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Cups, Cozies and China, Enjoying Together, Recipes, Uncategorized

Tea In A Box – put together a special gift

February 24, 2020
Ever want to share a special gift with someone special? A friend, a family member, or maybe someone just needing to be cheered up. Tea In A Box can be that special gift.

I love to share tea with folks but if they are not able to attend a tea, then I will send them a Tea In A Box – a special gift. I have gifted friends, family, co-worker and others just to treat them, cheer them up, or even just to say thank you. In this post, I will outline how to put together what I call A Tea In A Box . Its a special gift and here is how you put it together.

What goes in a Tea In A Box?

When I started putting together Tea In A Box gifts, it was with the idea of equipping the recipient to have all the things needed to have their very own personal tea.
- Scones
- Lemon Curd
- Jam
- Utentils – knives, spoons
- Napkins
- Seasonal items
- Of course…TEA!
Tea In A Box can certainly contains the complete array of a full tea – scones, savories and sweets. Your ability to keep things fresh and the delivery time will impact this. I have done full teas this way and they are delightful. For this post, I have chosen to stick with a Tea In A Box theme with scones only.

Tea In A Box – a sweet thank you for one

Of course, this can be adjusted to what your reason for the Tea In A Box is. The above list is perfect for a single gift like a thank you. Here is an example of a single Tea In A Box. I was gifted a sweet tea cup holder by a friend who wouldn’t take any compensation. I gifted her a small bag of scones, curd and jam, and tea as a thank you. Tied up with a little tulle bow and she was delighted. Simple but special.

Single Tea In A Box as a Thank you

Group Tea In A Box

If I am doing a group gift, I will increase the number but be pretty consistent with the contents. Here for instance is a group box of scones, curd and jam, utensils, paper linens and of course tea. This was a seasonal tea with spices and was for Christmas. I tied the bow up with some green twine (from my tool box) and attached a small decorative pine cone. I like to include a menu along with instructions for preparing and storing the pastries and curd – that is if there are any leftover!
- Contents for Holiday Tea In A Box
- Holiday Tea In A Box wrapped up
Holiday Tea In A Box
Special Occasion Tea In A Box

At times I have been requested to put together a special occasion Tea In A Box. This year, I put together a Tea for Two package. This was a bit more elaborate and included special items. The Tea In A Box was being raffled off to two deserving employees as part of a Valentine’s recognition. But you could do this for any special occasion – a wedding, baby shower, birthday surprise or Springtime! So I wanted to step up the contents a bit. Here’s what was in the box:
- Strawberry Cream Scones
- Toffee Scones
- Currant Scones
- Bittersweet Chocolate Quick Bread
- Curd and Jam for all
- Knives
- 2 Vintage Teacups with tasting spoons
- Chocolates
- Napkins
- Of course….TEA!
Once I knew the contents, I wanted to make sure the guests understood the Tea In A Box and everything contained within. So I prepared explanations and well wishes, labels about the food items, steeping instructions for the tea, and even history about their teacups.

Tea In A Box documents
- Prepping the documents
- Cutting out the documents
Building the Tea In A Box documents
Tea In A Box Documents – welcome, menu, pastry information

Vintage Teacups – a sweet keepsake

Next I started pulling all the contents together. I decided to include teacups as special keepsakes for this basket. I went to one of my usual antique stores, Legacy Antiques https://legacyantiques.wordpress.com/, and purchased two vintage teacups. Now that was fun for sure.

Here is how I packaged the teacups so they would be protected. You can see that the tasting spoon is included for each cup. I also included care of the cup and the history of the cup.
- Two vintage teacups
- Wrapping teacup
- Single cup wrapped
Two wrapped vintage teacups with history

The Curd and Jam

For the curd and jam, I purchased single servings for the Tea In A Box. Though I delivered the Tea In A Box as close to presentation as I could, I wanted to ensure that the curd and jam would be properly sealed for safety. These were very inexpensive and are easily found online.

NOTE: I have placed the links below – however the single 1 ounce sizes are not available for individual purchase only in bulk. I have both of these in bulk but use them quite a bit. I have also included a larger size but you may want to check out your local World Market or import stores who frequently has small serving items available. These are 1 ounce servings and provide just enough for 1 maybe 2 scones. So I included enough for ample topping.

Black Currant Jam and Lemon Curd – ready to be eaten!

The Pastries

The scones and bread were prepared ahead of time. I packed them in cellophane bags, included the ingredients, shelf life guidelines, and how to prepare and store (if there are any leftovers).
- Scones ready for packaging
- Scones being packaged
Toffee Scone packaged, sealed and with label

The Tea!

And what about the tea? I selected a well known tea brand, supplied tea bags, and gave several servings of 2 different teas. I also included background on the tea and how to steep it.

Tea in bags with information and steeping instructions

Putting it altogether

With everything prepared, it was time to put everything together for delivery. I opted to use a basket but you could use any number of containers, depending on the occasion.
- Tea in a box items ready for packaging
- Basket for Tea In A Box
Tea In A Box packaged but not wrapped

Ready for awarding
Tea In A Box -a special gift

The final Tea In A Box put together and ready for delivery. I am sure that the recipients will enjoy the treats, the keepsake vintage teacups, and the lavishing. Put your feet up, enjoy the moment before getting back into that busy schedule….this is Valentine’s and a time to remember that you are cared for.

These instructions will help you put your own Tea In A Box together for any occasion and for anyone special. Have fun with it and know that you are giving someone a very special treat.

The following products were used in this post

This post contains affiliate links and I may earn compensation when you click on the links at no additional cost to you Look through the products and enjoy!
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Beth 72 Comments
Cups, Cozies and China, Enjoying Together, Memories, Recipes, Uncategorized

How to have a Valentine’s Tea Party

February 10, 2020
Ready to serve you!

This is a special time of year and having a Valentine’s Tea Party can show your friends just how much they mean to you. In this post I will outline the steps that I use in putting a Valentine’s Tea Party together and just what it looks like when put it altogether. Included are some free planning tools for you to use. These are hints, helps and steps that I have developed. You will find them helpful for your Valentine’s tea and any afternoon tea that you hold.

How to begin the planning

Once you have decided that you want to have a Valentine’s Tea Party, there are some simple questions you will want to ask to determine how the party will go. These are guidelines and considerations for you. Most importantly, you want to make your Valentine’s Tea party special for both you and your guests.
- Pick the day and time of day you want to have your tea party. If you are having an afternoon tea, this will include savories, scones and sweets. So your guests will want to come prepared to enjoy a full serving of treats. The time of day helps to determine your tea choices. Frequently, late teas include decaffeinated teas.
- Determine how long your tea party will be. My tea parties are generally 2 hours long. This gives each course about 30 minutes to enjoy and then some time for guests to settle in and service to begin.
- Determine how many guests will be coming to your party. This will impact your location and your menu development. I will address the menu development later in the post. Afternoon teas are generally fancy but you can make the menu to reflect your style. You will want to make sure you understand your guests’ food needs – are there any allergies or food preferences that you need to address?
- Pick out your invitations. Will you use email? Text? General mail? I generally use either email or text and there are many vendors that can provide you with easy electronic invitations such as Smile Box http://www.smilebox.com or Evite http://www.evite.com. You will want to send out your invitations 2-3 weeks ahead of the party. This is not only for your guests but also for your planning. Make sure to have an RSVP and ask if there are any food allergies or food preferences (gluten free for example).
- Outline if you are going to have any activities. There are several tea party games that you can use. My guests generally are just full of conversation and we don’t have games. But I have attended many teas that do, so choose what works for you and your guests.
Planning for the Valentine’s Tea Party

Menu Development

I like to do a traditional afternoon tea. This includes 3 courses – savories, scones and sweets. The courses are presented in that order.

The savory course consists of individual servings or “finger food”. I like to have 4-5 savories during this course. The savories can be cold or hot. I usually have a combination of both. I love to serve a Spinach Ball with Marinara Sauce. This recipe can be made well in advance, easy to put together and freezes well. The link to this recipe is at the end of this post.

Champagne Glass Tipped with Red Crystal Sugar

I will frequently offer a champagne cocktail with my special teas. So check with your guests if this would be acceptable. I like to serve this with the savory course.

Here you can see that I chose to dip the edge of the champagne flute with red crystal sugar – just an added touch of specialness!

The scone course consists of breads or scones. You can serve one scone or two. I like to serve 2 and have one reflect the season or event. For the Valentine Tea Party, I serve a Strawberry Cream Scone. I also serve a Currant Scone at all my teas (just a little tradition I like to have). Its during this course that you would serve a curd and cream. I like to serve Lemon Curd and Devonshire Cream. The scone and curd recipes are listed below.

The sweet or dessert course is the final course. I like to have 4 items for this course and similar to the savories, are small servings.

Part of my menu development is also the tea pairing. What teas will go best with what course? There are guidelines that help you select appropriate teas but to me, bottom line is what tastes best and what you and your guests like. But no tea bags – only use loose leaf tea in tea pots.

Valentine’s Tea Party Menu

Here is the menu. You can see all the items listed along with the tea that has been chosen for the course.

Preparing Ahead

Critical for your tea party is to plan ahead. I develop the menu with this in mind. A lot of the items on the menu can be prepared in advance and put in the freezer (one of my favorite kitchen tools). For example, all my scones are prepared and frozen unbaked, just waiting to be baked the day of the tea. In this particular Valentine’s Tea Party menu, 8 of these items can be made ahead and in the freezer just waiting to be baked or reheated for service. That’s a huge time saver. So planning out your schedule is critical.

Getting the other tea party items together can also be done ahead of time. Menus printed off, teapots and teacups pulled. I even make up tea bags ahead of time so I can steep the pot and not make my guests wait.

This can seem overwhelming and that’s why using planning tools is so important. Download my Teas The Season Tea Party Planning Toolkit .

Tea-Party-Planning-ToolkitDownload

Setting the Stage

Setting the stage for you Valentine’s Tea Party is part of the experience. It makes your guests feel pampered and very special. Valentine’s provides the perfect venue for this. You can go all in from an expense perspective or on a budget as well. With little effort and resources,, you and your guests will feel special. Just let your creative talents flow!

Putting it Altogether

I recently had the opportunity to host a Valentine’s Tea Party for 6 ladies. It was delightful. Here is what it looked like when put altogether.

Entering and Greeting the Guests
- Entry table greeting guests
- Another greeting for my guests
Setting the stage for my guests. Valentine Themed Vignettes
You can make your guests feel special by having little vignettes around your home. I like to have something at the entrance to my home that highlights the theme. I will find quotes on-line and incorporate them into frames. These frames were simple Dollar Store frames that I burnished with gold to give a vintage look. I will use inexpensive tulle to help embellish the tables and LED lights to help set the stage.

Valentine quote in frame greeting my guests

Place Setting

Each place setting has a plate, silverware, napkin and cup. For this Valentine’s Tea Party, I used a red napkin and a ceramic bow napkin holder (a gift from one of my sisters). Instead of going with red cups, I went with floral and pink cups for the table setting.

For the silverware, I used a small demitasse spoon for the tea, a small cocktail fork and then a small butter knife. Both the spoons and folks can be purchased in many places. World Market carries both the spoons and forks for a reasonable price. You can also find them at your local restaurant supply store. I have listed these in the product selections at the end of this post. These particular knives I have collected over the years from different vintage stores. Each place setting has a menu. The menu becomes a nice keepsake for your guests to remember how you gifted them with such a great tea party.

Valentine Tea Party Place Setting

Table Setting

This is a setting for 6 people. I have carried the theme in through the table using the same tulle and lights. You can see the different cups and the food tiers. Each chair is adorned with a red ribbon to add to the flair. I like to have a center runner of color for the table. Here I have used red for that Valentine’s theme along with tulle, little lights, and fabric rose petals. The flowers, lights and rose petals I purchased at my local Dollar Store. I have the food tiers on the table and test how they sit in line with the decorations, but nothing else higher so that my guests can have great conversation.

You can see that I like to use the black metal tiers but you can use whatever presentation you like and what fits your guests. I also make sure to have plenty of creamers and sugars available. For the lemon curd and the Devonshire cream, I am using Moonstone vintage china – an inheritance from my mom. Always a sweet memory.

Finishing up…..

The party was a success! The hostess and guests were pleased with their Valentine’ Tea Party. They were able to step back from the stress of life and enjoy each other’s company. Along with their empty plates and cups, the ooohs and aaahs intermixed with their constant conversation were the measurements of my success. They felt lavished and refreshed….and I was blessed! Cleanup was done, I finished the champagne and put my feet up!
- Stacked and ready for cleanup
- Cleanup done!
Feet up!

Tools and Recipes

Here again are the FREE tools for you to download. These are guidelines to help you have a successful tea party and can be used for really any function. I have used these for simple 4-6 people as well as upwards of over 20 guests, so they have been well tested.

Tea-Party-Planning-ToolkitDownload

Here are some of the recipes listed on the Valentine’s Tea Party menu. These have been published in my previous posts. There will be several additional recipes in future posts highlighting other items off this menu.

Lemon Curd https://teastheseason3.com/lemon-curd-its-all-about-the-curd/

Spinach Balls with Marinara Sauce https://teastheseason3.com/spinach-balls-an-easy-savory-treat/

Strawberry Cream Scones https://teastheseason3.com/strawberry-cream-scones/

These products were used in this post:

This post contains affiliate links and I may earn compensation when you click on the links at no additional cost to you. Look at the products and enjoy!
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Beth 22 Comments
Enjoying Together, Memories, Uncategorized

Planning a Little Girls’ Cocoa Tea Party

February 5, 2020
The envelope arrives and their little hearts leap with excitement. Its a Tea Party – A Cocoa Tea Party! What a precious time for a little girl. Little girls getting together and enjoying each other’s company, the treats, and all the embellishments. Let’s talk about planning your little girl’s first cocoa tea party!

So how do you bring together all the pieces of a tea party for little girls and with little stress? Here’s some how-to’s and helpful hints to entertaining on a shoestring and yet sure to bring all the enjoyment to your little girls.

Checklist on how to put Cocoa Tea Party together:

To help the process, here is a checklist to put your little girl’s party together.
1. Determine the when, time, where and how many will you want at the party.
  - When is important to consider for days available. Holidays are fun but can be tough. Schedules are busy. Invite early to make sure your guests availability.
  - Time will determine food choices for your guests and how long. Adult teas generally are 2 hours long.
  - Where and how many help to determine location of your tea party
  - Are you going to invite parents or just the girls? Sometimes parents will be fine with a drop-off but if they are not familiar with you, they might want to stay around.
  - Remember that these are littles…so there attention span is limited. Activities indoors and outdoors will be helpful.
2. Once you have the pieces of #1 identified, there are some things you will want to consider –
  - Will you have games, crafts or activities?
  - Its a tea party – will the girls wear hats or dress up?
3. Menu preparation
  - Check on allergies for your guests and adjust as necessary.
  - Keep in mind the time of day you are having this and any seasonal preferences. If in the afternoon, your guests may have already eaten – so a light menu might be appropriate.
  - What equipment will you need – how will you set the table and present the food. It’s a tea party! Have fun with it!
4. Putting the invites together
  - Choose an invite that is friendly and inviting
  - Determine when the invites need to go out
  - Be sure to include RSVP
  - Include the parents to make sure those invites get home if delivered to school
  - Here’s some examples of printable invites
5. Setup and Cleanup
  - Make sure you have a plan around your setup. Give yourself enough time to take a deep breath before all the fun starts.
  - And include your daughter in the prepping! She will love being a part of the whole process.
For a great tool, CLICK DOWNLOAD for my free Checklist For Little Girls’ Tea Party

CHECKLIST-FOR-LITTLE-GIRLS-1Download

So here are some examples for you to consider – invites that can be colored in, simple hats made by your guests, Tea Party Bingo and coloring pages. I have included some Pinterest links for you to browse.
- https://www.pinterest.com/pin/61854194857011850/
- https://www.pinterest.com/pin/47780446034771463/
- https://www.pinterest.com/pin/603763893780657438/
- https://www.pinterest.com/pin/644929609122803552/
And Christmas games…..so many to choose from, but the infamous “Would You Rather Christmas Game” is here for you to have fun with. I know the girls did at this party.
- https://www.pinterest.com/pin/404198135309752862/
- https://www.pinterest.com/pin/781726447800245536/
So here is what it looks like put together!

We had the perfect opportunity this season to have a first cocoa tea. And it was delightful.

All the details were worked out and everything was planned. The excitement was more than a little girl could hold in – squeals were everywhere.

Once the details were outlined, the invitations were selected. A black and white invite was selected and the little hostess was in charge of coloring in the details and making the invitation personal to her guests.

The menu was developed and our little hostess was set to making sure items were getting prepared and ready for her guests.

Perfect Party Planner –
Checking off the menu to make sure everything is ready

About the cocoa cups!

To make this a special treat for the party, mom opted to purchase some little sweet tea cups. The beverage of choice was going to be cocoa but the little cups would be perfect. So off to the local vintage antique shop to select some cups. Its how some of us get started in our teacup journey and brings a lot of joy when you find these treasures. Little expense but pure luxury for the little girls. If you aren’t able to find a vintage or antique store, there are plenty of alternatives. Just look for demitasse cups or espresso cups. These are small little cups perfect for little hands. I have listed some below in the products section.

Little cups in a row ready for the guests

About the table setting!

Now for the table setting. This was a cocoa tea and had a seasonal Christmas theme to it. The tablecloth was purchased at a discount store and was vinyl – just perfect for little ladies and their table skills with hot cocoa. This was also going to be great for any crafts that were planned. You can find these tablecloths online – I have posted one in the product section. They are easy to clean and if you can’t find the size you want, just trim to fit. Now this was for Christmas, but the options are endless.
- Vinyl tablecloth
- Table set for Cocoa Tea Party guests
Each place setting had a plate, the special cup paired with a small spoon and topped with the menu for the day. Those little spoons are called Demitasse spoons or coffee spoons – sometimes hard to find but easy online. When mine aren’t being used for a cocoa tea, they are my tasting spoons when I am cooking. The link is included below in the product section.

The menu was developed with little palates in mind, along with the ease of preparation and in tune with a budget friendly approach.

About the food!

Here is the menu that was developed ~
- Emma’s Tea Sandwich
- Cheese and Salami Skewers
- Christmas Colored Veggies
- Mandarin Orange
- Present Petit Fours
- Glazed Spritz Cookies
- Hot Cocoa and Marshmallows
The food could all be prepared ahead of time – a great option for mom. Like these Present Petit Fours – done and waiting to be served.

Make ahead Christmas Present Petit Fours – ready for service

And here’s the recipe for the Petit Fours….so easy to adapt to any party and only limited by your imagination. Made from store-bought pound cake, these are easy to put together.

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/100768110390976982/

And for the hot cocoa, a warm sweet treat for the girls. Prepared by mom, served in her teapot and accompanied by marshmallows. Here’s an easy recipe to follow. And remember to save yourself a cup to enjoy.

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/107945722304467041/

The food was served on plastic food tiers. These are economically friendly and reusable. Some of the crudites are cut out using shapes to add whimsy to the snacks.
- Savories
- Sweets
About the fun!

Soon the guests were arriving and the party was in full swing. The girls enjoyed themselves dressing up in hats and gowns. Food was served in their full regalia. Oooohs and ahhs and giggles were all around. The hostess chose to play a fun word game with her guests – asking questions like “Would you rather sing Christmas Carols for a month or laugh like Santa?” And yes, there was a craft – something the girls could do and then take home for their own enjoyment. Small fabric bags, puff paint and all sorts of decorations was just the ticket.

The girls played dressup, dined on the delights, played a few games and completed their craft bags. Then to the outside for some outdoor play and run off some of that delightful energy.

The cocoa tea party was a success! All enjoyed the party and left full in their tummies and in their hearts as little girls do.

Here is my Little Girls’ Tea Party Planning List and Tools

These products were used for this Cocoa Tea:

This post contains affiliate links and we may earn compensation when you click on the links at no additional cost to you. Look through the products and enjoy!
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Beth No Comments
Enjoying Together, Recipes, Uncategorized

Cream of Broccoli and Spinach Soup – a surprising treat

January 27, 2020
Looking for a healthy cream soup? With sauteed chicken and thickened with avocado, this is exactly the soup for you. I developed this recipe to fill my cravings for a thick and creamy soup but also to meet my need for healthy fats. I also had many vegetables and quickly ripening avocados that I needed to use up. Cream of broccoli and Spinach soup is the perfect answer.

This soup can be served as an entree for your meal, add a crusty baguette and it will warm you and fill you up. You can also serve this as an appetizer or part of the savory course for an afternoon tea. In a shooter style glass, this cream of broccoli and spinach soup is a flavorful and surprising addition.

This recipe is very versatile and easy to prepare, so let’s go through the steps. Once you get the basic soup down, be creative and use up those vegetables and change up the toppings. There’s no limit.

Fresh broccoli cut in small pieces

Take 2 cups of fresh spinach and 1 large bunch of fresh broccoli. Chop up the broccoli into small pieces. You will be simmering this to a soft texture that will allow you to puree it.

Fresh spinach and broccoli in cooking pot

Place the spinach and broccoli in a large pot. Add 1 – 1 1/2 quarts of chicken broth. I like to use the unsalted version. Add 1 tsp of salt to the mixture. Cover your pan and turn on the heat bringing the mixture to a low simmer. You will want both the spinach and the broccoli to be well cooked.

Avocados seeded and ready to be chopped

While the spinach and broccoli are cooking, prepare the avocados. Seed and cut into small pieces. Remember, the avocado will be used for thickening the soup. You won’t taste the avocado, its natural fattiness will thicken without flavoring the soup. You can use 3 small avocados or 2 large ones. And use up those ripened ones – they will be easier to blend. Once prepared, set them aside.

To prepare the chicken, cut it into small pieces. Using the 1 tbsp of olive oil, brown and crisp up the chicken. I like to use chicken that I already have cooked. You can use rotisserie chicken or even cook up some fresh chicken. Whatever you have available. Once done, set aside.

Chicken browning for the soup

With the vegetables done, put in the avocado and grab your immersion blender. Another one of my favorite kitchen tools, then I use my immersion blender for soups, smashed vegetables, gravies, sauces and even smoothies, just to name a few items. Blend the soup until its creamy. You can also use a blender but you may need to do this in batches and remember that the soup is hot – don’t over fill your blender with this hot liquid.
- Immersion blending the soup
- Blended soup thickened
Once the soup is blended, add the chicken and gently stir. Add the ground pepper. Taste for seasonings but I rarely have to add anything. Ladle into your serving bowls and top with fresh parsley and goat cheese. You can serve the goat cheese as a medallion or crumbled. It will melt into this amazing bright taste and pairs very well with this rich thick soup. And yes, its thickened with avocados.

Incorporating chicken into soup

You can substitute the parsley for fresh cilantro. Top with a few slices of radishes and you have another variation to this delightful soup. Change out the chicken for sausage and you have yet another delicious option. On a chilly day when the wind is blowing and you are snuggled up inside your home, this soup brings a delightful and healthy version of a creamed soup. And its thickened with avocado – have a second bowl!

Spinach and Avocado Soup with Chicken and topped with goat cheese and parsley

Products used in this recipe –

This post contains affiliate links and we may earn compensation when you click on the links at no additional cost to you. Look at the products and enjoy!
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5 from 1 vote

Spinach and Broccoli Cream Soup

A spinach and broccoli cream soup thickened with avocados, served with sauteed chicken and topped with goat cheese.

Course Main Course
Keyword avocado, broccoli, chicken, goat cheese, keto, spinach

Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes

Servings 8 servings

Ingredients
2 cups cooked chicken Can use precooked or rotisserie chicken
1 tbsp olive oil
2 cups fresh spinach
1 bunch fresh broccoli, cut into small pieces
1 ½ quarts chicken broth
3 Small ripe avocados Can use 2 large ones
1 tsp salt
1 tsp ground pepper
8 tbsp goat cheese
1 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped

Instructions
Chop fresh broccoli into small pieces – so to speed up the cooking process.
Place fresh broccoli, fresh spinach, and chicken broth in large cooking pot. Add salt. Turn on to low simmer in order to cook the vegetables.
Cut chicken up in small pieces. Put olive oil in frying pan. Brown chicken pieces. Set aside.
Cut the avocados up into small pieces. These are the thickener for the soup – so they need to be reasonable small pieces.
Add the avocados to the cooked vegetables. Using an immersion blender, puree soup. You can use a blender as well if you like.
Once completed smooth, add chicken to soup. Stir to mix.
Serve hot. Top with 1 tbsp of goat cheese, either in a medallion or crumbled.

Notes
You can serve this soup in a small shooter glass as an appetizer or for an afternoon tea.
Additional toppings – cilantro, sliced radishes.
Can change the meat for sausage.
Soup can be refrigerated for up to 5 days and frozen for 1 month.
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Beth 43 Comments
Cups, Cozies and China, Enjoying Together, Uncategorized

Tea Tasting 2 – the adventure continues

January 8, 2020
So many teas, so little time……This is the second installment of my tea tasting adventures. This time I was joined by my beautiful and delightful daughter-in-law. Hope you get inspired to try some new tastes or just enjoy some tried and true.

Hadley’s Logo

I recently had the pleasure of visiting another tea shop. Hadley’s Tea Shop in Albuquerque New Mexico. Hadley’s has long been a purveyor of teas in the area. This establishment has a casual atmosphere that invites you to sit and relax with a cup of tea. There is a nice assortment of teas, pastries and accessories to browse through which is always tempting. A nice place for a Cream Tea.

I came away choosing 3 teas to bring home for our tasting – Vanilla Black Chai, Monk’s Blend Black Tea, and Lady Londonderry Black Tea. Now I have had Lady Londonderry and used it for years, but needing to refill my tea canister, went ahead and purchased but also put it in the mix of my “formal” tasting. Now as I have said before, I am by no means an expert in the whole world of tea, but I do like to explore, have fun and enjoy the moment.
- Hadley’s Tea Storefront
- Hadley’s Tea Selection
A gift from my daughter – small golden teapot from Hadley’s Tea Shop

Setting the Stage

Bringing my daughter-in-law into the mix, I wanted to not only use her palate as a second taster but also to have some time to enjoy the tasting. I set the table up for us to enjoy a moment of time away from all the busyness and focus on the tea tasting as well as any other conversation we might share (which can be substantial when we get together). So it was a blessing for sure.

The table is set for tea tasting

We were going to taste 3 teas, so I setup the table accordingly. The usual hot water pot, tea infuser,cozy, timer, milk and sugar, water to cleanse our palate in between teas, and a shortbread to munch on. I selected 3 pots that would provide 3-4 cups, knowing that we would try a 2nd cup but likely not a whole full pot.

Now the cups – I have a tradition at my house. I like to have my guests at times choose their own cup. Since I have so many and it can become a great conversation piece, I enjoy watching folks take their time in selecting their favorite. My daughter-in-law will request to do this at times and its just some of that extra pampering that comes with having tea. We will use a fresh pot and fresh cup for each tasting.

Just a few cups lined up for tasting

Tea Tasting Process

There are several sources that outline a formal process for tasting tea. My process has evolved over time and reflects a simple way for tasting and enjoying.
1. Assemble and setup brewing station and table
2. Place a small amount of the loose tea in a bowl or plate. Smell the tea and note flavors or scents of the raw tea.
3. Steep the tea according to the directions.
4. In a fresh cup, pour a portion of tea. Observe the color and the smell of the steeped tea.
5. First sip the tea with no additives.
6. Then begin with additives –
  1. Sugar alone
  2. Milk alone
  3. Sugar and milk
7. Discuss impressions – likes, dislikes, possible pairings with food.
8. Repeat process for additional tastings, getting fresh cups and pot
Here’s a guide to help you have your own tea tasting fun either by yourself or with your friends. Click here to download .

TEA-TASTING-STEPS for the Daily EnthusiastDownload

As I stated earlier, I am not a tea sommelier but I do want to follow a reasonable consistent process. And its been fun. So let’s talk about the teas….

Vanilla Black Chai
- Steeped Vanilla Black Chai
- Loose Leaf Vanilla Black Chai
Vanilla Black Chai
The Vanilla Black Chai is a black tea (usually Assam) that is flavored with vanilla and the familiar Chai spices – cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, ginger and pepper. We loved the tea by itself – it has that familiar and popular Chai taste. With sugar, the spices were accentuated. Milk added a boost to the vanilla flavor. Both sugar and milk produced a very soothing and enjoyable cup of tea. Clearly our preference, we both felt that the tea alone would be best when paired with scones or sweets. I steeped for 5 minutes. Recommended steeping time is 5-7 minutes.

Monk’s Blend – Black Tea

Monk’s Black Tea

This tea is a known favorite with its dramatic flavors of grenadine and vanilla. Both in the loose leaf state and the steeped tea you could clearly smell the grenadine. This was fun and unexpected. The steeped color is a rich brown classic for a black tea. In tasting, without any additive you were pleasantly pleased with the presence of the grenadine but not overwhelmed by it. With sugar, those flavors were enhanced as well. With milk, it created a very creamy mellow tea that once again, was very enjoyable. For both my daughter-in-law and myself, we favored this without additives but agreed that this was a new favorite tea. Steeping time for this tea is 5 minutes.

Lady Londonderry Black Tea
- Loose Leaf Lady Londonderry black tea
- Cup of steeped Lady Londonderry black tea.
Lady Londonderry Black Tea
We ended our tasting with the classic Lady Londonderry Black Tea. This tea is a black tea with overtones of strawberry and lemon and is a favorite for afternoon teas. Both the loose leaf and the steeped tea readily give off the familiar aromas of strawberry and lemon. In the steeped form, the tea preforms well alone, with sugar and with milk. One sip and I am in a tea room enjoying afternoon tea! Steeping time for this tea is 5 minutes.

Again, these three teas were a welcome addition to my tea repertoire. However, we did agree that the Chai might not be our first choice in an afternoon tea setting. We found that both the Monk’s Black Tea and the Lady Londonderry would both be excellent choices for afternoon tea and felt they were best suited for the scones and sweets course, with maybe a little sugar but even best for our tastes just plain…but of course, that was just our preference.

After the tasting is done, cups and pots to be cleaned.

After we were full of our teas, having tasted some shortbread, we had the cleanup to do. What a great way to engage people in understanding and really tasting their tea. We had a blast. So on to another tea adventure to find and share and this time….a larger group!

Tea Tasting Cleanup

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Beth 78 Comments
Enjoying Together, Uncategorized

Tea Tastings – an adventure in teas

January 2, 2020
For me, a good cup of tea fills my soul. It warms me, refreshes me, and depending on the tea, I can reflect on memories around this tea. But its 2020 now and there are new teas to explore, so I am stepping out and finding different teas to enjoy, new memories to get started. Come along this journey with me. I will share my impressions, likes and dislikes. Hopefully, you will find this information helpful on your tea tasting adventures.

Admittedly by habit, I am a lover of English Breakfast, Lady Londonderry, and Rooibos. Two of my favorite Rooibos are Lemon Souffle and Provence. However, of late, I have wanted to try some different teas…to broaden my palate.

So let’s talk tea. I don’t claim to be an expert but a fancier of all things tea and an explorer of the many different types of tea. I want to give credit to the New Mexico Tea Company for many of the tea descriptions as well as their delightful shop but the impressions are all my own!

Front of the New Mexico Tea Company

I recently had the opportunity to visit a delightful treasure for tea lovers – the New Mexico Tea Company https://www.nmteaco.com/ located at 1131 Mountain Road, Albuqeurque, New Mexico. This shop is nestled on a small street, its reserved sign let’s you know its location. Once you enter, it is clearly a tea lovers adventure. You step into a small entry way that opens to shelves of tea accessories and then into the tea collection room where all the teas are displayed. With a small sample on each larger canister, you can go from tea to tea taking in the aroma and deciding if you want this one or that one. And of particular merit are the pictures on the front of each tea container. Some of them are absolutely beautiful, drawing you in to study the tea a bit more (I have included a picture of each tea because of this). Of course, you look for your favorites but also recently, I was there to step out of my usual tea repertoire. There was an additional room of accessories but we wandered back into the tea selection room. The associates were extremely knowledgeable and helpful when selecting. My sister and brother-in-law were in town and we had a delightful time. Almost giddy, I came away with only 5 teas – and will definitely be going back. A gem for our community for sure. Here were my purchases – Tie Guan Yin Oolong, Milk Oolong, Chocolate Earl Grey, Provence Rooibos, and Scottish Breakfast.

Tie Guan Yin Oolong

I started with the Oolong teas. I had long wanted to try them and went with Tie Guan Oolong and Milk Oolong.
- Tie Guan Oolong
- Brewing Tie Guan Oolong
In trying a basic Oolong, Tie Guan Yin was the recommendation to start with. As outlined by the New Mexico Tea Company, ‘Tie Guan Yin is sweet and thick with a hint of orchid aftertaste. The look of this brew is a subtle yellowish-green, and the first steeping unfurls the rolled tea leaf to reveal large, juicy green leaves. It tastes much like its aroma: Bright and incredibly fresh, with sweet, mellow grassy undertones.” For me, it was an acceptable tea but not one that I would immediately choose. Steeping time for this tea is two minutes – its brew will look light yellow green amber.

Brewing Milk Oolong for tasting.

Milk Oolong

Then I tried Milk Oolong. This tea is similar to Tie Guan Yin in its fresh green taste but cultivated to produce an aroma similar to milk. This tea was amazing and a bit mysterious. When you smell it – it definitely has this creamy tone to it. When you brew a pot, its amber color is deceiving and the taste is definitely Oolong but then you get this gentle flavor of milk. It is actually quite comforting. When taken without anything, its very gentle and then this unassuming creamy flavor coming in after you sip. I then sweetened it with just a bit of sugar – and that was delicious. But likely in “tea heresy” I used some leftover orange zested sugar that I had (Orange Cranberry Sugar Cookies https://teastheseason3.com/cranberry-orange-sugar-cookies/) and it was amazing. Somehow the orange flavor and the milk came together and it became absolutely delicious. I am now a fan! Steeping time for Milk Oolong is 4 minutes and it will have the color as the Tie Guan Yin but a very different flavor.

Milk Oolong steeped and ready to enjoy

Chocolate Earl Grey

Chocolate Earl Grey

The next tea was Chocolate Earl Grey. As described by the New Mexico Tea company Earl Grey was “named after the 1830’s British Prime Minister, Earl Grey. This is the western world’s most popular tea. Earl Grey has traditionally meant any type or blend of tea which is scented with oil of bergamot, a fruit resembling an orange found in the Mediterranean region.” In the past, Earl Grey has not been a favorite of mine. Earl Grey is a favorite of my daughter-in-law, so we did this tasting together. We were excited to try the Chocolate Earl Grey. An elegant twist on the British tea classic, Chocolate Earl Grey artfully combines rich, black tea with Italian bergamot (the highly aromatic citrus fruit) and a silky, sweet touch of chocolate. I have had other chocolate teas and in fact, for my Christmas Tea Party, I will generally serve a chocolate black tea. Its not overly rich and has just a hint of chocolate as you drink it. First straight out of the pot, nothing added, you get a very gentle but clearly present taste of chocolate, not overwhelming at all or in the way – just comfortably there. It is perfectly blended with the taste of Earl Grey. Then we tried it with a little sugar. Amazing! Then a little milk. Again a great addition. Then together both a little milk and sugar – and it was delightful. Though by itself, it tasted delicious, in combination with the other items it just enhanced the flavors all the more. I will definitely be using this as a final course tea along side my sweets. Now beginning to change my perspective on Earl Grey. Perfect. Steeping time for Chocolate Earl Grey is four minutes.

Provence Rooibos

Brewing Provence Rooibos

Provence Rooibos…one of my absolute favorites. I first had this on the East Coast in a small tea room and I was in love with its rooibos flavor and subtle gentle foral perfumes. If you are not familiar with rooibos teas, they are actually not teas in the purest sense. “Rooibos, (Afrikaans for red bush; scientific name Aspalathus linearis) is a member of the legume family of plants and is used to make a tisane (herbal tea). For this particular blend, there is a flavor of a floral and fruity bouquet; and a very present perfume of lavender notes.” No sugar or milk for me in this tea – just the plain fragrance of the brew is enough to satisfy. I love the colors in the loose tea – you can see the rich amber tones so familiar to rooibos but also little pieces of the floral notes, reflecting its delicate sensibilities. Steeping time for Provence Rooibos is 5 minutes.

Scottish Breakfast

Scottish Breakfast

Scottish Breakfast was the last tea that I purchased (at least this time around). As I have said, I am a regular consumer of English Breakfast and I use this at many of my teas for the scone course or the savories. So I wanted to taste another Breakfast Tea. As described by the New Mexico Tea Company, this tea is like a “proper Highlander, robust, malty (not unlike a good Scotch) and full of life and vigor. Highlanders liked their tea very strong and insisted on hints of cask oak to remind them of their clan’s own special elixir, single malt Scotch.” Which is exactly what I tasted when I tried this tea. A black tea, Scottish Breakfast for my palate, was a strong brew. Its color was rich and had that beautiful black tea depth to it. My tasting was first by itself, then sugar, then milk, then milk and sugar. However, I found its robustness a little strong for me and wondered if it would compete with items I might pair it with in an afternoon tea. However, I would take this tea with milk and sugar and enjoy it in the morning to get my day started. Scottish Breakfast is steeped for for 4 minutes.

I have shared what I tasted, which I know is only a small sampling of what the tea world has to offer. I enjoy these teas alone, together or in parties. I encourage you to do the same and share your experiences.

Let me brew us a small pot in some special china. Pass me your cup and I will offer you a shortbread. We can enjoy each other’s company and sip on some tea.

Greydawn Johnson Brothers Teapot, Blue Crown Staffordshire Cup,
Blue Paisley Cozy – Cozies by Laurie.

Again my thanks and appreciation to the New Mexico Tea Company, for their assistance, their selections and their descriptions. Visiting this establishment is a must for any tea-lover, whether in person or online.

Get a copy of our free Tea Tasting Guidelines. Have fun exploring and tasting some new teas!

Tea-Tasting-Guidelines-1Download

Products used for this recipe. Click on the image for more information:

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Beth 4 Comments
Enjoying Together, Recipes, Uncategorized

Christmas Cookie Exchange- yes please!

December 20, 2019
Ho Ho Ho!!! How fun is a Christmas Cookie Exchange! The hub-bub of Christmas baking all rolled into a fun time of sharing and you walk away with a bounty of cookies. I recently had the opportunity to attend such a function and it didn’t disappoint. It was so well organized, the time flew by, we ate, we judged, we shared and exchanged and laughed. It was a perfect holiday function. Let me share some of the high points you can use for your own exchange along with the recipes for some of these great cookies.

This was a very well thought out cookie exchange. As you may know, I am an organizer at heart, so this was especially nice to participate in. Once invited, we were told how many dozens of cookies we were to bring, how to divide them, to have a presentation / tasting plate, and then also to provide the recipe (before hand). We were asked to come with 5 dozen cookies – divided into 10 half dozen servings to be shared and 1 dozen on a decorative cookie plate to be shared for voting. We received a follow-up email confirming the date, location, commitment and then our assigned number for anonymity. I was intrigued!
Cookie Exchange Table
- Christmas Tree Cookie Display
Upon arrival to the location (an absolutely beautiful home in the Los Ranchos valley), you entered and were greeted by the organizers. Instructions were given on what to do with your baked goods. We were to place our prepared 1/2 dozen packages on a particular table by our number. The cookie exchange table was lined with beautiful and clever containers. One was in a Christmas Tree display. The cookies were in their cylinders and the top was an original hand painted magnet. Another was in a paper bag – inside were the holiday favorite Biscochitos with a small battery operated light, just perfect to be your luminary! How adorable is that!

Cookie Exchange Containers

Then your prepared plate went to the tasting area as well by your number. The tables were set with plates, silverware. and gifts. Very nice to have was the bottled water as you were tasting several different cookies. Everything was very festive. A coffee / cocoa station was setup complete with little marshmallow snowmen for your cocoa.
- Guest Table
- Cookie Exchange Place Setting
Cocoa Coffee Station

Once guests arrived, instructions were given on the process. We were partaking in a light lunch and then could gather all the cookie samples to taste and judge. Still anonymous, we were each given a voting ballot with several categories – best tasting, most original, best holiday presentation, and best overall. It was hard to judge for sure. All delicious. I came away with a bounty of cookies – all different, all delectable, and all handmade by some very talented bakers! Prizes awarded, gifts exchanged, and we headed out full in our hearts and our holiday spirit.
Cookies ready for judging!
Cookie Exchange Steps
- Determine what you want to do. Answer these questions:
  - The usual questions of who, what, where, when….
  - Who – how many guests and who
  - What – how many cookie types, how many dozens, how to be packaged, how to be presented. Also if you are going to be voting and will it be anonymous? Will you have prizes?
  - Where – location of the cookie exchange. Consider size and number of guests along with what you want to achieve – just exchange of cookies or a holiday experience, with conversation. Are you providing lunch or just beverages.
  - When – dates and time. Date – closeness to the holiday, considering schedule and availability. Consider the time of day – will impact whether to serve lunch or not. Also the length of time – enough time to enjoy but not to overstay. This will depend on your group of guests.
- Develop contact list and dates for contact.
  - Initial contact to identify interest
  - Followup confirmation via email with “More to come” information, thanking the attendees for participating
  - Email details about exchange – how many cookies needed, how to package. Ask for recipe document so it can be shared.
  - Email reminder of exchange, location, etc. Include a map.
  - Day of send out text reminder with map to location
- Setup for Exchange
  - Table setup for exchange packages
  - Table setup for voting, with name of cookie.
  - Table setup for guest to sit
    Determine if you having a lunch or just cookies. In either case, provide beverages – especially water. If you are tasting the cookies, its nice to have that refreshment in between the tastings.
  - Provide beverage station.
- When Guests Arrive
  - Greet guests and go through instructions for the day
  - Facilitate voting and award, as well as any other activities that you have planned
Several points stand out, in addition to all the other very positive aspect. The communication of expectations was critical, it was clear and extremely helpful. The timing helped you to stay on schedule. Though this seemed like a small gesture, I especially liked the water at the table to cleanse your palette in between tastings. We were all gifted something in addition to the cookies – a small bag with an ornament, some treats and special items, and a parting gift of a baked bread. It made the guests feel very special. And since we were all there sharing our baking expertise, a copy of the all the recipes was shared. Overall, the planning helped make this a delightful cookie exchange experience. This made me want to have my own exchange!

My thanks to the organizers, hostess and all the amazing bakers for this cookie exchange.
- Mrs Claus Sign
For your enjoyment, here are the cookies and their recipes. Bake away, bake away, bake away all!

White Chocolate and Cranberry Cookies

A delicious drop cookie with a soft chew surrounding white chocolate and dried cranberries.

Check out this recipe

Soft Baked Ginger Snap Cookies

A classic ginger snap cookie, with a chewy texture and a crunchy sugary topping.

Check out this recipe

Sugar Cookies

A traditional favorite, this sugar cookie is moist and chewy and a treat to decorate

Check out this recipe

Cardamom Cookies

A gentle shortbread cookie with the subtle flavor of Cardamom, topped with nuts and a butter frosting.

Check out this recipe

Wynonia Moss’ Chocolate Chip Cookies

I delicious, moist and chewy chocolate chip cookie

Check out this recipe

Cinnamon Cream Cheese Cookies

Cinnamon Cream Cheese Cookies, an easy, tender cookie bursting with cinnamon sugar.

Check out this recipe

Lemon Snowball Cookies

Snowball cookie delicately flavored with lemon and then rolled and dusted in confectioner's sugar.

Check out this recipe

Cream Horns (Lady Locks)

These Cream Horns (Lady Locks) are a must-have cookie recipe for my family. The flaky crust and creamy filling make them irresistible!

Check out this recipe

Cranberry Orange Sugar Cookies

A short bread cookie flavored with chopped cranberries and orange, dusted with orange sugar.

Check out this recipe
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Beth No Comments
Cups, Cozies and China, Enjoying Together, Memories, Recipes

A Christmas Tea – a holiday treat

December 5, 2019
Christmas is the perfect time for a holiday tea. Everyone is excited about the season. The carols are playing and celebrations are in the air. People are gathering and gifting, sharing memories and good times. A tea provides a perfect opportunity to rekindle special friendships and have a moment of repose from the hectic schedule that a holiday can have.

I enjoy gifting my teas to a group, not claiming any expertise, just enjoying the art of serving. These steps and information are a collection over time from personal experiences, likes and enjoyments.

Setting the Stage

Critical to a tea is the stage or venue. Sometimes it might be a theme or just the ambiance that you create. When I have a tea in my home, I want to create a sanctuary where people can enter and leave their cares at the door, even if just for a moment. So the setting is very important.

One of the first steps is to determine how many guests you are expecting. This helps not only for the setup but also for the menu. I generally set up one long table depending on how many attendees there will be, but its also possible to break the group up into smaller settings. You will want to consider the setting to help encourage conversation and fellowship. Once I know the number of guests, I can set the table. This also helps me determine how many teapots, curds and cream, and food towers I will need for the tea. I generally set one pot, curd, cream and tower for every 4-5 people. All of this is dependent on the area where I am having the tea.

This is the setting for one of my Christmas Teas. Always a delightful experience, this is set for 12 guests, so there are 3 towers where the savories and scones will go. Each place setting has a small plate, napkin, silverware, teacup and menu. There will also be 3 teapots and 3 sets of curd and cream to be shared by the group. The table also is also adorned with seasonal decorations, careful not to impede the tea and allowing for easy conversation. I will also have gentle instrumental music on in the background and for this occasion of course, Christmas music.

Christmas Table Setting

Conversation Area

My home is decorated for Christmas in any of the rooms that my guests will be. There is a nice conversation area where people can visit while waiting for all the guests to arrive. Frequently they will look at the decorations or the tea cups around the room. Guests will come dressed in their holiday best with gifts to share with one another. When its time to begin, the guests will be seated and I will explain how the tea will go forward.

Menu Development

The menu needs to reflect the season or time that you are having your tea. Menu development is fun and very satisfying for me. Once I know the number of guests and any food allergies, I hunt for just the right recipe that will delight my guests and reflect the Christmas flavors. I want this to be memorable for them, anticipating oohs and ahhs from the presentation. I know that means people are relaxing and enjoying themselves. I look for recipes that I can prepare with confidence, comfortably and that I can prepare in advance.

The sequence of presentation for the tea and the food towers is consistent with afternoon tea approaches. The savories are first consumed, then the scones, and finally the desserts. With each course, a particular tea has been paired with the food to enhance the taste.

For this particular Christmas Tea, I selected certain recipes with each item being an individual small serving. Generally for each course, there will be 4-5 items. The menu and recipe links are included.

Christmas Tea Menu
- For the savory course
  - Christmas Tree Cucumber Sandwiches
  - Spinach Roll http://nummykitchen.blogspot.com/2012/03/spanakopita-rolls.html
  - Beef Wellington Crostini http://www.teatimemagazine.com/beef-wellington-canapes/
  - Goat Cheese with Cranberry in Endive
  - A Champagne Cranberry Cocktail is offered – Champagne or Proseco with cranberry juice, served in a champagne flute
  - English Breakfast Tea – a classic black tea
- For the scones course
  - Cranberry Orange Scone https://www.pinterest.com/pin/47780446028785785/
  - English Currant Scone https://teastheseason3.com/__trashed/
  - Lemon Curd https://teastheseason3.com/lemon-curd-its-all-about-the-curd/
  - Devonshire Cream
  - Lady Londonderry Tea – a classic black tea with subtle strawberry and lemon notes
- For the dessert course – I serve the dessert course on a separate plate, clearing the table prior to presentation
  - Peppermint Meltaway https://www.thatswhatchesaid.net/peppermint-bark/
  - Mincemeat Tart https://teastheseason3.com/pie-who-has-room-for-pie/
  - Eggnog Mousse http://www.laurenslatest.com/egg-nog-mousse-with-gingersnap-crumbles/
  - Gran Marnier Brownie Bite https://www.pinterest.com/pin/47780446024353786/
  - Chocolate Tea – a nice black tea with just a hint of chocolate
These recipes have been either developed or adapted by me, or used in their entirety by the author. Links have been provided.

Putting it altogether

Assembling everything so that you are able to serve calmly and smoothly can be a challenge. At times, I might have a friend or family member help me prepare and serve, but many times it might just be me. The venue, menu prep, and delivery are carefully combined to make for an enjoyable tea – not only for my guests but also for me.

Curtain between dining room and kitchen

My kitchen is separate from my dining room and allows for the tea preparation. Using a suspension rod, I actually hang a curtain between the kitchen and the dining room. This allows my guests to be separated from the noise of the kitchen and to have privacy during their conversations.

Teapots ready for service

I like to have everything planned ahead of time and setup as much as I can. I have the teapots lined up, the tea portioned in bags and the water to the desired temperature ready to be steeped and served along with the food tower.

Christmas Teapots

Dessert is the last course and I like to serve this on a separate plate. In preparation for the presentation, I will remove all the food towers, curds and cream. With much anticipation, the plates of Christmas goodies are placed at each guest for their enjoyment. Its so satisfying to see and hear their delight. The conversation continues and gifts are exchanged.

Closing the tea is done with a warm towel to refresh the guest and a gift bag of scones and a Christmas ornament. Well wishes extended for the season as my guests leave, relaxed and full of holiday warmth. For me, a Christmas Tea is as much for my guests as it is a blessing for me.

“Christmas is a season for kindling the fire for hospitality in the hall, the genial flame of charity in the heart.” ―Washington Irving

Christmas Dessert Plate
Gran Marnier Brownie Bite, Pecan Tart, Peppermint Meltaway, Egg Nog Cake
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Beth 2 Comments