Tea time coming up people

[allanah]

ok plums harvested! Thousands of them, well a lot!! so today, make plum vodka and plum chutney , splints and Katy at the ready !!

So cyber cooking day people

[Hidden]

Oooh, I'll set to with making a plum crumble then Allanah!

We can serve it with custard, cream or ice cream - yum

Have you tried plum brandy?

Cece x

[allanah in reply to Hidden]

In Yugoslavia it's very strong but nice don't tell me it's the same recipe?

[Hidden in reply to allanah]

I don't imagine that it's much different!

Cece x

[allanah]

Tomorrow 4 pm!

[Ronnie63]

I'm late but hopefully there's some left. Have just got back from Devizes in Wilstshire, my head is full of limericks, here's one I made earlier:

There was a young lady from Devizes

Whose feet were two different sizes

In her despair

She stole a spare pair

Now she's before the Assizes!!

[lorann]

Hi guys and gals, I'm just getting here...Love Chutneys, but what can we put Plum Chutney on?

[miss in reply to lorann]

Now there's a question?. seeded brown bread toasted with loads of butter xx

[Ronnie63 in reply to lorann]

Duck pâté on ciabatta I think..............

[allanah]

Crackers and cheese with the chutney yum"

[Sharon56]

Stop stop you are making me hungry. We had a M and S dine in for tea but its wearing off now.

[lorann]

Those all sound good, I am usually thinking of crackers and cheese for these kinds of treats, but the pate sounds good too. The toasted brown bread rounds with a nice brie cheese, topped with the plum Chutney should have them all coming back for more

Oh gosh, now you have my wheels turning and thinking of pulling out the book of Appetizers for ideas and recipes!!

[Hidden]

Hell's bells some of us want to shift some weight you know - I'm ravenous now?! Our kitchen is painted plum xx

[allanah in reply to Hidden]

professor plum , in the kitchen , with a knife !

[Hidden in reply to allanah]

Yes that will do nicely - although perhaps lead piping would do better for professor's dodgy RA hands? X

[allanah in reply to Hidden]

Lol

[Luthien66]

Cripes I've missed it again!! Ah well I've enjoyed reading all the scrummy treats....although its made me want to go and cook up some scones even though its gone midnight!!

[allanah in reply to Luthien66]

Midnight scones and feasts equals the best !

[Luthien66]

P.S. love the limerick Ronnie....do you dream of them now....lol!!

[Ronnie63 in reply to Luthien66]

I do , they help me get off to sleep

Something to rhyme with letchworth is proving particularly challenging at the moment! So far I've got net worth and four berth? Any ideas?

[Luthien66 in reply to Ronnie63]

crusty earth.....

[Luthien66 in reply to Luthien66]

for future rhymes if you use letchworth again....lol

[lorann in reply to Ronnie63]

..certain artist wondering what's her schetchworth???

[Ronnie63 in reply to lorann]

Thank you but I solved that one on another post, I've written a limerick especially for you, on another post xx

[Luthien66]

P.P.S. must walk away from the kitchen & go to bed now. Night night!

[allanah]

Morning crumpet time ! Xx

[Ronnie63 in reply to allanah]

I've just had Porridge...... porridge Gump

[dtech in reply to allanah]

I would have got into trouble (and abuse from scouser) if I had posted this allanah. Lol

[allanah in reply to dtech]

Lol just noticed you have a mucky mind

[allanah]

With butter or jam?

[miss in reply to allanah]

Marmite please x

[dtech]

Surely a proper cream tea is scone, whipped cream and jam??

[allanah]

Tea time now!!!! Ok plum chutney is still simmering! But plum vodka underway !

Scones warm with jam and cream here dtech

[lorann in reply to allanah]

Dahling Allanah, That smells divine!! What all do you have in there?

[dtech]

On my way. Mash the tea

[allanah in reply to dtech]

Aah that an old saying!

[Ronnie63 in reply to allanah]

I'm more familiar with"mash up" but that's a completely different meaning/context

[dtech]

My Yorkshire coming out

[lorann]

??Mash the tea??? Really??? lol

[dtech in reply to lorann]

Yes really. It's a northern expression. They don't say have you made the tea, they would say (putting on Yorkshire accent) hasta mashed tea yet ol' luv. That's the closest I can get on a keyboard.

[allanah in reply to lorann]

Also you put the tea leaves at the bottom of the hot teapot then add boiling water , in Yorkshire they like the tea like treacle so they used to mash down the leaves to the bottom of the pot, this made the tea stronger and mashed the tea, then I let it stand thus strong Yorkshire tea coz

[dtech in reply to allanah]

Spoon has got to stand up in it. Lol

[lorann in reply to dtech]

OMG!!!

[Luthien66 in reply to lorann]

Oooh...I love a really strong hot cuppa.....how about a "..kipper tie..." in my best geordie accent (although I'm not a geordie)

[dtech in reply to Luthien66]

Wy I bonnie lass. In my makkum accent

[lorann in reply to dtech]

OMG! I sure am getting an education here, but some accent names I don't recognize. Like "geordie" and "makkum" where would these accents originate? I'm going to google the maps of Ireland and Scotland and then find where exactly you are, or where you are talking about. Never too old to learn!

[lorann in reply to lorann]

...and I take it you don't use ..ahem.. uh...Tea Bags?

[dtech in reply to lorann]

Hi loran. You won't find either on a map.lol. A Geordie is a native of Newcastle. A makkum comes from Sunderland. And if you go to the north east NEVER confuse the two accents. They get very upset!

[lorann in reply to dtech]

OHmercy, Stuart!!, What country is Newcastle and Sunderland in?

Haha, if I ever went there, I would just have to speak my native American English and hope they understand

So tell us more about Geordies and Makkums, what makes them different?

[allanah]

Yeah, plum chutney and plum vodka tick, chicken in the oven , potatoes carrot peas mushy of course, stuffing. All in, yorkshire pudds made reAdy to cooll , thank goodness for a helpful family !!!!! And carrots and coriander soup done for tomorrow! Woo'

[Ronnie63 in reply to allanah]

As we're going away next monday, we're in the "let's try and survive by eating whatever's in the freezer" diet, not everything you understand or we'd never get on the plane

Tomorrow, no dinner, tick as have an evening meeting at work

Tuesday, no dinner, tick as having away day with my team and lunch included

At this rate I won't need an oven, sorry Luthien

Soup weather's a comin!!

Enjoy your tea xx

[Luthien66 in reply to Ronnie63]

Yes soup.....what joy....old faithful....why oh why did you leave us!!!

[allanah in reply to Luthien66]

Yum chicken or carrot and coriander

[Luthien66 in reply to allanah]

I think carrot and coriander and cream of mushroom....I love mushrooms!

[lorann in reply to Luthien66]

I am going to try these combos, I just bought some fresh coriander !

[lorann in reply to allanah]

OK Allanah, Now I am confused! We were having Tea, with Plum Chutney and Plum Vodka. Right? All that wonderful sounding supper, or dinner, are served at the same time as Tea time?

[Ronnie63 in reply to lorann]

A debate we frequently have in my house..........

My husband calls his main meal (eaten in the evening) his tea, whereas I call it dinner

If I met some of my posher friends in then evening for a main meal, they would call it supper, I'd still call it dinner

If I ate my main meal of the day between 12.00-2.30 I'd call it lunch, eat something lighter in the evening, that I would call tea

Now then afternoon tea is a whole different ball game and much more of an occasion. That's finger sandwiches, a selection of small cakes (preferably with cream in them), plus warm scones with jam and clotted cream. Time wise 3.30 -5.00 is fine. Some hotels that serve afternoon tea offer the option of a glass of Prosecco )Italian sparkling wine) or a glass of champagne, this is in additional to a pot of tea. Vodka with a cream tea is a no no, that's just drinking, and in the quantities consumed on your porch, it falls into the binge drinking category. A lot of that goes on in our Northern towns, with young g scantily clad women particularly susceptible, to this, but strangely not the cold weather, most never wear coats

Anyway I'm digressing too much, hope this was a useful insight into the etiquette of this distant isle, my publisher will be in touch for your testimonial xx

[Ronnie63]

LoL!!

Just goes to show we all have different definitions, maybe we're just an off shoot of AA not NRA (Loret- that's Alcoholics Anonymous, unless you like taking potshots at the tree frogs?)

[lorann in reply to Ronnie63]

Yes, we do have AA s here too. That is funny, because the very first time I had an email inviting me to join the NRAS, I really did think it was the National Rifle Association, because my brother in Kentucky belongs to it, but the "S" didn't fit, so I opened it and it led me to all you wonderful people!

[Luthien66]

Hahaha....yes Lorann....think the 'binge' drinking needs to be curbed...or not....!!!

I'm with Ronnie on the set meals, this is what we do in our house:

1st breakfast between 6:30 to 8:00am

2nd breakfast around 9:30am

Elevenses....at 11:00

Lunch between 12:00 to 2:pm

Afternoon tea / tea from 3:30 to 5:00am

Dinner around 7pm

Supper around 9pm

Suffice to say we are all fat!!

[lorann in reply to Luthien66]

Whoa!! Are the same people eating 1st breakfast and 2nd breakfast? Are you serving the same items?

What does Elevenses entail?

Lunch is same here.

Afternoon tea, understand.

Dinner and supper both?

What do you serve at each?

Sometimes I have a bedtime snack, usually a bowl of cereal and milk, is this what you refer to as "supper"?

Where are you located?

[lorann]

OOKay...We here on this side of the pond, have apparantly found a way to simplify those traditions that were brought over on the Mayflower, or later

Seems as though some traditions will not be replaceds, such as the traditional English Plum Pudding, which I have made 2 out of the last 4 years. Or, the German traditional Roast beef dinners, Veiner Schnitzel, or the Christmas Stollen.

The Irish traditions in my family are the amenities. My Dad's Mom was German/American, married an Irish Gentleman who came from Ireland when he was 6,

so Grandma cooked predominantly as German and pioneering American, but she sure did promote the Irish traditions she loved. Mostly the use of Irish linen tablecloths, which I inherited, along with the China table settings, crystal glassware, and Sterling Silver Flatware.

So, presently, There are three meals a day here. Breakfast, lunch and supper.

However, for entertaining guests, we can have Brunch, a combo of Breakfast and Dinner entre's, usually served at 11:00 am through 2pm

Dinner is a more Posh occasion, usually served as the main evening meal, although, on rare occasions, for convenience, we can have a nice, guest-style meal at noon or 1-2:00 and call it dinner.

Lol, I guess that doesn't look very simplified at all!

Traditionally, there is no occasion called "Tea"

However, most of us do have a snack and a cup of coffee or tea around 4pm, especially if supper is not until 6:00 or later.

Afternoon Tea is what my friends and I attempt to "stage" occasionally, for fun.

We plan our little cucumber sandwiches, or chicken or tuna salad, or other new combos we can introduce, and the sweets of course, and a couple varieties of tea.

Then we get out Grandma's luncheon China plates, and those little tea cups and saucers that came with the china set and nobody ever uses anymore. Then the silver.

I love using the china and silver and a pretty tablecloth that coordinates with it, for Holiday dinners, especially Thanksgiving (I know you don't have one) and Christmas dinner, and Easterdinner and sometimes a special birthday.

But, my children have just grown away from these lovely traditions I have tried to continue and promote, so their holidays and birthdays are much more casual.

Doug and Cindy, third son and wife, do set a lovely table with their own china and silverware, I think for my sake, so it is always enjoyed and appreciated, on a Holiday.

Problem now is, who do I leave these things to?

Think it will likely be the 4 Grandaughters. But, not for awhile yet

[Luthien66 in reply to lorann]

I must ask Lorann, do you cut the crusts of the cucumber sandwiches??

[lorann in reply to Luthien66]

Yes, if we are planning a proper Afternoon Tea, all the crusts are removed.

[lorann]

Hahaha! Actually, Loret's occasion of Tea on the Porch evolved into the binge when Allanah said she was allergic to tea and could she bring vodka! That was the first one, on a Saturday, about 10 days ago.

That evolved into ":nobody could drive home" so we had a sleep over, which then went right into coffee and tea on the front porch again LOL What a fun 24 hours!! Not very dietetic, all we ate were Scones and drink of choice

But hety..so what, it was worth it!!

[lorann]

Hahaha, you are right, it did turn into that! But what an event we staged!

I have thought of what we did, ten days ago, I want to write a blog about it, if any of you don't mind?

I am interested, Debbie, in how, or when, your main meal in the evening became "Tea", since Tea was traditionally late afternoon "Tea and crumpets"

Though I do agree with your afternoon snack is just like ours here. I, myself, often tell friends I am having my afternoon tea, at which time we begin saying, "we should do that"!

[allanah]

Hi , the vodka was just a joke at the tea party, I don't need cyber AA, ,! can't join you till next week, had to come to Glasgow. Enjoy your foods! Xx

[lorann in reply to allanah]

Haha, we knew that, Allanah, but it made for some elaborate discussion that led into the rest of our "virtual" evening

[lorann]

That's a good idea

[lorann]

Allanah, when will you return from Glasgow? We likely won't want to hold another afternoon Tea without you!

Speaking of such, where is Debbie Miller? She was at the first Tea, on my porch, but we hven't seen her here lately.

Also Sylvia, we have missed you, are our gatherings too late for your schedule? We can make them earlier..l

Have missed Mattcass lately too. and lots of others who are just as welc ome to attend our "virtual" Teas.

[allanah]

Maybe Friday sweetie! But I don't mind u all having tea without me! Xx