Owls for Tea: A Fall Tea Party

My daughters and I are fond of the word "Cozy".  There is something about that word that makes us feel safe, content, relaxed and happy.  We are also very fond of the words "Tea Time", and have found that these three words do very well together as we often like to  have a "Cozy Tea Time" together.  It turns out that my grandsons are fond of tea time as well, and when they take a break from playing war, riding four wheelers, and digging in dirt and wrestling, being cozy suits them fine just as it does us.  So we are often in pursuit of a tea party with whatever member of the family we can include. You will find many varieties of tea parties on this blog, and this particular tea party, is a Wonderful Cozy Fall Tea Party, with an Owl theme, because 3 of my grandchildren were working on a little "Owl" Study in their work this week, and Owl seem the perfect accompaniment to the theme of this Fall Tea Party.  Here are a few pictures of our fun... and a couple recipes will follow; so, put the kettle on and enjoy with us.

We put up banners and decorated.

Himilce (my daughter in law), bought us these owl mugs from "Family Dollar".

So, so cute don't you think?

There were many owls at our party.  This one, and the little owl rocks that we painted (as seen at the base of the table arrangement in the first picture).  Himilce also checked out Owl books at the library;

An Owl Cheese Ball

....Sugar Bug wore her little Owl dress;

We painted some owl faces.

The Cowboy tea and coffee set, seemed appropriate because of the "Fall" colors.

Pumpkin scones

and of course, tea sandwiches, quiche and muffins.

Our favorite Fall Party Mix.....

.... and we drank cup,

...after cup....

...after cup of tea.

We read owl stories (love their sweet faces... such good listeners).

....and laughed and played and ate some more.

A Fall Tea Party Menu

Quiche

Tea Sandwiches, including Cucumber Sandwiches, and Humus Sandwiches

Owl Cheese Ball with crackers

Pumpkin Scones

Pumpkin Muffins

Fall Party Mix

English Breakfast Tea, Peach Tea, and Herbal Teas

Have a lovely Week Everyone!

Valentines Dinner

Steve and I are "Home Alone" tonight, (not like the Christmas movie of the same name... more like "Romeo and Juliet"... well, not like that either...I am having a hard time coming up with a good romantic movie that is like us... Brian Keith and Doris Day in "With 6 you Get Eggroll" comes to mind, yes, that one best describes us). Steve proposed to me on Valentines Day 34 years ago.  You could say that today is an anniversary to us.  It is nice to have sweet, intimate, moments, and to take pleasure in those moments when you can find them.  I loved what my friend Roxy said about intimacy today, in her post titled "The Kiss".  Check it out,  its very sweet.  Tonight I have planned a nice, intimate Valentine Dinner for Steve and I.  I have set the table, and put the chicken on, done the potatoes, and baked a couple of things, and I have enjoyed an unusually quiet and peaceful day putting it together.  In a few minutes, I am going to "pretty" myself up, and put on some nice music, and we will be ready.  I hope you all have a wonderful Valentines Day, whether its is enjoyed with your precious kids, or watching a sweet movie and  a little box of chocolates, or whether it is a quiet evening with the one you love.  Here's our Menu

Roast Chicken

My friend Amy put this recipe on her blog a little while back, and I loved how she cooked it in a cast iron skillet.

Valentine Potatoes

Steamed Cauliflower and Broccoli with Cheese Sauce

Apple Sauce Raisin Muffins

Fresh Garden Salad

Lavender Shortbread Cookies   

Coffee

Valentines Potatoes

Cooked until done...

Or extra crispy.

Applesauce Raisin Muffins

Lavender Shortbread

Valentine Potatoes

Peel and slice potatoes lengthwise (so there is extra room for your cookie cutter).
Lay out your slices and cut the shapes out with a cookie cutter.
Chop up remaining edges into cubes.
Place potatoes in a bowl (I do the hearts first and then the leftover cubes).
Drizzle with olive oil, and mix until coated.
Add Parmesan Cheese, and toss and coat again.
Lay potato cutouts onto baking sheet side by side (for the extra cubed edges pour into pan and spread thin.. I kept them a little to the side, to keep the hearts free from the other pieces).
Sprinkle with salt, pepper and garlic powder...and more Parmesan if you want.

Bake at 350 uncovered for about 30 minutes... this will vary depending on the thickness of your potatoes.
Serve them up to your Valentines.

Valentine Dinner

This year our Valentines dinner is a family affair.  Romance is still waiting for Steve and I .... some day somewhere... Yes, Hawaii, that is our promise we are going to Hawaii... one day to recharge our romantic batteries and make sure we don't end up looking like this couple.  We tried to get there on our 20th anniversary, then our 25th, then our 30th.  I can picture myself there on Valentines day too; we're not particular.   But, oh well, perhaps next year. This year, there will be 4 of us ages 50,  50, 28 and 15, and we will be home with the dogs and the cats and the cows and the snow....  but it can still be romantic don't you think? Here's the menu:

 Menu:

Dinner:

Heart Shaped Meatloaf 

Mashed Potatoes

Corn

Rolls

Salad

Iced Tea

Dessert:

Chocolate Oreo Truffles (see recipe below)

How can you go wrong with that.... at least not around here, where meatloaf and mashed potatoes are always in high demand

Graduation Plans/Potato Party

Olga requested a "Potato Party" for her graduation party and what that means is "as many potato dishes as possible",  plus all the toppings we can think of to go with it.  When  Olga, Russell and Eddie became a part of our family, "food" was our most traumatic experience.  The 3 kids were terrified of almost any food; even Russian food caused upset (the reasons why are a subject for another time)...but potatoes, ....they were in the safe zone, and even though their palettes have outgrown many of those fears by now, Potatoes are still a favorite.

Olga has often been heard to say "Potatoes are my life"  with her charming Russian accent.  So for our little Olechka who is now graduating from High School we are having; "Everything Potato" (well sort of) So here is the menu:

Potato Party Menu

Mashed Potatoes (Olga's favorite)

Potato Wedges (Olga's favorite)

Baked Potatoes (Olga's favorite)

Toppings

Chili (Everbody else's favorite/not Olga's)

Ground Beef Stroganoff Gravy (Olga's favorite)

Chopped Ham (Olga's favorite)

Chopped Green Onion (Olga's favorite)

Shredded Cheddar Cheese (Everybody else's favorite)

Butter (a must for all)

Sour Cream (Everybody else's favorite)

Green Chilies (Everbody else's favorite)
Salsa (Everbody else's favorite)

Sides

Rolls

Fresh Vegetable Platter

Dessert

Fresh Strawberries

White Cake with Strawberry Filling (Olga's favorite)

Drinks

Iced Tea with lemon

Coffee

Here's the pictures/posted afterwards:
Note: Please disregard the date on these pictures; date on my camera is incorrect, and thus the dates do not correlate.   These pictures were taken 5/29/2010

We all had a great time... I think Olga was very pleased.   Check out that cute smile of hers.  Note the date on my pictures... 2 years off... what a crack up; I have a problem with getting my settings right on everything I think.    We also made a nice scrapbook board for Olga, didn't get a picture on this post...

Click here to see Olga's Graduation Scrapbook board

Over a foot of snow and more coming

Well, It is coming down.  The weatherman says we could get 2 to 3 feet. "Whewie".  Im glad we filled up the bird's feeder yesterday.  They are out there like little fat gentleman gathered at the morning coffee house.  Our special company was delayed from last night to some time today due to all the snow and blizzard conditions.  We'll see if they will be able to get through or not. Here's the new menu: 

Lunch Menu:

Hot Roast Beef Sandwiches: Hot Roast Beef in Gravy Over Mashed Potatoes and slices of Homemade Bread

Chili Relleno Casserole Re-warmed

Lovely Spring Mix Salad with  Apples, Cranberries, Sugared Walnuts and Blue Cheese Crumbles

Tres Leches Cake (still delicious)

Coffee/Iced Tea

Roaring fire in the the wood stove (atmosphere)

We've called  ourselves a holiday with all this snow.  I can't get out at this point to go to my painting group, so I will paint here.  Perhaps I will finish my Mom's painting so that it can go with Steve on Friday (if he can get the truck up to the house and loaded) to Henderson.  Steve has cleared the roads with the tractor and the snow plow has gone through once (although not enough to make me want to get out in it (I did a 360 a couple of weeks ago when it was snow packed; that van isn't the best snow vehicle).  We might have to get the sleds out with the kids later on.

Company Menu

Tomorrow we are having some special guests coming for dinner and we are excited for their coming.  I decided to post my menu. Its just an ordinary country meal, but all are our favorites, so I don't think you can go wrong with it.

Dinner

Roast Beef

Mashed potatoes and gravy

Chili relleno casserole

Raised  rolls

Corn

Spring mix green salad with cranberries, walnuts and blue cheese crumbles

For Dessert 

Tres Leche cake

Coffee

Stay tuned for the recipes...

Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this, some have entertained angels 

without knowing it. Hebrews 13:2