Lunch....Dahl, carrot salad with black mustard seed and lemon vinaigrette, lamb meatballs.

2-14-2015 a gift from my budding travel agent Kyla Richards....

Thanks Kyla, I had fun baking them. I appreciate the food experience💜. They are delicious.

"Taking Tea"

Tapenade contributor Mary Ardington is spending two months in northern England and Scotland. There's some snow on the ground, freezing temperatures and a wind chill that makes the custom of "taking tea" all the more attractive. Long walks on the moors and the highlands lead to a good appetite too. 

Here's a sample of some of Mary's best tea breaks shared with Tapenade followers.

This lovely tea was served by the men of the Skelton family. In Yorkshire, this may be considered "tea", that to us should be an early dinner. In some areas of England a setting like this may be part of "high tea", a meal that would be served between 2:00 and 5:00 p.m. to hold one over for a full meal at 8:00 or 9:00 p.m.

Indoor and outdoor tea opportunities abound. We can even spot a coffee here, often popular in England to day after the morning tea has been drunk. This scene depicts "low tea", a drink and a light snack. We have to guess what was enjoyed here.

Traditional cakes or fancy cakes such as this may be featured with afternoon teas. This beauty is credited to Julie Skelton. 

And for the American traveling abroad, a highlight of taking tea is often a freshly baked scone with clotted cream and strawberry jam. Some opt for the lovely buttered tea cake or crumpet, but Tapenade editors will go for the jam and clotted cream anytime the trolley passes by.

Take tea......take a pause, enjoy the ritual. Make an occasion of this simple and beloved custom of the United Kingdom. 

Dahl.....yellow lentils.