with foil and spritz with cooking spray and arrange candy separating by color. (Large candies can be crushed slightly)
Melt in a 350 degree preheated oven and check constantly.
In 2-5 minutes candy should be melted into puddles.

Carefully remove and when cool, break into pieces. Be careful to remove sharp edges.

Sift powder sugar over candy and toss lightlty to coat pieces. Rub off extra sugar with paper towel to give slightly opaque finish. Nestle the candy in brown sugar "sand" to display if desired.

This is the process I used for my iceberg toppers for my Polar Bear Club party, to see a tutorial with photos click here pennywiseblog polar bear club

Place in a jar and label, be careful not to display the real thing in an accessible spot to avoid confusion, especially around kids. Not suitable for small children.

vintage postcard allposters.com

Seaside Cookies

Pearl Shortbreads  * Sand Dollar Cookies

There so many amazing recipes for realistic shell and beach theme cookies using specific pans, professional baking ingredients and advanced kitchen skills. Short on all of those, I chose some much simpler ideas that still give a nod to the treasures of the sea. These are semi-scratch using store-bought treats as the starting point and just require some assembly.

To see the inspiration cookies or try more challenging recipes visit these delightful blogs finebaking.blogspot.com (scroll down for English), mamamiss.com and for cute kid clamshell cookies babylifestyles.com.

Pearl Shortbreads

You'll Need:

you favorite shell-like cookie ( I used inexpensive shortbread)

any color flavored icing

white coated chocolate candy- (I used white candies from white and green coconut M&M's)

Sand Dollar Cookies

You'll Need:

round thin cookie 

white meltable chocolate

slivered almonds

The ingredients: almonds, white chocolate, butter cookies 
(the elves are making an all natural cookie now-woopee)

Simple pleasures: biking on a foggy morning or relaxing on the porch

photoCPaul2013

Vintage photo exitzero

With full length dresses and hats and parasols, I suppose they didn't worry about sunburn in those days

Known as Painted Ladies, Cape May boasts streets lined with beautiful candy colored historic homes with "gingerbread" accents. 

Some of Cape May's best known landmarks:

The famous Pink House

 Historic Chalfont Hotel

Stately Congress Hall

(images Flickr.com)

PennyWise Tips

For fun and fascinating facts about this historic seaside resort visit the Cape May Historical Museum  and Genealogy Society

When creating a tablescape, I always "shop" around my house for items to use first

I popped some shells and a flameless candle in an IKEA outdoor lantern for a quick display 

And a birdhouse with a nautical topper which I had in the guest room adds to the theme

Cheers! Pink Champagne Cake for Mother's Day

Traditional flavored cakes might work for most occasions but why not celebrate Mom's special day with a rosy hued confection featuring something a bit more spirited. Bubbly pink champagne, creamy frosting and sweet light cake all come together to create this heavenly old fashioned treat.

There is much controversy in the culinary world over what constitutes an authentic Pink Champagne cake and dozens of recipes online. I found this easy semi-scratch recipe using a cake mix base for those of us with less advanced baking skills: 

Pink Champagne Cake 
and
champagne buttercream frosting

image from Graphics Fairy

 I feel less guilty using an all natural cake mix despite adding food coloring
A note to purists, I subbed budget friendly pink sparkling wine for the champagne

 In the spirit of recycling I borrowed some leftover pink hued doves, (dyed in food coloring)
pink damask paper and gold letters used in my Love is in the Air Valentine Post 

Since my Mother loves birds these worked well and were perfect with the color scheme, but butterflies or flowers would be nice accents as well.

Add some sparkle with sugar pink pearls and white sprinkles
and a "Mum" ribbon banner on bamboo skewers
Simple and quick for those with limited confectionery skills

 Simple swirls of frosting

Serve with Tea in an elegant (yard sale) cup

Mothers hold their children's hands for a short while,

 but their hearts forever. 

 ~Author Unknown

PennyWise Tips

Think Pink: Accent your table with pink flowers, ribbons, a vintage birdcage and of course a bottle of bubbly. This is a fun cake for milestone birthdays and other celebrations too

You might want to include a non-alcoholic dessert for any younger guests or those avoiding alcohol. 

This is also a wonderful day to celebrate any woman (teacher, coach, mentor, friend) who has been like a Mother or a "Mom in spirit" to you.

check out this weeks fun Linky Parties our you're invited page

Mother's Day Flower Pot Pens

Mother, you've given me two things
One is roots
The other's wings
anonymous

For many, handcrafted gifts are always the most precious. I know many mothers and grandmothers who still treasure their clumps of salt dough with tiny hand prints and painted pasta bead necklaces, not to mention their refrigerator gallery of finger paint artwork. With a bit of grown-up help, this simple flower pen and journal craft is an easy and fun project for kids to create and makes a unique and budget friendly gift.

 I made these pens years ago for a children's art and writing group and they thoroughly enjoyed creating them. For this post I thought I'd make several pens as a "bouquet", pop them in a flower pot and add a garden themed mini journal. Perfect for jotting down garden daydreams and plans.

You'll Need

Inexpensive pens
Faux flowers
Green embroidery floss 
  (mine was 39 cents and each yeilded two pens but this may vary)
Hot glue gun
Small flower pot or decorative planter
Small piece of styrofoam (or cut to fit from recycled packaging)
 *note: avoid green floral foam-it crumbles and sticks to pen points
Moss or filler if desired

Journal (Target $1 section)
Image of your choice or our printable
Modgepodge - or white glue thinned with water
Ribbon or trim

 Most supplies can be found at dollar or craft stores

 Put dot of hot glue near tip of pen and (with tweezers if desired  to avoid burnt fingers) attach end of embroidery floss and let cool slightly (adults do this part). Once secure begin winding floss neatly around pen, sliding strands up and condensing together every so often until pen is mostly covered and glue end to secure.

Smooth any loose ends 

  Leaves can be added in clusters part way through or attached with hot glue afterward.

Remove flower from stem and trim back so it is as flat as possible.

 Have adult hot glue flower to end of pen. 

This one is simple with no leaves.

If adding them, watch the placement of leaves to assure the pen will be comfortable to write with. 

Repeat using different flowers or add a butterfly.

 Varied colors of green floss help make a colorful bouquet.

Insert styrofoam in container and add moss if desired. Holes can be made first with undecorated pens to protect floss on finished ones from being damaged. Then"plant" pens carefully and add greeting or tag if you please.

For journal Modgepodge image or decorative paper onto front and let dry. Add ribbon bookmark or trim as desired.

altered vintage watering can and wreath images from  the Graphics fairy

PennyWise Tips

Not just for Mother's day, this craft can easily be adapted to different themes

Wrap in twine and top with a small shell or starfish and pop in mini beach pail

For the boys- wrap in cord of his favorite team's colors and top with a small ball or sports charm and place in a sports mug

We've got a winner!

I'd like to thank everyone who participated in our  Ramsign giveaway!

(cue drum roll)

And the winner  is.......

Revi of a Revisionary life

Congratulations 

Revi!

You can see her amazing original artwork and vintage treasures on her delightful and inspired blog!

May Day Tea

The approach of May Day always transports me back to grade school where the holiday was celebrated with much fanfare and festivity. Attending an all girls school, we could revel in this day featuring flowers, romance, ribbons and new outfits with unabashed exuberance. The May Queen and her court were chosen from among the students and ceremoniously crowned as groups of girls danced around a May pole weaving intricate patterns from colorful garland.

Of course that was more than a few years ago, and the event seems antiquated and quaint by today's standards, but I thought I'd revisit the day this year with a Tea featuring a traditional sweet treat and projects celebrating and the symbols of Spring.

May Day Fairy Garden 

I'm not sure zoning would allow a Maypole in my backyard but this mini fairy sized version is a fun alternative and fairly simple to create.
You'll Need:
Wide mouthed container
Potting soil
Rocks for drainage
Small plants, moss, or grasses
Princess wand ( I got mine at the dollar store) or small painted dowel
Floral foam
Assorted ribbon
Faux flowers and accessories

Place rocks in base of container and fill with soil. Place floral foam where Maypole will stand and cover with moss or grass Plant flowers as desired leaving generous "lawn" area for May pole.

I kidnapped a little clay cottage from the irish Terrariums from my Emerald Isle post and perched it among the flowers. 

A plastic princess wand from a dollar or party store makes a great maypole. I chose a white one with pearl and ribbon accents, but a dowel or small stick will do as well. Cut ribbons to desired length and add to top of pole. 

I had some lace dipped in ModgePodge from a previous project and popped that on top as a makeshift crown.

Being indecisive, I then tried a few "faux" flowers instead.

 Children around a MayPole, Ireland 1909 

image from national archives

image from Graphics Fairy
from 1859 French garden Book

May Day traditions date back to the time of the ancient Romans who worshipped the Goddess Flora with a festival of flowers and dancing. Through the centuries the holiday has been reinvented around Europe as a celebration of spring and rebirth. In the opening of Tess of the D'Urbervilles the village girls participate in a May Day parade and dance, wearing white to symbolize purity and holding symbols of new life and fertility. You may want to have a tissue box ready if you watch this somewhat tragic movie but the scenery alone is worth it.

From the 2008 BBC version of Tess of the D'Urbervilles

Syllabub

Syllabub is a recipe dating back to the Tudor age and was thought to be originally made by dairy maids using new fresh Spring cream. There are dozens of variations of this whimsically sounding dessert using different combinations of fruits, flavors and spirits. Some say milk was squirted directly from the cow into a bucket of sweetened wine. Forgoing the use of livestock, I found one of the more simple recipes using storebought cream and white wine from a charming book called Seasonal celebrations

by Tessa Evelegh

Recipe

Combine 3/4 cup white wine, zest and juice of one orange, superfine sugar in bowl and let sit for 2 hours

(I popped it in the refrigerator)

Whisk 1 1/4 cups fresh cream to soft peaks while slowly adding in wine mixture.

If desired, brush berries,flowers or mint leaves with agave or honey thinned with water.

Sprinkle with white sugar to frost and let dry.

Layer syllabub and garnishes in pretty glasses and serve immediately

The original instruction calls for edible frosted flowers, but not being able to locate any, I opted for sugared berries and mint as a substitute.

I spooned the dessert into mini parfait glasses from the Dollar Store

Find a quiet spot and enjoy

May Day Floral Cones

 Giving small floral gifts to family and neighbors is an old charming May Day custom, whether a small handful of wildflowers or a delightful May basket brimming with spring blooms.

 These dolled up party hats turn into festive floral May cones. 

Add any pretty paper, graphics below if desired and ribbon to hang.

In France Lily's of the Valley are the traditional flower of May Day so I included one, along with a French greeting on these pretty graphics from the graphics Fairy.

These cones make fun party favors as well.

 Wrap stems with plastic wrap and pop into cone for a temporary home.

 In some cultures, cones of flowers are stealthily hung anonymously on doors to surprise recipients. Kids especially love the "sneaky" aspect of this tradition.

Surprise someone

For fun facts, history and authentic Mayday songs visit 
May Day traditions

PennyWise Tips

Create a May crown by attaching fresh or faux flowers to a cardboard headband and crown a May Queen
 (or a few to prevent jealousy)

Serve floral infused teas to carry out the Spring theme and garnish store-bought cookies with fresh mint and fruit

Does your house need a Spring Spruce-up?

Enter our giveaway for a chance to win a beautiful European handcrafted house number from Ramsign. 

Contest open until April 30.  

Details Here or visit previous post

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