Monday, February 17, 2025

My Favorite Way to Roast a Whole Chicken

Roasted Chicken in Dutch Oven
I have tried roasting a whole chicken many different ways, but until I tried doing it like Jill Winger from The Prairie Homestead Cookbook. I could not get a chicken roasted to perfection. She has a technique of roasting it with the lid on in a dutch oven and then roasting it without the lid. 

My Favorite Way to Roast a Whole Chicken
I won't give away her recipe, but I did find a lady who shows you the technique of roasting and flipping on this Youtube channel. I am not associated with The Prairie Homestead Cookbook, but it is one of my favorite cookbooks. 

My Favorite Way to Roast a Whole Chicken
The recipe roasts the chicken to perfection every time! It is very tender and moist. We are dining with Peter Rabbit here and having the roast chicken, green beans, mashed potatoes, and sautéed apples with cinnamon. 

Snow day
Why so much comfort food? Because it is snowing again and, it is a wintery wonderland outside.

In Victory,
Sherry

Wednesday, February 12, 2025

Peter Rabbit Collection

Peter Rabbit Collection
I finally realized I have collected enough Peter Rabbit that I could display it for spring. 

Peter Rabbit Collection
Some of these things I have had since childhood, like the original stories. 

Peter Rabbit Collection
Some of these have been gifts to my infant children. The Bunnykins plate set and the Royal Albert set 
were gifts from a dear aunt.

Peter Rabbit Collection
In the last few years, I have found a few pieces of china at discount stores.

Peter Rabbit Collection
I particularly like this pattern with the little drawings and watercolors by Beatrix Potter.

Peter Rabbit Collection

Peter Rabbit Collection
I am not sure where the gloves came from, but the corsage was my grandmother's, most likely worn at Easter years ago.

Peter Rabbit Collection
The Bunnykins bowl with high sides is meant for a toddler to learn to eat from. 

Peter Rabbit Collection

Spring tulips and pussy willow
My grandmother also had many flowers growing around her house that bloomed in spring. 

Spring tulips and pussy willow
This bouquet reminds me of grandmother's lovely flowers that my aunt and I were always picking and bringing in to put in a vase.

In Victory,
Sherry

Monday, February 10, 2025

A Winter's Tea Tray

Blue Willow tea tray
I have been having a lot of fun styling my tea tray. Today I am pushing spring a little bit by having some white tulips with Mom's Blue Willow china. 

Blue Willow tea tray
Blue Willow looks great all year long, but it is nice to do something other than white for this time of year.

Blue Willow tea tray
Speaking of white, I think we are getting more snow this week. I will see how that goes. 

Blue Willow tea tray

Blue Willow tea tray
I have written before about the legend of this china pattern. It was a marketing ploy to enhance the sales of the china. I would say it worked. I posted that in 2015, and you can read it here: The Legend of Blue Willow China.

Blue Willow tea tray
It still remains one of my favorite china patterns and a bright spot on my table for tea during a wintery week. 

In Victory,
Sherry

Friday, February 7, 2025

Peter Rabbit Joins Me for Tea

Peter Rabbit Tea Tray
Peter Rabbit has joined me for tea today. It has been a brutal winter with the flu going around, and it was time to put something cheerful on my tea tray.

Peter Rabbit Tea Tray
Nothing could be better for a cold than a cup of something nice and hot with a story from childhood. 

Peter Rabbit Tea Tray
I have an entire cabinet of Peter Rabbit dishes that I have collected over the years. I will keep arranging the cabinet till I get it presentable, and then I will post my collection. Much colder weather is moving in now, and no crocuses are not up yet, but soon!

In Victory,
Sherry

Monday, February 3, 2025

Spring Favorites

Spring Tulips
I am most eager to see some signs of spring in my garden.

Spring daffodils
It is still a little early, but while I am waiting, I looked through the archives at some of my favorite past spring blooms.

Spring daffodils

Spring Tea

Forsythia
Do you know when to prune your roses? Prune them when the forsythia blooms.
Today the weather is teasing us of spring; it is so tempting to go uncover some plants, but it is still a little early.

In Victory,
Sherry

Tuesday, January 28, 2025

Spring from the Archives

Spring dessert
I have been blogging since 2009. I decided today to take a trip through the archives for some spring encouragement. I have no shortage of photos to pull from. So while I am taking a creative break, let's go through the older post. This photo was from 2010.
 
Spring Garden
An early garden photo of when we still had some trees. 

Spring Tulips
I used to buy some flowers for posts, especially the tulips in the spring. 

Royal Tea
A very British tea. The tablecloth was a Union Jack made by me with scraps from a dress.

Romantic Tea
This photo was featured in Romantic Homes as a favorite blog. They contacted me and published three of my photos.

Spring Bouquet
A spring bouquet.

Strawberry Sponge Cake
I have embellished a few cakes with flowers.

Raspberry Cake
You can find all of the edible flower recipes on the top of the blog under The Victory Cottage Cookbook.

Roses
I have been successful at growing this rose. I still have it. I hope my other roses will be blooming out soon. I am sooo ready for some blooms!

In Victory,
Sherry