Wednesday, November 20, 2013

A wee tea party in Forest Grove

During the early Fall of 2013, in a small town of Forest Grove, a tea party took place.Stella, a small 10" teddy bear visited a dear friend. In the friend's garden, a tea party was hosted in honor of Miss. Stella's visit. In fact, two tea parties took place in two different locations in the garden throughout the two week visit. Throughout the visit, when it rained, they partied in a small, warm attic room where all sorts of art, paper crafts and textiles hung from the walls and were stashed in little nooks and crannies. When it was sunny, the small bears and one duck partied outside or inside near a window.

I was able to capture a few photos of Miss. Stella and her lovely friends during the parties. Here are a few photos for your amusement:

The fruit tart was a huge hit with the guests. And the tea was a wonderful berry blend sweetened with local clover honey. Miss. Stella had a memorable time when she visited Forest Grove and she looks forward to many happy returns.

 

Tuesday, November 19, 2013

about those Olive-Pecan Finger Sandwiches

As promised, here is a wonderful yummy Autumnal recipe for those who love olives, pecans and cream cheese!
I found this recipe in Tea Time Magazine and immediately went to my kitchen to whip some up! I had everything on hand except the "Very Thin Wheat Bread" so I just used my regular bread. 
Because of the noise from the mixer, I had a teenage boy show up in the kitchen. Teenage boys are sort of like pets; like when a pet hears the fridge(or a wrapper, a tater chip bag or even the tuna can leaving the shelf) and then suddenly are under foot, that's sort of how it works with teenage boys. So, here I am, chopping, toasting, mixing, spreading, cutting and someone else wants to eat the fruits of my labor!

Ok. I let him. He's a charming boy.

HOLY TOLEDO! We couldn't stop eating this. I gave up the bread and grabbed some crackers and we just about finished that up before there was any evidence for other house occupants to find (the dog new. He liked it too.)

Hubby ventured through the kitchen while teenage boy, dog and I had our cheeks stuffed with the stuff. That incriminated us as we couldn't really speak. 
Or hide.
Or run (we didn't want to leave the mixture).
Hubby looked around and finished what was left.

I've been told to make it again.
I have. 
shhh....they don't know.

Here's the link:
Olive-Pecan Finger Sandwiches

Saturday, November 16, 2013

Tea Sandwiches

Tea sandwiches are so much fun to eat. You need to think beyond basic cucumber (though, I like those too, especially with some herbed cream cheese or some Boursin spread). How about some open faced tea sandwiches, which in some parts of the party sphere are called "canapés". Uh huh, I'm venturing into what the party elite call "horse doovers" or better yet, "or derbs". But hear me (or read me in this case), tea sandwiches are like the proverbial step child; they are underrated; they aren't really considered. It's a crying shame. They absolutely can be a great addition to a party menu. Take for example their ability to stretch a loaf of bread, the ease of preparation, the convenience factor of the leftovers. These little buggers can be a hostess' bestie! And, I should mention how they transcend age and gender. If you have kiddos, pb&j cut into four little handy sandwiches with the crust removed get eaten more than a whole big-a$$ sandwich does! AND...bbq pulled pork on miniature buns, as men fondly call "sliders", get gobbled up on game day like nobody's business. 

Have I convinced you to re-think your ideas of tea sandwiches? 



For the remainder of the month, I'll post some autumnal flavors that get served in miniature style on a wee bit of bread. 

Thursday, November 7, 2013

A Case for Tea Parties

I'm a tea party enthusiast.
So much so, I've started a traveling tea party business.

Yep.

It's what you're thinking. 
I prepare the foods, find the teas, pack my wares and deliver the whole shebang to your place. All you have to do is invite 8-24 friends. I'll even give you the invites for a small fee, or for a bit more, I'll mail them out for you. I try to make this as painless as possible.

Parties and celebrations are something we all should have more of. Creating space for friends, families, co-workers and well...people, to come together and celebrate. Celebrate what? Do you really need a reason? If you keep a gratitude journal you will find that for every entry, it can correspond to a reason to celebrate. Are you thankful for your pet goldfish? Then how about a party celebrating pets? Are you thankful for sunny days? Then how about a little picnic with some special people? See how this works now? I knew you were smart.

One of the best things about a tea party is that it can happen at anytime of day and anytime of year and in any sort of setting. They can be for a party of two or a party of_##__.  I personally prefer the smaller crowd for a more intimate time. Eight people is most delightful. It isn't too big or too small and everyone can feel like they have properly visited with each other. If you have a large crowd (over 24), then having seating for 8 per table is a must (for reason I mentioned above).

I also believe tea parties to be one of the best options for a bridal shower, baby shower or birthday party/anniversary. It can be as casual or as formal as the host/hostess desires. And because of the types of food served, it really is convenient. Dietary limitations are easily met with various menu options. With the addition of soups, salads & brunch foods, the tea party can be a rather filling experience.

I hope you'll consider a tea party as your next party. Hey! A holiday tea is perfect for gathering your friends and family. Call me. I'd love to help.