Tea, Cake and Antiques

Oh my, what scrumptious goodies we served at the Women's Club Fall Antiques Sale last week.

 I just had to try a slice of pumpkin cake with my tea!.  Nancy, who served me, was the proud baker of the very cake I chose!  She  explained, "That is The Old Witch  And The Polka-Dot Ribbon Cake".
"Say what?   What is that?", I asked,  and she told me it was a recipe found in the back of a children's storybook.

                                                       

Old Witch's Magic Nut Cake
"When the kitchen is finally empty, Old Witch makes her magic nut cake
 to enter in the carnivals"s baking contest." the book says.

  This cake recipe is on the back cover and it is moist and delicious!
These vintage linens and dishes were typical items for sale in my booth.

" Wow!  It's delicious, now  tell me about this book", I said, and the next day she brought her signed copy and showed me the marvelous drawings. Nancy met the authors, went to many booksignings, has a  treasured collection of their out-of-print  books, and loves to read them to her third grade pupils, especially this title.
.

 This one  written in 1970 by Wende and illustrated by Harry,
 and is one of 21 children's books written by the Devlins.

The authors were husband and wife, Harry and Wende Devlin, from North Jersey. What impressed Nancy was the artwork in these  out-of-print children's  storybooks. There were lots of houses, and their own seven children beautifully portrayed in these delightful stories, published by Parents Magazine Press.  He was an award-winning cartoonist, architectural artist, and talented illustrator. and  she a portrait artist.  They combined their talents in 1963 to write the Old Witch series. You must visit their website to see more of their extensive work! www.harryandwendedevlin.com

 Now I know from personal experience as a mural-painter working with my partner that it's not always easy to create art together, when you have different styles!  I am very intrigued by this amazingly talented couple!   Parents of seven children!!!

Later a customer claimed that she makes the best cake ever,  a Paula Deen recipe, called , Gooey Cake".  There's a double-chocolate version and a pumpkin one.  Recipes are on her website, www.pauladeen.com, and www.foodnetwork.com.

Paula Deen's Gooey Pumpkin Butter Cake, from www.pauladeen.com

But it seems that June's cake is the  Vineland Women's Club"s  all-time-most-requested-everyone's-favorite, the Italian Love Cake!   Layers of chocolate cake, mousse, and Mascarpone, I think.

June's Italian Love Cake

I told her she should serve it to some rich, handsome, eligible bachelors.  See if it works!

June was dressed-up for a Women's Suffragette's Parade in Woodbury, N.J.

  June once tasted this cake at the club  years ago.   She just loved it , but when she later asked about it, no one remembered it or who made it.  Then one day she saw an article in the Atlantic City Press about an out-of-business Egg Harbor Township restaurant who's specialty was this mysterious cake!  There was the recipe!  She was so excited!  Now she often bakes this cake, as her own signature dessert.!

My booth had lots of tea things, teacarts, linens, dishes, glassware, and other vintage treasures!

Joan's forget-me-nots  teacup,    made in England

Adderly teacup and saucer

My pretty hankies

Vintage Bakelite Radio

Cute little Chintzware Sugar and Creamer

Milkglass Hobnail Sugar and Creamer

 







I didn't make much money this weekend but I certainly enjoyed being with my friends and sharing tea, stimulating conversation, and eating cake! 

Happiness is not something you get, but something you do.                                          ---Marceline Cox


While there's tea there's hope.    ---Sir Arthur Pinero


"It's always teatime..."   the Mad Hatter in Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland

image from www.magicmooonlightfreeimages.blogspot.com

I am so thankful for all I have, and for my blogging friends. 

 I wish you a truly wonderful time of sharing Thanksgiving with your loved ones!

Blessings, Linda