Bakin' Bread.... and Sipping Tea with a Friend

Hello World,

I've been reflecting and posting a bit about past memories of good times, family, food and friends. It was back in October 2013 that I went to a friends home to learn to make homemade dinner rolls!  My personal delight! 

Lucinda Smith's ~ Shortenin' Bread !!!

Definition of Shortening bread
. . . . a fried batter bread,
the ingredients of which include
 corn meal, flour, hot water, eggs,
baking powder, milk and shortening

CivilWarTalk, a forum for questions and discussions about the American Civil War....

(this author so says.....)  donna, Oct 3, 2012 ...
We all must have sang the song, "Short'nin Bread" as children. It originated among slaves working on plantations in the early 1800s. The gist of the song is that the doctor orders short'nin bread to help heal the sick children and it does work

Short'nin bread was a treat that plantation cooks could whip up easily. It only required butter, brown sugar and flour. The word short'nin bread is actually shortbread. It had been popular in England for hundreds of years. The difference with the plantation type and the English type is the brown sugar which gave the South's short'nin bread a distinctive flavor

Short'nin Bread Recipe (recreated)

1. 
   
   

   2 cups butter

   1 cup brown sugar
   4 cups flour
   1/2 teaspoon salt
   
   1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
   2. Line a 17x 11.5 jellyroll pan with parchment, or spray with non-stick spray.
   3. In a large bowl of a mixer, cream the butter; beat in the sugar until very light and fluffy.
   Turn mixer down to low speed and add the flour and salt., mixing until smooth.
   4. Alternately, the dough may be done by hand. Make sure the butter is very soft and mix it well with the brown sugar; work the flour and salt in by hand until smooth. ( Of course, this be way plantation cook would have done it.)
   5. Press the dough evenly onto the prepared pan.
   6. Using a sharp knife and a ruler, score the dough into squares, eight on the long side of the pan by six on the shorter side.
   7. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until lightly brown.
   8. Immediately use the sharp knife to cut through the score marks into squares.
   9. Cool thoroughly before serving.

   . . . . This untitled picture is how  .... I envision my Great-grandmother Lucinda having a quiet moment!
   

   

   Lyrics to song Short'nin' Bread".

   
   

   "Three little children, lyin' in bed

   Two were sick and the other 'most dead

   Sent for the doctor and the doctor said,

   "Give those children some short'nin' bread."

   
   

   Mama's little baby loves short'nin', short'nin',

   Mama's little baby loves short'nin' bread,

   Mama's little baby loves short'nin', short'nin',

   Mama's little baby loves short'nin' bread.

   
   

   Put on the skillet, slip on the lid,

   Mama's gonna make a little short'nin' bread,

   That ain't all she's gonna do,

   Mama's gonna make a little coffee, too.

   
   

   

   Mama's little baby loves short'nin', short'nin',

   Mama's little baby loves short'nin' bread,

   Mama's little baby loves short'nin', short'nin,

   Mama's little baby loves short'nin' bread.

   
2. My Parents.... Howard and Helen (Sipuel) Huggins (3-9-1974)

My Gal' Tippin with Tea!

Mammy lil baby luv shortnin-shortnin

mammy lil baby luv shortnin bread!

Lookin at my lil black gal....  brings a fond cuteness to mind!   "Shortnin' Bread" is the old song from the Deep South plantation.. first written by a white poet named James Whitcomb Riley not really a long time ago...in 1900 -- the year my Mama Dooley was born!  A part of the chorus is:

Fotch dat dough fum the kitchin-shed—

Rake de coals out hot an' red—

Putt on de oven an' putt on de led,—

Mammy's gwineter cook som short'nin' bread.

Later, another version of this song in 1915 - out of Tennessee... E.C. Perrow  captured the floating lyrics... here goes:

Mammy's little baby loves short'nin', short'nin',

Mammy's little baby loves short'nin' bread

Building Fairy Palaces of beautiful thoughts !

PLEASANT THOUGHTS

Make yourselves nests of pleasant thoughts.

None of us yet know, 

for none of us have been taught in early youth,

what fairy palaces 

we may build of beautiful thoughts --

proof against all adversity.

Bright fancies,

satisfied memories,

noble histories, 

faithful sayings, 

treasure-houses of precious and restful thoughts, 

which care cannot disturb, 

nor pain make gloomy, 

nor poverty take away from us --

houses built without hands,

for our souls to live in.

John Ruskin  8-2014

Believe !

 "You have to believe in happiness, 

or happiness never comes ... 

Ah, that's the reason a bird can sing -- 

On his darkest day 

he believes in spring."  

~  Douglas Malloch

The Tea Rose reminds me of Scarlet Ohara.... !!!

Hello Blogglerland 

Sometimes -- most times I feel quite invisible.... one day I hope my family finds my bog to peek in on my life story!!!   Her goes bits and pieces of Beverly...

I'll begin today by telling you that I talk in movies...
and I like to know the end of a story or a movie....
and finally.... if it gets too gruesome.... I leave the room and might miss the best part!!!

But the brain can only take so much!   

Below is:   My facebook post for today led me to Michele (my SheHERO) Obama!

I found this book at an estate sale for a dollar or so.    On a scale of one-to-ten.... it's hitting 8+++

Here are two book reviews Remember I said I like to know the end of the story!!!  Don't be mad!

East London, 1888. A place of shadow and light where thieves, whores, and dreamers mingle, where children play in the cobbled streets by day and a killer stalks at night, where bright hopes meet the darkest truths. Here, by the whispering waters of the Thames, Fiona Finnegan, a worker in a tea factory, hopes to own a shop one day, together with her lifelong love, Joe Bristow, a costermonger's son. With nothing but their faith in each other to spur them on, Fiona and Joe struggle, save, and sacrifice to achieve their dreams.

But Fiona's life is shattered when the actions of a dark and brutal man take from her nearly everything-and everyone-she holds dear. Fearing her own death, she is forced to flee London for New York. There, her indomitable spirit propels her rise from a modest West Side shop-front to the top of Manhattan's tea trade. But Fiona's old ghosts do not rest quietly, and to silence them, she must venture back to the London of her childhood, where a deadly confrontation with her past becomes the key to her future.

Donnelly indulges in delightfully straightforward storytelling in this comfortably overstuffed novel. In 1880s London, the squalid Thames-side neighborhood of Whitechapel is home to Fiona Finnegan, spunky daughter of Paddy Finnegan. Both are employed by unscrupulous tea merchant William Burton, but Fiona is saving to start a shop with her love, Joe Bristow. Just as her future seems assured, a string of tragedies toppled her hopes. Joe is tricked into marriage to another woman, Burton has Paddy killed for supporting a labor union, Fionas mother is murdered by Jack the Ripper and Fionas distraught brother is found dead in the Thames. 

Fiona had been attempting to get compensation from Burton for her fathers death, but when she overhears his boasts of killing Paddy, she must flee for her life with her sole remaining brother, five-year-old Seamie. She rushes to a seaport, but cannot get passage until the wealthy dandy Nicholas Soames offers it, pretending she is his wife. 

The scene switches to New York City of the Gay 90s, to the glitter of Delmonicos, the elegance of Gramercy Park and the crowded tenements of downtown. Fiona lodges with her alcoholic Uncle Michael and saves both him and his grocery on her way to making her fortune in the tea industry. But she never forgets her familys fate, and when she can, she returns to England to revenge herself on Burton. Though Donnellys indomitable heroine steps out of period character from time to time in her easy acceptance of Soames homosexuality. The novel is lively plotting, big cast of warmly drawn characters and long-deferred romantic denouement make this a ripping yarn. In the final dramatic settling of scores, Donnelly even ventures to unmask Jack the Ripper.

Bev’s Cup of Tea [ 

Tuesday Musings

It's Tuesday with Tea Inspiration!

I'm just wallowing in joyful bliss!  Blessed!   

What do I hope is most remembered about me....???? 

In Acts Chapter 9:vs 36:  NIV

In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (in Greek her name is Dorcas);  she was always doing good and helping the poor.

KJV

vs 36:  Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of Good Works and almsdeeds  which she did.

A few days ago on FB --- I posted this picture of a quilt in progress.  I'm planning on giving it to my brother in California soon.   A reply post of abt 6 lines came from a guy/wife (30 yr friends b4 kids) who said that I had given them a quilt that they cherish to this day.   Hmnnn.... I don't remember giving, I don't know what pattern or type of quilt it was, or why -- again -- my quilts are my good deeds ... Why I was moved to give it (except that they are friends!!)   

Thus....for me . . . .What are my good works and ALMS-DEEDS?

Indeed, it may be the sharing of a recipe,  the giving of a TEA CUP or cup of kindness.  It's a hand crafted item.   It's a Bible study group or Bible class in which I share.   It's my co-worker.... sharing God's point of view.  

My dad often preached of men and especially GOOD Godly Women... who were kind, prayerful and who did good deeds for their pastor/Huggins family!  He never forgot and repeated their stories as I remember most!  

1. Titus 2:7

In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity,

I want to be remembered for my good deeds, simple pleasures.  I'm pretty stern and outspoken.... but my heart cries to share with friends and to encourage women in pursuing God's best for them!   

Definition:  ALMS-DEEDS

Acts of mercy, or almsdeeds, are ways in which we give out of our own abundance to meet another's needs

This co-adventure in life of loving a cup of tea... and wanting to share simple joy and pleasures with my friends.... is my ALMSDEEDS !!

ALMS-DEEDS:   

The compassionate relieving of another’s material need for God’s sake. 

ALMS-DEEDS

. . . .are a part of the overall works of mercy that a Christian disciple performs (either directly or indirectly) 

 Our Saturday Tea was hosted by "Inspirations Tea Room"

If you visit their Edmond, OK website.... The owners are beautifully living a dream and providing beauty and comfort... and inspiration with a purpose!

 Old Love Raspberry......Teaoli

The rich fresh berry flavor of this herbal creation reminds you of the freshly squeezed juice of red fruits.  The reapberry tea lover's dream!

Steep Time 10-12 min

Teaoli.com

Norman & Edmond, OK  405-348-5566

 My daughter and her daughter sippin tea!

 I have a grandson due in about 3weeks!!!

Garage sale finds!.... @ home, I'm polishing my Silver tableware!

 And I circled back to an 8am garage sale...  last Saturday after 2pm.   Bargained the lady down from $7 to $5.00 for the plate stand.   I spray painted it dark blue.... and I'm luvin it!

I will be joining the following parties this week:  

Tea in the Garden,  

Tuesday Cuppa Tea, and 

Teacup Tuesday.

Have a Great Day!

May your troubles be less, your blessings more, and may nothing but happiness, come through your door. 

Beverly J. Huggins Kirk

My Favorite Things ~Poised in the Workplace with Tea!

Hello friends,   It's mid-afternoon and I am so-enjoying my life on a Friday afternoon.   It's payday again.... I do thank God for his goodness!  So, I paid a few morning bills, processed papers for my supervisors.....

I recently changed to early work hours of 7:00am to 4:00pm.    WONDERFUL!  Soon, it will be time to unplug my teakettle.  Rinse the cups, turn off the cd player and scented dishes.

My heart and mind yearns on a Friday.    For an Estate or Garage Sale set of tea cups!   I stopped by N. Council Rd.  Place mats were $0.50 each...... starched, clean, lacy white placemats.  Eight (8) of them.

Nice lady chatted that she's given into retirement (not cooking much/no parties??).  Fresh linen....naturally calls for a tea party!   I told here such pretty placemats.... "ARE YOU SELLING A FEW TEACUPS?"  She laughed and shook her head in a "NO!"

Joyfully - I pd the few bucks.... also for a plastic set of eight (8)!!

So, my afternoon is here.   I close the door, make my table setting across from the computer.....

This is the day.... the Lord hath made.... and I am able to rejoice and "BE GLAD IN IT!"

Just below the last picture, I always check E-Bay for the age, description and price of my Garage Sale Purchase/Tea Cups!

Vintage Tuscan Fine bone china footed tea cup and saucer. Hand painted pink and yellow roses out lined in black. Has the Tuscan backmark on both pieces. Made in England. Tea cup measures 2 7/8 inches tall by 3 3/8 inches in diameter. The saucer measures 5 1/2 inches in diameter.

This lovely Tuscan tea cup and saucer features a rose design. The tea cup has a pink rose and bud on one side and two tone pink and yellow rose and bud on the other. The scalloped saucer has pink roses and buds and a two tone rose and bud. Both pieces have gold edges, the tea cup has gold on the foot and handle. The condition is good on both pieces, no chips or cracks or utensil marks.

Signing out with happy thoughts!  

Please visit with me again  ~  Soon!

Take a moment to comment ! Thanks so much!

Bev’s Cup of Tea [ 

I am linking up with these blogs for their linky parties

Sandi @ Rose Chintz Cottage
Bernideen's  @ Tea In the Garden

What Shall I do ~ Philiss Wheatley

Shall I write - by chance?   Or stop and sip a cup of tea?