I have become a huge fan of Pinterest. If you haven't checked it out you really, really should. It is a visual FEAST for the eyes. Basically you can "pin" pictures of things you see on your internet travels to "boards" for future reference.
I just like to pin pretty things that inspire me.
Recently as I was searching on Pinterest for ideas, I came across this whimsical idea from StoneGable for Pansy Shortbread Cookies.
Needless to say I was mesmerized and knew I had to make these delicate delights! What a great idea and perfect for a garden themed, spring or summer Tea Party.
Legend tells us that the pansy was originally white, and blushed bright purple where it was pierced by Cupid's arrow. This accounts for the flower's reputation of bringing thoughts of loved ones.
The pansy is named from the French word "pensee" meaning thoughts, in particular the thoughts of lovers. The myth grew that you could see a loved one in the face of a pansy.
The garden pansy sold at stores today originated in the early 19th century in England. William Thompson, a gardener on the estate of Lord Gambier, began crossing various Viola species with Viola tricolor to make a larger flower with a more pronounced "face." By the 1880s pansies were one of the most popular flowers and remain so to this day.
Shakespeare's famous character Ophelia used the meaning of the pansy to express herself in Hamlet:
"There's rosemary, that's for remembrance; pray you, love, remember.
And there is pansies, that's for thoughts."
Pansies are a common edible flower but take caution to ensure you choose pansies that are pesticide free.
For complete instructions on how to make these for your next garden themed tea party visit StoneGable by clicking HERE.
I also used petunias for color in addition to the pansies and I added a "dash" of clear almond extract to the pasteurized egg whites when I crystallized the flowers which made for just a lovely taste!
There is also a link on my recipe page (click HERE).
Out of interest and pure visual joy, put a link on my recipe page to Meadowsweets which is a family owned business recently featured in Victoria Magazine. This company specializes in the art of crystallizing edible blooms and their creations are exquisite!
I found the information about pansies HERE.
Tea Tip of the Day...When creating a pot of tea, pour hot water into the teapot to warm it while the kettle of water is heating. Discard this water when ready to steep your leaves. This is called priming your teapot!
Linking to:
Bernideen's Saturday Tea in the Garden!
Tidy Mom
A Well Seasoned Life - Sweet Indulgences Sunday
So Sweet Sundays at Little Rays of Sunshine Blog
I Heart Naptime ~ Sundae Scoop
Foodie Friday
Flaunt it Friday
Strut Your Stuff Saturday
L.A.C.E ~ Wednesdays
Life is a Picnic Party!!
Sassy Sites - Friday
Hodgepodge Friday
Recipes I Can't Wait to Try (At Home with Haley)
Delicate Construction Fridays
Tablescape Thursday ~ Amazing Tablescape Ideas Here!
Sweets this Week!
Cupcake Apothecary
Tablescaper Seasonal Sundays
I Heart Naptime! Sundae Scoop
Monday, Mmmmm at Joy of Desserts
Posts
42 comments:
Pretty Trisha!
I just love pansies, they remind me that nature inspires us in so many ways..and they smell so lovely too!
K
They are adorable! You are really making me want to start having tea parties...and grow pansies!
I love pansies and always plant them every year. I always like the idea of using edible flowers but never tried to "candy" them. I will have to check it out. xo,
You made these look like they belong in a Shadow Box Frame! Pretty Petal's!
They make me smile! :)
I just simply love you
Beautiful cookies! So pretty and the perfect treat to serve with a lovely pot of tea.
Gorgeous cookies! ALMOST too pretty to eat! I need to get movin' on pinterest!
These are just beautiful! I found you through a comment you left for Paula and I am so glad that I did - I can't wait to explore the rest of your creations!
I love these cookies! They are almost too pretty to eat. I imagine that they taste as good as they look.
It's good to see that you didn't melt with the heat this week!
Have a great weekend!
Oh, so lovely...you always have the most wonderful ideas!
Your cookies are lovely and look delish!!!! It is wonderful knowing the meaning of Pansy, one of my favorite flowers! Thank you and Happy Pink Saturday!
Jil
this idea is BRILLIANT and it is perfect for this time of the year since flowers are in full bloom. your cookies look beautiful and so delicate!
i really appreciate that history lesson you shared. i feel so happy when i learn something i didn't know :)
I do not cook much anymore, but would really like a batch of those cookies.
These cookies are really pretty and elegant. Thanks for the little history on the pansy, so romantic.
Love your tips on brewing tea! I sure will have a nice tea party with some beautiful cookies and some delicious tea.
Thanks for inviting me to the Tea Party Tuesday. I surely will join the fun. Just became your newest follower so I won't miss it. Please follow back if you're interested. Take care and have a wonderful weekend. See you on Tuesday at the Tea Party!
Amy
http://utry.it
These look lovely and I will have to make them soon -- I candy pansies as a way to save them to decorate cakes and cupcakes but love the idea of the cookies. I have a few pansies left (they don't like our heat) and may just make some pansy shortbread to use them up!
Hello Trisha,
I made this cookies from Yvonne's blog once by my own but your look much sweeter with the scalloped edge. Nice done and very intersting informations about pansy. Thank you for sharing all that.
Best greetings, Johanna
Oh wow- these are so very pretty!!
Thank for linking this to LACE - it's so nice to see you there :-)
And thank you for the great information about edible flowers and the meanings Victorians placed on different blossoms.
So very interesting!
Have a blessed weekend...Trish
My two favorite meals...cookies and flowers! They are beautiful. I just discovered Pinterest as well and I just started a page and I've done a little browsing. It's a great idea instead of keeping bookmarks for everything. I like how it showcases your tastes. I can't wait to have my own house so I can grow pansies!
My name is Baxter and I'm a bunny. I linked over from the Yummy Friday Linky Party. Have a wonderful weekend!
Your cookies are beautiful! This is an art form and you have it perfected. Great photos! Thanks for sharing and have a great week end!
Miz Helen
Hi! These are SO beautiful. I love the idea and will definitely make these the next time I serve tea treats. Thanks for linking this up at the Yummy Friday linky party! I'm now following your lovely blog.
xx
Those are gorgeous looking cookies.
Late bloghopping for PF. would you mind peeking at my Pink Pixie? Thanks!
Thanks for stopping by. I have always loved pansies (and violas, violets and johnny jump ups).
I love Pinterest and I am spending way too much time on this computer!
Cookies look scrumptious.
Carol
Those cookies look scrumptious! I love using flowers in cooking!
Pinterest is fab isn't it?! X
I have to chuckle, when I first saw your pic I thought "oh, Yvonne made cookies like that". Yours turned out very pretty:@)
Those are such pretty cookies, and I'm sure they must be delicious too. These would be perfect for teas, showers and other sumer fun parties. Thanks for sharing. I'm visiting over from Seasonal Sundays.
~Emily
The French Hutch
These are realy gorgeous! I had to pull all of my pansies up with the heat, but transplanted two so I could still cook with them. I loved sugaring them and have done cupcakes with sugared pansies on them. They were my first posts and I still have them on my sidebar, that's how much I loved them.
I am going to have to try the cookies too. Your colors are just incredible.
I have signed up for pinterest but haven't got going yet! You have inspired me!
Oh my, those are absolutely works of art!
Thank for all of the interesting facts about pansies! Your cookies are beautiful. Happy Pink Saturday! ~Marti
love love those cookies.. Oh my I will have to remember this the next time the ladies are over! happy sunday, many blessings, marlis
Lovely!
Hi Trisha! Thanks so much for stopping by "bertie blooms" and becoming a follower..you made my day! When I saw your blog, I knew I had to follow back as I am always up for loving some sweets! I will be checking back often! Sweet blessings to you! bertie
Lovely.... absolutely lovely.
Those cookies are gorgeous! You are right,pinterest is the greatest! :) hugs
These look wonderful! I'm going to have to spend some time looking back at your past posts and wonderful recipes! Be sure to stop by my blog... I'm having a tea cozy giveaway.
oh wow what a beautiful story abt pansy, i just found out! thanks for sharing and lovely cookies too! i think im gonna check pinterest as it seems so interest hehehe...thanks for the tips too on tea! x susan
I am not familiar with pansy but the idea of it being included in bread is just something I have to try someday.
Visiting via Pink Fridays. Hope you can do the same.
Hello Patrick Star!
Oh these do look totally delicous and lovely to look at. I don't think I'd want to eat them as it might ruin the beauty! LOL!
Thanks for being a part of Seasonal Sundays.
- The Tablescaper
Wow, I've never seen anything like it before! Pretty cookies and I am SURE they are SWEET!
This is so perfect. I love everything about your post. I've also become a fan of looking at Pinterest. Have yet to join for fear of wasting even more time. Lovely tip about using almond extract. Thank you for linking at Monday, Mmm.
Those look too good to eat!! I'm sure they taste great! I am hosting a baking linking on my blog today! I would love for you to come and share your recipe with my readers!!
Happy Tuesday!
Gorgeous!!!
Very pretty! An old friend of mine has a son with Down syndrome and has said before that pansies remind her of his sweet face. She would enjoy some of these cookies!
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