A Guilty Pleasure: Clotted Cream

One thing that stinks about not living in the U.K.? I can't have fresh clotted cream delivered to my door. Nope. I have to go to a specialty grocer or World Market to find it:

It's HIDEOUSLY expensive. About 8 or 9 dollars for a teeny jar. And the worst part? After you open it and enjoy it, it needs to be refrigerated, and once it is, it's UN-USABLE. The cream becomes so thick you can't spread it, and if you try to bring it to room temperature, it becomes white slime. SO disappointing. I mean, I want to be able to use it during the whole week, AS IF I am going to eat an entire jar in one sitting! No no no!

So--what to do? Well, you can make your own clotted cream, but in my opinion, it takes way too long and you waste a ton of cream for just a little bit of clotted cream and although the result is quite rewarding, who has time for that? So, I have formulated my own recipe, by looking at others' recipes and trial and error. The cream I make is more like Devonshire cream, but I don't care. It's FABULOUS:

And it makes quite a bit, that I can enjoy for up to two weeks if I keep it in an airtight container in my fridge. And the best part? It takes very little prep, about two minutes to make, and only has two ingredients!

Pshaw, you say? I kid you not. This is all I use. A lot of bloggers put in sugar and sour cream and butter, and I do have a version I used to make with those things, but if you want something as close to the original as possible, without all the work, this recipe does it for me. It's simple:

Mock Clotted/Devonshire Cream:

Ingredients:

-3 oz. Regular Cream Cheese, room temperature

-8 oz. Heavy Whipping Cream

Directions:

Set cream cheese out on counter until room temperature and totally soft. Dump it into a small mixing bowl, and beat with a hand mixer until creamy. Add whipping cream, and beat until stiff peaks form. (You can tell when it's the right consistency, it will look just like clotted cream!)

AND THAT'S IT. 

It looks and tastes A-MAAAAZING:

You can serve it right away, or put in an airtight container for up to two weeks. (Just make sure your cream cheese and cream have expiration dates beyond two weeks! Or you'll regret it haha.) 

 It's sooo good! And sooo easy. I love easy. It makes my day. ;-)

Ironstone Spring Breakfast

When I'm asked the difference between Ironstone and Transferware I just say Ironstone is a particularly strong china, that can also be Transferware. It's more durable. Here's what Wikipedia says about it:

"Ironstone is a type of vitreous pottery first made in the United Kingdom in the early 19th century. It is often classed as earthenware although in appearance and properties it is similar to fine stoneware. It was developed in the 19th century by potters in Staffordshire, England, as a cheaper, mass-produced alternative for porcelain. There is no "Iron" in Ironstone; it's name is derived from its notable strength and durability."

Makes sense to me! Back in those days, they didn't have plastic or disposable plates. Everything was china. And it got used, every day. Hot food, metal utensils, scalding tea, washings, those dishes took a beating. Smart to produce something that would be more durable. And Transferware? Transferware is a process:

"Transferware is the term given to pottery that has had a pattern applied by transferring the print from a copper plate to a specially sized paper and finally to the pottery body. While produced primarily on earthenware, transfer prints are also found on ironstone, porcelain and bone china." 

I've already posted about this Ironstone--it's my combo/collection of Grindley, British Anchor and Royal Tudor Ware. Three days until April! Spring will be "sprung" soon!

Old Britain Castles: Blue

I'm always a sucker for Blue and White Transferware, and definitely a sucker for Castles and Ruins. :-) So, I would like to introduce my latest acquisition: Johnson Brothers Old Britain Castles--Blue.

  It is only a tea service and a place setting, but it's enough for me. The teapot, sugar and creamer were made in England, but the other pieces are newer. I love the transferware images. On the teapot front is Farnham Castle, 1792, and the lid shows Donnington Castle.

The teacup and saucer are my favorites (amateur Tudor Historian over here!), portraying Stratford-on-Avon and Kenilworth castle, respectively. 

There are many others pictured: Goodrich, Chatsworth, Blarney, Denleigh, Brougham, so many castles, so few surfaces. ;-) But all so very pretty and elegant. 

Well done, Johnson Brothers. 

Purple Transferware: Part II

In my previous post I mentioned Purple (Lavender) Transferware, and showcased some pieces. Here is most of my collection:

I have four different patterns represented:

1) Johnson Brothers "Old Britain Castles"

2) Royal Staffordshire Clarice Cliff "Tonquin"

3) Royal Staffordshire "Charlotte"

4) Crown Ducal "Colonial Times"

I think they all work pretty well together. As I've said before, with transferware, it doesn't have to be one pure pattern. You can mix and match and it all works out. I'll have to do a tablescape with my purple dishes one of these days! With toile and silver. Definitely silver.

Lavender Means Springtime!

I love Spring. The pastels, everything green and fresh, and one's choice of china should reflect it. ;-) Behold, some of my lavender (some call it purple) transferware! 

I wasn't really into purple a while back. Then I saw some online and fell in love. This setting is a combination of two patterns, "Old Britain Castles" by Johnson Brothers, and "Tonquin" by Royal Staffordshire. And yes, I have that ugly little cream teapot because as high and low as I've searched, I haven't been able to find an O.B.C. teapot! They are extremely rare. Replacements, ltd. doesn't even have any at this posting. One day, I will find one. Mark my words...but I have a Crown Ducal Colonial Times and Staffordshire Charlotte tea service that are beautiful on their own. More on those later.

But for now, check out this beautiful transferware:

*sigh.*The official color is "Lavender," but it seems more "Purple-y" to me. Whatever you call it, it's gorgeous. I am loving this for Spring. I have a pretty extensive purple transferware collection; I'll have to post pics soon. I can't believe it's April in a week! Hooray!

"Romantic England" By Alfred Meakin

If I think about it, this was truly the first transferware pattern I collected. I remember it was about 17 years ago, I was on Ebay, and I wanted a transferware breakfast set. So, I put that in the search engine, and I found this lot of blue and white "Romantic England" by Meakin. It was so pretty, I had to have it. And my bid won! I got the tea service, mugs, plates and bowls. No teacups or platters; I collected those later. And the soup tureens aren't Meakin, they just go really well. ;-) 

 The scenes are elegant and pastoral, with Tudor houses and cottages and churches and English Countryside. So pretty. 

This was my first set, which I've built on, and with my breakfast this morning I used my Meakin plus a few odd pieces that aren't Meakin, but go nicely. I know, it's all very "Downton Abbey" of me. But that's how I roll.

The teapot is reproduction from China, but it's perfect for breakfast or single-person tea. Holds about 10 oz. and I use it all the time.

The tureen is "Old Britain Castles" by Johnson Brothers. (I have a set of that I will post about another time.) So elegant.

All I can say is, there is a reason there are websites out there dedicated to Blue and White Transferware. My personal favorite is in the U.K., called "Lovers of Blue and White." I have ordered quite a few pieces from them. They are super friendly with stellar customer service and communication, and they pack VERY well when they ship to me here in the U.S.A. Go on their website. You won't be disappointed.

Does Anyone Like Transferware Anymore?

I remember in early 2000, there were transferware teasets and teapots and serveware and pieces all over the place. Blue, Red/Pink, Purple, Green, Black, those were the most popular. The store I worked at had "Johnson Brothers Old Britain Castles" as one of the pattern choices in the BRIDAL department. And I bought tons of transerware online. My favorite kind was the reproduction transferware that looked old but was new. Case in point, my newest acquisition from the Gettysburg Museum Store:

It's called "Red Flower" by Madison Bay Company, which I will get to in a minute. But the pieces are SO pretty and what's best about them? You can USE them. They are NEW. So, yes, my favorite kind of transferware is the fake kind. But moving on...

When you go into a department store, do you find any transferware? Nope. It's all modern pieces. Modern prints. Polka dots. Stripes. Plain and simple. Nothing like the beautiful dishes from the 18th and 19th and 20th centuries. Nowadays transferware is called "fussy" and "old fashioned." Well, I refuse to believe it. Especially with the Farmhouse Decor movement, transferware in an antiqued hutch is the way to go. So, I fully believe transferware is making a bit of a comeback. Maybe to be displayed only, but there are enough of us still around to make it current. My daughter, who is 20, she LOVES transferware for her farmhouse decor. 

I am concerned with the availability of the reproduction transferware, however. Madison Bay Company told me that the company in china that manufactures their transferware pieces has gone out of business. (I've mentioned this in previous posts). So, I've snatched up a lot of pieces online, before they can't be found anywhere. And I'm hoarding it like no one's business. Because it's so pretty and functional. But I have to wonder, are there others like me out there? Who appreciate this beautiful stuff? I see a lot of pinterest posts about it, so there is hope. 

Until then, I will continue to post pics of my transferware. New and Old. Because I just can't get enough of it! 

St. Pat's Day is Almost Here & a Shake FAIL.

When I was a young girl, I got excited every March for McDonald's Shamrock Shakes! They were pale green, just the right hint of mint, and the BEST ever. Remember this?

Photo via Popsugar

Cue to two days ago, when I decided to relive my childhood favorite in a one-time splurge. And THIS is what I got:

Do you see the problem, here? This is NOT the Shamrock Shake of my childhood. This is a disgusting, radioactive green monstrosity, with SO much green mint syrup in it is is practically INEDIBLE. I took a few swigs on the straw and IMMEDIATELY threw it out. It was like drinking straight mint toothpaste gel. Where was the delicate balance of mint with the vanilla? WHAT GIVES MCDONALD'S??? **Insert sad face**

I was lamenting this to my church group, and they posited that maybe it was just an "overzealous" worker who really liked radioactive green shakes. All I know, is it scarred me. Maybe next time I'll get one Shamrock, one vanilla, and combine them at home for my kids. I will NOT do RADIOACTIVE.

Sorry for the caps, but this really was yucky. Anyway, here is some more of my lovely Madison Bay Company Gondola green pattern. It was a delicious breakfast. Tea with eggs and bacon and toast, and jam with clotted cream. The eggs were even perfect.

 Two Days to go!!

A Month Of Green...

St. Patrick's Day is this Saturday! (Gasp--does that mean Shamrock Shakes are now available at MacDonalds? I need to go today!)

In honor of that fun day, I have another green transferware post. This particular set is English Ironstone: and a combination of three different patterns that work flawlessly together (in my humble opinion). Gotta love Ironstone. So practical and hardy. But pretty, too!

The Teapot and Cream Soup cups are "English Country Inns," by Grindley.

The teacups, Sugar and Creamer and bowls are "Memory Lane" by British Anchor.

And the saucers and salad plates are "Coaching Taverns," by Royal Tudor Ware.

Three different patterns, yet all go so well together! The actual tea set I got from the Netherlands. The seller already put the teapot and sugar and creamer and teacups and saucers together. They are in mint condition and never used--which I love! All I can say is I LOVE GREEN DISHES and I will use them so much!

Dia Duit!