Forty Shades of Green Teacup Party and Cake

Thank you for joining me today as we continue to "pre-celebrate" St. Patrick's Day with a Forty Shades of Green Teacup Party. 
Forty Shades of Green is a common phrase used to describe the fields and landscape of Ireland. When you fly over parts of Ireland, you see a patchwork of beautiful green squares of land. Johnny Cash is the mastermind behind this phrase, and it was the title of his 1961 hit. He was so inspired after a trip to Ireland that he penned the lyrics to the song.

(image from internet: free clip art)

Here is your teacup which will be today's featured teacup. Our forty shades of green tea party will begin with my one and only green teacup.

It is a beautiful mint green Paragon bone china teacup that I inherited from another great aunt. My interest in collecting more Paragon teacups has peaked. I think their patterns are very classic. I thought this was the perfect teacup for St. Patrick's Day as well as welcoming spring with its daisy design.

I'm drawn to teacups that have designs inside the cup. 

I like that the saucer also has the same design.

Paragon back stamp: 1939-1949

(image from barrytea.ie)

Even though it is a "green party," we will drink Barry's Tea which is what my family in Ireland drinks on a daily basis with a generous helping of milk. It is a very strong Assam black tea that can be purchased at British goods stores and Cost Plus World Market. It accounts for 40% of tea sales in Ireland and began in 1901 in Cork.

When drinking a strong tea, I like to serve mild flavored sweets and savories. I found this cake recipe below online and thought it would pair well with Barry's Tea. I don't think there is anything remotely Irish about this cake, but it certainly was a winner in my household.

Irish Tea Cake fresh out of the oven

Next time I will serve the cake with fresh fruit.


Irish Tea Cake Recipe
from Ireland Family Vacations

1/2 cup of butter, softened

1 cup of white sugar

2 eggs

1 1/2 teaspoons of vanilla extract

1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons of baking powder

1/2 teaspoon of salt

1/2 cup milk

1/4 cup confectioners' sugar for dusting

 Preheat oven to 350 degrees (175 degrees C) and grease and flour a 9 inch round pan.

In a medium bowl cream sugar and butter until light and fluffy.

Beat in the eggs one at a time, stir in vanilla extract

Combine the baking powder, salt and flour; stir into the batter alternating with milk

If the batter is too stiff, a tablespoon or two of milk may be added.

Spread the batter evenly into the prepared pan.

Bake for 30-35 minutes in the preheated oven, until a toothpick comes out clean.

Cool in pan on wire rack, then turn out onto a serving plate.

Dust with confectioners' sugar right before serving.


I look forward to celebrating St. Patrick's Day with you next week!  ~Nora