National Shortbread Day

Today is National Shortbread Day, so I baked a batch of shortbread. Well, every day is something day, but I like shortbread. And I wanted to use my cookie stamps, so I didn't add any chocolate chips. If you don't have any cookie stamps, you can use the bottom of a glass. Some even have patterns. When I want totally flat cookies, I use the bottom of a measuring cup.

I used Rose Levy Beranbaum's recipe for Scottish Shortbread Cookies. Shortbread is traditionally mixed with the hands, but I have a silicone paddle attachment for my stand mixer, so I can put all the ingredients in the mixer bowl. This paddle is amazing. It scrapes the sides of the bowl as it mixes, and can even fold beaten eggs for sponge cake.

Beat the butter and sugars, then stir in the flour by hand or machine, until the dough comes together in a ball. The recipe calls for superfine sugar, but I get excellent cookies with regular granulated sugar.

Ms. Beranbaum uses a type of shortbread stamp that I've never seen anywhere else. (Does anyone know where I can get one?)

This is my collection of stamps. I have three sizes of clay stamps that I bought from a mail order catalogue (probably Sunset House--remember them?) many years ago. They have no markings, so I don't know who made them. They came in the cute little bags, which are very handy for storing them.

This is the newest addition to my collection. I bought it from an Australian woman who sells on Etsy. For all you Whovians out there, she also makes a stamp in the shape of the Doctor Who logo. This is very delicate--it has to be washed in cold water to keep it from melting. It's worth the trouble, though. The cookies are cool!

These two are from Rycraft, which has an extensive catalogue of stamps. Uffda is an all-purpose Norwegian exclamation.

And the Celtic knot is from Gosforth Pottery in England.

These are commemorative stamps from Cookie Cutter Collectors Club conventions in Portland, OR, Pittsburgh, PA and La Crosse, WI.

Line a baking sheet with waxed paper. Roll a tablespoon of dough into a ball, and coat the ball with sugar, so the stamp won't stick to the dough, and the dough won't stick to the waxed paper. If the dough comes up with the stamp, you can peel it off and still have a usable cookie. If your dough is too soft to work with, chill it very briefly. If it gets too cold you won't get a good impression, either. Then chill or freeze the raw cookies so they are quite cold (frozen is okay) when they go into the oven. This will prevent spreading and keep your impression sharp. For this part of the process, place the raw cookies close together so they fill up fewer cookie sheets.

 Raw cookies:

Baked cookies. You'll get better results if you fill your cookie sheet with the same shape. One got a little smashed while chilling, but that doesn't affect the tastiness. Leave enough space between the cookies so they bake evenly. Line your cookie sheets with parchment paper and slide the paper of cookies off the hot baking sheet onto a cooling rack as soon as they come out of the oven.

These should be very lightly browned on the bottom and almost white on top. 

But don't worry about what they look like. They won't last long enough for it to matter!

Hobbit Food at Denny's

Denny's? Yes.

Only because we're Tolkien nerds.

We swear. On something important. Fish fingers and custard. We're also Whovians.

Bilbo's Berry Smoothie

Shire Skillet

Hobbit Hole Breakfast

The Ring Burger

Dessert: Lonely Mountain Treasure Seed Cake

Tea Time went to see The Hobbit part 1 and then walked over to Denny's to extend our immersion in the Tolkien world. It took a minute to get our "special" menu, but after we looked in vain for artisinal  'moldy' cheese and crisply pan fried fish (that fish looked really good on the 3D screen!), or anything that might have come from Bilbo's pantry, our group made their choices (see pictures above). Tea Time wasn't quite adventurous enough to try to eat the entire menu in 20 minutes.

Usually movies partner with fast food restaurants such as Burger King or Taco Bell. We did get a small pack of Hobbit trading cards at the end of our meal, but Angela wanted a Gandalf wizard doll please. Have you been inspired by loyalty to a movie franchise? What is the most adventurous thing you've done? Waited in line all night for tickets? Went to a premiere?

Tea Time is waiting to see what will turn up after part two and part three of the Hobbit trilogy... any speculations?

Afternoon Tea is happening at Dunsmuir House

Welcome to the Dunsmuir-Hellman (beware of link audio!) house in Oakland. Tea Time enjoyed afternoon tea at the Dinkelspiel House. We purchased our tickets from the Oakland Parks and Rec, which included afternoon tea with a tour of the main mansion and the opportunity to wander the estate grounds to our hearts content. There was also holiday entertainment and crafting at this historic site on the day of our visit.

The pre-set menu for this event was chosen by the volunteers who work on-site (in the kitchen, serving, even guiding you through your adventures in the mansion). Our table shared a pot of the house black tea, usually decaf tea is available on request, although you are committed to whatever the kitchen has brewed that day. Our tea tray held scones (cranberry or blueberry), sweet breads, cookies (chocolate chip or raisin), four kinds of sandwiches (salmon, egg, cucumber and chicken salad), plus chocolate covered strawberries. Lots of carbs at this tea! Don't worry, we ate salad for dinner later.

Let's have hot tea and get warm, it was rainy and chill outside.

Pretty as a picture.

Lots of sweets!

Tea Time loves chocolate!

Cranberry Scone.

Scones, spreads and sammies make an afternoon tea.

After our group finished eating we wandered over to see the main mansion, our tour time was set for later, but they let us in early since the house was not busy. The weather was better (we didn't need our umbrellas), but it was still pretty drippy outside so we were happy to be in the warmth of the house. Here's a little info from the website about the history of this mansion and grounds.

Dunsmuir House was built by Alexander Dunsmuir, who came to the Bay Area in 1878. The son of Robert Dunsmuir, a wealthy coal baron from Victoria, British Columbia, Alexander oversaw the family business in San Francisco.The elegant mansion was built as a wedding gift for his beloved Josephine in December 1899.

In 1906, the estate was purchased by I.W. Hellman Jr. who worked for Wells Fargo Bank in San Francisco, as a summer home for his family. They dubbed their estate Oakvale Park.Golden Gate Park's landscape architect, John McLaren, is said to have assisted the Hellmans in designing the Dunsmuir gardens.The estate was purchased by the City of Oakland in the early 1960s with the intent of using the grounds and mansion as a conference center. A non-profit organization was formed in 1971 to preserve and restore the estate for the public benefit. For many years, the non-profit group and the City jointly operated the estate until 2010 where the City of Oakland became the sole proprietor. The Dunsmuir Hellman mansion has been designated a National Historic Site by the United States Department of the Interior and both the mansion and the Carriage House have been designated Historic Landmarks by the City of Oakland.

Personalized touches.

Landscaping for the ages.

The inside of the house is "preserved" to look much as it would have when the it was inhabited by the family. (Although we doubt there was a Christmas tree in Every room.) Some of the personal touches by the volunteers are very entertaining, and this mansion is a good interpretation of the past. It allows the visitor a glimpse into how and what things were used for in yesteryears.

The Dunsmuir mansion, designed by San Francisco architect, J. Eugene Freeman, is an example of Neoclassical-Revival architecture popular in the late 1800s. The 37-room mansion features a Tiffany-style dome, woodpaneled public rooms, 10 fireplaces and inlaid parquet floors within its 16,224 square feet. Servants quarters in the house are designed to accommodate 12 live-in staff.

Tiffany-style stained glass dome above the stairs.

A Christmas tree in every room.

Formal dining room.

Children's room decorated by volunteers.

Holiday spirits?

When our group had completed the mansion tour (including the wine cellar and gift shop in the basement) we headed outside and saw that the sun had completely broken through the grey skies overhead! Hooray! Plus entertainment was about to start in the pavilion across from the mansion. Angela is hooked on Hawaiiana, so she had to stick around for the holiday cheer provided by the Hawaiian ukulele choir and keiki Hula dancers. (Interested in Hawaiiana? Check out SF Bay Area AHA.) J.K. went with the group to check out the crafting tent.

The Dunsmuir mansion and grounds are a great place to visit.Open year round, they offer a chance to take afternoon tea with a glimpse into the past, as well as being a beautiful getaway within the Oakland city limits. The next time we visit it will be in the spring, so we can find the maze and Japanese gardens! Do you have a favorite local getaway? If you appreciate local history and spying on how the wealthy lived with their servants, make sure to visit Dunsmuir.

The star of the show, Mr. Sun.

Happy Holidays!!

Holiday and Afternoon Tea at Secret Garden

Update 2022: The Secret Garden is now the instagramable SIP. https://siptearoom.com/ Goodbye cabbage roses, hello selfies. 

Tea Time update-- The Secret Garden is closed for remodeling. Scheduled to open August 2017. We can't wait to see when the new look is unveiled! 

Welcome to your Secret Garden San Francisco! Hidden just opposite the southern edge of Golden Gate Park on Lincoln Way, this small storefront was a bright bit of Holiday cheer. Angela had been to the Secret Garden Tea Room previously, but J.K. had yet to experience its shabby chic style and homey warmth. We chose to come here for the Holiday tea, which is a special menu. Secret Garden has a wide array of tea choices on it's regular menu which includes a gluten-free option in addition to salads, sandwiches and sweets (although their website suggests to call ahead if you want something specific and make a reservation).

Happy Holiday Tea!

We arrived a few minutes after our reservation (due to typical SF winter weather), but there wasn't a problem. Once we dropped our umbrellas in the bucket by the door we sat down to a classic table setting. We perused the teas and made our selections, finally settling on Chocolate Truffle for J.K.in addition to the the herbs and spice Holiday blend for Angela. We sat, sipped and chatted for a while until our tiered tray arrived laden with goodies.

Plates and plates of food.

We received two types of scones, which we shared. These scones most closely resemble biscuits. One cinnamon spice and one with dried fruit plus berry jam and cream on the side. Our sandwiches were a new experience, one was like a club sandwich (three slices of bread) but with different fillings. There was a creamy shrimp open-faced sammie where you flipped the second slice of bread on top to eat it. The "club" style was moist and meaty with sprouts as garnish. The other triangle sandwich was egg salad with a sprinkling of caviar on the edges. We also had two more finger sandwiches, one cucumber and one roast beef. Instead of salad or desserts on the top tier, we got more savory treats. This plate featured one crostini with melted brie, apple and a bit of sauce, plus a second toast with salmon, dill and a dab of cream  while the third savory was a mini pastry cup with creamy cheese and a bite of ham with herbs.

Scones with their spreads.

Five types of sandwiches artfully arranged.

Grapes plus more savories!

Desserts came with our choice of eggnog or apple cider as a final digestif. The creamy cheesecake slice and two buttery cookies were a festive end to our Holiday tea. J.K. ended up taking some cookies home so we could waddle out of there. Angela still wants to know how to make those checkered cookies! How is each one a perfect square? Do you know the secrets of the Secret Garden cookie? Please comment below....

Wow, cheesecake  and cookies were a hit.

An eggnog and hot apple cider.

The menu Tea Time chose is a special, available for only a limited time during the Holiday season. However, if you choose to visit the Secret Garden you'll find ample choices on their regular menu, or if you have a special occasion in your life, you can reserve the Garden Room (there was a bridal party enjoying themselves during our visit). Do you have a "secret" garden you enjoy? Is it a personal or public place? (or both?)

Flowers abound in the decor and displays.

Love their tea blends? Take them home year-round.

Afternoon Tea hats!

Knicks and Knacks for purchase.

The Secret Garden Tea House states on their website that:

Its about Love, Romance, Hopes and Sweet memories we are creating everyday. All the things we love to share, and the many little thoughts that are sparked by the tiny splashes in our tea cups.

Tea Time certainly found warmth and sweet memories during this holiday visit to their Tea House. If you want a nice cuppa and cozy, flowery ambiance then check out San Francisco's Secret Garden.

UPDATE:

We returned to the Secret Garden on February 18, 2014 to enjoy their everyday tea offerings. We chose to simply drop in so we can share with you readers what they have available on a daily basis. Tea Time picked two  services from the menu including, The Bedford's Delight  (Enjoy Afternoon Tea like the Duchess of Bedford) and the dessert treats featured in the Sweet Surrender. Each service came with a pot of tea. J. K. chose the Afternoon Delight a blend with 20 flowers and herbs, while Angela chose Rooibis Lavender Lane which had a hint of lavender to it.

Ready for afternoon tea.

What a lovely cuppa!

Handy tea pot tags!

The Duchess' afternoon tea service includes: A Scone with Devon Cream, Lemon curd or Strawberry preserves, Eight delicious Seasonal Tea sandwiches, a sumptuous Savory, and a selection of three delectable Mini Tea Pastries, tea cookies and seasonal fresh fruits, and the seasonal sandwiches were Cucumber Hummus, Ham & Apricot Cream, Egg Salad & Sprouts, Sweet Curry Chicken with Raisins, Turkey & Cranberry, Mango Chutney & Cheddar, Apple Cinnamon and Vanilla Cheese plus Tuna Salad. Our scone was delicious, flaky and buttery with fresh fruits baked in it. Delightful. The dessert tray was a preview of the second tea service we ordered, the Sweet Surrender. 

berry-riffic

Fruity, flaky buttery, you can't resist this scone!

Twelve seasonal sandwiches...

Dessert tier with fruits

Our Tea tray fit for a Duchess.

Now here's the Sweet Surrender. If you're in the mood for sweets, check it out!

It's simple to walk in at the Secret Garden when it's not the holiday season, so check out their range of tea services and enjoy.