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 Susan: I’ve always loved your recipes and now I also love seeing your kitties in your posts. I have two cats, a brother and sister, their names are Stitches and Patches. Love them to bits. Wishing you a lovely Valentine’s Day.
PS (Grandma always had a PS) Is your musica on your computer, a CD collection or an amazing radio station?
It’s mostly in my head! When I’m writing a blog, I’ll remember a song, and that’s kind of how it happens!
Your blog is a gift. Thanks so much. I would like to be entered in your giveaway also.
Oh…be still my heart. Orange and chocolate, Louis and Ella, heart shaped kitchen treasures! How lucky can a girl get?
Happy Valentine’s Day, Susan!
Good Morning Susan! Once upon a time I had that very same heart shaped pan…but alas, I lost it in one of my many moves. It would be heavenly to have it back again 🙂 xoxo Jacqui
Hi Susan,
Would love the pan. I teach first grade and my students would love to bake a valentine! Thanks for the recipe. Have a great weekend and wonderful valentine’s day.
Kat
I love your blog it is so refreshing amidst the ‘deeper’ writing ones, I so enjoy the pictures and especially the ‘feline friends’ cats are always my favorite. Will most likely always have one, my own is sitting next to me on my computer chair, she shares it :o) (how nice of her)
THOSE LOOK SOOOOOO GOOD. It is a sunny and snowy day here in WI too, would love to make these but no Cream Cheese. 🙁 Perhaps another day.
Reading your blog refreshes me. The colors, the food, the joy, the whimsy. Hmm, the tea biscuits sound lovely. Printed them out…..& perhaps we’ll make them for our 2nd annual GF tea in the spring. Oh pick me random prize picker. 😉 Happy Love Day everyone!
The song is beautiful. I think you hit the nail on the head about this being a little about Linda. Maybe Linda telling him he will be happy and in love again when she was ill. Makes you understand what real love is all about. And I am so going to make those Orange and Chocolate Chip Tea Biscuits. They look so lovely in the heart shapes. My granddaughter will love them.
Reading your blog gives me rays of sunshine and feeds my soul with delight. I get so much joy from reading About beauty & the beast, videos, precious new items we can buy and grace our homes and warm our homes by baking some of your treats – thank you for filling my days with a lot of Joy.
Susan, Happy Valentines Day! Can’t wait to try the tea biscuits-orange and chocolate are one of my favorite combos. Haven’t listened to Ella and Louis for awhile-thanks for reminding me how wonderful their music is…we all need more of that. I would love to win that heart pan. My son is getting married and my new DIL and I would have so much fun making them together. Cheers!
Hi Susan (& Jack & Kitty)
Loved this post. Your home looks so festive for Valentine’s day and your choice for a treat was ‘purr-fect’. The tins are so cute and I would love to have a chance to win one. Thank you for the opportunity. I will go back now and listen to Paul. He was always my favorite. Hugs, Deb=^..^=x4
What fun! I have not done too much for Valentine’s this year other than some decorating. Have my vintage valentines (1940s-50s) on a ribbon board and a few other doodads here and there. Thanks for letting us in on your Valentine decor and fun!
Here in Australia many people ‘bah humbug’ Valentine’s Day saying it’s too commercial and is an American event! I say it’s ALWAYS a good thing to spread a little love (which I do with folded paper heart pockets painted with a rosebud and a chocolate inserted – I make about 100 at little cost) to as many people as possible. Girl Kitty: well she wins! Ms Kitty does what she wants….moral of the story – you can’t teach an old kitty new tricks.
This is true, also true is love of Valentine’s Day, I agree, any chance to spread love has to be a good thing! Bah, humbug on the naysayers.
I absolutely love your muffin pan. I think it would look beautiful on the wall, any wall, but especially mine. 😉
When I had my store, I used to go to the Gift Show. It was wonderful. I still miss it.
Hi Susan,
Finally some rain in the BAy Area. It’s been a very dry winter and we are starting to get worried over here. We badly need some rain. Love the muffin pan. Hope you are enjoying your Saturday.
Thank you for another dose of inspiration. Everything you do inspires me! Your street is lucky to have you! xo
LOL! They probably think I’m crazy!
Hi Susan! Love love the muffin pan!! Would be so much fun 2 make breakfast muffins with my granddaughters who are 3 & 4 who live with me!! Also as you say would look adorable in my kitchen when not in baking use!! 😀
Hugs, Carolyn at Cottage Sunshine
Hi Susan, I can actually smell those heart muffins! You describe everything so wonderfully that I feel like I’m right in your kitchen! Keeping my fingers crossed that I can visit the Island with my daughter Lynn (Chelmsford MA) and drive by and wave!!! Just found some dark chocolate fortune cookies that are so good and such fun. My daughter-in-law is ethnic Chinese so we love having our fortunes on Valentines day! Hearts to you and good fortunes! Ritchie Saunders
Looking forward to trying these special biscuits!! Thank you Susan, for this recipe, you have done it again!! Happy Valentines Day to you, from one Valentine to another…you are truly a special , special, lady! 🙂 Have a wonderful day!! From , Donna
Love the pan! Happy Valentine’s Day!
Sweet Sue,
Your fabulous house screams for a red front door! Just imagine…it would “go with” all the seasons…you could be “the house at the stop sign with the red front door!”
Lalalalah…loving you is easy ’cause you’re beautiful…
🙂
susan…
you have such a gift for celebrating the beauty in the everyday…simple things that are often overlooked in pursuit of the newest, blingiest, techno-est or most “efficient” – i do believe we are kindred hearts! thank you for continually reminding me that to think & feel this way is WAY WONDERFUL!!!
xo <3
I’m looking forward to making the tea biscuits – chocolate and orange are just the best! Not today, though – it’s a beautiful day outside in Tucson!
ooooooh! what a perfect way to celebrate a belated valentine’s day with my sweetie when he visits me later this month! i love hearts (yep… i’ve got 250+ heart rubber stamps)… i love scones AND chocolate (especially together!)… and of course… i love my sweetie! 🙂
i <3 <3day 'cause its just another way and reason to say… "aloha wau ia 'oe e ku'uipo"
and lots of hugs and smooochies to you and joe!
aloh wau ia ‘oe e ku’uipo — and I hope that means Happy Valentine’s Day . . . and you lucky person, you must be in Hawaii?
yep, i am! i hope one day you are able to visit our tropical island paradise! as i am hoping that one day i’ll make it to martha’s vineyard. “aloha wau ia ‘oe e ku’uipo” = “i love you, my sweetheart”. aloha!
Adorable! I’ve been to several islands, but I have a sweet spot in my heart for the big island.
and believe me… we’ve got a sweet spot in our <3 for you!!
Dear Susan-
I am so happy someone else likes to celebrate Valentine’s Day just like me–it is my favorite holiday and I very much enjoy making treats to give to all the people I love on February 14th. Your house looks adorable! Did you check out the heart cookies from Embossed Edibles? They are truly beautiful and it looks like they were able to get their shipping costs to be more reasonable. I buy coffee from Door County Coffee a couple of times a year and highly recommend it especially the dark chocolate cherry and red velvet flavored coffees!!
Happy Saturday, we are getting a dusting of snow in Maine today as well….The birds are at the feeder and the gas stove is going…..love weekends!!!!
What a sweet entry today…snow falling, Valentine hearts in all the windows, scrumptious biscuits in the heart pan, kitties watching over all. Snow days are the best baking days. When I lived up North and was teaching school, a snow day was for bread baking, always. We have a COLD but sunny day today in Texas. Just got the grands’ Valentine box off this a.m….to North Carolina…homemade Valentines, cookies, things. Couldn’t fit myself in the box :(.
Someone had the cutest comment…secret ingredient was cat hair! so true.
Have a special Valentine’s Day! Stay cozy and warm with your furry little friends and Joe. Those biscuits look divine. And honey…not too bad! Mmmmm, good. ♡♡♡
So much love in that house – you, Joe, and the darling kitties! Would love to see your cute windows in person; I bet it’s all just lovely. Thanks for the chance to have that wonderful tea biscuit pan….I’m headed to the warm kitchen to make some in my mini muffin pan. I’ll bet they taste just as yummy in roundy shapes! LOL
Thanks! you just solved my problem of what to serve the quilters with their tea and coffee on Monday! Love orange/chocolate combo! Am also going t make the romantic dinner in the ” Love ” book for Valentine’s Day. The potatoes Anna sound fantastic!
Yes, I have to say, they are wonderful! Say hi to the quilters for me!! Happy cooking!
Biscuits and tea sound good on this cold day in Il.
Wonderful hearts! My thoughts are going a mile-a-minute for tomorrow! Our anniversary is 2-12-12 and it’s been 34 years… For all that time, if we tell a restaurant or a jewler or anyone, that our anniversary is on Feb. 12th, they always say “oh, you mean Feb. 14th, right?” No, we know the day we met and that’s the day we married! Hugs to you and Joe for the 14th!
Happy Anniversary Susan!
I am always psyched to see your new post in my e-mail~we were waiting for YOUR snow up her in Ma. but nothing!! Your biscuits look delish~and there is nothing like cast iron,eh? Have a great weekend Susan! ♥E
This recipe sounds so yummy!! I really enjoy seeing those two furry sweethearts of yours and am happy that they like to help you in the kitchen!
Wishing you all a very Happy Valentine’s Day !
Happy Valentine’s Day from my house of creativity to yours♥ It is snowing here today too, and lots of blustery wind, making the snow drift and swirl. We are snugged in, making lots of chocolate goodies to pass out to our special valentines and I am finishing up the cutest quilt! I would L O V E that muffin pan and to own ANYTHING by Emma would be so so awesome!!! xoxo Debbie
xoxo sounds like a perfect day for you too!
Susan…what a lovely and yummy way to enjoy the rest of our weekend. A friend’s birthday is today…she lives across the street, so think this would be a special little gift for her! My mom turns 89 today, but she lives in AZ and I am in CO. I would make her a batch too if we were together…she is a wonderful cook and will love the
recipe to make for her friends’ birthdays!
Thank you so much for the tea biscuit tutorial…that is always a very much appreciated bonus with your recipes. 🙂
LOVED the music as always…thank you for all the great links you include.
Happy Valentine’s Day to you and your honey….I have a pretty special honey too!
Happy Valentine’s Day! I am in love with your blog….best part of my day when I see a post in my inbox! Cant seem to get enough of your pictures of Jack and Girl Kitty! Love the giveaway….hope I win!
I’m new to your blog and thoroughly enjoy it! …especially the antics of “Jack”. We have a new kitty too, black and white (without the mustache) he’s 9 months old and behaves much like Jack does. He sure does put a smile in my heart!
That’s the perfect way to say it!
Lovely post, photos and video ! I to love the taste of chocolate and orange together. I like the chocolate orange you get and have to hit it to get the pieces to separate like an orange does ! Awesome recipe thanks for sharing I love biscuits/ scones. I will have to make this recipe soon ! Have a wonderful day !
I think Valentine’s Day should be a week-long celebration… cuz there’s enough heart stuff that can be done to keep things loverly for a good week, at the very least. And what better way to kick it off than with your wonderful tea biscuits on a Sunday morning? You’ve inpsired me yet again! Hugs across the miles, Pippa
off to my kitchen RIGHT NOW to make these yummy biscuits!! Don’t have a wonderful pan like you do….. I will use some tin-foil heart pans. You INSPIRE me Susan! ♥♥♥
Your house is probably already smelling wonderful!
Yippee! A new recipe and a give-away! I had a heart-shaped waffle iron once that I loved -used it so much it stopped working. A muffin tin would be lovely! Did that recipe make exactly that amount? I love the orange-chocolate combo. I just bought these raspberry m&m’s. Word of caution – they are totally GREAT!
Sure wish I wasn’t allergic to cats, because your kitties are so wonderful, I am wishing for one really bad!
Can’t wait to try these biscuits! Of course they would taste better if baked in a cute heart shaped pan :). Please enter me in your generous give away!
Hello Susan!
thank you for your inspiring blog!since I “found” you there have been more than a few little “susan’ touches cheering up my (old,shabby,rented)home…cheerful tea towels(discloths) in the kitchen, red lidded jars arranged in the pantry,a new glass hurricane and candle on the bookcase…arranged with some glass I already had,and a few new-to-me bits that were my dear mother-in-laws (she passed away last year) …little things,but things that bring great pleasure…….thanks for the chance to be in the draw for the tins,and for a lovely blog post again today…
all the best from Lesley.
I’ve lived in shabby and rented too, but home is home, isn’t it? xoxo
you’re so right!and i do need reminding of that when I yearn to own my own house and get dissatisfied with this one…so it’s even more special to be inspired to create those “homely” touches you excel at sharing.thanks again.x
Lesley, we live in a townhouse with not a lot of space and I many times yearn for a house, complete with a fenced yard for our dogs and space for a garden where we could grow things in the ground–not only in pots on the deck. So I do understand what you mean. But then I remind myself how many people on this earth go to sleep every night without even a roof over their heads and it puts it all in perspective…I remember the plaque I once had that said “Bloom where you are planted” and it sounds like you are doing just that with your decorating… 🙂
thank you Pat.! I have a lovely cushion,quited and embroidered by my clever Mum with the quote ” a house is made of wood and beams,a home is made of love and dreams”..it is true,isn’t it?and we are very lucky to have a fenced garden for our dog…I do most of my flower garneing in pots on the deck too..best wishes to you!
I love you blog! It always puts a smile on my face and usually gets my hunger pains stirring! Can’t wait to try the scones. They really do look YUM!!!
Oh yummy!!!!!!! These are going to be the thing that breaks my diet! The look and sound marvelous!
I love the snow falling!!!!!
I would love the heart shaped baking pan to make my diet cheating muffins in!! LOL 🙂 🙂 🙂
Oh and we went to Petsmart last week to get fish water conditioner for our daughter and came back with a new kitty 🙂 She was there for adoption and just called to us! Our other kitty was not too happy at first but he is slowly starting to lover her 🙂 The 2 dogs are pretty neutral.
New Kitty! I know how wonderful that is!
Heaven, I’m in Heaven, my hearts beats so that I can hardly speak … wonderful recipes and a wonderful giveaway – I loooooooooooooooooove that heart-shaped pan and tin. You are so wonderfully talented and generous with your giveaways – please, Mr. RNG – I give will give kisses —- Thank you for this beautiful Valentine post and opportunity. Judy C
Happest Valentine’s Day to you and Joe …
Mmmm…what a special treat for V-day! I would love to win.
The biscuits are a treat for the eyes and the tummy! Thanks for the recipe and Happy Valentine’s Day to you and Joe.
My Valentine travels alot and he is going to be out of town Tuesday, but he took me out last night and suprized me with dinner at one of my favorite restruants. =) He is so wonderful!!! He’s been my Valentine for 30 years, plus all through high school. I think he would really like the tea biscuits made in that cute pan =)
Happy Valentines !!!
Hello, Thanks for sharing the receipt and the kitties with us! So cute and so different in their personalities! Will def. Try the biscuits in the a.m., but alas without the heart pan! Will try with cookie cutter. Whoever sent you the Valentine (homeade) did a lovely job! Have a beautiful heartfelt day!!!
I look forward to reading your blog every day!! Thanks for taking the time to write. Please pick me!
Happy Valentine’s Day to you and Joe ♥♥♥ another wonderful post ~ I can feel the love and the warmth and the joy through your words and pictures and recipes ~ thank you for bringing smiles to this very grey day here by me 🙂 So happy to see more pix of both Jack & Girl Kitty ~ they each make me miss my furfriends at the different stages of their lives (not to worry, I am “Auntie Mari” to the six cats and 4 dogs that my good friends adopted!)
thanks also for the Paul McCartney song ~ he has brought so much happiness to all of us through the years; may he find it all coming back to him ♥♥♥
The scones look delicious and the giveaway is so generous of you ~ I think we’ll all glad whenever you return home… 🙂
Happy Valentine’s Day!!! ♥♥♥
Oh, my gosh !!! These give-aways just keep getting better and better ! I will surely cry great sobs if I don’t win ! Actually, if I can buy these two things I will recover nicely !! I do so enjoy your blogs. Brighten my day enourmously !!!! Love you !
I always enjoy seeing a new blog entry, Susan. The tea biscuits are lovely.
My favorite Valentine gift is a poem from my hubby. I don’t want flowers or candy, just that.
Hi Susan, the “Queen of our Hearts”!
I am very into Valentine’s Day!! My husband and I started celebrating last night. We went to see Roberta Flack in concert with the OC Pops Orchestra. Turns out, it was her 75th bday so the audience wished her well. Physically, she has slowed down, but her voice is still like butter. Anyway, tonight I am hosting 10 of my pals for a Valentine’s dinner. I have been making ice all week with the heart-shaped ice trays I got from your store. Can’t wait till they notice! Well, I’d better go…have to frost the cupcakes with pink icing and 2 tiny hearts candies on top. Oh, a cute idea to share….make heart-shaped confetti for the table using a heart-shaped paper punch and old dictionary pages…perfect for book club gatherings.
Ohhh would love to win 🙂 Your Valentine blog complete with kitties just makes ones heart warm.
HAPPY VALENTINE DAY!!!!!! Thanks for the recipe and chance to win the tin and muffin pan.
Susan I love that pan! And the cute Emma B tin would go lovely with my new mug a gift from my sister who gave it to me yesterday! Its the one with “Love” on it and I procrastinated this morning wether I should use it or just keep it to look at! lol Of course I did what every self respecting FOSB girlfriend would do….I used it! But then I washed it up very carefully right away and put it back on my shelf! lol. Love the hearts on the windows and the recipe! Thank you for showing us that always inspires me! Happy Valentines to you and Joe Susan! xxxx
I was born 2/15, so valentines and birthday celebrations have always been special memories. A valentines birthday is so pretty with red and white decorations, heart shaped cake (baked by my grandmother when I was younger)and candy galore! I try to stay away from to much candy know, but my family will love these scones. Orange and chocolate are their favorite. Thank you for sharing Susan- you make me smile whenever I visit…. Teresa
Happy Birthday Teresa!
Hello,
When I saw your post I just had to say Hi! My maiden name was Dougherty slightly differant spelling and my first name is Theresa with an h! I just thought I would share that with you =) Happy Valentines and Birthday too!! =)
Yummo! My smocking group is coming over this week & they would LOVE, LOVE, LOVE to taste your ORANGE & CHOCOLATE CHIP TEA BISCUITS!!!
I would LOVE, LOVE, LOVE to be able to make them in that darling cast iron pan, too, so I thank you for allowing one of us (~~insert crossed fingers & toes~~) to win this wonderful give-away. You are very generous, Susan! and sweet, too!
Hugs,
Rett
They looked so delicious, I had to try them. I used honey produced on my farm and they were magnificent!
Oooh…..happy hearts!!! That’s my wish for you. Thanks for always making me smile.
Here in the Memphis area, where my daffodils and hellebores are in full bloom, and the 70 degree temps last week coaxed my tulip magnolia to break bud, we woke up to a freezing 24 degrees last night, and a few flakes of snow, with a high barely above freezing and down to 17 tonight. So hard after our bit of spring! But that’s February in the mid south. Some chocolate chip heart tea biscuits would be just the ticket today (except I’m too comfy drinking tea and looking at pretty pictures in books and blogs to get up).
:-)!
What a wonderful blog today! Love the recipe and the heart-shaped muffin pan! Too cute for words!
Happy Valentine’s Day to you and all the girlfriends…
I love you all, but I REALLY would love to have the muffin pan….
xoxox
Hi Susan…Thank you for the recipe. If I can find a ♡-shaped pan by Tuesday, I’ll bake them for my husband (we’re celebrating our 43rd anniversary the day after). So if I win yours, I’ll let you know if I found one so you can give that one to someone else (but I’ll keep the tin!). ☺ I feel the same way you do about Paul McCartney’s song. I came of age with his ♪songs♪. I still feel sad about Paul’s loss and Yoko’s and Olivia’s losses of John and George. We should treasure our loves while we have them.
I know, they weren’t ever supposed to go away!
They looked so delicious, I had to try them. I used honey produced on my farm and they were magnificent! I’m making them for my honeybee of a beekeeper for Valentine’s Day.
I wish I had known which house was yours when my valentine (husband) and I were on Cape Cod, Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard 4 years ago for our 25th anniversary. We love scones, and heart-shaped ones would be extra delicious! Thanks for your blog posts – I look forward to them and enjoy so much!
Thank you Susan for your wonderful gift of friendship. I can’t wait to try these muffins. Will definitely be making them today, and would love to have the Heart Pan to bake them in. Have a great Saturday!
Hi Susan,
Your house is adorable as usual. As are your kitties. I like how Jack is perched to keep his eye on Girl Kitty. Thank you for sharing them with us. They always cheer me up.
Even though I am not looking forward to my first Valentines Day without my husband, I hope you and all the girlfriends have a wonderful one.
Michelle
Sending HUGE girlfriends VALENTINE LOve and XXX’s this Valentine’s Day to you Michelle!!
We may not have Louis and Ella anymore, but we have you to bring delight to us. Thank you.
awwww, that was sweet Ema!
Thanks for the receipe, it is what I am going to make the girls for breakfast on Valentine’s Day. It will go wonderful with strawberries and hot choc. We had snow this morning too, but it is all gone now. Thanks for giving us another opportunity to win again. Everything is just perfectly wonderful that you offer in your blogs to us.
Hi, brand new to your blog. Great friend introduced me to you yesterday. We both love to bake & are great cat lovers. My two cats are Frank & Fancy & a dog named Lee…life is good & good freinds & family make it that way.
Welcome to the neighborhood Phyllis!
Oh Susan, what a wonderful Valentine gift. You are so generous to your adoring fans 🙂
Hi ! It’s me again! I found the heart pan and other things at the “store”…and am ordering them! I can’t wait to find out if I won! IF I did win, one of my daughters will be the happy recipient of what I bought! Love you more again !
Susan, It is SO fun to see Susan Branch Blog come up in my feeder. It’s pure joy to have a short visit with you, my friend. I LOVE seeing you cook through photos. And surely I’m going to win the heart pan! If not, I’ll be looking for one in antique shops. Yesterday, I found a RED hat that makes me smile, and a valentine hanky at an antique store called The Tomato Factory in Hopewell New Jersey. Happy Valentines Day, almost!
Love and blessings,
Jane Alexander
Hi Susan,
I am rather new to your blog and love everything about it – your babies, recipes, pictures, etc. I am going to try your recipe, would love to win the heart baking pan. Thank you for the giveaway.
Ruby
craftyrubyatverizondotnet
My house is full of hearts: pillows, cake pans, frying pans, cookie cutters, pot holders, bowls, and on and on and on. While we’re on the subject of romance, try to find a recording of a piano piece that Camille Saint-Saëns wrote for concert pianist, Clara Wieck, when she married Robert Schumann and became Clara Schumann. The piano piece is called “Wedding Cake”. Susan I think I made this request once before. Is there any way you could sell prints (suitable for framing) of your “When You Marry Him” and When You Marry Her”? In the past I cut the greeting card into 3 pieces, framed each piece, and gave this as shower and wedding gifts. People adored this gift! As a matter of fact I wish you would offer a variety of your work as frameable art. Please consider this idea. I would love to hang some of your art in my house, especially in my new art room! I wonder what other fans of your art think of this idea. I hope they will write to you. May the bluebird of happiness sit on your windowsill next Tuesday 2/14. Sent with affection.
Oh Goodie Carol, there were several people asking about the when you marry him and her prints . . . but I forgot who . . . so guess what? We did it, you can get them HERE!
I’m so very happy to see that your art in the form of prints is becoming available for your huge following of fans. I will be one of the best customers for the ‘When You Marry…’ pair of prints. I sincerely hope you will continue to expand the offerings in the “Susan Branch Art Gallery” on your website. You should think about featuring “your own art” without the printed word. Your talent is beloved, Susan. Don’t be afraid. With affection.
Sure miss when Ocean 104 played Swing/Jazz most of the time. For those many years, we were only renting for 2 weeks each summer in W. Chatham and I would keep the radio in the kitchen on the whole time to get my “fix.” Now that we have a house here (LUCKY us!!), they cater to a different audience 🙁
Thought my husband would have to be off-Cape on Valentine’s Day, but he said he might be able to work so that he can stay through Tues. If so, he deserves a special supper. (Tho. he will NEVER live down the fact that he didn’t give me anything on the first Valentine’s Day after we were married! Oh well, he was a little “rectal-cranially inverted” in those days:)
Love your give-aways, but the odds are almost up there with this weekend’s PowerBall! However, you are so sweet to come up with the most thoughtful presents. Happy Valentine’s Day!
P.S. Just stopped snowing in Chatham. Perfect snow–enough to make everything look pretty, but not sticking to the roads.
Had to think that one over for a moment! 🙂
I love Valentine’s Day:) A low stress holiday celebrating love and romance – what could be better? February 14th is also our wedding anniversary and we are going out for a romantic lunch to celebrate 31 happy years of marriage. The muffin pan and heart tin are adorable. Would love to have them to include in our celebration for years to come. Wishing you and Joe a happy Valentine’s Day together. Enjoy your tea and biscuits!! xoxoxo
My heavens what a delightful recipe. And, winning the pan to cook them in and a tin for storing would be just over the top.
Your blog always brightens up my day! I am at my little shoppe, alone, because no one wants to travel out when it is snowing and cold outside. So I turned on my computer and I (with my cup of tea) went on your website. I could just SMELL the tea biscuits! Thank you!!
Wishing you a happy heart on Valentine’s and every Day!
Oh Susan…..it’s always such a delight to stop in for a visit. And then? You ply us with gifts? You are tooooo sweet! Thank you so much for the recipe (chocolate and orange are one of my all time FAVORITE flavor combinations) and the chance to win such delightful treats.
Hi, Susan!
I checked my email earlier and thought sadly, “Oh, no blog update from Susan.” Then I checked just a minute ago and YIPPEE! I look forward to your blog posts as much as I look forward to my morning coffee everyday. Your posts are so uplifting, and they just make me feel sooooo good! Thank you!
I can’t wait to make those muffins! They look delicious! I also have two cats that will come into the kitchen to see what I am up to. Their names are Dory and Bernie. They are very spoiled kitties.
Have a wonderful day!
Terry
LOVE the hearts in your windows! I just love decorating for Valentines Day!
xo
Me too :-)!
Delightful start to a wet westcoast morning! I do so enjoy your posts and photos! And speaking of hearts, how much love can one heart give away? Your capacity seems endless!
I just noticed that my first comment didn’t post! How awful is that ! I do make scones all the time and the heart pan is just what I need! You are so wonderful to give away these things…..hope I win, but if i don’t I’m BUYING THEM ANYWAY!
🙂 And I just absolutely love that tin !!!!! I am pretty much housebound taking care of my husband, so I appreciate so much your blog. I look forward to it every day. It’s very very special to me. I have all your books and LOVE THEM ! Between you and quilting everything keeps me sane! 🙂 Love you ….and Joe …and kitty, too. One of my daughters just got a new kitty….I named her “Miss Kitty”. Do you remember Miss Kitty from the tv show? 🙂 Miss Kitty plays ball, too.
Tea biscuits with a cup of English Breakfast and an Emma Bridgewater tin to fill with leftover bisuits, I’m sure it wouldn’t get any :-). A beautiful time. I love Emma Bridgewater cups and things, have a collection of them in fact!! So happy you love her things, too.
Oh thank you for taking us out to see your snow! Wish it was coming down where I am- I am so in the mood for a cozy fire and a good book- been reading Gladys Taber’s ‘Stillmeadow Sampler’- I’m at the winter part and I am craving a New England winter that I’ve never known.
Instead, it looks like I will be closet cleaning and paint preparing- but that is good in it’s own right, too.
I was planning on making your ‘cream scones’ for our valentine tea tomorrow, but I think I will have to try out the above recipe instead- I love anything with zest in it!
Love to you, Joe and kitty loves!
The valentine you and Joe received is just beautiful! What a sweet gift! ……Susan, I don’t think I’ve ever wanted one of your giveaways more than this one. Love cast iron, and a heart pan….♥….. someone is going to be very happy…..Love your snowy hearts too! You inspire me so much to take the time for fun and simple joys. Happy Valentines Day!
Happy Valentine’s Day to you and yours, Susan! The muffin pan is the sweetest thing I’ve seen in a long time. 🙂
LOVE these muffins and can’t wait to make them…yummie and you are most generous with your giveaways! Love ya gal…
Thank you for the delicious recipe. Can’t wait to try it. And Girl Kitty, too!
Love the muffin pan! Would go great with my Daddy’s cast iron cookware…. I use it everyday!
Susan: Susan, I love your website and your books! You have such a pretty home their on the Vineyard. Also, The orange chocolate chip recipe looks good, I think I’ll try it.! Happy Valentine’s… Lisa in Toronto.
Oh I always have to have tea when reading your blog. It makes me smile. I can’t wait to try out this recipe and I just love that little heart shaped pan. Happy Valentine’s Day.
OH HEART!!! I’ve collected anything with hearts for a long time, but I don’t have that muffin pan. Would love to have it, Susan – thanks so much for a chance at it!
LOVE today’s post……the hearts in your windows is a wonderful idea; “Love lives here”…….
Love Jack and Girl Kitty. Just sayin’. Also, thank you for sharing this recipe. I’m going to surprise my family with these biscuits for breakfast on Valentine’s Day!