Here’s my very own House of Creativity, all decked out for Valentine’s Day! Wouldn’t it be great if I could make smoke rings in the shape of white hearts come from the chimney? (Someone should invent a Valentine heart chimney insert!). Right now, snow is pouring down outside my window, big heavy flakes, a little bit heart-shaped, filling the sky . . . Of course, there is perfect music for this . . .
♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
See my windows full of hearts? Our house is at the end of a long street; people come to a stop sign here and face my house, just like this. Because of all the one-way streets, pretty soon everyone has to pass this stop sign in order to get where they’re going on this island. ♥ I feel a certain responsibility to provide a some entertainment for people when they get here; it’s perfect for the short attention span! So I decorated my windows with leftover spray snow from Christmas. I made heart templates, little and big, from a piece of clear acetate. I’ve also made templates from cardboard, but they get a little soggy after about the twentieth heart! You could probably do it all faster with heart doilies!
We got a Valentine from a very special person yesterday! She knows who she is! (Thank you 1000 times ♥) Here it is, on our kitchen wall this morning, before the sun came up. This will be here from now on, every Valentine’s Day, forever! ♥ I love it!
What, I asked myself, can I give the girls this snowy Saturday that has it All? It needs to be sweet and Valentiney, it needs to include chocolate (yes, of course it does), it needs to be delicious enough to give away to someone they love, but simple enough so it’s not a lifetime in the kitchen; it needs to look good on a tea table; it needs to make the kitchen smell good; and it would be very handy if the ingredients were in my cupboard NOW. I thought about my chewy, bendy chocolaty Brownies (so here’s the recipe for those, particularly appreciated by kids, in case you are so inclined ♥) but I was looking for the true Valentine coup de grace, I wanted something heart-shaped. And, so, Voila!
ORANGE and CHOCOLATE CHIP TEA BISCUITS!
I love the flavor of orange with chocolate . . . this is an easy-to-make heart-shaped tea biscuit with melty chocolate chips, the perfect little thing to put on a saucer next to a cup of tea.
Here’s how it’s done; a concise recipe will be waiting for you at the bottom of this post, (if you make it through this whole thing 🙂 and actually, that’s not all that’s waiting for you at the bottom!)
Preheat the oven to 400°; put softened unsalted butter and cream cheese into a deep bowl . . .
Add grated orange zest (P.S. I hope you have one of these wonderful zesters! They’re like razor blades you drag lightly across the fruit, easy, painlessly, gathering the zest in the tray; then pop into your recipe! Best new invention since a MacBook Pro!)
Excuse me, time out: Water came to a boil, need to stop and fill my cup!
OK, toss the orangy goodness into the bowl . . .
Use a hand mixer to beat everything together until smooth . . . mmm, cream cheese, butter and orange . . .
Scrape down the batter in the bowl . . .
Add sour cream for richness and tender crumb. BTW, Don’t you think that when the world lost Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald that an overall mistake was made? Don’t you want to say, please, put them back? They left us music divine.
♥ H E A V E N ♥
Stir in two tablespoons of granulated sugar . . .
Gradually beat in a little flour until well blended . . . Oh-oh, check out the top of the refrigerator, we have company . . .
Speaking of Valentine’s! ♥ ♥ ♥
More beating of the flour . . .
Add mini chocolate chips — if you like walnuts, which I do, you can add them here too . . . which I would if we hadn’t run out! Almost had all the ingredients; but trust me, with them or without them, the word is Y U M.
Stir well, my little darlings . . .
Put a heaping tsp. of dough into each cup of an ungreased miniature muffin pan (I took this photo to show you what a heaping tsp. looks like) . . . I used my black-iron heart muffin pan, which I’ve had for a hundred years — I’ve truly gotten my money’s worth out of it! When it’s not in use, it makes my pantry wall look cute by hanging there. I know a secret about this muffin pan, I’ll tell you at the end of this post!
You want to fill the cups completely down into the little points, around the curved tops, so you have good shapes, and level the surface of the dough.
And bake 15-17 minutes until light brown . . .
Now look who showed up . . . Girl Kitty! Speaking of heaven!
We are complete: we have Beauty on the table, Beast is on the fridge, biscuits are in the oven, and all’s right with the world.
♥ ♥ ♥
Have a basket ready, line it with a clean tea towel . . . pop the biscuits right out of the pan into the basket, you don’t have to let them cool first.
Beautiful and delicious, they can bake as you put on the tea water, and be done by the time the tea has steeped . . . the orange is what you smell first, the chocolate melts on your tongue, and you are happy. ♥
I’m only tellin’ it how it is.
I tried them with this delicious new honey I put on everything these days (it came from Door County by the way, Pat, and all you others who know about and love that neck of the woods — you have the market cornered when it comes to butter burgers and honey!) — but I have to say, although it was delicious, it was gilding the lily; these tea biscuits are good just as they are, straight from the oven; you don’t need butter, you don’t need jam or syrup; you need nothing more. If you are looking for additional cuteness, and who isn’t, you can always sift over a little powdered sugar!
Serve one of these tea biscuits next to a cup of breakfast tea; put them in a basket for a tea party; or if you have a fun Valentine’s tin — they are a wonderful surprise, arranged on a lace doily and dropped by a friend’s house.
And, the secret I had about this muffin pan? Are you ready? OK, this pan, along with the heart-shaped Emma Bridgewater tin in the picture above — they are my Valentine gift to one of you. We’re having another drawing, and even though every one of you is totally deserving, one lucky girl is going to walk away with these two memories of Valentine’s Day 2012! Just leave a comment below (click on the tiny gray letters that say “comment” and you’ll be entered! I figure if I do this often enough and long enough, sooner or later, every one of you will win something with love from the heart of the home and me! That’s my plan.
♥ ♥ ♥
SATURDAY MORNING MARTHA’S VINEYARD
XXXXXOOOOO
Have you heard Paul McCartney’s new Valentine song? Go get a tissue, this is wonderful. I hear love for his new wife in this song, but I think I hear a bit of yearning for Linda too. ♥ Sad. 🙁 But Beautiful.
Bye for now girls . . . have a wonderful weekend!
ORANGE & CHOCOLATE CHIP TEA BISCUITS
- 1/4 c. unsalted butter, softened
- 1 – 3oz. pkg. cream cheese, softened
- grated zest of one orange
- 1/2 c. sour cream
- 2 Tbsp. granulated sugar
- 1 c. self-rising flour
- 1/3 c. mini semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1/4 c. chopped walnuts (opt.)
Preheat oven to 400°. In a deep, medium-sized bowl, using a hand mixer on slow speed, beat together butter, cream cheese, and zest until smooth. Scrape down the bowl, add sour cream and sugar and beat well. Gradually beat in flour until well blended. Stir in chocolate chips. Put a heaping tsp. of dough in each cup of an ungreased miniature muffin tin (heart-shaped if you have it, but just as delicious if it’s round), filling the space completely and leveling the surface of the dough. Bake 15-17 minutes until light brown. Pop biscuits out into a basket lined with a tea towel … cover to keep warm. Can be reheated. Makes a dozen tea biscuits. Make these for you and someone you love. ♥
Hi — it really was fun having Paul McC. (see, his last name is like mine!!) sing his Valentine song to all of us on the Grammy’s last night. Wonder if MY McC honey will sing to me? Anyway, I just can’t get enough of your kitties! Wish I lived closer so I could kitty-sit for you. Quite cold here in Indiana today, making for a good baking day — hmmm, chocolate chip biscuits or brownies? Such tough decisions in life. Thanks for your recipes, Susan!
Hi, I hope I’m not too late to submit my comments. I love the month of February…there is hope that we are getting to the end of winter, the days are getting longer, Valentine’s Day happens, Ground Hog Day…and my birthday is in February. I love your blog, when I sign on to my computer each morning, your blog is one of the first things I look at! Oh and I have a black and white kitty too, his name is Sylvester, he is a good boy.
Happy Birthday Rita!
Happy Pre-Valentine’s Day Susan!
I took off from work for Valentine’s Day, I love it soooo much! And I know you do too. You have heart showing through each and every one of your posts.
We Girlfriends are so very blessed.
I would love to win the heart pan, but more than that, I wish you and Joe the Happiest of Valentine’s Day. And wet nose kisses from Daisy to Girl Kitty and Trouble – oh, I mean Jack!
Hi! wow…I can almost smell the biscuits! oh wait…yes, I CAN smell them…!!
I would so love to win the muffin pan and tin! sigh….
I have to be content to live vicariously thru your blog-LOL
love the cats btw-they are too cute for words!
have a wonderful week!
love, Rae
Susan!
Made the bisquits!! Heaven. Chocolate and orange is divine, I’d forgotten how good. Cup of tea, sunny window, good book (Gail Godwin) and bunny at my feet.
Yes, heaven…
June in Vermont:)
All good, but Bunny wins!
Ahha — another Gail Godwin fan? Which Godwin were you reading? I have four on my list to read this year — one is a reread Evenings at Five and the others are ones I’ve not yet read. Happy cozy reading with tea and treats and a great author.
What are the books about–mysteries, travel, romance, etc.? Thanks! 🙂
This is my first time on the blog and I just want to say how much I love all your things, Susan. I have your books and I use the recipes. The corn pudding was a big hit at our annual picnic and hayride last October. I love your artwork and use it in cardmaking and scrapbooking. Keep doing what you’re doing. We are having our first real snow today and I don’t get quite as excited about it as you do, I prefer to stay in by the fireplace! I really love it when you show pictures of where you live and the ferry rides, etc. I can imagine myself being there. I plan to make the orange chocolate tea biscuits as soon as I get some chocolate chips. They sound delicious. from Sheila in southeast Kansas
Happy Valentine’s Day, Susan. Thank you for your love and generosity. Jack is making like cats. If I could get one just like him, I’d do it!
Jack is making ME like cats.
You should have one. Kittens roll around in your hands like funny little furry balls. They look at you like you are the smartest person in the world, and potty training is accomplished by just showing them the cat box, that’s all, just show it and you are done. You will love love love it!
Stroll through a shelter, look at the cats there, I promise, they are all heaven in their own way.
That’s why I am banned from shelters by hubby~ only it’s puppies & dogs for me~ I cannot leave without one!
Love reading your blog! The biscuits recipe sounds wonderful. I’m making my shopping list right now. There is snow coming this afternoon and I plan on having these come out of the oven when my son comes home from school. I love to surprise him when he comes home “starving” (he’s 13). Happy Valentine’s Day!!
Ha ha, he’s always starving at 13!
Good morning Susan! I made you Valentine biscuts yesterday…sooo delicious! What a perfect sunday morning treat. Thank you for spreading such joy and kindness, I really believe it’s contagious!
Happy Valentine’s to you and all in your home.
Happy Valentine’s Day, Susan!
It is one of my favorite holidays… I love all things with hearts! Love those kitties! We are going to get some snow here in Illinois today. I love snow! We haven’t had much this winter, so we are excited. Have a great day tomorrow!
Happy Valentine’s Day to you and Joe! I would love to win the Emma Bridgewater tin and the heart-shaped muffin pan. The muffin recipe sounds divine. Looking forward to trying it!
Everything about this post caught my eye … but especially the Door County honey … where my “honey” and I spent our “honey”moon 25 years ago! As I was reading the recipe I was thinking “where I could get a cute heart pan like that” to make scones for our 20th Annual Tea Party this year?! 🙂 We began our tea parties on Valentine’s Day … such a fun time to celebrate. Life is FULL of celebrations. One happening right now in our state is Arizona’s 100th birthday tomorrow ….the 48th state admitted to the union on 2/14/12. With a grateful heart and ♥ to you and yours on Valentine’s Day!
Valentine’s Day is my favorite holiday—love RED, glamour, romance, flowers,chocolate, sweet sentiments, doilies, decorations. Your newsy notes are like Valentine’s Day every day! I work at a beautiful tea room in Carefree, AZ and it’s so pretty and Valentiney every day. Also, Feb 14 is AZ statehood day and this year is the 100th year! Have loved your illustrations for years—thank you for sharing your talent in such beautiful motifs and heart-warming scenes!
Thank you for telling about the Gladys Taber newsletter. A perfect Valentine gift for my mom!
The tea biscuits sound delicious.
So nice to see a video of Girl Kitty and Jack.
Happy Valentine’s Day to you, Joe and the kitties.
Susan, thank you for the photos … and the recipe … and the music … and the inspiration! I think you are a SWEET HEART! Thanks for loving us! xo
Love your friendly blogs — just like a letter from family. I’m a kitty and snow lover too. Hearts and rainbows are two of my favorite things and when I saw the muffin pan, I fell in love again. Happy snow days to you.
Hi Susan! I love your heart pan! I am part of a women’s bible study at my church and on occasion I will make scones for them. They absolutely love them but how fun would it be to make them in the shape of hearts?! I also have two young girls, 6 & 9, who would also get a kick out of them. Thanks for your blog and for letting us all have a glimpse into your world. You are a true inspiration!
Thank you so much Jen!
How my kids and I would adore that heart shaped pan. Thanks for the scone recipe. Hope I win.
“Love is in the air.” Amazing muffin recipe–thank you! This is my first post, and I just thought I’d share a little story: This past Saturday afternoon, I had to go over to my chruch to help set up for our Valentine’s Dinner Dance. I really didn’t want to go that evening (I’m a single lady among many couples), but as I left the hall (it was snowing big flakes here, too), and closed my car door, I caught a glimpse of something, so I opened it right back up, and behold, there was a heart shaped rock sitting right next to me sticking out of the dirt on the ground. I just reached out and picked it up. To me, it was surely a gift from God above –reminding me that He loves me even more than a Valentine and is my solid rock! I laughed out loud at the joy it brought me, and had so much fun at the dance later that evening. Wouldn’t you know, I found another heart shaped rock this morning on my walk to work (I’m blessed to live a mile and a half from work, and when I get my lazy self together and decide to walk, I get to walk by a beautiful lake). God is good, and Happy Valentine’s Day to all the single Girlfriends. You are loved more than you know…. 🙂
How wonderful! Happy Valentine’s Day!
The love you share warms ALL our hearts! Happy Valentine’s Day!!!
Loved the Paul McCartney Valentine….Happy Valentines Day to you….Ditto on the comment on Jack…..If I knew where you lived I would love to just pet him once in awhile….can;t wait to try the recipe….sent it to all my best girlfriends…I wait by my computer for each Blog with great anticipation….You are the brightest jewel in my heanvenly tiara….
Hi Susan,
I love your idea about decorating the house at the end of the street. What a treat for your neighbors to see. However, if it were me, I’d want a valentiney-red front door! (of course I’d say that–I live in a purple house!). I’m so glad I lucked-onto your blog. It’s like a warm hug in my email box. I wish you a very happy Valentine’s Day, which I know will come true, because you are very LOVED.
happy valentine’s day, susan! Thanks for your lovely blog and the opportunity to win the heart pan.
Happy Valentines month to you!
Susan,
Hey there. Are you doin good? I came across the interview that you did with, I think it was called something like “not exactly June Cleaver?” In that interview, you talked about your time in your first home on MV. Your testimony really resinated with me, and I am really interested in the part where you talk of meditating and discovering what was always right there. I am sure there are different types of meidation practices out there. Can you give a tip or resource for a beginner? BTW: Your hair looks really cute in a pic I saw wearing a headband. Thank you!
-T
I’ll have to tell about that; it was very life changing, some of it is in my Girlfriends Book, and I’ll tell more of it soon!
Happy Valentines Eve from the Bay Area!
I am going out today with a best friend to plan our first annual Tea Party. Don’t think that the Navel oranges from my tree (best in town too, not to brag!!) will last until then for the scone recipe above but these will be put on the menu. Saw it and bookmarked it before I even saw your giveaway.
So loving your Tuxedo cats. Heartbroken, lost my dearest “Hello Kitty” white cat last year (a stray who loved us for 17 years in her own “special” way) and have been looking for a Tuxedo kitten to mend my familys’ hearts. ♥♥♥
So sorry, hard to lose a kitty! You could get a baby tomorrow and call it Valentine? xoxo
Loooove both of these! …How fun to receive these Valentine’s goodies. Happy Valentine’s Day to you =)…Linda
The biscuits look delicious! The heart pan makes them look even more delicious!
My first Valentine’s Day as a Retired Person! Yay I love it, plent of time to make sweets fo my sweets (and wouldn’t that heart-warming muffin tin just top things off). Now, with retiement, I can spend part of each day with a good cup of Earl Grey tea and your blog. And, always watching for pics of Girl Kitty and Jack. I just rescued my cat, Trudy and we are having great fun getting to know each other. Thanks for being here for all of your grilfreinds and Joe is a Valentine sweetheart for sharing you. Linda
Congratulations!!! How wonderful for you! How wonderful for Trudy too!
LOVED your blog about the heart shaped pan, tea biscuits and kitty pics! It brought happiness to my heart!
Wishing you a Valentine’s Day filled with heart-filled delights!
Thank you ‘Sweet Susan’ for sharing the love.
Enchantment
Whispering breezes sing me a song
gently whisper in my ear,
whispering words,blowing strong,
words that I alone ,may hear.
Embrace me with your melody
with songs that carry me away,
vowing,endless love for me
forever,and a day…
Happy,Happy Valentines Day Ladies!’One,and all!
Veronica
Beautiful Veronica, thank you!
Little t,
I’m blessed by your story. Your such a wonderful fragment of a magnificent light.
I needed some of that wondrous light from heaven. Shine brightly! Blessings.
Veronica
Door County honey—perfect! Hoping for more snow in Wisconsin to be able to get up there and snowshoe and eat at the White Gull! Cherry crumble is the best up there!
George the kitten is our V-day boy with his white heart on his belly–handed down from Ole to Jeffy to George.
Paulette: As is their cherry stuffed french toast, etc., etc.! 🙂 We love eating there!
When in Door County you must try Al Johnson’s in Sister Bay~ love the crepés and the goats on the roof! There is even a goat cam!
Yes, we eat there, too. Those “crepes” are otherwise know as “Swedish Pancakes” and are served with lingonberry sauce–and egg coffee! Yumm!!! 🙂
I don’t think there is a bad place to eat in Door County!
Do you ever get ice cream at the YumYum Tree?
Oh Susan, I just love your blog. With or without giveaways (though I’m always happy to enter one of your giveaways!) Thank you for sharing the music, the recipes and all the joyful pictures and stories. Happy Valentines Day!
Hello Susan! Thank you so much for the yummy recipe for Valentine’s Day!! I will be picking up the orange and chocolate chips at the grocery store to make them today. But, I hope they turn out okay with an ordinary plain muffin tin, maybe spray oiled first? Oh how adorable your heart tin looks!!!! My husband gave to me thirty years ago a heart shaped diamond in my engagement ring….ever since…I fancy everything hearts!!! Your snowy window hearts are the best! They look sugary! Happy Heart’s Day !!!!
Hi, Carilyn~
You really shouldn’t need any spray….I bet they’ll pop right out without it! And I think you’ll want to use more than a heaping tsp. of dough if you’re using a standard muffin tin. They don’t rise much so you might have a flat muffin unless you add a bit more to each cup. I used a mini muffin tin, filled each cup to level and this recipe made 16 mini muffins.
Thank you Debbie P. for the advice of using the mini tin, which I do have. Can’t wait to start baking!!!
I can’t believe you would part with the baking tin! Love, love, love!
Janet
Hi Susan! First, of all, Happy Valentine’s Day!!!!! I really enjoyed your post this morning….loved seeing how you decorated the windows of your home for all to see; I am sure it puts a smile on everyone’s face as they pass by!!!! :). I will be trying your tea biscuit/scone recipe for Valentines…they look wonderful! Valentine’s Day is one of my favorite days….along with our anniversary, another special day to show our love to our husbands! I love the Valentine card you showed…definitely a keeper forever! You may not want to take it down at all! Put me in for the drawing…I would love to make these scones in your heart shape pan; but if I don’t get drawn, I will just need to go find me a cute heart shaped pan of my own! :). Again, Happy Valentine’s Day! Enjoy the snow, your kitties, and your warm home!
Oh my, I’m so glad I discovered your blog – even if you don’t win your lovely giveaway (which of course I’d love to win 😉 …).
Thanks so much for sharing your recipe!
Of course I meant, if I don’t win…
It’s so difficult to concentrate with such a wonderful gift in mind 😉
haha!
ooo, almost 1500 comments? I would so love to own this. Love you Susan and your blog and all!
Love, love, love your Valentine surprises! Those biscuits look soooo yummy and their aroma will soon be wafting through my kitchen. Happy Valentine’s Day……
Your Girl Kitty is such a lady, and Jack always looks like he’s planning the next naughty thing.;) Thank you for sharing the wonderful recipe, offering yet another giveaway, and for spreading your special kind of love in every post. I’m having a girlfriend over for tea on Valentine’s Day. She lost her husband recently and I thought it would be good for her to have some tea and sympathy, not to mention chocolate -I’m thinking chocolate dipped strawberries – they are so cheerful, and we know they are good for us.;)
Happy Valentines Day Susan! From someone else that LIVES for Valentines Day. I too collect cast iron and would love this piece for my collection. Cupid strikes every year and what better way to celebrate this day with the muffins and (keeping fingers crossed) my new ‘old’ muffin pan.
Susan, thanks for the tea biscuit recipe, they look wonderful. I love the heart muffin pan you used. Today is a cold, rainy day in TX – perfect for tea and tea biscuits by the fire.
Thanks for a bright spot in my day.
Happy Valentines Day!
Alice
Love that heart pan!
I cannot wait to try making this recipe, they sound delicious! Thank you for the recipe and idea.
I’m going shopping for the biscuit ingredients now. Can’t wait to make them. I enjoyed your post and all the lovely pictures. Happy Valentine’s Day!
Susan, i love to bake, [i have a home based bakery,] and these will definately be baking in my oven soon. i like that you show pictures of the steps involved in baking, for those who may not be experienced bakers, but want to bake. [and we can all use a little help from our friends.] happy hearts day to you and Joe!! Susan
Really heart shaped muffin tins I would LOVE to bake in these I my have to find some soon if I don”t win. it finally raining and cold in California time for baking!
Love the idea of orange and chocolate….and the heart shape makes these treats even more appealing!!!!
Orange and chocolate (and walnuts) – is there anything more yummalicious?
Happy Valentine’s wishes to our darling couple (both human and furry)!
hahahaha…..yummalicious! I think that’s my new word for the day!
Susan,
I think anything baked in a heart shaped pan is going to be special! 🙂
Anything that has chocolate chips as an ingreidient is also a winner.
Needless to say these biscuits are a win-win situation !!!
Have a wonderful day everyone.
Marilyn (in Dallas)
Oh susan yesterday was my birthday too and this time of the year is always so special. With Valentines Day so close the celebration lasts the week I love it and my loved ones alwayss make it sooo very special! Getting stormy weather here in LasVegas today. I am sure its coming your way. LOVE ON VALENTINES DAY. SUZY
Happy Birthday Suzy!
What a wonderful way to spend a snow Saturday!! Susan, I can’t get enough of your blogs! I can’t wait to try the scone recipe! Happy Valentine’s Day!!
What a sweet muffin pan! I am going to try that recipe tonight!!!
My husband got me your Girlfriends book for my Valentine’s Day gift and I have been waiting until it is actually Valentine’s Day to start reading it! I am about to burst!!!!
What a nice husband! ♥
As always, love love love your blog Susan!! We are often having the same weather as you (here in Wellfleet) and I love that you make the most out of a snowy day!! I love nothing more than making a good soup or baking something sweet, lighting a fire and cozying in for the day when it is snowing! And I just love your kitties – Jack on top of the refrigerator made me laugh out loud. Thank you, thank you, thank you, and Happy Valentine’s Day!!
Love,
Joan B.
Susan, everything you do is so lovely. I would be so happy to win the tin and the muffin pan!
Happy Valentine’s Day Susan!!!
Loved the music today. Ella and Louis had me dancing in my seat as I read your blog today.
Thanks for all the love and goodness you spread around the world!
Julie
You are an inspiration to so many of us. Happy Valentines Day !
Greetings from Ohio! I just adore your blog and your recipes…and your updates on Jack and Girl Kitty, of course. Where would we be without our animal friends? Wishing you all a happy Valentine’s day!
Sue, did you tell everyone these heart pans are available in your Web Store ? …I just ordered one –know better than to compete with 1200 girlfriends all craving this unique cooker ….
So good luck to all you girlfriends in the upcoming drawing …..Sue’s Dad
My dad! ♥
Thank you for sharing your recipe, it looks delicious! Would love to make these in a heart-shaped pan.
Hi Susan, thanks for sharing the snowy day with us, I could almost close my eyes and smell the cold crisp air even down here in Florida! And the tea biscuits look just scrumptious! You do such a wonderful job in describing everything to us so perfectly, almost like being there with you. I would just LOVE to have that little heart biscuit pan, something to treasure, but also would be so much fun to use. When you were making the biscuits and you showed us Jack on the top of the fridge, I was thinking the whole time, any minute now, that little guy is going to pounce down into that bowl, LOL!!! I could just picture him covered with the biscuit dough! Thanks again Susan for letting us visit with you, I love it! Sharonxxoo
Is it wrong to want to be a cat in the Joe/Susan household? It must be dreamy all the warm-coziness…all the great music…all the wonderful smells….all the happy people who appreciate playtime!
No, I don’t think it’s wrong, I would honestly love to come back as a cat in our house!! ♥
I love your blog! These tea biscuits look wonderful, and I love tea! Thank you for the great recipe!
Those look delicious and I love baking in different shapes. I really enjoy your blog and all the photos and how you share your life. Love your books for many years.
Lucky person who wins this heart shaped tin and bakeware – I hope it is me!!!
Happy Valentine’s Day to all
Hi Susan,
You are so sweet, I hope that you and your Valentine (and kitties, of course) have a lovely Valentine’s Day.
Cara
These look delicious. Even if I don’t win, I will definitely try this recipe. I have a neat old muffin pan that belonged to my grandmother that should work for these. The muffins come out looking like mini bundt cakes. I love to use it because it reminds me of her. She was a tea drinker and lived to be 94! Happy Valentine’s Day to you and Joe.
oh my..I will be baking these to nite to surprise my honey of 38 years I was just wondering what to do for Valentines day….Thanks for your help….(he works night shift so these will be perfecto for him in the morning Yippeeeeee I love love love your blog!!!
Happy Valentines Day Susan! I LOVE reading your blog. You are an inspiration! I just went to my book club meeting yesterday. We have been meeting for 12 years. We are long time girl friends who started this because we love to read and as a way to keep in touch as we started to move away from one another for careers, family, etc. Those get togethers are “food for my soul”. Friends are such treasures – Happy Valentines Day everyone! – Nicole
Wonderful! Twelve years of books and friendship . . . can’t ask for much more than that!! I have the same thing with my girlfriends, a way to stay close, and yes, me too, food for my soul!
Happy Valentine’s Day!
Give your kitties a big squeeze from our spoiled rotten kitties.
Is it just me or does Jack’s mustache (but not his personality!) remind one ever so slightly of Hercules Poirot?
Reminds lots of people of Hercules!
This weekend I was at a local pet store where there were cats to be adopted. There was Girl Kitty’s twin sitting right there in a cage. I so wish I could have adopted her! I have never been a cat lover (dogs are my love) but after seeing Jack and Girl Kitty, I would love to have one of each!
Good Afternoon Sweet Sue…I Have All The Stuff to Make These Orange & Chocolate Chip Tea Biscuits! Yay & Yum…I am gonna make them for Herbster for Valentine’s Day! Thanks! Also Last Night while We watched The Grammy’s Sad about Whitney…& Cried to Paul singing His New Valentine Song…(I agree about Part of His Heart is still with Linda)…I Knew I would Post this Song on Twitter & Facebook & then Poof! Here it is On Your Blog…Musica~Perfection!…Oh How I L♥ve Your Snowy Saturday Video with The Kitties! so Magical! Thank You for Sharing The Snow with Us! we have Had a Few Cold Days here too…so Fireside & Getting Cozy has Been Wonderful! I L♥ve all Your Snowy~Hearts in Your Windows! Enchanting!…Wishing You & Joe & Girl~Kitty & Jack & All Us “Kindred~Spirits… The Most Dazzling Valentine’s Day! Yay! Twirling into Cupid! Boink! Zoinks…Yikes! lol & Yay! L♥ve & Laughter to All! xoxo Poof! ♥ 🙂
Thanks for sharing your snow. It’s something we only get to see here in Phoenix once in a blue moon or two.
Thanks so much again and again for your charming blog. Have always loved your recipes, but I’m now discovering some wonderful music through you. Love Ella and Louis, Jo Stafford, wonderful, wonderful! And to top it off, you give presents!
You are so welcome!
I, too, love to cook in cast iron muffin pans. I have a star pattern, cactus pattern and corn cob pattern. Cast iron gets nice and hot and puts a nice crust onthe basked goods. And I LOVE Emma Bridgewater pottery. Thank you for turning me on to those lovely cups and plates, etc. Looking at Jack, I am reminded of our own three tuxedo cats – Grimm, Oreo, and Queenie. They are all such characters.
Your heart shaped muffins look so yummy! Maybe I can make some for my husband tomorrow morning before I leave for work!
Thanks for all the great inspirations!
I’m so touched that you are giving away your tried-and-true muffin pan. What an act of generousity – how Valentine’s Day-like – It’s like you are giving away a part of yourself. Of course, I would accept it graciously, should I be the lucky one!!! You never cease to amaze me!
Thanks for the bisquit recipe. You are the best inspirations to us all!
The recipe look wonderful. Can’t wait to make them this week for tea. Thank you.
It’s the first time I’m visiting your blog/website – luv the heart shaped muffin pan and the chocolate chip muffins that were made – looks yummie!!
ps. I will definitely bookmark you 🙂
pss. I found you via Stephany Levy from the Creative Courage e-course…
Nice to hear, welcome Liezl!
LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! your blog Susan! Happy Valentine’s Day to you and Joe!
Valentine Greetings to you and yours from the White Mountains of Arizona!!! I grew up in New England and I am happy to say I still enjoy four seasons here in this part of the state. (We do have a tiny bit of color in the fall, but not like I’m use to though.)We still have snow in our yard from our last big snowstorm. We might get a few more flakes falling tomorrow.
Thank you for sharing so much of yourself and your many passions with all of us! I very much appreciate your creativity and sense of color. You have helped inspire me with some ideas that I plan on creating in stained glass, which is one of my passions. Thank you again.
I heart this give away! Thank you Susan!
wow! these look SO yummy! thank you for sharing the recipe! happy valentine’s day to you! ciao!
Susan, You never stop amazing me! I love to visit your website, it’s like visiting my best friend. I feel like we are kindred spirits. I can’t count the times when notice the similarities between us, the same stove, stuffed chair, even the same wallpaper, the same love for the same things. I just wish we lived closer and we could enjoy visits together. However, I do enjoy our visits. I pour a cup of tea and visit your blog and feel so refreshed after my visit that I feel we are best friends. Thanks for that! I know that a million other women feel this way too. Thanks for letting us be part of your life. Also, Yes I do want to win your Heart Shaped Pan and the Tin for all my future baking projects. You are so kind for for Offering it! Hope I’m the lucky one this time. If not, it’s Ok because I am so blessed by your friendship via Blog daily.
Happy Valentine’s Day!! =) I also have a 6 month old rescue kitty that plays fetch with me with a foil ball, I can throw it a hundred times and she will keep bringing it back to me!! She is so cute her name is Pepsi. I can’t wait to make your yummy recipe!! Have a beautiful day!!! =)
Now you have to get a dark brown kitty and call him Cola! 🙂
I would love to win! The biscuits sound yummy – going to make them for Valentines Day morning. Thank you Susan!
Just saying hello this afternoon and happy to share a cup of tea and a cookie.
Thank you for your posts and little escapes each time.
I LOVE YOUR CAT!!!! He is so beautiful and bright eyed!!!! Of course, I would like to win the heart pan too!!!! Thank you so much for your blog….
Why stop at the Valentine insert for your chimney ?? Go for some color, too !
You and Girl Kitty have that little adorable Frenchman, Hercule Poirot aka Jack to entertain you for Valentine Day, too ! Google that. Uncanny. haha 🙂
(OK. So he’s not really French. He’ll play one on the 14th just for you !)
I love your excitement for each and every day !
Happy Day, Susan !!
Oh, Susan, what a wonderful post (as always)! Everything looks darling and the orange chocolate-chip tea biscuits look divine! Thanks for sharing your recipe with us. By the way, I saw Paul McCartney perform his new Valentine song at the Grammys last night. Did you watch it? Thanks for yet another giveaway. You are awesome! XOXO
Ooh, I’d love this heart shaped pan…. Valentine’s day is my birthday and it’s a BIG, SCARY number this year… more than 60, less than 80 …lol.
I hope it’s a wonderful one!!! Full of being loved!
You make every holiday so special. I love this pan. It would bring smiles to many faces. I heard Paul sing that song last night on the Grammy’s. So sweet and dear. He still got it! Thanks for thinking of us and the chance to win.
Your little “scone hearts” look wonderful…I’ll have to try them. While you were baking on Saturday, I was opening my Gladys Taber Stillmeadow Cookbook! I can’t believe I finally have one of my own! I’ve already read it cover to cover.
So great that you found one!
LOVE this site so much I have shared it with so many friends and now they LOVE it as much as I do.
XOXO Thank you Lori!! ♥
Thanks for the recipe, Susan! It looks divine. I think I’ll make some tomorrow, since it’s Valentine’s Day. And, by the way, I LOVE the pictures/videos of your beautiful cats. We have a BIG black and white cat named Monroe, and he brings us nothing but joy.
This heart shaped tin would go perfect with my heart shaped ice cube tray. I love your recipes. Happy V- Day~~~~~~~HUGS, Lori Ragalis
How fun! Thank you, Susan, for sharing your talent but most of all your enthusiasm for the little, special things that really enhance life. I’ve been trying to look at the world through “Susan Branch eyes”!
I can’t wait to make those biscuits! They look so yummy! A cup of tea and biscuits with my girl! What a way to spend an afternoon. Thank you!
I just adore your heart pan and Emma Bridgewater. Your blog, cookbooks, recipes and ideas puff me up with joy. Thank you for providing inspiration for a beautiful, homey life filled to brim with love.