Fall Tea Set ~ A Favorite Thing

Most of the time, my thrifting hours are spent hunting down vintage goodies for my shop, oftentimes things I can enjoy for myself for a while and then pass on to someone else who will love them just as much. So that was my thought when I found this tea set.

But, you know what? I think I might just keep this one for myself! I have what has turned into a tea set collection (more on those another time!) and this little one will fit in just right. Plus, I use fruit in my dining room decor, and the colors in this tea set are perfect!! I even have two different placemat sets that blend right in! So I'm declaring it a keeper!!

I'm using it in my fall decorations which will stay up through Thanksgiving. I've got a bit of Halloween up for Miss Noli's delight and will add in some Thanksgiving as that holiday nears.

Don't you love that pineapple doily? I found it somewhere long ago -- someone had tea dyed it and I think it looks just perfect with my tea set!

Close-up of the design -- it is hand painted and on the sticker you can just barely make out the word Japan and something else that I'll have to get out a magnifying glass to even pretend to see. I'll have to do a little investigating as to its origins.

Did you notice these goblets? They are another favorite thing! A very, very special favorite thing! They belonged to my grandmother, and I think I will tell you about them another time -- maybe next week!

Oh, and guess what!! 

Peanut Bird was featured this week on A Favorite Thing Saturday!!! He was my entry for that fun party last Saturday (read all about him here....) and sweet Claudia gave him a little feature time! Oh my, Peanut Bird was just beside himself when I told him, and is now insisting that the trail mix jar goes to another shelf so that he gets top billing. Silly Peanut Bird.


♥♥♥  Linking my fall tea set over at Claudia's for A Favorite Thing Saturday,
 and on Pink Saturday at How Sweet the Sound 'cause we're showing fall stuff there!!


                                   


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Sweet Potato Casserole - Yummy in the Tummy!

Since this blog is devoted to vintage stuff, I thought that vintage recipes would qualify..... sooo, from time to time I'll post some yummy recipes handed down from various relatives, or from ancient (not really ancient, but definitely OLD!) cookbooks that I have.

And what better way to begin than by participating in the EtsyBloggers Blog Carnival with the topic choice of a favorite fall recipe!

When the weather turns cool, my thoughts turn to sweet potatoes -- I like them baked and served with just butter (lots of butter) on them. And sweet potato French fries are delicious! The two following recipes are ones that I make every year, especially as Thanksgiving approaches.

This one was the casserole of choice of my kids -- probably because it is sweeter and has those cute little marshmallows on top! The recipe comes from "River Road Recipes" which was published by the Junior League of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The one I have was published in September, 1969 and is the  22nd printing. It's full of wonderful Southern recipes! This is one of my favorite cookbooks, and the splatters on the pages prove it!

Baked Sweet Potatoes with Marshmallows (contributed by Mrs. A. J. Noland)
(info in parentheses is my own addition)

8 medium size sweet potatoes                      1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1 cup milk                                                    Few dashes of nutmeg
1 teaspoon vanilla                                        1 tablespoon orange juice
3 tablespoons sugar                                     Marshmallows (I use the small ones)                                    
1/2 stick butter

Bake sweet potatoes in 350 degree oven until done. Peel hot potatoes and put through ricer until mashed.
(Note: instead of this, I cook the potatoes until tender in water to cover, let cool, and then peel and mash with a potato masher.) Scald milk and add vanilla, sugar and butter. (Note: I scald the milk in a 2 cup Pyrex measuring cup in the microwave and then add the vanilla, sugar and butter.)

To mashed potatoes add cinnamon, nutmeg and orange juice. Stir. Add milk mixture to potatoes and stir.

In a large casserole dish (3 quart or two smaller dishes) layer potatoes, then a layer of marshmallows. Repeat layers ending with potatoes.

Bake at 350 until very hot. Add a layer of marshmallows and brown.
Serves 8 to 10.
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Totally yum! And it reheats well just in the microwave!

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The other one was made by my husband's Aunt Hat for Thanksgiving 1993. 

She gave me this dated recipe card!

Sweet Potato Casserole (from Aunt Hat)

3 cups cooked, mashed sweet potatoes             1 stick butter
1 cup sugar                                                       1 teaspoon vanilla
2 eggs, beaten                                                   4 oz coconut (optional)

Mix together and bake 20 minutes or longer at 350 until it separates.

Topping:
1 cup brown sugar
1 stick butter
1/2 cup flour
1 cup chopped pecans

Melt butter and stir in other ingredients. Pour over baked potatoes and bake 20 minutes until crusty.

From the backside of the card --
"If you double recipe, do not double topping. This freezes great."
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Absolutely luscious! But if you're on a diet, beware!!!

This yummy recipe memory is part of the EtsyBloggers Blog Carnival which is being hosted by Random Creative.  One of the topics to choose from was to post about a favorite fall recipe. I immediately thought of these two family faves!  What are yours?

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