The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe Tea Party/Book Club: Marmalade Rolls

So last October, every Wednesday, I have been a part of a Tea Party/Bible Study/Book Club. We started on The Magician’s Nephew by C.S. Lewis, and when we finished moved on to The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. This is different from my book club and the Book Club Picks I have been reviewing (and desperately need to catch up on). 

For the third week we decided to go with the dinner meal that the beavers serve the Pevensie children. 

“Just as the frying pan was nicely hissing Peter and Mr. Beaver came in with the fish which Mr. Beaver had already opened with his knife and cleaned out in the open air. You can think how good the new-caught fish smelled while they were frying and how the hungry children longed for them to be done and how very much hungrier still they had become before Mrs. Beaver said, “Now we’re nearly ready.” Susan drained the potatoes and then put them all back in the empty pot to dry on the side of the range while Lucy was helping Mrs. Beaver to dish up the trout, so that in a very few minutes everyone was drawing up stools (it was all three-legged stools in the Beavers’ house except for Mrs. Beaver’s own special rocking chair beside the fire) and preparing to enjoy themselves. There was a jug of creamy milk for the children (Mr. Beaver stuck to beer) and a great big lump of deep yellow butter in the middle of the table from which everyone took as much as he wanted to go with his potatoes and all the children thought—and I agree with them—that there’s nothing to beat good freshwater fish if you eat it when it has been alive half an hour ago and has come out of the pan half a minute ago. And when they had finished the fish Mrs. Beaver brought unexpectedly out of the oven a great and gloriously sticky marmalade roll, steaming hot, and at the same time moved the kettle on to the fire, so that when they had finished the marmalade roll the tea was made and ready to be poured out. And when each person had got his (or her) cup of tea, each person shoved back his (or her) stool so as to be able to lean against the wall and gave a long sigh of contentment.

For this week we had Chami Tea Winter Apple Spice Tea, a loaf of Dutch Crust bread, trout (and chicken for the non-fish eaters), boiled potatoes, and marmalade rolls.

One thing I will be doing differently here than in my earlier posts, is that I will be sharing discussion questions that your group can discuss as you read and eat. I didn’t post discussion questions in the previous posts on The Magician’s Nephew, as I wasn’t in charge of that book. For discussion questions, click on this link. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe Discussion Questions Chapter 7-9.pdfDownload

This recipe is inspired by The Pioneer Woman but is much faster and easier.

Ingredients:

• 1 Package of Pillsbury Cinnamon Rolls
• Orange Marmalade

Directions:

1. Heat oven to 400°F (or 375°F for nonstick pan).
2. Grease round cake pan.
3. Unroll cinnamon roll dough and add orange marmalade.
4. Roll dough back up.
5. Place rolls in pan, cinnamon topping up.
6. Bake 13 to 17 minutes or until golden brown.
7. Spread with icing.

These were absolutely delicious! I ate so many, and I’m not even super into sweets. I had zero willpower regarding these and had such a hard time not consuming a whole pan. I definitely recommend them.

No, stop! Alright.

For more from our The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe teas, go to What Excellent Boiled Potatoes

For more recipes, go to Blueberry Yogurt Scones

For more desserts, go to Turkish Delight

For more tea posts, go to Jane Austen Birthday Party: Party Favors II

What Excellent Boiled Potatoes

So last October, every Wednesday, I have been a part of a Tea Party/Bible Study/Book Club. We started on The Magician’s Nephew by C.S. Lewis, and when we finished moved on to The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. This is different from my book club and the Book Club Picks I have been reviewing (and desperately need to catch up on).

The first week were inspired by the tea party between Mr. Tumnus and Lucy Pevensie. 

Now, Daughter of Eve!” said the Faun. And really it was a wonderful tea. There was a nice brown egg, lightly boiled, for each of them, and then sardines on toast, and then buttered toast, and then toast with honey, and then a sugar-topped cake. And when Lucy was tired of eating the Faun began to talk. 

We had Chami Tea’s Winter Grey: Deviled Eggs(for brown egg lightly boiled); Salmon, Cucumber, and Radish Canapés (in place of sardines on toast); Bagels (buttered toast), Honey French Toast (for toast with honey); and a Bear Claw Coffee Cake (for sugar topped cake).

And food to go with.

The second week we were inspired by the time Edmund spends with the White Witch. 

“It is dull, Son of Adam, to drink without eating,” said the Queen presently. “What would you like best to eat?”

‘Turkish Delight, please, your Majesty,” said Edmund.

Of course as that only mentions one thing to eat, we ended up adding other recipes that sounded good. We decided to go with: Rose Petal and Green Tea, Rose Petal Earl Grey Tea, Blueberry Rose Petal Scones, Radish Ruffle Canapés, Zuppa Toscana Soup, Meatloaf, and Turkish Delight.

For the third week we decided to go with the dinner meal that the beavers serve the Pevensie children.

“Just as the frying pan was nicely hissing Peter and Mr. Beaver came in with the fish which Mr. Beaver had already opened with his knife and cleaned out in the open air. You can think how good the new-caught fish smelled while they were frying and how the hungry children longed for them to be done and how very much hungrier still they had become before Mrs. Beaver said, “Now we’re nearly ready.” Susan drained the potatoes and then put them all back in the empty pot to dry on the side of the range while Lucy was helping Mrs. Beaver to dish up the trout, so that in a very few minutes everyone was drawing up stools (it was all three-legged stools in the Beavers’ house except for Mrs. Beaver’s own special rocking chair beside the fire) and preparing to enjoy themselves. There was a jug of creamy milk for the children (Mr. Beaver stuck to beer) and a great big lump of deep yellow butter in the middle of the table from which everyone took as much as he wanted to go with his potatoes and all the children thought—and I agree with them—that there’s nothing to beat good freshwater fish if you eat it when it has been alive half an hour ago and has come out of the pan half a minute ago. And when they had finished the fish Mrs. Beaver brought unexpectedly out of the oven a great and gloriously sticky marmalade roll, steaming hot, and at the same time moved the kettle on to the fire, so that when they had finished the marmalade roll the tea was made and ready to be poured out. And when each person had got his (or her) cup of tea, each person shoved back his (or her) stool so as to be able to lean against the wall and gave a long sigh of contentment.

For this week we had Chami Tea Winter Apple Spice Tea, a loaf of Dutch Crust bread, trout (and chicken for the non-fish eaters), boiled potatoes, and marmalade roll.

One thing I will be doing differently here than in my earlier posts, is that I will be sharing discussion questions that your group can discuss as you read and eat. I didn’t post discussion questions in the previous posts on The Magician’s Nephew, as I wasn’t in charge of that book. For discussion questions, click on this link.

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe Discussion Questions Chapter 7-9.pdfDownload

This recipe comes from Thriving Home.

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 pounds small baby potatoes (preferably an assortment of red, blue, and yellow)
• 2 tablespoons butter, plus more as needed
• Kosher salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper, plus more to taste
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, plus more to taste
• 1 tablespoon minced fresh parsley, or 1/2 teaspoondried parsley flakes
• Optional: 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Directions:

1. If your potatoes are not bite-sized, then cut them in half.
2. In a large pot, add enough water to cover your baby potatoes by at least 1 inch of water. Bring to a boil over high heat (put on the lid to help it boil faster). Then, salt the water liberally once it’s boiling.
3. Boil the baby (or small) potatoes until they are fork tender, about 10 minutes depending on the size of your potatoes.
4. Drain the potatoes in a colander over the sink and then return them to the pot.
5. Gently toss the potatoes with the butter, 1 teaspoon Kosher salt, the pepper, the garlic powder, and the parsley.
6. Taste and add more salt, pepper, or garlic powder, as desired.
7. Stir in Parmesan, if desired.
8. Serve warm or at room temperature.

These were delicious but I think Mr. Collins said it best:

For more from our The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe teas, go to Turkish Delight

For more recipes, go to Blueberry Yogurt Oat Scones

For more potato recipes, go to Baked Potato Soup

For more tea posts, go to Jane Austen Birthday Party Music & Party Review

My Week With Jane

When I was in elementary school, my brother was in the army and stationed in Hawaii. We took a trip to visit him, but problems with the plane arose and the flight was delayed for a few hours. This was two years after 9/11 so we didn’t want to leave the airport and instead had to wait.

While we were waiting I noticed a lady across the way waiting with a big paper something. Of course being a curious child, I moved closer to look and saw it was a paper boy. Not a cardboard cutout, but like someone traced a boy and decorated it. I was trying to figure it out, when the lady noticed me looking and told me that it was Flat Stanley. A group of teachers had been reading Flat Stanley and passing him around taking pictures and when one had a friend going to Hawaii she asked if she could take him with her.

Wow!

I thought that was the coolest thing. For those of you who don’t know Flat Stanley is a book in which a boy, Stanley, is flattened by a bulletin board, becoming flat, and goes on a series of adventures. One of them is visiting his pen pal by being mailed in a giant envelope.

All I could think was what a great idea and how cool and fun to be a part of something like that.

Well…

Fast forward to Summer of 2020, everyone is glum about restrictions and most of us are not having fun.

When I saw that the Jane Austen Society of North America: East Washington and North Idaho (JASNA EWANID) was doing a Flat Jane.

Look at that!

After all:

They decided for the summer they would be sending Flat Jane about, she staying with the person who signed up for a week and then moving them onto the next home to visit. They then asked people on instagram if they wanted to sign up and I was like, yes please!

This actually became so popular they made several of them. My turn arrived and I was so excited and couldn’t wait to take her out on adventures.

Tea first!

Day 1) Sunday, January 3rd

What a Jane of a day! Today my friend gave me the Jane Austen adaption, Jane in Love by Rachel Givney, and then when I got home I checked my mail and inside was Flat Jane. I am so excited to start all our adventures.

It was great reading the Jane Austen Travel Log and getting to see all the adventures and things people had done. I couldn’t wait to add my own. Sunday I had my niece so I didn’t get a chance to do anything with Jane until later that day.

That night my sister and I did our usual #perioddramasaturdays It was my sister’s turn to pick and she chose Outlander, which I had read the first book but had not seen the TV show. For the occasion I made Blueberry Oat Scones (I’ll share the recipe later), that I had adapted from Plum Deluxe and we had Lavender Flowering Tea.

Flat Jane joined us for tea but declined watching Outlander. She was tired from her long journey from East to West and retired early. She espechially liked seeing the flower created from the tea leaves.

Day 2) Monday, January 4th

Ever since COVID19 Monday night has become Game Night! Jane and I played my new Pride and Prejudice game that I had received for Christmas. She won as I just couldn’t get the exact number to make my remaining half of the couple get to the church. I kept rolling over or under. I was planning to try playing Marrying Mr. Darcy with her, but I didn’t end up getting a chance to. I do plan to review this Pride and Prejudice game soon.

Afterwards, we played a singing board game with my sister, a sort of creating a song to a tune like in Who’s Line is it Anyway? When my turn came up I felt a lot like when Lady Catherine demanded Elizabeth play, as I don’t sing.

It was a fun game and hilarious as the game came with “lyrics” that were just too goofy.

Day 3) Tuesday, January 5th

Tuesday night Jane and I had pizza and watched Strong Woman Bong Soon, a K-Drama I recommend for any Jane Austen fan as it has elements that make me think of Jane Austen’s works.

Sooooo Mrs. Bennet

Jane loved the pizza (she definitely wishes they had that back in Regency England) and I think I swayed her to my line of thinking about the K-Drama…but she might have been humoring me.

Well…

Day 4) Wednesday, January 5th

Flat Jane joined us for our weekly Tea Party/Book Club/Bible Study on The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe. I think she enjoyed it, although it was unlike any bible study she has ever been a part of.

For these chapters we visited the beavers and had: Chami Winter Apple Spice Tea, a loaf of Dutch Crust Bread, trout, chicken (for the non-seafood eaters [me]), boiled potatoes, and marmalade rolls. Of course I had to explain to her the joke about boiled potatoes.

I will be sharing the recipes as soon as I catch up with The Magician’s Nephew posts. 

Day 5) Thursday, January 6th

After the Book Club/Tea Party/Bible Study I thought Jane would be interested in going to a regular bible study. She enjoyed it and marveled at my cat pen, amazed at how it looked and wishing they had such easy things to use when she was writing her novels. I plan to show her an Austen adaption tonight, but am still trying to decide which one…should I show her one I love or one I hate so we can both make fun of it? Decisions, decisions…

Hmmm…

I finally decided to show her one I hate, Austentatious (2015)

This is the worst Jane Austen adaption I have ever seen. We started with the first one and then she caught up to me with the second to last episode. After we watched the whole thing she was very confused about the whole thing and how it even matched up with what she wrote. Same Jane, same. If interested, you can watch it on tubi or you can read my past reviews: We Are Family: Austentatious, Episode 1 (2015), Big Girls Don’t Cry: Austentatious, Episode 2 (2015), I’ll Be Watching You: Austentatious, Episode 3 (2015), Hit Me With Your Best Shot: Austentatious, Episode 4 (2015), Call Me, Maybe: Austentatious, Episode 5 (2015), Drive Me Crazy: Austentatious, Episode 6 (2015), Make Me a Match: Austentatious, Episode 7 (2015), Take a Chance on Me: Austentatious, Episode 8 (2015), and Achy Breaky Heart: Austentatious Episode 9 (2015). 

After we watched the series, we had a cup of tea before bed. I had purchased two Jane Austen inspired teas from NovelTea Tins, Pride and Peppermint and Sense and Senchability. I had run out of Pride and Peppermint as I had used the last of it in the tea advent calendar swap I made for a friend, so we drank Sense and Senchability. Jane loved it and was amazed at all the different Jane Austen inspired products that we can purchase today.

Day 6) Friday, January 7th

Today was a shopping day as Jane went with me to visit a local Vintage/resale shop as I was on the hunt for a purple teacup for my friend’s birthday this month. I found this adorable claw-footed one under $10.

We then stopped off at the grocery store to pick up a few items and Jane was amazed at all the food for purchase and the prices! Plus we came upon many things she had never heard of before protein powder, lactose free milk, Greek yogurt, every kind of chocolate you could imagine, and more.

Day 7) Saturday, January 8th

Saturday turned out to be a shopping day as well, as my sister needed to visit Jo-Anns and Hobby Lobby in the next city over (we have a small Jo-Anns and we do not have a Hobby Lobby). I agreed as long as we stop at one of my favorite restaurants, the Tea Bar and Fusion Cafe. They have the best foods and teas. Jane loved the HoneyTea Latte I bought for her.

Afterwards we went to Hobby Lobby where we looked for fabric for a book sleeve I’m having made.

I was looking for a dark fabric, but Jane spotted this beautiful china blue vase printed one that I just couldn’t say no to.

We only visited a quarter of the store and Jane was amazed at everything they had there.

Afterwards we went to Jo-Anns and looked around the different fabrics and of course I had to show Jane all the muslin they had.

Mr. Tilney mentions purchasing muslin for 5 shillings a yard in Northanger Abbey and that was a good deal, but Jane was amazed that today she could purchase muslin for half the price he paid (converting how much 1800s shillings would be worth in our money).

Day 8) Sunday, January 9th

It was time to say goodbye to Flat Jane as I had her for the week and she is about to journey on to stay with another friend. I helped her pack up and will drop her off tomorrow for her journey to the East Coast.

As Jane is going to visit another Jane Austen fan I couldn’t resist sending one of my Quill Ink Jane Austen Inspired Magazine Cover Cards. If you are interested in getting some for yourself check out her Etsy shop.

If interested in having Flat Jane visit you then contact JASNA EWANID to signup. I recommend it as it is a lot of fun.

For more Jane Austen, go to Is Emma Jane Austen’s Only Mystery?

Basic Chicken Salad

So let’s talk about tea time. We’ve had scones and cookies, we need some sandwiches!

I love chicken salad, and here is a basic recipe. I’ll do a Waldorf Chicken Salad in the future. I got this recipe from my sister blog MysteriousEats.wordpress.com

Ingredients:

• 1.5 Cups of Cooked Chicken (I like using the rotisserie chicken)
• 1/2 Cup of Chopped Celery
• 1/3 Cup of Chopped Onion
• 1/2 Cup of Mayonnaise
• Salt and Pepper to taste
• Bread

Directions:

1. Toast bread.
2. Combine all ingredients in a bowl.
3. Spread the chicken salad on the toasted bread.

Delicious

A great addition to any one’s tea time.

Ready for high tea!

For more recipes, go to London Fog Smoothie

For more salad recipes, go to Triple Berry Salad

For more from MysteriousEats, go to London Fog Fauxccino

Nobody calls me Chicken: Chinese New Year

So I’m not a big chicken fan, but I will do my best to continue my tradition and count down by favorite rooster or chicken moments in film, TV, or books.

But before I go there, let’s talk about those born in the year of the Rooster. Roosters are trustworthy, with a strong sense of timekeeping and responsibility at work. Some famous Roosters are Donny Osmond, Dolph Lundgren, and Jennifer Lopez. Roosters are best with Oxen and Snakes; but should avoid Rats, Rabbits, Horses, and Pigs.

.So now onto the countdown.

4) Back to the Future:Part II (1989)

Back to the Future: Part II picks up where the first leaves off. Marty has come back to 1985, slightly altered from his time travel, and eager to continue his weekend plans. However, that all changes when he and his girlfriend, Jennifer, go with Doc to the future, 2015, to help their children. As they are occupied there, old Biff steals the time machine and using a futuristic almanac, goes to 1955 to alter the future. Now Doc and Marty must return to 1955 in order to fix their future, but things are more complicated. They must avoid their previous selves, or else destroy the entire space-time continuum.

Best Chicken Scene: “Nobody Calls Me Chicken”

Marty has the almanac and has completed the mission, but is stopped by Biff. Biff calls him chicken, which we know is Marty’s undoing. He goes to begin the fight, but gets himself knocked out by his earlier time traveling self. How sad and hilarious. Poor Marty!

For more on Back to the Future: Part II, go to We’re in the Future: Good-bye 2015

4) Chicken Run (2000)

Mr. and Mrs. Tweedy run a chicken farm in Yorkshire that is failing. Mrs. Tweedy comes up with the idea of switching from raising chickens to starting a Chicken Pot Pie Farm.

Ginger, one of the chickens, has been trying to free herself and the other chickens, with no avail. This increases as they discover what the Tweedys are planning.

Rocky, a rooster, is running away and flies into the chicken farm. They agree to hide him, as long as he teaches them how to fly. He begins the preparations, but it turns out he is a liar and cannot fly without assist from the circus cannon.

They begin building an airplane in the hopes to fly, but will the Chickens figure something out before they are turned into pies?

Best Chicken Scene: But I’ve Seen Ev’rything
When I See a Chicken Fly

The chickens are finally able to fly but it isn’t a smooth take off.

2) Robin Hood

Disney has taken its hand at the classic Robin Hood, but has told the story with animals! Robin Hood, a fox, must outwit the Sherriff of Nottingham (a wolf) and Prince John (a lion). To aid him are Little John (a bear), Alan-a-Dale (a rooster), and Friar Tuck (a badger).

Best Chicken: Alan-a-Dale

Alan-a-Dale is a friend of Robin Hood and tries to help him as much as he can; but even more than that Alan is our narrator and helps tell the story. Through him and his songs, we are relayed information about the characters and their situation.

For more on Robin Hood, go to Waiter, There’s Some Disney in My Jane Austen

1) Foghorn Leghorn, Looney Tunes

Foghorn Leghorn is a large rooster, who’s voice and way of talking is based on Senator Claghorn from The Fred Allen Show.

Foghorn is a blustery character who is constantly fighting the barnyard dog in a Coyote-Roadrunner relationship. He also has to outwit a tiny boy chicken hawk and babysit Egghead Jr. in order to woo Miss Prissy.

I loved how he would say, “I say, I say, I say…”

For the 2016 Chinese New Year, go to A Little Monkey Business: Chinese New Year

For the 2015 post, go to Well I Feel Sheepish: Chinese New Year

For the 2014 post, go to A Horse’s Tale: Chinese New Year

For the 2013 list, go to Snakes on a Post: Chinese New Year