Resuming Blogging

Hello Friends in Blogland,

I'm back after my brief blogging break.  My hubby and I were in Chelsea, MI last week Tuesday thru Friday babysitting our three youngest grandchildren while our son and daughter-in-law went on a little get-away.

When I returned home I hit the ground running.  So many fun and exciting things have transpired that I'm anxious to blog about.   

The first exciting activity I want to share is the television tea program I briefly mentioned in my February 12th blog post.  It was filmed yesterday at WBRW TV.

It coincided with the worst winter storm we've had so far this year, and I joked about not knowing which was more nerve-wracking - the drive to and from the station, or the filming of the program!

The set crew worked diligently the day before the filming to produce a mock living room and dining room setting.  This is what I saw when I entered the filming studio.

Since one segment of the program was about Afternoon Tea Downton Abbey Style I brought everything to set the dining room table - food as well as table accessories. The picture below shows the tablescape before we began filming. Obviously my electric kettle and other props in the back right corner were removed from the table, and the napkin in the lower left corner was placed on the plate to match the other one.  Details, details! ;-)

The filming began around 10:30 a.m. and we finished around 1:30 p.m.   It was a wonderful experience - fun and jitters all mixed together.  I was definitely a novice since this was my first time being filmed in a television program.  I found it totally different from my speaking presentations. Just knowing every movement and word spoken was being filmed was a bit unsettling, but Tara, the producer, said editing works wonders, and she promised to make me look good! ;-)  When I saw the station photographs I immediately thought of my mother. Whenever she saw photos of herself she'd jokingly say, "I don't like it, it looks just like me!" I had a similar reaction, but... it is what it is! ;-)  

[Photos courtesy of WBRW]

Below is Nannette [right], the lovely lady who interviewed me.  She is a tea lover herself, so we had an instant camaraderie. 

From the living room segment we moved to the dining room segment.  Initially I had hoped the program could be called Afternoon Tea Downton Abbey Style, but because of copyright laws that wasn't feasible, so the program will be called Afternoon Tea with Phyllis. We were, however, able to mention Downton Abbey.  Below, Nanette and I were chatting between a filming break while the cameramen took some close-up tablescape photos.

~ I think the cameras were rolling in the photo below. ~

I'm not certain when the program will air, but they will send me a link to the program on their website, which I'll be able to post on my blog for anyone interested in viewing it.

After we finished filming, we had a literal tea party with the food and tea I brought. This was a fun and relaxing time.  I am SO grateful to WBRW for the privilege and opportunity of doing this show.  It's an experience I'll always look back on with fondness.

The coconut/white chocolate scones I took are a recipe I created myself.  Nannette and Tara both asked about the recipe, so I decided to share the recipe again on my blog. [I didn't recall posting it back in July 2014.]

Coconut/White Chocolate Scones

2 cups all purpose flour

1/4 cup sugar

1 Tablespoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

6 Tablespoons cold, unsalted butter

1/2 cup whipping cream [unwhipped]

1/4 cup coconut milk

1/3 cup finely shredded coconut

1 teaspoon coconut extract

1 cup white chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Combine first four ingredients in bowl.  Cut in butter with pastry blender until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.  Add remaining ingredients stirring just until mixture holds together.  Form into ball and wrap in Saran Wrap and let rest in refrigerator for at least 15 minutes.  Turn dough onto light floured surface [I roll between two pieces of parchment paper] and roll into 1/2 inch circle.  Cut with a round three-inch biscuit cutter.  Place on a parchment lined cookie sheet.  Brush tops with an egg wash [1 egg and 1 Tablespoon water]. Sprinkle with coarse sugar, and bake for 20-25 minutes until golden brown.  Enjoy!