A holiday lunch

Are all your gifts unwrapped and all the piles of wrapping paper put in the trash or burn pile by now?  We have one more Christmas with my parents this week and  * poof * another Christmas will be history.  Seems like they fly by so fast anymore.  I must have been a really good girl this year though because I received some lovely goodies, but I will share more about those another day.


Last Thursday I took the time to have my bff over for lunch and I am so glad that I did. We used to get together a lot to craft, eat or shop {maybe even all three at once}, but it seems that we just don't find as much time these days for US.  This particular day we had a wonderful time talking, laughing , eating and solving the worlds problems. LOL

White chocolate snack mix that I make every year at Christmastime.

Apparantly I took this photo before I put the water in the glasses. oops!
I  used some fake pine garland that I had cut into smaller pieces and attached to the bottom of the goblets. No time to run out and get real greenery.

Script placemats topped with lace placemats

I even added several little paper stars that I had made a few weeks ago

The best turkey salad sandwiches that you will ever have. 
{source Pettisville Meats}

A few different kinds of cookies are always nice to have on hand and they were a yummy treat.

Rosemary Olive Oil potato chips...sooooo good!

Good ole H20 with lemon and lime slices. Too late I realized that I should have had a cranberry or two to add to the glasses, but I didn't have any on hand. It would have been a nice pop of color.

 I actually used paper napkins this time around. {hee hee} I will say looking at the photos now they do look a bit colorless, but there was also a bowl of pasta salad that had red tomatoes and green peppers in it so we did have a little color.  It was a fun day and it went by way too fast , but I hope we can do it again soon!

Wishing you all a wonderful week ahead as we prepare to ring in the New Year!
*2012*

Tea Party On The Patio ~

I like to think about the houses and the drawing rooms, the kitchens and the cupboards where the teacups were kept. And the people who cared for them and what they thought and felt and loved and lost. For as a wise French writer once said, "The reconstitution of the past is a delicate pleasure of which one should not be deprived".

~Geraldene Holt

I am so happy that you decided to join me for a tea party today that The Victorian Parlor is hosting online. I intended to put a lot more time and effort into this tea party, but time got away from me. My plans were to have a beautiful table set outside with the above china, lace, teacups, teapot and roses...of course we have to have roses! BUT as you can see that did not happen. I got as far as the first photo and I am so sorry! So...on for now with PLAN B. I thought I would share a garden tea that a friend and I held on her beautiful patio several years ago.

Tomato and Basil sandwiches~ Chicken/Pecan salad sandwiches~ Lemon poppy seed bread ~ Fruit Cup ~

Cream cheese filled strawberries...so simple and so delicious! I had fun making them too ~

Lavender lemonade with greenery and roses surrounding it. The roses came from my old fashioned rose bush and smelled wonderful~

The Spread..we served open faced tomato and basil sandwiches on party rye, chicken/pecan salad sandwiches cut in little triangles (I like to use pepperidge farm very thin white bread), fruit cup, lemon poppyseed bread, scones with lemon curd(we made our own lemon curd), filled strawberries, lavender lemonade, ice tea and water with lemon. We also made adorable little favors out of teeny tiny clay pots filled with a little spanish moss and added a twig with a tiny bird perched on it. They were a hit...wonderful memories too ~

A few of the recipes just for you ~

Filled Strawberries~

Whip together 6 ounces of cream cheese that has been brought to room temperature for 2-3 minutes until slightly fluffy. Add 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract and 1 and 1/2 tablespoons confectioners sugar. Trim bottom of 12 strawberries slightly so they will stand upright. Use a melon baller to scoop out stems and tops. Fill pastry bag fitted with 1/2 inch star tip with cream cheese mixture. Pipe into strawberries until cream cheese brims over top. Berries can be topped with sliced toasted almonds if desired. (toast almonds 3-6 minutes at 350 degrees)

Open Face Tomato Basil Sandwiches

Spread party rye bread squares with mayonaise. Then top with a slice of tomato and some basil leaves and enjoy. I LOVE these simple sandwiches~

Chicken Salad Sandwiches

Mix cooked shredded or cubed chicken and mayonnaise to taste. Add crushed pineapple and either chopped pecans or slivered almonds and mix well. Spread on croissants or regular bread cut diagonally into four triangles.

Fruit Cup

1 ripe cantaloupe cut in cubes

1 pint fresh blueberries

1 (6 ounce) can frozen lemonade concentrate, thawed and undiluted

Mix all ingredients together and put in refrigerator for 12 hours or overnight. Yumm~

I hope you enjoyed our teaparty on the patio. Be sure and head on over to The Victorian Parlor for other tea party links.

Next time I promise to do better ~ Blessings~