How vintage dishes and a glass of milk remind me of my childhood…

Many years ago, after a visit to Newfoundland, my Mom dropped by my home with a special package…a gift from my Nan Coady.

As I unwrapped the two “Carnival Glass Tumblers,” wrapped in dish towels from my Nanny’s kitchen, I was overcome with emotion as I remembered a conversation I’d had with my grandmother several years before.

I’d been standing in her kitchen, pouring cold milk into the “rainbow” glass…the iridescent colours coming alive against the white liquid…when I told her that drinking from those tumblers “felt like my childhood.” They reminded me of family meals at the dining room table, multiple cups of tea with my mom and her sisters, games of hide and seek with my cousins where we’d come back inside for a snack and a hug, blueberry picking with my Poppy…and the cake my mom would make from the berries.

It amazed me how a simple glass of Scotsburn milk…in THAT particular tumbler…could bring back so many cherished memories and every single time we visited Newfoundland, I poured a cup…to remember.

I couldn’t believe she’d thought to gift me the two remaining pieces that now hold a place of honour in my china cabinet…only coming out when I need a reminder of simpler times. Along with the carnival glasses, and my Nan’s china dishes…the cabinet is filled with various vintage items such as the a set of pretty yellow teacups, glass “petal” plates and bowls, a cookie jar from our childhood, and the two-tiered turquoise cake plate…all treasures that have been handed down and hold such special memories.

Growing up, there was always time for a cup of tea with milk and some sort of feast or another laid out on the beautiful finery…the pretty dishes and lace table cloths. Nan Coady was known for her roast beef dinners, Nan O’Dea for her steamed “pudding and sauce,” Aunt Pat for the best Pea Soup, Aunt Beth for absolutely every baked good imaginable, Aunt Mary Lou for trying new things, Aunt Betty for her biscuits, and Aunt Jo for her homemade taco shells long before Taco Tuesday was a thing!

While I enjoy finding new recipes (visit the Scotsburn website for lots of great options) and love making the special recipes handed down through my family…I’m particularly fond of my mom’s Blueberry Cake! It’s good with frozen blueberries, better with fresh ones, best with the wild ones I picked with my Poppy as a little girl and absolutely perfect served with a tall glass of Scotsburn milk in my Nan’s special glass!

As a busy mom with a crazy schedule, this cake is quick and easy to whip up (ten minutes tops) and, it’s truly the perfect ending to a delicious meal. (Side Note: Even better with a cup of tea when I have a moment to put my feet up and relax!)

Quick and Easy Blueberry Cake

Ingredients:

• 1/3 cup Scotsburn butter
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup blueberries
• 1 1/2 cup flour
• 1/2 cup Scotsburn milk
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 2 eggs
• 1 tsp lemon flavouring
• Pinch of salt

Directions:

1. Cream butter thoroughly.
2. Add sugar gradually then cream together well.
3. Add well beaten eggs to the mix then set aside.
4. Sift together the flour, baking powder and salt.
5. Add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture alternating with milk.
6. Add the flavouring.
7. Add berries and mix slightly.
8. Pour into a square glass pan
9. Bake at 350 for 40 minutes.

Whipped Topping

For the whipped topping…I love the simplicity of a fresh whipped topping using Scotsburn whipping cream and a wee bit of sugar.

1. Place the bowl and beaters in the fridge to get them nice and cold.
2. Add the whipping cream to the bowl and beat with electric beaters.
3. When the cream begins to peek, add a few teaspoons of sugar and keep beating until nice and fluffy.

Growing up in a large family who shared so many meals together at my grandparent’s homes along with nightly meals with my parents and siblings…I was taught and continue to believe in the importance of gathering around the kitchen table. With my own family, suppertime is the time to put away our phones and take a moment to regroup, reconnect and catch up…to chat about our day and take a peek at the schedule for the next one. We believe in “Family First”…where communication is the absolute key to making sure everyone is healthy and happy…where no matter how busy our days get or what’s going on in our lives, we know we have each other to turn to…often around a shared meal at the end of the day.

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I grew up in the most amazing family, surrounded by laughter and conversation in a place that means the world to me. I feel connected to my heritage and love the recipes that have been passed down through the generations, many of which use Scotsburn milk.

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Check out the Scotsburn website for delicious recipes. Or visit their new Facebook page to stay in the loop with what’s new!

Disclaimer: I’m compensated for my work with Scotsburn milk. All opinions, as always, are my own.