Seafood Chowder and A Cup of Tea for the End of January

Hello my sweet friends! Hope you all had a good week.

There is no trouble so great or grave that cannot be much diminished by a nice cup of tea. ~ Bernard-Paul Heroux

We are expecting a snow storm today so I made a quick dessert to enjoy for the weekend. Thank you BJ at Sweet Nothings for the inspiration!

Here it is the end of January and I must tell you I am elated that February is almost here. I am counting down the days till springtime because I do not like the cold weather.

However, the cold weather does have its advantages. When Jack Frost etches designs on the window panes, nothing beats a warm cup of tea or coffee, hot chocolate or hot apple cider. Or a big bowl of seafood chowder!

The other day I had a hankering for some seafood chowder. So I made some and it was delicious! I have made this for Christmas a few times for a special treat. 

This is my own recipe which I adapted from a simple clam chowder.

Seafood Chowder

Melt 1/4 cup butter in a saucepan 
Add 2-3 TBSP minced onion
1/4 cup chopped celery

Cook over medium heat until onion is limp.

Cut up 2 cups of potatoes into cubes
Add one small carrot sliced, for colour more than anything
1/2 tsp salt or more depending on taste
pinch of pepper
Add 1 cup boiling water to onion mixture with the potatoes and carrots.

Cover and cook for about fifteen minutes or until potatoes are tender, stirring often.

Add 1-10 oz. can baby clams with the juice and reheat. 

Add 1 cup chopped crab meat 
Add I cup thawed scallops. I used the small ones.

Heat altogether until hot.

Add 2-1/2 to 2-2/3 cups hot milk 
Heat until hot but do not boil. 

Season to taste and serve immediately. Makes about five large or eight small servings.

I have served the chowder in my buffalo check bowls accompanied by warm biscuits. Just the thing on a cold winter's day.

The tulips are in the grocery store now and I picked some up for my tea table. I love how they bring a touch of springtime into one's home. Don't you love it when the tulips dance?

I decided to use my winter white tea ware today. Underneath it all is my crocheted tablecloth which I think resembles snowflakes.

Soft and pretty, the tea ware looks wonderful with just about any decor you surround yourself with. I am using my new snowflake teapot again today as well as Skye McGhie teacups and a few pieces of JB Rose Chintz. Do you see the vintage crocheted pot holder? 

It was a gift from a blogger friend. Isn't it sweet! Thank you, my dear friend, you know who you are!

For dessert, I made this quick and easy chocolate pie from a Jello cooked pudding and pie mix and poured it into a ready made Oreo crumb crust.

When my children were growing up, it was usually my habit to make two pies every weekend. Every kind of pie you can think of, and they were all made from scratch. Although this one is from a mix, Hubby will be happy to enjoy a slice of it with his tea.

When there is a storm brewing I try to make something quick and this filled the bill today. Sorry about the shadows and poor lighting. The snow is really coming down and it is a very dreary day out there.

Enjoy your cuppa tea and your weekend. See you on Monday for No Place Like Home. Take care everyone! If you wish to go to that post simply click here.

Life is like a teacup
       to be filled to the brim
and enjoyed with friends. ~ unknown




I am joining the following parties as well~

Tuesday Cuppa Tea
Bernideen's TTCG Blog Party
Tea Cup Tuesday
Share Your Cup Thursday
Home Sweet Home


 Sharing from my heart ~ Sandi