“To have some tea is one thing;
to have tea with a creatively set table, candles, music and a beautiful book is quite another.
A cup of tea may temporarily satisfy the palate,
but a tea time can satisfy the soul if you take the time to unlock the beauty that is possible there.”
~Sally Clarkson
In a busy home, filled with energetic mornings of {messy} homeschooling and exciting studies and afternoons filled with music lessons, laundry, cooking, life, along with balancing the strange, unpredictable schedule of a funeral director’s wife (such interesting tales, let me tell you!), quiet time is scarce.
And that’s fine. Really.
The Lord has been working on my heart for a few years now. And I am okay with the fact that the shape and appearance of ‘me time’ has changed over the years. In fact, I don’t yearn for ‘me time’, I don’t crave to go out and socialize, or shop in the malls … but I often do crave a moment or two of quiet in my home.
I am a firm believer in the fact that families need quiet time. Days, okay, hours … or yes, I would just settle for minutes of quiet, still moments of relaxing.
One way our little family relaxes is with our tradition of Pajamas on Sunday. After church on Sundays, it’s p.j. time. Abby usually has to to work directly after church on Sundays so we rarely do any entertaining or hosting or going out so. The girls and I come home, take off the Sunday clothes and on jump into jammies. A whole afternoon of playing, read, quiet, nothingness on comfies. I love it. And I know the girls do too.
Another way I LOVE to unwind during the week is with a tea break!
A few years ago, I tried to start up tea time in our house. 3 p.m every week day. Or at least, as many days as possible. I would stop what I was doing, sit with a cup of tea and either read or just watch the girls play. The girls would have a treat, as well. The whole idea crumbled a while back … but it wasn’t long into the homeschooling year before I was desiring to start up the tea time routine again.
So we have started to make it a routine again: Tea time. 3 p.m. daily. Time for me to read. Time for the girls to sit quietly with me and read or they can go play with their favorite toys. One or two of the babies are usually napping. And if not, it gives me a chance to sit and purposefully snuggle whoever may be attempting to crawl into my lap or need my attention.
{Oh, how I love the snuggles!}
And I’ll admit it. I use a teacup. I promise you, tea tastes better in a teacup. And if there are flowers nearby, I will gather them and fluff them up into a jar or vase. Life is not always beautiful. I like to add a little pretty to my day.
But …. one thing tea time needs is a good tea biscuit recipe!
I started looking for a mix I could make ahead of time (love homemade mixes!) and could just whip up when it was time for tea or for dinner if needed. If you haven’t already seen her blog, head over to Heart, Hands, Home because her list of homemade mixes are fantastic! The biscuit mix is so fabulous to have on hand for short notice!
To make your mix:
20 cups of flour {sounds like a lot but trust me, you will use all your mix quickly!}
4 cups of buttermilk powder
3/4 C. baking powder
2 Tbsp. salt
1 Tbsp. cream of tartar
5 cups of vegetable shortening
In a large bowl, sift together the dry ingredients. Cut in shortening until mixture resembles cornmeal in texture.
Store in airtight container.
For your biscuits …
Measure:
3 C. quick mix
3/4 C. milk
Stir together until blended.
Drop dough by spoonfuls onto baking sheet. Bake in 450 degree oven for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown.
I love that it takes no time at all for fresh tea biscuits!
Time to put the kettle on …
by Gigi
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