"Winter Birds" Tea Party

After so much fun at our last winter tea party (2 years ago), I decided we must have our sweet librarians over again for another party!

         

December 2011                                  Today - February 22, 2014

Our little girl is growing up too quickly!

I love a good tea party - just a couple friends, some food, and a warm cup of tea.

Lately I've enjoyed looking out my kitchen window each morning and seeing a variety of birds snacking on the seed bell that my generous mother hung on a tree branch in our front yard. These birds come in all sorts of colors and are fun to watch. I think my favorite are the red cardinals.

All these birds got me in the mood for a Winter Birds Tea Party! And, yet again, my sweet mother-in-law let me borrow some tea cups, a tea pot and best of all some beautiful birds to decorate with!

We enjoyed a wonderful morning with warm weather! The high today is 75 and the windows are open! That's a Texas winter for ya.

We sent our sweet brother off to visit Mimi and Pops (armed with a sword to defend the princess). His need to run and play outdoors is HUGE! So he went over to "help" them build a deck for their pool and have his own little tea party with his grandparents. Of course we packed some yummy snickerdoodles in his backpack, along with his power tools  :o)

 

Next, we set the table for six! I always enjoy making name cards and other decorations for the current party's theme with card stock, scrapbook paper and any art tidbits that I have on hand. This time each name card had a bird on it. 

(Yes, I'm from Portland!)

 

On the menu today was: chicken salad croissant sandwiches, butterfly pbj's, banana muffins, grapes, veggies and ranch dip, meat and cheese,  mini snickerdoodles, banana pudding, homemade lemonade, iced coffee, and two types of tea - Chai Green Tea and Mint Medley.

See the sweet cardinal in the middle of the table? Lovely winter bird!

 My mother is a great hostess and a tea-giver-extraordinaire! She prepared our tea in pots today and helped in so many ways.

 

Our dear "Story time Lady", Cessy, and her sweet girls joined us. We missed having our children's librarian with us too, but we thought of her throughout our party. Our friends were very pleasant to visit with and we learned more about each of them! 

It's a great party when the food and company are enjoyable.

 

Here is my first attempt at banana pudding... and of course 

I forgot to include the bananas!

After eating our brunch, we all enjoyed a memory game.

I place many objects that began with the letter "B" on a cookie sheet and each team had one minute to look at the tray and then, by memory, write down what they saw. The mommy/grandma team won!

What fun memories we made today. We missed you so much, sweet Becca, 

and hope to try to party with you again soon!

Here is one last "bird" thought to leave you with...

" ²⁵ “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? ²⁶ Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?... ³⁴ Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Matthew 6:25-26, 34

Blessings from this blessed lady,

 

Amazing Homemade Alfredo Sauce

I remember in my single years eating many meals at my dear friend's home. She and her husband welcomed me over often for movies, meals and just time to hang out together, and didn't mind that I enjoyed babysitting their 3 children (of course not!).

She would whip up an amazing alfredo sauce to top some fettuccini and her hubby's yummy grilled chicken. Paired with crusty garlic bread and a large green salad, nothing compares! There were usually leftovers for lunch the next day and it was the perfect meal to make for parties and guests.

When I became a wife, I wanted to make homemade fettuccine alfredo that tasted as good as K's. I called her and asked for the recipe and here it is!

It's a keeper! It sure isn't a low-calorie food at all, but once in a while it's nice to have a hearty, delicious meal.

This recipe makes quite a big batch of sauce (great for taking to your neighbors who have 7 children). We usually use half of the sauce at one meal and I freeze the other half for a quick meal in the future, or I just halve the recipe to begin with. It's great to enjoy it again, without having to make it again. Cooking sauce from scratch takes a little time and effort. But what good food doesn't?


Amazing Alfredo Sauce

Ingredients:
1 stick butter
2 tbl chopped garlic
1/2 cup flour
1/4 cup parmesan/romano cheese (fresh or powdered)
2 cups chicken broth
32 oz 1/2 and 1/2
2 tsp Italian seasoning
salt to taste

Directions:
Melt butter in large pan on med/high heat.
Add minced garlic and sauté until it begins to brown slightly.

Turn heat down to medium.
Whisk in flour. Add parmesan, stir until blended.

Quickly add all broth at once, whisking as you pour.
Let simmer for a minute or two and add the cream and seasoning.

Whisk away any lumps and let thicken.
Add more flour to thicken, or more broth to thin out sauce to desired consistency.

Salt to taste and enjoy!

We really enjoy this sauce with grilled chicken, fettuccine noodles and broccoli, just like my dear friends used to serve it to me.

I hope that you enjoy this with family and friends. Once you make your own alfredo sauce, you will never want to buy jarred cream sauce form the store again!


Blessings,

I'm linked up with some lovely bloggers at:

Proverbs 31 Study ~ Week 6 ~ Blessing the Needy

"She extends a helping hand to the poor and

opens her arms to the needy."

Proverbs 31:20 (NLT)

This week our Good Morning Girls study group is learning that a virtuous woman does mundane chores in her home with joy and blesses the stranger in need as well.

The poor and needy are always with us, in many forms. Not only are those who are physically hungry and thirsty but I believe there are many more who are spiritually poor and emotionally needy. We are surrounded by them daily.

You can see an emptiness in their eyes, a hollow echo in their voices, a void that only the living Spirit of God can fill. The Spirit of God brings love, joy, peace and string of other blessings! (Gal. 5:22-23) Without God's Spirit we are dead in our sin... walking corpses in this dark world.

Are you ready and willing to be a blessing? To be God's extended hands and arms to the needy?

God's arms are big enough and strong enough to carry you

and sustain you to bless others!

Here are a few ways we can bless those in need today:

• Share encouragement through an email, a letter or a phone call.
• Offer a listening ear and give of our time.
• Give a meal or a cool drink .
• Clothe those in need.
• Give finances as the Lord leads.
• Wash a car, offer to babysit for a single mother, mow an elderly person's lawn.
• PRAY for those you know who are facing a difficulty in life.
• Share a skill with someone in need - how to change oil in a car, how to bake lasagna, or how to sew with a machine.

Teaching our neighborhood girls how to make homemade pie!

People can be poor and needy in many ways. May our hearts be sensitive to the need on hand and ready to bless. Our hands and hearts are connected. As we open our hands to bless the needy, our hearts cannot stay hard. But a hard heart will produce closed hands.

"If there is among you a poor man of your brethren, within any of the gates in your land which the LORD your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart nor shut your hand from your poor brother, but you shall open your hand wide to him and willingly lend him sufficient for his need, whatever he needs."

Deuteronomy 5:7-8

Even when life is too busy to open your heart and home and give of yourself, you are called to! There have been numerous times when a knock on my front door appears to be an inconvenience, a burden. But if I obey God's Spirit and open the door and bless the little children standing there who are in need of love and Spiritual life I am always blessed in return.

God's laws stand and never change. His principles remain, just as He Himself is unchanging.

The overspill of a generous life is a thing of beauty!

Here is the law of "Water and Be Watered":

"The generous soul will be made rich,

And he who waters will also be watered himself."

Proverbs 11:25

A generous soul creates a vacuum of God's goodness and blessing. He will prosper you and your home and produce spiritual growth in your hearts. I long for this!

Be encouraged today! You may not always have $5 in your pocket to give to someone in need, but you can give of what you have. We are blessed to be a blessing!


In His great grace,

If you have a little time, please stop by any of these blogs.

They will no doubt encourage your heart!

I'm linked up with:

 Good Morning Girls, Women Living Well,

Time-Warp Wife, and Growing Home

Winter Wonderland Tea Party

Tea parties are a great way to bless others - whether to celebrate a birthday or a holiday they can be so enjoyable. You don't need to spend much money or have a fancy home to host a tea party - just a few tea cups and some creativity!

I wanted to thank some special ladies in my children's lives, so I invited them to a Winter Wonderland Tea Party! I used scrapbook paper and other materials that I had on hand to make the invitations and place cards. I was able to borrow tea cups and a couple tea pots from my sweet mother-in-law, and it all came together!

The Invitation

Going with the Winter Wonderland theme, I used snowflake ornaments that I hadn't used for Christmas and placed them around on tables, near picture frames and hung them on the large mirror in our living room! I also found some large crystal clear snowflakes at the Dollar Tree (that were half off - score!) and used them on the table underneath trays of food.

 

Spray painted tree branches bring the feel of winter indoors!

 

A framed menu for all to see what's to come!

Two teas were offered - Chai Spice and Blackberry Pomegranate

As well as hot cocoa fixings

 

The spread

I served a homemade veggie quiche for the ladies and peanut butter jelly stars for the kids.

I also included meat, cheese, and crackers, carrot stick and ranch dressing, and chocolate pudding for dessert along with some fruit!

PB&J Stars (a favorite around here)

 

Christmas napkins and candy canes left over from the holidays

 added a touch of color and winter feel.

The younger tea party guests enjoyed a simple craft - creating a winter wonderland landscape with white crayons and sparkles! Then after we ate and visited for a while we played a fun game with tea bags. We all laughed together and got to know one another better! After all the sweets that the little girls ate it was time to get our shoes on and head outside into the sunshine. What a great way to end the party!

Me and my Minnie Mouse girl at the party!

(she wanted to wear her new dress up clothes that she received for Christmas)

Whatever the occasion, even if it's just to have a few friends over to visit, I hope that you enjoy a tea party soon. Little girls love the chance to dress up and practice being little ladies.

Foot Pumice "Lollipops" - a take home treat for our grown up guests!



May God bless this last day of 2011 and pour out His joy and peace in your life in 2012!

Blessings,

For The Love of Pumpkin!



Paula Deen rarely fails me... especially when it comes to desserts.

Here is one of my fall favorites to make for my family or give to a friend (and my hubby's favorite too)! Guess where I found the recipe? Food Network - that's right!

These simple, no fuss pumpkin bars are sure to please your tummy and your pocketbook.

 My helper, making pumpkin bars this morning for her daddy!

Saying, "Cheese!"

Pumpkin Bars

(Adapted from Paula Deen's recipe)

Ingredients:

Bars:

• 4 eggs
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 1 cup vegetable oil
• 15-ounce can pumpkin
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon baking soda

Icing:

• 8-ounce package cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
• 2 cups sifted confectioners' sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• Splash of half-n-half (as needed until desired consistency is reached)

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Using an electric mixer at medium speed, combine the eggs, sugar, oil and pumpkin until light and fluffy. Stir together the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, cloves, salt and baking soda. Add the dry ingredients to the pumpkin mixture and mix at low speed until thoroughly combined and the batter is smooth. Spread the batter into a greased 13 by 10-inch baking pan. Bake for 30 minutes. Let cool completely before frosting. Cut into bars.


To make the icing: Combine the cream cheese and butter in a medium bowl with an electric mixer until smooth. Add the sugar and mix at low speed until combined. Stir in the vanilla and half-n-half and mix again. Spread on cooled pumpkin bars.



This is my go-to pumpkin dessert recipe to share with friends over coffee or as a treat for my family.

Hope you enjoy it as much as we do :o)



Blessings,

These beautiful Fairy Butterflies say, "Happy Friday to you!"

Moriah and Gianna - two sweet friends!

I'm linked up with:

The Sweetness of Hospitality and Snickerdoodle Recipe

In February I was thinking about what to give my father-in-law for his birthday… another shirt? I think that’s what I gave him for Christmas the past two years. What would he like? Then I thought of his face lighting up when I handed him a little bag of cookies I made the other night. That’s it! I would give him a “Cookie Coupon” – good for one batch of cookies, delivered the first week of each month for a whole year! Wouldn’t you like to get a tasty treat and nice surprise each month? Yum!

A blessing to those who thirst

Whether we give a cup of cold water to a passerby or invite a family over for a meal, we can show hospitality. I'm learning that hospitality is not an event, but rather a lifestyle.

Give what you have – your time, talent, possessions, money. You can give someone art lessons, music lessons, or help with their garden. Take a meal to a new mom or cookies to a new neighbor.

I get to bless my father-in-law every month (hopefully even more often that that) and I am blessed to do it! Here is an easy, delicious cookie recipe that you will want to make again and again!

Recipe is from Teresa in CO

World’s BEST Snickerdoodles
(my father-in-law's favorite!)

 Ingredients:

1 cup unsalted butter (softened)

1 ½ cups sugar

2 eggs

2 tsp vanilla

2 ¾ cups flour

2 tsp cream of tarter

1 tsp baking soda

¼ tsp salt

To roll cookies in

3 tbl sugar

2 tsp cinnamon

 

Directions: 

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

 

2. Cream butter and sugar together.

 

3. Add in eggs, one at a time, add vanilla, until well-combined.

 

4. Mix dry ingredients in a separate bowl and add it to the wet mix in 2-3 stages.

 

5. Mix the 2 tbl of sugar and cinnamon together in small bowl.

 

6. Use your hands to roll dough into little (ping-pong ball sized) balls.

 

7. Roll dough balls in the sugar mixture until covered. Place on ungreased cookie sheet, 2 to 3 inches apart.

 

8. Bake 7 to 8 minutes, until they spread out and have JUST started to turn brown. Remove from cookie sheets and place on a cooling rack. Don’t let them cook too long or they will be hard. You want a chewy cookie with a crisp outside.

 

9. Enjoy a few and share the rest!

Blessings,

The BEST Lasagna EVER!

Don't you just LOVE when a friend has you and your family over for dinner, your husband comments on how WONDERFUL the dinner is, and then said friend gives you the recipe for the BEST lasagna EVER???

This may not have happened to you, but I sure did happen to me. And I'm here to share that recipe with you!

In Jen's own handwriting! (with my notes)



Lasagna was one dish that I just could  not master on my own (mine turned out dry and crunchy!). I'm very thankful to my dear friend Jen for sharing this delicious recipe so that my family could enjoy it as often as we like. It's also a great hit each time I serve it to company!

This makes a great meal to share with others - a sick neighbor, a family with a new baby, or a friend in need. A fresh salad and a loaf of sourdough bread complete this meal.



Here's the recipe with pictures galor!

Jen's Amazing Lasagna

Ingredients For 9x13 pan (serves 8)

2 lb. ground beef

3 regular size jars Ragu Old World Sauce - Traditional flavor

1 box no boil noodles (or boil your favorite kind - I use whole wheat)

2 - 8 0z blocks cream cheese

1 lrg. container small curd cottage cheese

4 cups mozzarella cheese

 

Ready to get started! 

Ingredients for 8x8 pan (serves 4)

1 lb. ground beef

1 1/2 to 2 cans Ragu Old World Sauce - Traditional flavor

1/2 box no boil noodles (or boil your favorite noodles)

1 - 8 0z blocks cream cheese

1 small container small curd cottage cheese

2 cups mozzarella cheese

And here's what you do with it all:

Brown the meat on med/high heat. Remove fat when done.

Add sauce and let simmer for 15 min or so.

Meanwhile blend together (with a hand mixer) cream cheese

and cottage cheese so there aren't any large lumps.

I like to cut the cream cheese into cubes so it blends without too much of a fight.

Nice and smooth...

All ready to go

Time to layer! Starting with sauce at the bottom, enough to cover it.

Then noodles... Use 4 per layer for 9x13 pan.

Only 3 noodles per layer for 8x8 pan. It's okay if they overlap a bit.

Didn't care for how this layer looked... noodles lined up.

Next time I placed them differently (2 and 2, side by side).

A bit more sauce...

dollop the cream cheese mixture on then swirl around...

sprinkle grated cheese...

Then repeat two more times:

(don't forget to spread the love to the corners!) 

noodles...
sauce...

cream cheese mixture...

grated cheese...

noodles...

sauce...

cream cheese mixture...

and top it off with remaining cheese!

Spray foil with oil generously and lay, oil side down, on top of lasagna.

Bake at 350 for 45 min with foil.

Remove foil and bake 15 min more, or until bubbly on the sides.

I usually place a cookie sheet under my lasagna pan while it's baking,

just to catch any drips. It's easier to clean up than scrubbing the oven!

Let sit for a few minutes, cut and enjoy!

  

This is a GREAT meal to share with others. When I hear news of a new baby coming, I make sure that I have the ingredients for 2 large dishes of this lasagna. One pan for our friends, and one for our family! Yum!

When I cook my own noodles to put in the lasagna, I start with sauce on the bottom,
but then layer up - noodles, sauce, cream cheese mixture, mozzarella, and repeat!

Layer upon tasty layer!

All done and ready for some foil.

These can be frozen or refrigerated until you are ready to bake them.

To deliver to a friend, just add some garlic bread, a ready-to-eat salad, paper plates, napkins, and a tasty dessert. I have included strawberry shortcake, brownies, or homemade chocolate chip cookies in the past.

I hope this simple recipe blesses you and your family, as well as anyone else you share it with!

Have a wonderful weekend,

  

EDITED ADDED 3/19/2016:

Now that I am a Trim Healthy Mama, I leave out the noodles replace them with layers of fresh baby spinach leaves instead! YUM! It's a great way to get your veggies in and enjoy tasty lasagna at the same time!

I'm linked up with: