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Polite Society School of Étiquette offers Beginning, Advanced, Business, and Tea Étiquette Courses. Étiquette tutelage is presented at speaking engagements, webinars, school seminars, private dinners, and specialty tea events. The School's mission is to educate adults and children in customary codes of conduct with an emphasis on everyday social graces.

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

A CHRISTMAS COUNTDOWN! Week One...

Week One - November 23-29

STIR UP SUNDAY

'Stir up, we beseech thee...', begins the line in the Book of Common Prayer for the Sunday before the start of Advent.  Now known as Stir-up Sunday, this has been the day for making Christmas pudding for generations.  Traditionally, the pudding mixture is stirred from east to west, to represent the journey of the Three Wise Men, and it is important for all members of the family to have a turn with the wooden spoon: each should make a wish.

Christmas pudding is also known as plum pudding, which refers to the Old English word for raisins: plums.  Preparing the pudding a month ahead allows time for flavors to mature and, brought to the table stuffed with coins and alight with a blue flame, it is one of the highlights of the Christmas meal. Serve with brandy butter, cream or custard.


Monday, November 3, 2014

SPICY GRANBERRY GINGERBREAD

CHRISTMAS IS COMING......

Get ready for the season with this wonderful recipe.  You could pour yourself a cup of holiday tea with a warm slice of this fabulous holiday bread while watching past seasons of Downton Abbey!

Note:  Cookbook author Melissa Clark originated this cranberry gingerbread recipe, which she calls, "rude, sticky, and wet."  Edible Seattle's version has even more ginger and whole grain flour.  I took the granulated sugar out and here it is:

INGREDIENTS:
1 cup fresh cranberries cut in half
2 tbs water
l/2 cup butter (1 stick)
2/3 cup dark brown sugar
l/2 cup whole milk (I used 2% milk fat)
l/2 cup molasses
l/4 cup honey
l l/2 cup milled whole wheat flour
l tbs ground ginger
l/2 tsp ground cinnamon
l/2 tsp baking powder
l/4 tsp baking soda
l/2 tsp salt
l/2 tsp ground black pepper
l tbs freshly grated ginger
3 tbs chopped candied ginger
2 large eggs

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Grease or line 9x9-inch pan with parchment paper.

In a saucepan set over medium heat, add the cranberries and water.  Stir until cranberries begin to soften.  Let cool.

Set a second pot over medium heat and add the butter, brown sugar, milk, honey, and molasses.  Heat until fully warmed and remove.  Do not let boil.

In a large bowl, sift all the dry ingredients.  Stir in the butter mixture, add the fresh and candied ginger, and mix in the eggs, one at a time.

Pour the batter into the pan and drizzle the cranberries on top in an even pattern.  Bake at 350 degrees until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean (roughly 50 minutes).  Remove and let cool.

ENJOY!

Let me know how you like it.
I will be making it again and adding currants or raisins to the cranberries - just to sweeten them up a bit.


Saturday, November 1, 2014

EMMA The Etiquette Cat: Meet Emma

Hello everyone,

EMMA The Etiquette Cat: Meet Emma is now for sale.  

See my website:  PoliteSocietySchool.com 

Also, I will start posting on my blog some magical Christmas festivities in anticipation of the joyful season to come.