Blog 17

I know you’re busy.

Holiday parties, gift shopping, decorating, cooking, baking and maybe traveling. This time of year is always a challenge. It is for me too. I thought I could help with some gift suggestions for the tea drinker on your list.

Wouldn’t they like a nice teacup and saucer to enjoy their tea?

This week we are featuring tea ware. These items are ageless, so if your recipient is young or if they are older, they will be gifts appreciated for a long time.

They’re never too young to appreciate a pretty cup and saucer.

Our exclusive Paris In A Cup logo teacups and saucers are perfect if your tea drinker is also a Francophile, a lover of all things Paris. You won’t find these anywhere else, so your gift will be very special.

Paris Pink Eiffel Tower

Exclusive Paris In A Cup pink and gold cup and saucer

Hand painted, antique shaped, porcelain cup and saucer with pink or blue Sevres backgrounds has hand applied gold trim and Paris In A Cup’s Eiffel Tower logo. Available in Paris Pink or Versailles Blue. The eight-ounce size has the full logo, and the five-ounce size has our Paris Script logo.

Versailles Blue Eiffel Tower cup and saucer

Paris In A Cup exclusive blue and gold cup and saucer

Petite Pink “Paris” cup saucer

Exclusive Paris In A Cup logo script pink and gold cup and saucer

Our logo teabag holder is a great gift. If your tea enthusiast only drinks loose-leaf tea, no worries, this doubles as a trinket or ring dish.

Paris Eiffel Tower Teabag/trinket dish

Use as teabag holder or trinket dish. Exclusive Paris In A Cup logo

Tea Service set in pink opalescent lusterware makes a beautiful gift. This set includes one medium size teapot 4-cup teapot, one creamer, and one sugar container with a lid. Mix with one of our floral cups and saucers or match with the Pink Luster Teacup and Saucers available on this page.

Pink Luster teapot and creamer and sugar

Beautiful pink lusterware teacup and saucer are finished in gold trim and embossed beading around the cup rim and scalloped-edged saucer. This teacup and saucer match our Pink Lusterware tea set, above.

Pink luster teacup and saucer (matches tea service above)

There is a peony named for a famous French actress from the early 1900’s. We think she would love this tea set adorned in blushing pink peonies.

Sarah B peonies tea for one service (teapot stacks on cup and saucer)

This beautiful fine porcelain tea for one set will elevate your teatime to a royal level. Set includes a 2-cup teapot and an 8-ounce cup and saucer decorated in stripes and dainty polka dots, finished in gold details. Nests together quite nicely. Worthy of Josephine’s tea table.

Elizabeth’s garden is in full bloom on this vintage look botanicals teacup and saucer.

Pretty peonies in bloom on a field of soft pink adorn this bone china cup and saucer. Inside of the cup is white with a deep pink flower. Bone China.

In almost every English garden, you’ll find roses. Lots of roses. This delicate cup and saucer are reminiscent of a lovely garden in the English countryside. Fine bone china.

The perfect gift for the tea drinker, the Bee Tea Infuser, tisanière Abeille, has a wide stainless-steel filter that allows tea leaves to expand for a full steep. The lid is made of solid wood sustainably sourced from French forests. It keeps the water hot during infusion, then serves as a drip dish. Made in France.

La Rochere Bee Glass Mug with Tea infuser and Lid

Thoughtful and seriously convenient to use. High quality French made glass.

There are more items in our tea wares section. Just click the button below to see everything.

Tea Wares and Accessories

Now here’s some great news: These items are all 20% off. Just use code DEC02 at checkout and the 20% will automatically be applied. Don’t forget to use the code. Without it, your discount will not be applied. This offer does expire, so make your selection and purchase before midnight on December 15th.

All items in our Tea Wares and Accessories category on sale 20% off with code DEC02 valid from 12/09 7:00 AM until 12/15 at midnight.

We will be happy to send your gift to your recipient and we will enclose a little note. Just use their ship to address and in check-out tell us what you want to say and how you want it signed.

Of course, you can have it shipped to you so you can present it in person. Don’t forget that you can pick up your purchase in Old Towne Orange and save shipping and time.

I hope I have helped with some of that gift shopping.

Here’s a recipe that’s quick and easy to make. You can adapt to your families’ preferences, and it stores well in the refrigerator. You can even freeze it!

Enjoy

Easy Shepherd Pie

Make this your own by changing out the veggies, make it meatless or gluten free.

Shirley’s Shepherd Pie

Ingredients

For potato topping:

1 ½ lb. peeled potatoes

Kosher salt

4 tbsp. melted butter

¼ cup milk

¼ cup sour cream

Freshly ground black pepper

For Beef Mixture:

1 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil

1 large, chopped onion

½ cup chopped celery

½ cup sliced mushrooms

2 cloves minced garlic

1 tsp fresh chopped thyme

1 ½ lb. ground beef (you can substitute ½ lb. of beef with ½ lb. ground sausage)

1 cup frozen carrots

1 cup frozen peas

1 cup frozen corn

2 tbsp. all-purpose flour or gluten free all purpose flour.

2/3 cup low-sodium chicken broth

1 tbsp. freshly chopped parsley for garnish

Directions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees

Make the mashed potatoes: In a large pot, cover the potatoes with water and add a generous pinch of salt. Bring to a boil and cook until totally soft, about 16 to 18 minutes. Drain and return to the pot.

Use a potato masher to mash the potatoes until smooth. Add melted butter, milk, and sour cream. Mash together until fully mixed. Season with salt and pepper.

Make the ground beef and sausage (if using) mixture: In a large skillet, over medium heat, heat the oil. Add onion, garlic, celery, mushrooms, and thyme and cook until vegetables are softened. About 5 minutes. Add in ground meat and cook until done. About 5 minutes or until no pink is visible. Drain the fat from the skillet.

Stir in the frozen vegetables and continue to cook until warm, about 3 more minutes.

Sprinkle the meat mixture with flour and stir to distribute evenly. Cook 1 minute more and then add the chicken broth. Bring to a simmer to let the mixture thicken, cook about 5 minutes.

Pour the meat mixture into a 9-inch pie pan or casserole dish and top with the mashed potatoes. Evenly smooth layer with a spatula to cover entire mixture. Bake until mashed potatoes appear golden brown, about 20 minutes. You can place under the broiler for a minute or two to brown the top if desired.

Garnish with parsley. Let stand at least 5 minutes before serving. Can be refrigerated and reheated.

Serves 6 to 8 guests

Alternatives: Substitute ground turkey for beef or sausage. Leave out the meat and add more vegetables. For a vegan pie, use cauliflower mash for the topping instead of potatoes. Add grains like quinoa or rice. Try different vegetables like finely chopped broccoli or green beans. It is best to stay away from vegetables with a lot of water content, like squash. Substitute vegetable broth for the chicken broth.

To be honest I have substituted pre-made mashed potatoes from my market deli counter and once I used instant. It was actually pretty good. Shhh . . . don’t tell my family.

That’s all for now. I need to get wrapping.

I’ll see you next week for another December Deal.

Merci A bientot

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