Tuesday's Tea Time

Yes, this is posting late but they say, "Better late than never." The Sweet and Savory of Tea is this weeks theme and since tea begins with scones, I'll refer you to a previous post

I shared the recipe for the best scones ever! We enjoy them with mock Devonshire Cream and Homemade Strawberry Freezer Jam.

Next we have tea sandwiches, quiches or other savories. I really enjoyed a different cucumber sandwich at the last tea I was at and I'll refer you to Karla's blog for a recipe that sounds very similar - if not better. I also enjoy chicken salad made with rotisserie chicken and put in phyllo cups purchased in the frozen section at the grocers. These stuffed mushrooms would also be yummy ~ especially at a tea served in the cooler months.

Stuffed Mushrooms

6 T. butter

1 cup soft breadcrumbs

1 cup shredded cheddar

1/2 cup chopped walnuts

1/2 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. pepper

Rinse mushrooms and pat dry. Remove stems, chop and set aside. In large skillet, melt butter. Brush mushroom caps with butter and place in lightly buttered shallow baking pan. To remaining butter in skillet, add chopped mushroom stems. Saute 2 minutes. Add crumbs, cheese, nuts, salt and pepper; stir lightly. Spoon into mushroom caps, piling high. Bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes (until stuffing shows lightly browned).

These Sweet Tropical Loaves are a #1 favorite with the volunteers at Bethesda North Hospital. So easy and they can be made in mini loaf or mini muffin size for your tea party. I've adapted the recipe from one found in Taste of Home.

Sweet Tropical Loaves

1 Yellow Cake Mix

1- 8 oz. can crushed pineapple, undrained

1 c. evaporated milk

1/2 tsp. nutmeg

Combine in a bowl, beating at low speed until moistened and then on high for 2 minutes. Pour into greased loaf pans or paper lined muffin tins. Bake at 325 degrees for 20 minutes for mini muffins, 35 minutes for mini loaf pans or 45-50 minutes for 8"x4"x2" pans OR until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Yield: 2 regular loaves.

I hope you enjoy these teatime recipes. Have a wonderful day!

Menu Plan Monday ~ April Week 4

This darling little Tea Cottage sits beside my utensil holder by the stove. I bought it many years ago at Great Day in Sparta, Michigan. It was part of a series of one of those promotions grocery stores will sometimes run.

This is the menu our family will enjoy for suppers this week:

Monday: Lasagna, rolls, salad
Tuesday: Sausage, blueberry pancakes, scrambled eggs, fruit juice
Wednesday: Chicken Tetrazzini, peas, rolls (we didn't end up having this last week)
Thursday: Baked macaroni and cheese, sliced and fried polish sausage, green beans
Friday: Fixing and serving supper at the Ronald McDonald House - not sure what's on the menu
Saturday: Taco Crescent Pie
Sunday: Ham Loaf, Cheesy rice, peas, apple cinnamon muffins

Have a wonderful week!

Thursday Thirteen ~ "F"

The life of Denise by the letter ~ "F":

1. Friends ~ fellowshipping with friends in the faith is a very favorite pasttime.

2. Flowers ~ I love flowers ~ fascinating four o'clocks, forsythia, I love them all for their beauty and fragrance.

3. Furniture ~ I have a deep appreciation for fine furniture after owning a furniture store for nine years.

4. Family ~ I LOVE MY Family! My mother's family, the Fair's, hail from Ireland. That's where I get all my freckles!

5. Fabric ~ she who dies with the most fabric wins they say! Smile! I've gotten rid of and used up alot so I probably won't "win!" I do love visiting fabric stores or the fabric department of department stores. Fancy brocades, french toiles, fine silks ~ they are all so fascinating!

6. Furlough ~ when we came home on furlough in 1981 after spending five years in Africa, we couldn't fathom all the changes that had taken place.

7. Fountains~ I love fountains. The way the water splashes and the sunlight dances through the droplets, the sounds of the water. Nothing quite like it!

8. Father ~ I've got THE best earthly and Heavenly fathers EVER! Hands down!

9. Fruit ~ favorite snack. Juicy tangelos, guava, bananas, strawberries, blackberries, mmmmm!

10. Feet ~ I'm very thankful for my two feet that take me all the places I need to go. When I broke my foot last year, I realized what a valuable possession they were.

11. Feminine ~ I love feminine things and being feminine. God's crowning creation was woman because He loves beauty. I delight in being feminine because it pleases my Creator when I continue to spread beauty in His lovely world.

12. Fish ~ probably my favorite meat ~ especially wall-eye... Culvers makes the best. Mmmm!

13. Florida ~ lived there for seven years. Four years on the Atlantic side and three on the Gulf. I like the Gulf side best.

Tuesday's Teatime ~ "Dressed to a Tea"

This week La-tea-dah asks us to share pictures of how we dress for tea. I love hats; but, can you believe, I don't own a hat for wearing in public ~ just an old straw one for working in my garden! So, on my list of things to get: a hat ~ just for tea!

This January a few of us got together for tea at a friends house. She had seen pictures of Jan Karon's tea and thought it looked so pretty with everyone dressed in white; so, she asked us to do the same. Some of us went with winter white; but, the overall effect was very pretty. See my profile picture for how I dressed for this special tea party.

Miss Sharon was the only one that had a suitable hat ~ I love this view from the back as she takes pictures. Isn't her hat darling?

Miss Miranda isn't the fou-fou type but she looks so pretty in her ivory cardigan and khaki skirt. Miss Karen ~ ever the lady~ looks so elegant in her white cotton blouse complete with a cameo brooch at the neck and white linen skirt. She even had a pretty handbag to match!


This is of my niece's bridal tea at a lovely tearoom in Stuart, Florida. The mother of the bride, my sister-in-law, is dressed in pink in the foreground. Other guests wore sundresses or cotton skirts and blouses for this lovely spring occasion.

The bride, seated next to the window with her sunglasses on top of her head wore a sundress. Her bridesmaids also wore pretty cotton sundresses for this special occasion.

To view other pictures of the tea I enjoyed with friends in January, visit this post http://denisetruesdale.blogspot.com/2008/01/blog-post_19.html .
For more pictures of the bridal tea, check back in a few posts when we tell of favorite tea venues.

Don't forget to visit La-tea-dah at: http://www.gracioushospitality.blogspot.com/ for more tea attire!