It’s definitely time for all things pumpkin, from seasonal decor to tableware to toothsome goodies. And what better way to include them all than with a Pumpkin Inspired Tea? Let’s start with the decorative pumpkins. I’m not much good at carving the real thing, so took the easy way out with a pumpkin teapot by Maryland China.
It rolled in with some pumpkin buddies, too, including some adorable teacups, a creamer and sugar bowl.
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- Teapot & Sugar Bowl
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- Teacup & Saucer
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- Creamer
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- Teacup
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- Teapot
They all coordinated very well with Williamsburg Green shell-edged plates by Wedgwood and some green plaid napkins from Pier 1.
The cutlery is a vintage horn-handled set I picked up on Etsy a while ago. I think it’s technically a fruit set, as the knives are quite sharp and the forks have three tines, but I find it the perfect size for afternoon tea.
Speaking of tea, let’s move on to the eats, shall we? Turkey salad with cranberries, celery and green apples from our local deli slid into pita quarters for the savoury course. Pumpkin Scones with just a whisper of cream cheese frosting glaze came next and we finished up with Pumpkin Tarts with Caramel Salted Nuts for the sweets course.
Sunny sunflowers presided over the festivities.
The combination of sweet, somewhat savoury and salty in the Pumpkin Tarts with Caramel Salted Nuts is delectable. They tend to disappear pretty quickly around our house.
I tend to bake up a couple of dozen of them at a time and freeze some, sans the caramel and salted nuts. They’ve saved me a few times when I’ve needed a dessert for unexpected guests or have suddenly had a sweet craving that demanded something with salt and caramel (my particular weakness). Just toss some salted nuts in a couple of tablespoons of caramel ice-cream topping and drop them onto the top of the tarts as they’re defrosting and you’re set! Easy peasy.
The Pumpkin Scones can be served with a dab of butter, cream cheese or pumpkin butter, whatever you fancy.
The three-tiered stand is from Amazon. I love the way the metal part folds up for easy storage; the three ceramic rectangular platters are useful on their own, too.
The cheerful blossom and vine detail on the pumpkin ceramic pieces is very appealing. Maryland China is a wholesaler of ceramic “blanks” ready for hand painting, but they have a few pieces already decorated, like this teapot and the supporting pieces. Their white selection is outstanding if you’re a talented painter looking for an outlet!
Did anyone get up to watch HRH Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank tie the knot yesterday morning? I watch TV so rarely I couldn’t get the dratted thing going, so started to watch it on the Royal Family’s YouTube Channel on my iPad until Glenn got up and got the TV going. As an aside, who says the Royal Family isn’t keeping up with the times – their own YouTube Channel? Really?. I thought the bride looked stunning. This post from the Royal Order of Sartorial Splendor has wonderful coverage. Gorgeous dress, her hair was perfection and that tiara! The Greville Emerald Kokoshnik which has languished in the vaults for over 75 years. The central emerald tips the scale in the neighbourhood of 90 carats. Wow! And the flowers…the autumnal arrangements outside St. George’s Chapel were so lovely, though I feared for their longevity in that wind. It was also most amusing watching the guests, particularly the ladies, desperately clutching their hats. sometimes to no avail as they skittered away in the wind. The bride and groom make a lovely couple and I wish them both much happiness in the years to come.
Happy Saturday, everyone!
I’m sharing this post with Between Naps on the Porch.
Dear Ms. Kain,
Do you think someone from Pier1 has been looking at photos of Dundee? https://www.pier1.com/christmas-cat-salad-plate/3668341.html?st=Christmas%20cat%20plate.
Having lived near Baltimore, MD. and Williamsburg, Va. at one time or another, I’m tickled to see that Maryland China is known outside the tidewater region. I’m equally tickled to see how well it works with English Wedgwood in the Williamsburg Green Shell Edge pattern.
And how about those scrumptious looking tea treats, best of all they don’t sound tricky to make. You certainly know how to encourage not only bulging china cabinets but bulging waistlines as well
Regards,
Elizabeth Speicher
That Pier 1 cat has quite the diabolical look on his face. He could indeed be a Dundee-inspired figure. Don’t Pier 1 do the best animal plates?
I came across Maryland China when I saw one of the pumpkin cups advertised in TeaTime magazine. If I had any talent at on in the painting department, I’d love to try my hand at china decoration. I do not, however, and must leave it to others. The unadorned pieces are lovely on their own. Did you enjoy living in Baltimore and Williamsburg? I’ve always wanted to visit Williamsburg for the history; someday!
Tea can be such an ordeal to prepare with all the bits and pieces. But we enjoy it from time to time so I try to assemble a simple menu that doesn’t take a lot of intensive preparation, such as purchasing more casual savoury fillings and preparing only one sweet or even buying things like petit fours. The tarts are indeed an easy prep. The only tedious bit is shaping the pastry shells, but the dough is so pliable and easy to work with that they go quickly.
Thanks for visiting! I hope you’re well.
I’m getting hungry for anything made with pumpkin. Thanks for the recipe. Sounds easy enough. Happy Sunday. Having a wonderful time on the cruise.
Happy Sunday to you, too! I made some pumpkin loaf recently, too. And as we’re having our Thanksgiving dinner on the 28th of this month I’ll be back into pumpkin pies, unless I can talk Lauren into bringing them. She’s been steeped in all things pumpkin at the bakery, so may be off the whole thing by now. Perhaps she will contribute a carrot cake, instead. That’s “in the school of pumpkin” as far as I’m concerned.
Enjoy the rest of the cruise. Looking forward to hearing details!