Monday, March 8, 2010

Winter on the Calendar, Springtime in My Heart

People, and dogs, went without their winter coats at the park. The first picnic lunches were had. The playgrounds were packed. Sleds were left at home. Robins were spotted. Spring is indeed coming.

Snowdrops peeking out of the ground at my parents house.



No Alice in Wonderland movie for me...yet. But I did have a tea party for two: me and my mother, at Harmony Tea Room in Westwood, NJ.



I had the Singulari tea special: soup or salad with a pot of tea, $8.95.

My black tea: Icewine, with notes of pear, and a touch of berry and caramel.

African chickpea soup. This was so good. The ingredients, simple and wholesome: chickpeas, diced tomatoes, peanut butter, fresh spinach and a hint of cayenne pepper. Make it at home.


Tea time, and warmer seasons, were on my mind when thrifting at the C.A.T.S. Resale Shop. Hydrangea cake plate, $6, cheerful blue coffee mugs, 50 cents each, and blueberry print tea pot, $3. One of the mugs has a crack on it, so I'll repurpose it as a planter.

My usual weekday breakfast fare is something like Trader Joe's organic corn flakes with almond 'milk', so on the weekends, something special: vegetarian zucchini bread from Old Hook Farm with fresh fruit for Sunday breakfast. Veganize zucchini bread at home. I thrifted the daisy plates (six for $3), from Westwood's Our Thrift Shop, which benefits a local art school.

I couldn't resist a bunch of daffodils, $1.49, from Trader Joe's. Perfect in a lovely Irish vase.

Happy (Soon-to-Be) Spring!

6 comments:

Ted Teodoro said...

Yesterday, the wifey, the doggie, and I made our first trip of the year to Lambertville yesterday. We had lunch outdoors, and it was nice sitting on the banks of the Delaware River, under the sun, with little Fidelma looking out and daydreamin...I recommend the restaurant at the converted railway station in Lambertville although not vegan.

Catherine said...

Someone recommended Lambertville to me years ago and I still have yet to make it there. This sounds like a lovely day trip. Being in New York City during the week, one needs such escapes to enjoy the quieter life.

Unknown said...

That cake plate is so lovely! I've been meaning to check out that tearoom, too, since I read about it in Edible New Jersey a few weeks ago.

Catherine said...

Thanks for the comment, Beautiful. I don't have a cake plate, and couldn't resist picking up such a pretty one to benefit my favorite charitable store.

That's where I read about Harmony too from a copy I picked up at Old Hook Farm. It was my first time there. Reservations recommended since it's small. I went on Sunday when the proprietor did the cooking and waitressing. I'd go on a Saturday instead when they have help. But it was perfectly lovely presentation and great food.

Glutenfreebay.com said...

(I mean, I'd love to think I'm beautiful, but... well...)

Glutenfreebay.com said...

How weird, I have no idea why that comment came thru as from "Beautiful"... it's from me :)