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A Special Homemade Christmas Marmalade Cake

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Sharing a specialty cake
with our friends and family is one of
the most appreciated gifts we can give of ourselves
any time of the year but especially
during the holiday season…



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Here is a showstopper
of a cake in its original recipe version created by the
Los Angeles Times and shared by Victoria Magazine.
Authoress Jan Karon, who writes some of my most favorite books about a fictional town called Mitford, thought of
this recipe idea for Esther, one of Ms. Karon’s characters, to bake
for friends and family during the holidays and
for special occasions.

Recently I wrote about Jan Karon’s recently published
To Be Where You Are.
It’s fun for me to be able to share one of the recipes
she dreamed up for her Mitford series of books
here with you today!

Esther’s Orange Marmalade Cake

3 cups cake flour
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1 cup (2 sticks) softened unsalted butter
{*I goofed and used salted this time… just cut your salt in half*}
2 cups granulated sugar
3 lg. eggs, room temp., slightly beaten
1 Tbsp. grated orange zest
1 cup buttermilk, at room temperature
{*if you don’t have buttermilk on hand, make it with:
3 Tbsp. white vinegar and enough milk to equal 1 cup*}
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla

Orange Syrup

1 cup freshly squeezed orange juice
{I used a bottled o.j. and it works just as well}
1/4 cup granulated sugar

For the filling

1 cup orange marmalade
{or enough to cover the bottom cake half ~ I like to use a more sour marmalade
and mixed the remainder of my sour with a new sweeter version for this cake.}

For the frosting

3/4 cup well chilled heavy whipping cream
3 Tbsp. sugar
3/4 cup well chilled sour cream

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.  Butter (2) 9″ round cake pans, line with parchment or waxed paper, butter and flour the paper and shake out the excess.

2. Sift flour, baking soda and salt.

3. Use an electric mixer, beat butter until soft, add sugar a little at a time.  Beat until light and fluffy.  Beat in eggs, orange zest and vanilla.  Beat in 1/3 of the dry ingredients alternately with 1/2 of the buttermilk.  Add 1/2 of the remaining dry ingredients and the remaining buttermilk, then add the remaining dry ingredients and beat until smooth.

4. Divide the batter between the 2 pans, smooth surface, rap on the counter to expel air bubbles.  Bake for 45 minutes or until a cake tester inserted in the center comes out clean.  Transfer to racks to cool in the pans 20 minutes.

5. To make the orange syrup — Combine the orange juice and sugar and stir until the sugar dissolves. 

6. With a toothpick, poke holes at 1/2 in. intervals in the cake layers, spoon the syrup over each layer letting it absorb.  Let layers cool completely. 

7. To make the filling — In a small sauce pan, heat the marmalade over moderate heat until just melted.  Cool for 5 minutes.

8. To make the frosting — In a bowl, whisk the heavy cream with the sugar until it forms firm peaks.  Add the sour cream a little at a time and whisk until of spreading consistency.

9. To assemble the cake — Arrange one of the layers on a cake plate, carefully peel off the waxed or parchment paper, then spread 2/3 of the marmalade over the top — smooth it into an even layer.  Invert the remaining cake layer onto the top of the first layer.  Peel off the waxed paper and spoon the remaining marmalade onto the center of it, leave 1 1/4″ border around the edge.  Frost the sides and top of the border with the frosting.  Leave the garnish marmalade visible on top.

Or, frost the entire cake and add the marmalade as a garnish on top.  Chill for at least 2 hours before serving…

***There is a second recipe using boxed cakes but I won’t share that one today… Maybe for Valentines!
😉



Just some extra notes:  I cannot for the life of me find my round
cake pans, so… I had to improvise and use my Bundt pan instead.
I think it actually looks more festive!

If you use your Bundt pan, you’ll want to let your cake cool the full
20 minutes and slide a knife around all edges of the pan both along the outside and inner edges of the cake to help
loosen it from the pan.
I did not use any waxed or parchment paper with this cake but
did spray more butter spray inside the cake pan.


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For this Christmas cake version

Just some extra notes:  I cannot for the life of me find my round

cake pans, so… I had to improvise and use my Bundt pan instead.

I think it actually looks more festive!


If you use your Bundt pan, you’ll want to let your cake cool the full

20 minutes and slide a knife around all edges of the pan both along the outside and inner edges of the cake to help

loosen it from the pan.

did not use any waxed or parchment paper with this cake but

did spray more butter spray inside the cake pan.


Also, I don’t measure or heat up my marmalade anymore.
I like to just scoop it out and spread it more like jam
instead of very thinly as the original recipe does.

Last notes: put your unfrosted cake into the refrigerator
for 10 minutes to chill.  This will make frosting it much easier
and keep the cake from “peeling.”
Pull out the frosting from the refrigerator
{you would be putting it in to keep it cool while the cake is cooling, after you make the frosting} 
a little before you’ll be spreading it.
Makes it easier to spread.
;)’

Instead of spreading the frosting “drip” your frosting on
in mounds and spread back up as it falls down inside the hole.
This creates a “snow effect” which is really pretty with the
thickened sour cream frosting.

Add some cranberries around the outside and fill up the
inside hole created by the Bundt pan
to make your cake pretty and festive.

Include some real juniper tucked around it, too, or
other beautiful and non-toxic greenery.

I am an Amazon Affiliate and my full disclosure can be found Here. It doesn’t
cost you any more to purchase through here, but it I may earn a very small commission.
Thank you. 🙂

Sharing with





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Happy Baking!

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Sunday Sentiments ~ Author Emilie Barnes, If Teacups Could Talk




Recently I learned of the passing
of beloved Christian author
Emilie Barnes
who wrote over 70 books on time management
taking care of one’s home and
about tea time and knowing
and loving God…



Teatime as you know is something I find
very soothing, very comforting
and a perfect way to begin one’s day
while having a little quiet time…


I found Emilie Barnes’ wonderful books
at the little bookstore which used to be open 
in between services and during the week
at our former church in California ~
Calvary Chapel of Murrieta, California.









If Teacups Could Talk was part of
what helped bring me back to a closer
walk with God.
This book was a big part of that and was
a book that all of us in my first
tea groups in the Victorian Tea Society
in the late 1990’s read and discussed
at our luncheons.


One of the stories Emilie wrote about in this book was
about her mother and how as Emilie was growing up
they lived for a time at the back of her 
mother’s seamstress shop.
When it was quiet in the shop, her mother
would often take customers back 
for a cup of tea.
This woman lived out her faith daily
sharing with customers and eventually
with her neighbors in 
her later years.
I loved how Emilie wove her family
her love of Jesus
and poetry and quotes about tea
throughout this book!



In all of Emilie Barnes’ books she shares 
Biblical scriptures and principles
to help us learn about
Jesus and about 
how having faith in our
daily lives is the best comforter
we could ever have.

Sometimes during the late 1990’s
I wrote Ms. Barnes to let her know how
much her books meant to me
and that If Teacups Could Talk
helped renew my faith in God.


She wrote a lovely letter back
which I have with all 
my keepsake letters.







Here is a pin I saved sharing another of
Sandy Lynam Clough’s
gorgeous tea artwork which was
soooo pretty and perfect
paired with Emilie’s books.
Part of my Mother’s Day gift from my husband back around 2002 when I visited
Macy’s in Costa Mesa, California for a china signing with Sarah, the Duchess of York.

If you are thinking of a gift for a friend
do consider giving the gift of tea…
If Teacups Could Talk
or
any of Emilie Barnes’ other books on 
hostessing a tea party.
Emilie’s books are printed through
Harvest House Publishers.
Sharing with
Inspire Me Monday ~ Create with Joy
Saturday Sparks ~ Pieced Pastimes
Dishing It Digging It ~ Rustic and Refined
Share Your Style ~ The Red Painted Cottage

Blessings to you,

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Favorite Author Jane Austen ~ Sense and Sensibility

Over Easter as I drove down to 
visit with our daughter
I stopped by Magnolia Market
and picked up a few gifts
and one in particular
for myself ~
a copy of the novel
Sense and Sensibility

I re-watched Sense and Sensibility the other night ~ photographed off our living room television.  Love this scene with Mrs. Dashwood {Gemma Jones} and Miss Marianne {Kate Winslet}.  Been playing with my decorating, too.   🙂


Sense and Sensibility

It is by far my absolute favorite book
since becoming an adult with
Pride and Prejudice
falling close on its ethereal complex
human heart heels.

Anyway, I had to share this lovely edition
with you as it harkens back to the “first edition”
the way Jane Austen originally had her work published.
{the quote marks are single marks, not double like today’s, and other nuances.}
The copy of Pride and Prejudice
I picked up at a thrift shop in St. Ives
while there in England in 2005
is styled the same way.

from my Instagram

The story

Sense and Sensibility tells the tale of a family 
who have just lost their father and are 
now having to move out of 
their ancestral home
as the older half-brother and his wife
are to inherit and move in.

More than that, though, it is a story about love…
A mother’s love for her children
the love each of the older daughters find
jilted and broken hearts
estranged lovers and 
all the consequences
of a life lived in a tough world
set in an 
idyllic time and place.


Taking tea at the Chocolate Angel Tearoom I discovered the other day… 
an upcoming post for sure. 😉
Sense and Sensibility with its complex
relationships between each character
makes for a fun read!
And, if you’ve never watched the 
Ang Lee film
of the 
same name with the screenplay 
by Emma Thompson
{who plays Miss Dashwood, Eleanor}
it’s definitely one for anyone who likes
period films!

{It definitely goes along with Downton Abbey in my collection and hopefully yours!}

A tea at our Big House a couple of years ago.


Sonnet 116 ~ Let Me Not to the 

Marriage of True Minds

Let me not to the marriage of true minds 
Admit impediments. Love is not love 
Which alters when it alteration finds, 
Or bends with the remover to remove. 
O no! it is an ever-fixed mark 
That looks on tempests and is never shaken; 
It is the star to every wand’ring bark, 
Whose worth’s unknown, although his height be taken. 
Love’s not Time’s fool, though rosy lips and cheeks 
Within his bending sickle’s compass come; 
Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks, 
But bears it out even to the edge of doom. 
If this be error and upon me prov’d, 
I never writ, nor no man ever lov’d.

~ William Shakespeare ~


Marianne quotes this as she gets to know Willoughby ~ 
the love she and he wish for
but cannot have…




Eleanor and Marianne

They struggle to find happiness with regards to love
as the story unfolds but 
in the end they find their dreams
though not quite like 
they had planned it.
😉

Even though I’ve read this book
a bunch of times,
I like that Jane Austen’s novels 
always have happy endings ~ 
they foster a bit of
much needed happiness into 
our own lives.

“You can never get a cup of tea large enough or a book long enough to suit me.” 
― C.S. Lewis

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Happy reading, Everybody!

Uncategorized

A Little Toile de Jouy Fall Table Styling

I love it when an idea leads 
naturally into the next
as this little toile de jouy fall table~styling 
came about 
just this way!

I love dressing a beautiful table
and creating those
Super Easy Toile de Jouy Pumpkins
were the inspiration…

A light breeze was blowing and the 
golden glow
from the sun sitting low in the sky created a 
piece of France 
in my own front yard.
 A folding table draped with lace
became a stage 
as favorite white dessert plates became
characters in this play. 
Purple Tupperware plates 
took on the supporting role as chargers
along with the
turquoise Tupperware glasses.

Sweet gilded acorns found at
HomeGoods
scattered here and there
along with a few candles
almost completed the scene.
Toile once again makes its appearance
in a third act with the 
blue toile
coming out stage right
as simple napkins tied gently
with the same lace used to 
make the red toile pumpkin.

The toile pumpkin proudly sits front and center
at the head of the table
with an overflowing basket of dried blooms.

Our lovely lady ~ one of my “Girls” ~ 
came to the show
dressed in her finest.

And of course
chocolate is always a welcome
attendee!

All the world’s a stage
Didn’t Shakespeare say that?
Our setting here would certainly agree!
I hope you have enjoyed this little
table styling show.
🙂
Thank you for stopping by and I hope you’ll drop by
next week as we wander to some places we visited on our 
14 state driving tour this summer
but haven’t been 
shared here with you yet.
We will begin with visiting the 
Great State of Texas.
As always I’d love it if you’d share!!!


Blessings to you,
Uncategorized

Spring Tea for One…in the Garden!


Tea in the afternoon

this Saturday…


***A little update for everyone stopping by from
At Home with Mimi ~ I’m so happy you are here!
I’m sharing this post from our former home in 
California as it was my favorite backyard to date.

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***

After spending  part of the early morning

then after a trip to Home Depot looking at linoleum
for our upstairs bathroom (decided not to, at present)
and adding more recycled cement pieces
to the garden pathway to the pool equipment
after lunch…



I like how the rebuilt pathway is turning out!

With the new improved pathway finally getting finished
there are new possiblities for new plantings to hide
the necessary but ugly pool equipment.
🙂
The pathway is now as long as it ever was before
pulling it up to run new waterlines for the roses
and the plants alongside the pool and up to the bushes
on the hillside.


I will probably get out there again Sunday afternoon
but in the later afternoon after a much-needed nap…
😉
It is pretty tiring leveling out dirt and cement pieces
as anyone who has ever laid a pathway surely knows.



Planted some ranunculus to the pot where a lone almost petered-out single bloom of
stock is still blooming up top.

Today though I sat down and actually
just enjoyed being in

the garden…




Birds were chirping merrily over at the bird feeder
while our resident mallards were sitting along 
the edge of the spa next to the pool.


Constant water spilling from the spa over the ledge into the pool created a constant soothing sound in front of me while the
water fountain behind me burbled washing away the
stresses of life as I read…


Our old fountain… in need of a new figurehead
but still love the “old gal” even with it
falling apart…





And, for an hour-and-a-half,
no laundry,
no mopping,
no cleaning windows, floors, bathrooms, etc.



I just read…





Please do stop by and check out our new backyard at
our current home in Sanger, Texas!
Here is another view of our little garden around
Valentine’s Day 2017 this year for you.
🙂


Sharing with

38 Ways to Love Outdoor Living ~ At Home With Mimi

*Please check out Mimi’s cute pin over on my Pinterest

“Decorating” board.  Thank you!



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Happy spring,

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Uncategorized

{Places to Shop} ~ Vignettes

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I must share  Vignettes…
One doesn’t have to be crazy in-love with all things French, but you will think of converting and 
redecorating your home after entering into the world created by the lovely people of Vignettes 
a go-to source for anyone looking for 
a jewel or two
to feather their nest!
🙂


Vignettes is owned by Lori Chandler who has been in business for over a decade in Ocean Beach.
(I am sorry that I didn’t snap a photo of Lori for you ~ I will next time!)
She is very nice and was happy to meet everyone 
as old friends even if one was a new one! 
(like me!)


Last Saturday’s event at Vignettes, on Valentine’s Day,
was a much-anticipated book signing featuring design-stylist, author and editor of French Country and Prairie Country magazines and the former editor of Romantic Country magazine…
who came to sign copies of her third book,

The lovely Ms. Francoise “Fifi” O’Neill surrounded by all things romantic and inspired by her book!
Notice the super cute lace dream-catchers!!!

Upon entering Vignettes, one is almost on sensory overload as there are so many lovely things
to behold…

Jeweled crowns, sparkling brooches, Victorian-style necklaces, bangles and bracelets and bronze sculptures are scattered about in vitrine curio cases!
Rose wallpaper used in new ways…
Mannequins dressed in laces and furs, some wearing
“dresses” created from a disparate combination of goods but somehow all creating “the dress…”
Very ethereal!



Following the path through each room, some of the things which caught my eye were engraved silverware pieces (always a favorite with me!), Victorian crumb catchers with their little silver-handled brooms, small bronze statuettes, crystal and beaded chandeliers,
table girandoles and wall sconces with their Louis IV curves, satin tablecloths and boudoir pillows, incredible screens for partitioning one’s room, as well as settees and chaise longues… 
Eye candy for the soul!



Here are some more lovely photos from that day…

Vignettes truly is a series of one vignette upon another!

Love, love, love this screen!


I think I have been here once before friends from the tea group that I am in, back when “taking tea” was such a revival in the late 1990’s! I remember the area
and this shoppe!
🙂



Two last things before this post is finit!

I met Sheri Howells in her booth near the front of the store.  She used to have her own online shoppe and is now one of Vignettes happy vendors. 

Meet Sheri Howells!
Sheri is very sweet and though she doesn’t sell online anymore, her website and Pinterest are still there,
Sheri4Sureand you might know her a bit as her home was featured a while back in
 Romantic Homes magazine.

Check out her corner, above!



Lastly, I was talking with Sheri and as we were
visiting I caught some movement out of the corner of my eye, in my periphery…
This (wo)mannequin startled me to pieces!

Vignettes must have hired this woman to dress as a live mannequin! She startled everyone when each of us finally noticed her!!! Very fun!





I hope you have enjoyed this little tour of Vignettes!
Do come down and visit the lovely ladies and gentlemen who work there when you
have a chance.
🙂 


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Blessings and bisous,
Uncategorized

Fifi O’Neill Comes to Vignette’s!


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Valentine’s Day  was a lot of fun
meeting
Francoise “Fifi” O’Neill!!!


Vignettes, an ethereal store after my own antique-browsing heart, located in the beautiful and sunny antique district of Ocean Beach, San Diego, California, hosted author Fifi O’Neill to a book signing from 12 noon to 5pm, on Valentine’s Day 2015.  “Fabulous Fifi,” as she is often called, has just published her third book, Prairie-Style Weddings…  PRAIRIE-STYLE WEDDINGS: Rustic and Romantic Farm, Woodland, and Garden Celebrations (Chronicle Books, December 2014, $30 USD/Hardbound).








Vignettes is a beautiful French-inspired atelier located in the antique district/Ocean Beach area
of San Diego ~ 4828 Newport Avenue, San Diego, California 92107.  Phone number: 619-222-9244.
Open daily, call ahead for hours.


View along Newport Blvd. looking towards Ocean Beach and the Pacific…



Lori Chandler, the owner of Vignettes, and her staff 

were gracious hosts sharing gift-wrapped chocolate hearts and glasses of champagne with everyone who purchased one of Fifi’s new book and/or

came to shop and meet Ms. O’Neill. 




I’m going to do a write-up of Vignettes in another
posting but wanted to share just a few
photos from the shop…








Fifi O’Neill at her lovely signing table outback of Vignettes… Two designers had set up this beautifully decorated tented area with everything inspired by Ms. O”Neill’s Prairie-Style Weddings book! Even the parachute covering the Easy-Up was pink!


For those of you who read decorating/shelter magazines but might not be familiar with
Fifi O’Neill…

Ms. O’Neill is the former editor of Romantic Country magazine and is the editor of French Country and Prairie Country magazines ~ both Country Decorating Ideas
publications published quarterly.


I have been reading both of these magazines for years
and drooling over Fifi’s decorating style!!! She is originally from just outside of Paris and I think she brings a fresh Parisian flare to our American homes.


Her decor tends towards mugs and dishes with cute French words printed on them, worn clock faces displayed on a shelf, muslin and drop cloth pillows with French printing ~ she likes toile de jouy printed fabrics!

(Mais bien sûr! Mais je te jure que c’est vrai! ~ but, of course!)


Fifi also decorates with her sister’s embroidered pillows, 
and she has these little metal hearts hanging around her home that were once used as memorials that I really think are sweet…

And, where would we be without hearts on
Valentine’s Day?!!
😉



In this photograph below, there is the first issue of Romantic Country but it wasn’t called that then (perhaps the actual title hadn’t been finalized?).
It was called “Romantic Living.” Anyway, I brought all three of these books and magazines with me and asked Fifi if she would sign them.





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I have a funny story to tell you!

After shooting a few photos of the outside of Vignettes and photos of the antique district there in Ocean Beach I walked inside Vignettes to go to the book signing soiree…


Well, I walked in the door and there was Fifi O’Neill ~ I practically ran into her! I also met another new friend that day ~ Lidy Baars who owns a beautiful online shop called French Garden House.

I said something really dumb like, “Oh! I didn’t expect you to be right here.”(How dumb was that, right?)
I quickly recovered and said hello properly!
🙂



Luckily, there was another lady there chatting with Ms. Fifi so I joined them {this was Lidy whom I asked to shoot the top photograph} This ended up being where we took the top photo and a few more. I hope that Lidy finds this blogpost  someday as I’d really like to thank her for taking these pictures!!! (Thank you, Lidy!!!)

Well, I’ll get off here for now! Been rather excited and
happy prepping this post and I wanted to get it out to you so you can meet Fifi…

She is a lovely, lovely person and though she doesn’t write in her blog much anymore ~ not enough time as she is flying all over the country interviewing and styling people’s homes for print, she said ~ her site is still up and you can watch the video she put up
of her cute little converted garage.

I wish you could hear how sweet her beautiful French voice is!

She is every bit as nice as she sounds, too.


Her style is so cute ~ I know you’ll love her as much as I do!


Please feel free to share this post on your site or through social media.  Thank you!

And please sign up for future posts too along the sidebar if you like, too.  🙂



Bisous,