Tuesday Cuppa Tea, Happy Canada Day 150th Anniversary, Nanaimo Bars

Because our closest big city is over the border in Canada...Victoria, BC to be precise...this Tuesday Cuppa Tea is celebrating Canada's 150th anniversary!

So I put together a small sunroom tea in honor of the big day on July 1st...

We will probably see the fireworks as usual from Victoria, BC from the end of our block where we look down a bit and over the Strait of Juan De Fuca which divides the US and Canada...

150 years is a wonderful milestone of the commonwealth association with the United Kingdom....

I was amazed, that as close as we are to Canada and as often as we have been there over the years, how little I have with Canada on it...although my husband and I both have fleeces and sweatshirts acquired over the years when a weather change has overtaken us, necessitating the buying of another layer... but I did find a ew things to put in a tea post...so join me for Canadian Breakfast tea in honour of Canada!

I found that I had this Canada Centennial teacup commemorating 1867-1967. It is porcelain, made in china, but at least it commemorates the last significant milestone before this one...

The other teacuop I found is from the 1940s and is a Canadian souvenir teacup with the Canadian cresy on it. It's made by the famous Royal Winton Grimwades of England and is earthenware. Sort of a pale yellow...

And of course...our tea! Canadian Breakfast! The 3 pack of teas was a gift from a Canadian friend, and has Maple Black and a fruity Icewine as well as the Canadian Breakfast. The tins stck, and have great graphics of a Mountie and various Maple leaves. The tea was packed by Metropolitan Tea in Toronto.

As I said, I don't have a lot of Canadian china, although I do have various provincial souvenir dishes, but I found that this lovely 1953 Queen Elizabsth II Coronation plate was made by the Canadian pottery Collingswood, so thought that was appropriate...Canada is part of the Commonwealth, so...

And of course, we need a Canadian themed treat! Around here, that would inevitably be Nanaimo Bars...named for a coastal town on Vancouver Island, upisland...as it is called...from Victoria...where the bar was developed...they are available all over here including on the ferries and in grocery stores...a very popular layered bar. I found a good recipe on Allrecipes.com, so am passing that along...

Nanaimo Bars

Recipe By:MARTHA J PAUL

"Because it's three layers, this sounds hard but it's worth it. My son is famous for making and taking these in to work. I've heard other names but here in the Northwest everyone knows them as Nanaimo bars. They are sold on British Columbia Ferries and at coffee stands. If you can't find custard powder, I've used instant pudding mix with good results."

Ingredients

·         1/2 cup butter, softened

·         1/4 cup white sugar

·         5 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

·         1 egg, beaten

·         1 3/4 cups graham cracker crumbs

·         1 cup flaked coconut

·         1/2 cup finely chopped almonds (optional)

·         1/2 cup butter, softened

·         3 tablespoons heavy cream

·         2 tablespoons custard powder like Bird's

·         2 cups confectioners' sugar

·         4 (1 ounce) squares semisweet baking chocolate

·         2 teaspoons butter

Directions

1. In the top of a double boiler, combine 1/2 cup butter, white sugar and cocoa powder. Stir occasionally until melted and smooth. Beat in the egg, stirring until thick, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from heat and mix in the graham cracker crumbs, coconut and almonds (if you like). Press into the bottom of an ungreased 8x8 inch pan.
2. For the middle layer, cream together 1/2 cup butter, heavy cream and custard powder until light and fluffy. Mix in the confectioners' sugar until smooth. Spread over the bottom layer in the pan. Chill to set.
3. While the second layer is chilling, melt the semisweet chocolate and 2 teaspoons butter together in the microwave or over low heat. Spread over the chilled bars. Let the chocolate set before cutting into squares.

Allrecipes.com

Thanks so much for joining me for my Canadian tea! Prince Charles and Camilla will be in Canada for the festivities for 3 days from June 29th...

For more, click the phot for an article on the CBC webpage...

Here are some of the blog parties I am joining...

 Tea Cup Tuesday 
 Bernideen’s Teatime, Cottage and Garden
Home Sweet Home

Here is the linky for your tea related posts...please remember that it is SSSLLLOOOOOOWWWW but if you are patient...it's there!  I am so looking forward to visiting you!

An InLinkz Link-up