Volume 54, Issue 1 July, 2008

What is it About Teapots Anyway?

It seems everyone has a story about teapots or knows someone who has a collection of them. It doesn't matter if you have one, just by accident, or great Aunt Mary left you a wonderful collection – the intrigue is there. You may not even like tea at all, yet, owning at least one teapot seems essential, like owning a mixing bowl. Teapots rise up from the nether age of consciousness. Can you remember a time when you didn't know what one was? How old were you when you first learned the little song: “I'm a little teapot short n'stout”? (I don't remember ever learning a song about a coffee pot?!!?). Many of us had little toy tea sets to serve imaginary tea to our dolls and teddy bears.

For some reason the presence of a teapot is comforting which may be the reason more people collect teapots than collect anything else. Teapots also have a sense of humor. Though both coffee and tea became popular drinks in Europe at about the same time, in the mid 17 th century -both had to be brewed, both were drunk hot, and both were served in pots. But from the outset, strange shapes and decorations were confined almost completely to teapots – coffee has never been a laughing matter. Potters turned out not only teapots in which to brew tea, but also teapots that were too delicate and too complicated to brew tea – teapots meant only for display – to be admired, collected and treasured. Teapots became a “canvas” for artists around the world that were (and are still) beautiful, intricate, exquisitely formed and decorated. These teapots transcend function and delighted their owners, who set them lovingly and proudly on a shelf – or if invited into service are done with pomp and circumstance.



INNKEEPER'S TIDBIT – Tea Etiquette

Never serve guests cups of tea with teabags dangling from them. It's a bit like offering guests at a sit-down dinner party a meal on paper plates with plastic utensils. Whether preparing the tea from loose leaves or with teabags, serve it from a beautiful teapot that councils the string teabag or tea balls and diffuser. If you are pouring the tea for a guest, always pick up the saucer, not just the teacup.

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT - Sea Shore Bath Product Line - Discontinuing

We want let you know that the BB Amenities Sea Shore line pictured below is being discontinued by our manufacturer. We have a limited supply. We still have some inventory available as listed below.  


Remaining inventory in units of 10 (this is from electronic inventory, physical count could very slightly)

RECIPES – Tasty Summer Cookies that “Weather” a Warm Summer Day

Jam Cookies – yields 3.5 to 4 dozen cookies
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
½ cup sugar
1 egg yolk
½ teaspoon almond or vanilla extract
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/3 cup raspberry and/or apricot jam

1. In a medium bowl beat the butter and sugar at medium speed until they are light and fluffy. Beat in the egg yolk and extract. With the mixer at low speed, gradually beat in the flour until well blended. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours.
2. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Roll the chilled dough into 1-inch balls. Place them 2 inches apart on unbuttered baking sheet.
3. Indent the centers of each ball slightly with your thumb. Then place a rounded ¼ teaspoon measuring spoon of the jam into each depression. Pinch together any split edges on the cookies to hold in the jam.
4. Bake the cookies for 15 minutes or until they are golden. Cool on wire racks and serve. (Or store flat in sealed container.)

Dream Cookies – yields 4 dozen cookies
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
¾ cup sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
23 blanched whole almonds, halved lengthwise

1.   In a medium bowl, sift together the flour and baking powder. Set aside
2. In the medium bowl of an electric mixer, beat the butter, sugar, and vanilla t medium speed until the mixture is light and fluffy, scraping the sides of the bowl often. Add the dry ingredients to the creamed mixture until it is blended and smooth. Cover the dough with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour.
3. Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F. Roll the chilled dough into 1-inch balls. Place them 2 1.2 inches apart on unbuttered baking sheets. Gently press an almond flat in the top of each ball.
4. Bake the cookies for 25 minutes, or until they turn a very pale golden color. The cookies will be very light and crisp. Cool them on wire racks. Serve the cookies or store them in an airtight container.

Meringue Kisses – yields 5 dozen kisses
(These are not recommended in summer months if you are in a humid region as I am!)
4 egg whites, at room temperature 1/8 teaspoon cream of tartar
1 cup sugar

1. Preheat the oven to 225 degrees F and butter 2 baking sheets. Line each baking sheet with parchment or wax paper and butter well.
2. In the small bowl of an electric mixer, beat the egg whites at high speed until they are frothy. Add the cream of tartar. Continue beating at high speed and add the sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, beating for 20 seconds after each addition for the first 1.2 cup. For the second ½ cup, beat the meringue for 10 to 15 seconds after each tablespoon of sugar. Total beating time will be about 10 minutes. At which point the meringue should be stiff, smooth, and glossy.
3. Spoon the meringue into a large pastry bag fitted with a large star tip. Pipe swirled, peaked “kiss” shapes onto the baking sheets, leaving about 1 inch between each.
4. Bake the meringues for 60 minutes, or until they are slightly golden. Turn the oven off, but do not open the door. Let the meringue kisses stand in the turned-off oven for 1 hour. Serve right away, or store in an airtight container.

This assortment of cookies look beautiful served on a white platter or plate (or a light, solid color like yellow, pink, pale green or pale blue) with a layer of green (eatable) leaves atop the plate, under the cookies. Arrange Apricot jam cookies, Raspberry jam cookies, Dream Cookies and Meringue kisses, staggering colors and textures

Customizing Bath Amenities with Your Logo

Personalize your bath amenities with a customized label just for your own Inn or Country Club. BB Amenities will put your name and logo on all amenities with a minimum order of only 200 pieces (20 units). We can do color or black and white. Send us your logo and we will send you a custom sample label before you order. This is the ultimate in personalization and communication to your guests. BB Amenities looks forward to serving you for all your bath and guest room amenities. If there is something we do not presently offer, we will be happy to try and source it for you.

BB AMENITIES NEWSLETTER

BB Amenities supplies that special touch your guest love so much! Each month BB Amenities will publish a new Newsletter with ideas and shared ideas from other B and B and small inn proprietors. If you have ideas to share please send them to bbamenities@entouch.net. Thank you.

BB Amenities (281)-693-6046

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