Tuesday, August 2, 2011

The Mug

One could make a case for "The Mug" as one of the most important elements in the pottery and food relationship. Most of us start our day with coffee or tea in our favorite mug.  The Mug functions as a drinking vessel and a conduit to nourish our body and soul.



In anticipation of farm stand sales this summer, I threw a variety of mugs.  A successful glaze kiln yielded the fine assortment pictured above. In order to understand my mugs better, I filled each with water.  Why?  I wanted to see exactly how much liquid each would hold.  As a functional piece of pottery, food and beverage usage needs to be considered. Here's what I found:

18 ounces
16 ounces
14 ounces
12 ounces
What's local and good to eat while you are sipping your morning java?  This is a favorite when Blueberries are in season...


Blueberry Pound Cake 
Cooking Light 1998

2 cups granulated sugar
1/2 cup light butter
1/2 (8-ounce) package 1/3 less-fat cream cheese -- softened
3 large eggs
1 large egg white
3 cups all-purpose flour -- divided
2 cups fresh or frozen blueberries
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 (8-ounce) carton lemon low-fat yogurt
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Cooking spray
1/2 cup powdered sugar
4 teaspoons lemon juice                                                                                                     
1. Preheat oven to 350.


2. Beat first 3 ingredients at medium speed of a mixer until well-blended (about 5 minutes). Add eggs and egg white, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine 2 tablespoons flour and blueberries in a small bowl, and toss well. Combine remaining flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Add flour mixture to sugar mixture alternately with yogurt, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Fold in blueberry mixture and vanilla; pour cake batter into a 10-inch tube pan coated with cooking spray. 


3. Bake at 350 for 1 hour and 10 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. 


4. Cool cake in pan 10 minutes; remove from pan. Combine powdered sugar and lemon juice in a small bowl; drizzle over warm cake. Cut with a serrated knife.



I'm selling these beautiful mugs at the Powessit Farm Stand today, August 2nd from 1:30-6:30.

2 comments:

  1. Lovely mugs and the cake sounds yummy! Good luck at your sale.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Wishing good weather and many sales for you!

    ReplyDelete

post comments here