Teatime Picnic~

A no-reason-to-hurry afternoon is such a treat. I hadn't made Corn Scones in a while so I thought it was the perfect day to bake up a batch and have a simple picnic tea outside. My daughter asked for Cream Scones last night so I made a batch of those as well....we'll eat them for breakfast the next couple of mornings with ripe strawberries. I love adding dried sweet cherries to the Corn Scones but did not have any in the cupboard today. No worries! You can use dried cranberries instead or go without.

Corn Cherry Scones~

Sift 2 cups all purpose flour, 1/2 teaspoon each baking soda & salt, 1 tablespoon baking powder, 2/3 cup sugar (I used turbinado), and 1 and 1/2 cups medium grind cornmeal into food processor bowl.

Stir. Add 2 sticks unsalted butter cut into cubes.

Pulse half a dozen times. Butter pieces should be the size of small peas.

Place corn mixture into a bowl. Now is the time to add dried sweet cherries or cranberries. Mix. Make a well in the center of mixture.

Pour 1 cup buttermilk into the well. Mix briefly with a spoon. Dough will be stiff and sticky.

Let rest 5 minutes.  Shape into 2 and 1/4"  balls; place 2" apart on parchment lined cookie sheet. Preheat oven to 425 degrees, then turn to 375 degrees as soon as you place scones in the oven.

Bake for 12 minutes. Turn pan in oven, bake an additional 8-10 minutes. Do not overbake. Serves 13-15. Cool on rack.

Mmm....the kitchen smells divine! Now to make tea. Since I will be going outside for a solo unfancy teatime, I will be using an unconventional 'teacup'.  I am using my new Teazer Thermal Tea brewer by Liquid Solutions, which is unbreakable and keeps my tea warm for awhile. I found it at TJMax for $7.99. It is BPA free and stainless steel, and made by a company which is environmentally aware. I went back and bought several more because they are so convenient to use.

There is a removable stainless basket inside for your loose tea. Once the tea is steeped, remove the basket and discard leaves. Press sipping lid onto the Teazer, then screw on the outer lid to commute or travel outside. ~   

I grabbed a quilt, my big book of Shakespeare and some sketch books. I also brought out the scones.

I could smell the Basil growing in the standing planter behind me. Fragrant!

The tiered server is so handy. I painted it hunter green some time ago and attatched a silk leaf vine. Look who joined me....

Winnie the Pooh and Piglet are also having a Picnic Tea!

The scones were delicious with my tea. I read for a bit, then did some sketching while I listened to the sounds of the neighborhood...a bird, a distant train, the sound of the summer ice cream truck playing CampTown Races. ~lol~

Hope you have a wonderful week, as many head back to school~ Aha! Another excuse for a tea party.

This cup would look right at home with a picnic~ although I chose to use my Teazer today. It is by Crown Trent China Limited and is a sunny yellow with gardening motifs.

Here is the bottom~

The inside has a beautiful blue butterfly just under the rim~

Here is the opposite side of the cup. The handle has "Tea In The Garden" written down the length of it~

I am sharing this post with;

Kathy~ http://blissfulrhythm.blogspot.com/
Marty~ http://astrollthrulife.blogspot.com/
Martha~ http://www.marthasfavorites.com/
Terri~ http://artfulaffirmations.blogspot.com/
Wanda Lee~ http://silkenpurse.blogspot.com/
Pam~ http://breathoffreshair-paperbutterfly.blogspot.com/
Wanda Lee~ http://theplumedpen.blogspot.com/
Trisha~ http://sweetology101.blogspot.com/
Lady Katherine~ http://ladykatherineteaparlor.blogspot.com/ 
Miss Spenser~ http://missspensersblog.blogspot.com/