tea parties | Minivans Are Hot

The Tea Party

April 12, 2010 by Kelli

I have never been much of a girly girl. I enjoy nice clothes and make up, but I’m not primpy or frilly, I don’t know how to sew and none of these things have ever bothered me. And I can proudly say that I have never once in all my life jumped up and down squealing and crying over a celebrity (although had I had a personal encounter with John Travolta in high school I might have swooned a little…and fainted…).

But there is one thing that brings out the frill that lays buried deep inside. It is the one thing that makes me happy to pull out an apron and want to sip Shirley Temple’s while skipping about my kitchen.

A tea party. Commence to girl squealing now!

I threw a tea party over the weekend and it was all sorts of frilly. There were flowers and lace. We noshed on such dishes as Caramalized Pear, Roasted Walnut and Bleu Cheese Quiche and Lavendar Tea Cakes. There were Spinach-Basil Scones and Martha Washington Petite Cakes, Roasted Turkey and Avacado finger sandwiches and Cinnamon Plum Tea. Oh it was yummy and girly and fun, fun, fun.

I’m giggling. Right now. Giggling like a little girl.

The pictures to follow will show you why. If you’re a girl, you will likely breathe a small sigh and smile. If you’re a dude, you’ll probably feel sorry for Lee as you imagine him being forced to sample all the lovely cuisine. (He does have to sample it all. And he doesn’t like it. Hmph…)

Enjoy. You may want to grab a napkin as drooling is quite the possibility.

The Centerpiece

I know. Makes you want to weep...

See how happy they are?

Even my own little tomboy got to come along. I'm raising a second generation tea party addict. No politics allowed!

How was your weekend?

Filed Under: Easter, Holidays, Kids, Life, Motherhood, Random, tea parties Tagged With: tea party, Tea Time Magazine

Mini S’Mores Cheesecakes

July 28, 2009 by Kelli

Mmmmm…mouthwatering.

We’re having friends over tonight for dinner. It will be simple – grilled chicken, salad, bread – maybe grilled vegetables – I haven’t decided yet. But the delight will come at dessert.

*UPDATE- So our friends had something come up and had to cancel so I’m not going to make these tonight – but I will find an occasion sometime this week to make these! Oh yes, I certainly will…

This recipe comes from Tea Time Magazine. I will add it to my tea recipes page (as well as some other recipes that I’ve been meaning to add).

Mini S’Mores Cheescakes
2 1/4 c graham cracker crumbs
1/2 c plus 2 T sugar, divided
1/2 c butter, melted
1 egg white, lightly beaten
1 1/2 (8 oz.) packages cream cheese, softened
1/4 c unsweetened cocoa powder
2 large eggs
1 t vanille extract
1 (1-oz) square bittersweet baking chocolate, melted
24 jumbo marshmellows

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2. In a small bowl, combine the graham cracker crumbs and 1/4 cup sugar. Add the melted butter and egg white, and stir to combine. Press the crumb mixture into bottoms and halfway up sides of 2 (12 well) mini cheesecake pans. Bake for 3 minutes; set aside.
3. Increase oven temperature to 375.
4. In a medium bowl and using an electric mixer at medium speed, beat the cream cheese until smooth. Gradually beat in the remaining sugar and cocoa powder until mixture is smooth. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla extract and melted chocolate, and mix until combined.
5. Divide the cream cheese mixture evenly among the prepared crumb crusts, filling 2/3 full. Bake for 6 – 8 minutes or until puffed and set. Remove from oven and let cool on a wire rack for approximately 20 minutes.
6. Freeze for 1 hour. Just before serving, preheat broiler. Place 1 marshmellow on top of each cheesecake, and broil for 1-2 minutes, or until lightly browned. Carefully remove cheesecakes from pan, and serve immediately.

It sounds lick your lips good! I’ll try to take pictures later of the finished product. Now I need to go because my house just got eerily quiet, which almost always means someone’s up to no good. I’m off!

Filed Under: Life, Random, tea parties Tagged With: S'Mores Cheesecakes, Tea Time Magazine

The Art of Taking Tea

May 18, 2009 by Kelli

Tea parties are a lost art. There is something so beautiful and relaxing about sitting at a beautifully decorated table and just taking your time. It is nearly as peaceful as a calm day at the beach – I said nearly…

The tea party yesterday afternoon was perfect. It was a beautiful day, the food was spectacular, the tea’s were amazing and the company was special. Instead of lasting 2 hours, it lasted 3 and it was just delightfully laid back and blissful.

Here was the final menu:

Watermelon Feta Salad

Caramelized Pear, Bleu Cheese and Walnut Quiche

Cinnamon Raison Bread with Carrot and Cream Cheese Filling

Spinach Tartletts with Cream Cheese Crust (aka-a mouth full of awesome!)

Choco-Chewy Scotch Bars

Orange Cream Scones w/ Strawberry and Lemon Curd

Lemon Cake

Fruit Salad w/ Spiced Syrup

The Tea’s:

Almond Biscotti

Pina Coloda Ginger Coconut (mm-hmm you heard me right…)

Tarragon Orange Apple Pomegranate Iced Tea

Seriously, the food was to die for. I hope my mansion in heaven is filled with three-tiered plates of those delights, ’cause I’m going to have my eternal body and I’m hoping I can eat to my heart’s content without a single repercussion – and no, I’m pretty sure that last sentence is not theologically correct.

Here is a picture of the set table – unfortunately, we forgot to take pictures of the dessert because we were too busy eating them, but it was equally as beautiful when displayed:

Don't you just want to say, "Aaaaahhhh..."

The hostesses - Lauren and Kelli the Amazon woman - seriously, I look like I'm towering over her. It was the heels.

I have amazing recipes for all of these delights and what I think I’ll do is put up a new page in the sidebar with some of my favorites. Most of them were really easy to make.

I seriously want to run a tea business when I grow up. I’m thinking when the kids are a little older, I just may get one started. In the meantime, if any of you ever want to throw one and need help or ideas, let me know.

Okay – I’m off…

Filed Under: Life, Random, tea parties