Tuesday Cuppa Tea, October Colors, Pumpkin Spice Cookies

Hi and welcome to Tuesday Cuppa Tea. It is so very colorful with the autumn leaves flaunting glorious hues....

The tea party this week I put together in my sunroom on my little tea table is drawn from stock at Antiques And Teacups. I am calling it my Fall Tea...

I started with my family embroidered ecru linen runner, and put a fall colors tea cloth from the 1930-1940s over it with hand embroidered cross stitch salmon and rust colors with 4 matching tea napkins....

At least you can see the pretty colors with this photo. Then I added...taadaa...a Shelley teacup! What a surprise, right???!

This teacup is in the Bramble pattern and was made between 1963 and 1966 when the pottery closed. The design is a briar rose in pink, grey, black and lavender...a bit more understated than many of their patterns.

The shape is the Lincoln shape, which was only made briefly at the end of Shelley's history. But it's a nice sized cup of tea, and feels lovely in the hand!

There was no pattern number on this teacup...with some research I could probably find it in the Shelley pattern books I have, but with the last few weeks I will just say...unnumbered.

And another Shelley tea cup in the Swirls pattern in the art deco Regent shape...which is quite different than the other Shelley...

This teacup has the wonderful art deco ring handle. The pattern number is 12876, and it was made on and off between 1940-1952 in about 6 different colors and combinations with and without gold trim. So different from the other teacup, but in tune with the modern trends that began after World War II and eventually put the major potteries out of business because they didn't adapt to modern styling soon enough.

For a real change I also found this really unusual 3 footed Japanese porcelain teacup from the 1920-1930s...

This is really hand painted start to finish, which you see when you look closely. I think the design is chestnuts....

I couldn't identify the maker, as many of these teacups were never marked with a maker's mark, and many of the later 1950s Japanese teacups had foil stickers with the maker's mark, which washed, wore or fell right off. It's such a plus when you actually find one!

I just thought this was so unusual and fun! And I love footed teacups! Lots of folks collect them just for that reason. Adds a bit of spice to the tea table!

The tea I have today is an organic Green And Black Chai from Stash Tea. I like to have some green everyday, but have to mask it with something else, and the addition of black and the Chai spices does that nicely!

And as for the cookies, the plate I am using for my cookies is a Betsey Ross House green transferware souvenir plate from the 1940-1950s from Royal China, USA.

I love transferware, and green is one you don't see that often. I also like the American patriotic theme. So fun! For more info on any of he china items at Antiques And Teacups, click on the photos.

The cookies I made for tea are an old recipe I got when we were first married 42+ years ago from a can of Libby's Pumpkin Puree...although I now use an organic brand from our local organic market....They are a perfect fall treat! here is the recipe which I stumbled across online...just the same as my can label!

Old Fashioned Soft Pumpkin Spice Cookies

• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup butter (1 stick), softened
• 1 cup LIBBY'S® 100% Pure Pumpkin
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• Glaze (recipe follows)

PREHEAT oven to 350° F. Grease baking sheets.

COMBINE flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt in medium bowl. Beat sugar and butter in large mixer bowl until well blended. Beat in pumpkin, egg and vanilla extract until smooth. Gradually beat in flour mixture. Drop by rounded tablespoon onto prepared baking sheets.  Makes 36.

BAKE for 15 to 18 minutes or until edges are firm. Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely. Drizzle Glaze over cookies.

FOR GLAZE:
COMBINE 2 cups sifted powdered sugar, 3 tablespoons milk, 1 tablespoon melted butter and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract in small bowl until smooth.

How cool is that!?!  And we just finished off our half of a batch I made...froze the other half. How long they will stay frozen, is another question...lovely with a cup of tea, Chai or not!

I'll leave you with this photo I took this week outside our organic farm market, Sunny Farms. So much joyful color!

Below is the list of some of the blog parties I will be part of and there is the linky for your tea related posts...please remember that it is SSSLLLOOOOOOWWWW but if you are patient...it's there! And I love to read your comments, and can find you to visit!

Tea Time Tuesday with Sandi 

 Tea Cup Tuesday 
 Friends Sharing Tea
 Share Your Cup Thursday

An InLinkz Link-up