Shelley Summer Glory at Lunch

Welcome Tea Friends and new readers, 

Lately I've been doing a bit more entertaining than usual.  I enjoy the energy of parties. The warm summer weather lends itself to casual get togethers by our pool.  
On Saturday I had two friends over for a casual lunch and a swim.
Originally we were going to meet late morning and I planned to serve tea with some cookies and pastries, but the time changed to two o'clock so my menu had to change. Instead of hot tea, we drank iced tea and the table setting became a bit more laid back.

The initial table setting included Royal Albert Blossom Time series teacups along with my featured teacup which sums up the gardening spirit of summer for me...

Summer Glory by Shelley
Cambridge Shape

Pattern  13456

Blue, white and pink hydrangeas make up this chintz pattern on a pale pink background. The word "chintz" comes from the Sanskrit word "chitra" meaning bright or variegated. 

It is my first and only chintz teacup and pink one at that. I found it on ebay for a reasonable price.

The backstamp indicates it was produced from 1940-1966 but most likely in the 1950s.
Chintz patterned teacups were best sellers for Shelley in the 1950s. Other Shelley chintz patterns are Rock Garden, Primrose Chintz, Melody and Maytime. Summer Glory comes in other colors as well.

While Summer Glory and the other teacups were interchanged for iced tea glasses, the following was served:

Trader Joe's Irish Breakfast iced tea

Havarti Cheese Tray with Fig Preserves & Sliced Baguette
Couscous with Sauteed Mahi Mahi & Summer Vegetables
Berry Salad
Fudge Crinkle Cookies

Couscous with shaved Parmesan

Fudge Crinkle Cookies

I made these cookies last Christmas and they were well received. I found the recipe online and someone posted that the cookies were "embarrassingly simple" to make.  I agree, but I'm not complaining. This is an easy recipe when time is tight.

This recipe is based on an old Betty Crocker one I found here. After reading others' comments on the site, I made some adjustments.

Ingredients:

1 box of Betty Crocker super moist Devil's Food Cake mix

1/2 cup of vegetable oil

2 large eggs

Powdered sugar

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Stir (by hand) cake mix, vegetable oil and eggs until dough forms

Dust hands with powdered sugar and form dough into 1 inch balls.

Roll balls into sugar and place on a cookie sheet/s.

Refrigerate for ten minutes. (This helps to give the cookies the crinkle look and not absorb the sugar.)

Place or replace cookies two inches apart on a cookie sheet and bake for 10-11 minutes or until the center is just set.

Remove cookies from pan after one minute and cool on wire racks.

Yields about 30 cookies

Hope your week brings you tea and happiness!
Teacup Tales will take a break the following week and then return with a tearoom review.
~Nora