Thursday, April 18, 2013

April Showers Bring May Tea Parties


1966 Fashion Luncheon Barbie

Isn't it fabulous? We're a month into Spring.  Yay! Cherry blossoms are blossoming. Birds are chirping new tunes. Fashion Luncheon Barbie takes us back to a simpler time, when we had time for afternoon teas on a daily basis.


(Berry Angel Food Cake)

Springtime Barbie dresses for the occasion with three sharp dresses for Spring.
And those neccessary April showers bring beautiful May flowers, so why not plan a Springtime tea in May to show them off and your sunny disposition?

Clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness  and patience."  Collosians 3:12 NIV

Miracles and Blessings... Kiki here.  I'm back to host today's text-webisode:  April Showers Bring May Tea Parties. 


Barbie Springtime Doll





(O Magazine)
(Bubble and Sweet)

(White Chocolate Cream Pot with Strawberry - Bubble and Sweet )


I love white chocolate and strawberries.  So I'll give you a quick minute to jot down this scrumptious recipe.

(Bubble and Sweet)


White Chocolate Cream Pot with Strawberry
 



You'll need demitasse coffee spoons to fit into the shot glasses

Melt 200g very finely chopped white chocolate with 100ml cream in the microwave on medium low mixing between bursts carefully until all chocolate is melted. Add a little pink food coloring.

Refrigerate until set.  Whip another 100ml cream to hard peak stage and then very very carefully fold into white chocolate mixture.

Chop some strawberries into small pieces and pop a tiny amount into the bottom of small glasses (shot glasses), and carefully spoon in white chocolate mixture. If you like you can add a small spoon into the glasses prior to adding the chocolate mixture and it will set standing up like in the pics.

Slice strawberry and add a pretty slice to the top. Refrigerate until set.  Serve cold.




All Aboard the Tea Party Cyber-Train


So join me and Springtime Barbie on this quick cyber-tour to some of the most delicious and creative tea parties for us iCafe Woman Moderne D.I.V.A.S. (Dynamic, Industrious, Victorious, Artistic and Strong.)  Each displays the modern vintage flair we love.




1. Rent A Tea Party
This is ingenius!  If you don't have the time to run from store to store or from flea market to estate sale to gather your tea party paraphernalia, you can't rent a tea party for little princesses to adult divas.


(Rent a Tea Party)

2. Host a Mother's Day Tea
Mother's day is just around the corner.  You can plan a traditional British High Tea or get whimsical like this Mother's Day Tea designed by Lolita Healy of Designs by Lolita at Haute Hostess.



(Haute Hostess)


Here's another whimsical English High Tea Party
that caught my eye.



Barbie Springtime Doll


As you can see from these examples, today's English High Teas don't have to be formal and stuffy.  Don't get me wrong, you can still dress in fancy hats and gloves.  What could be more fun.





English Tea Parties

Here's what you'll find on a British AfternoonTea menu.  

A selection of freshly prepared finger sandwiches
Warm scones with clotted cream and preserves
A variety of home-made cakes and pastries
Your choice from a range of teas.

Types of Classic Sandwiches Served:

Cucumber
Egg mayonnaise with cress
Smoked salmon with cream cheese
Coronation chicken
Ham and mustard
What's a Cream Tea?

A Cream Tea is generally scones, clotted cream and preserve served with a pot tea.

What types of common teas are served?

Assam - a strong full-bodied tea from India, which has a distinctive, malty flavor.
Darjeeling - An aromatic and astringent tea from India, with a hint of almonds and wildflowers.
Earl Grey - A blend of black teas scented with oil of bergamot named after Charles, 2nd Early Grey, who was prime minister form 1830 to 1834.


(Stash Tea)





Of course you can choose from an array:  exotic tea, (like the loose tea selections:  Maharaja Oolong Tea, Chocolate Banas Foster Herbal Tea, etc.) and bag varieties of Stash tea.  You can even design your tea party theme around a color like the tea party below.



(Tevana - Chocolate Bananas Foster Herbal Tea)






This vintage dress would go nicely with the yellow and white deco.




Barbie Springtime Doll




Here's the tried and true cucumber sandwich.  Don't let the name fool you into thinking this is a bland sandwich.  I'ts not.  It's simply delicious.


Ingredients:



  • 1 large cucumber, peeled and thinly sliced
  • 8 ounces whipped cream cheese
  • Mandarin orange slices
  • 20 slices of white bread, cut into shapes

Directions:

  1. Spread a thin layer of cream cheese on 2 slices of bread.
  2. Place two cucumbers on one of the pieces of bread.
  3. Make into a sandwich. Repeat, making ten sandwiches.
  4. Garnish with a mandarin orange slices or cucumber slices.


Apple Chicken Salad Tea Sandwiches
Serves 10

Ingredients:

Directions:

  1. Buy prepared chicken salad from your neighborhood deli or supermarket.
  2. Slice an apple into very thin wedges.
  3. Spread chicken salad evenly onto two slices of bread.
  4. Top one of the pieces of bread with a couple of thin wedges of apple and make into a sandwich.
  5. Repeat, making 10 sandwiches.
(pretty in pink, Barbie)


Tea Party Sandwiches for Kids (And Other Finger Food)



(Petite Watermelon)

Petite Watermelons
These refreshing mini melons made with limes and strawberry-flavored gelatin, are fun and just the right size for the kiddies.

(dashrecipes.com)

Cream Cheese and Jelly Daisies

Tuna Flippers

(dashrecipes.com - you'll find the recipes on the website.)

Our Cucumber, Cream Cheese Daisies and Tuna flippers would look great on a three-tier floral server.

Pinata Surprise
Our little divas will love breaking open this pinata.

(dashrecipes.com)


3.  Girlfriends' Tea
Start with  an eye-catching Tea Party invitation.

(home is more)

(Zebra Print Teapot Invitation)



Let's say your guests has a bigger appetite.  You can make a heartier tea with this menu from Betty Crocker.com

Turkey Dijon Roll-Ups
Shrimp and Artichoke Quiche
Chicken and Pasta Salad
Peach and Berry Bellini Salad
White Chocolate Lemon Cupcakes
 (BettyCrocker.com)

Turkey Dijon Roll-Ups
3 tablespoons of honey mustard
 6 Herb or plain flour tortillas (8-inch)
1-2 Carrots peeled, grated
2 packages of smoked turkey breast slices.(6oz. each)
6 leaves of lettuce
1/2 cup of honey dijon mustard dressing
      1. Spread mustard evenly on tortillas to edges.
    2. Top each tortilla evenly with carrot, turkey and lettuce. Roll up each tortilla; wrap securely with plastic wrap. Refrigerate 15 minutes or overnight.
     3. Serve slice rolls diagonally into 3/4-inch-thick slices. Serve with dressing.

 (BettyCrocker.com)
 Peach Berry Bellini Salad - Click Here for Recipe



White Chocolate Lemon Cupcakes - Click Here for Recipes




4. Children's Beach Tea Party

If you live near a beach, throw a seaside tea party for the little divas in your lives.

 (igyougo)


5. Bridal Shower Tea






6. High Tea Birthday Party




So what are you waiting for, start planning your Springtime May Tea today.