Rose Chintz Cottage

Wednesday, 16 January 2013

HOME

Hello everyone and welcome to my HOME ~

"Peace ~ that was the other name for HOME." ~ Kathleen Norris

Hope you're all doing well so far in this new year.

I am celebrating Tea Time Tuesday's third Birthday next week and I invite you all to join me. I am also hosting a Giveaway which you can read about on my previous tea post here. If you are one of my Followers, then please do leave a comment on that post in order to have your name added to the sugar bowl.

"The beauty of the home is order;
The blessing of the home is contentment;
The glory of the home is hospitality;
The crown of the home is godliness." ~ Author unknown

I will not be sharing any features today because I have been sick with a head cold and I have a sprained hand and wrist. I am still having trouble uploading photos on my blog too. Anyone else still having this problem?
Hopefully, by next week, I will be back to normal once again. Please be patient with me....

Today I will share the recipe for the Chocolate Trifle which I showed on my tea party post. It really is decadent and if you have never made a Trifle before, I hope you will give this one a try. It is a winner for sure.

Chocolate Trifle

You can use any chocolate cake. Cut into cubes.
I use the following recipe which is eggless because I have a good friend who is allergic to eggs. This cake is very moist and very dense.

Chocolate cake

Mix together and beat:
3 cups flour
2 cups sugar
1/2 cup cocoa
2 tsp Baking soda
1 tsp salt
2 cups water
2/3 cup + 4 tsp oil
1/2 cup vinegar
2 tsp vanilla
Bake in 9 X 13 pan @ 350
For 30-40 mins.
Check with toothpick.

When cool, cut into cubes for the Trifle. Or you can use as is and frost it with your favourite frosting. I often use it as a dessert with Raspberry Sauce and whipped cream.

Now assemble:
3 cups cold milk
2 pkg {4-serving size} Jello Chocolate Instant pudding
2-1/2 cups thawed Cool Whip topping, divided
2 cups raspberries

Pour milk into large bowl, add dry pudding mixes. Beat with wire whisk for 2 mins. or until well blended.
Gently stir in 1 cup whipped topping.. .

Place half the cake cubes into trifle bowl, top with half the pudding mixture, and half the whipped topping. Sprinkle in half the berries. Repeat all the layers.
Refrigerate several hours until ready to serve. Garnish with whipped topping and raspberries. You may add some chocolate curls too if you wish. Store leftovers in refrigerator.
Makes about 14 servings.

Thank you so much for joining me at HOME today. It's always a pleasure to have you! If you would like to link up something pertaining to your HOME, I would love to have you join me by linking up below.

I will leave you with this little nugget-

"Treat everyone with politeness,
Even those who are rude to you~
Not because they are nice;
But because you are!" ~ Unknown

I am joining the following parties as well~

Home and Garden Thursday ~ http://adelightsomelife.blogspot.com/
Share Your Cup Thursday~ http://jannolson.blogspot.com/
Cottage Style Linky Party~ http://lavendergardencottage.blogspot.com/
Tutorials Tips and Tidbits ~ http://www.stonegableblog.com/
Home Sweet Home~ http://thecharmofhome.blogspot.com/
Open House~ http://bernideensteatimeblog.blogspot.com/

Sharing from my heart~ Sandi

Monday, 14 January 2013

Tea Time Tuesday & A Giveaway

"It is the sweet, simple things of life which are the real ones after all." ~ Laura Ingalls Wilder

Welcome to Tea Time, dear friends~ I hope you all enjoyed your weekend. I was sick with a head cold all last week and I'm happy to say I'm finally on the mend! So, do come in and get comfy.

Now that I'm back from my holiday on the west coast, an important date just sort of sneaked up on me. I realized that next week, is
Tea Time Tuesday's 3rd Birthday!

I apologize for the short notice but next week I will be celebrating TTT's 3rd Birthday with another Tea of Roses, just like last year.

So, if you would like to share some tea things adorned with roses to help me celebrate, I would love it! It is not mandatory but if you can, wonderful!

"Life is like a cup of tea...it's all in how you make it." ~ Unknown

I guess you know by now that I'm using my Johnson Bros. Friendly Village tea set today; perfect for this time of year!

"Steam rises from a cup of tea
and we are wrapped in history,
inhaling ancient times and lands,
comfort of ages in our hands." ~ Faith Greenbowl

Also,{and I'm a wee bit hestitant to mention this as it has been some time since I made the first drawing}, but I am having another Giveaway!

With Christmas and then our trip out west, I lost track of time and realized that the original winner did not claim her prize after several attempts to notify her. So I am offering it again and the new winner will be drawn next week on Tuesday, the 22nd of January.

So, all my oldie but goodie Followers, as well as all my new ones, please leave a comment on this post and your name will be entered. You must be a Follower of Rose Chintz Cottage to enter.

My Giveaway includes: A gorgeous tablecloth, a set of Kindred Spirits - Anne and Diana coasters, and a copy of Laura Childs tea shop mystery, "Oolong Dead." If you are familiar with the tea shop mysteries, then you also know that at the back of each book are some wonderful recipes and party ideas.

UPDATE~ I have a winner! Jen @ Garden of Threads. Congratulations, Jen! Please email me your address and I will get your package in the mail. Thank you everyone for entering. Big hugs to you all!

Now, that I have all that out of the way, let's have some tea shall we...

I really love Friendly Village as each piece is adorned with a scene from days of yore. Introduced in England in 1952, it is a charming winter pattern depicting pastoral village scenes as delightful as a family heirloom discovered long-hidden in the attic. Old-fashioned scenes of red barns, ice houses, covered bridges, and sugar maples, etc., tug at my heart strings.

Hubby is pouring the tea for us so I can take the picture.

We are having Cranberry Autumn tea which is a black tea infused with cranberry and orange with dried cranberry pieces. It is a tea which Nancy from Two Cottages And Tea sent me and it is delicious! Help yourself to some home made treats too. I have plenty.

I am so enamoured by scenic china patterns which is why I love transferware so much. Being the old-fashioned gal that I am, this pattern really speaks to me! There is something oh, so charming and genteel about them, don't you think?

Friendly Village is one which whisks you back to a simpler time. This pattern always reminds me of my maternal grandmother who lived a hard life yet made the most of her time, tending to the needs of her family and neighbors. She was one of the most important people in my life when I was a little girl.

She was gifted in so many ways as a seamstress, knitter, quilter, and a wonderful home maker. She lived simply, but was very much the Lady of the Manor. I still miss her and she ought to have a story written about her. Here's to you, Granny!

Thank you for visiting today and please remember to join me next week for my Tea of Roses. Also, if you are one of my lovely Followers, please be sure to leave a comment on this post and your name will be entered for the Giveaway. The Giveaway is open to everyone, no matter where you live.

"A joyful heart is good medicine." ~ Proverbs 17:22

I am delighted you have stopped by for tea today! Your presence always makes my tea party that much more special and I am happy to see all your tea things, whether you have shared them before or not. This tea party is all about sharing your joy of tea time and any thoughts you might have on the subject. You may be as creative, fancy, or as laid back with your tea time as you wish!

As a courtesy, please link back to me so that your visitors may find their way here to visit with all my lovely participants.

I am joining the following parties as well~