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Lisbet
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| Posted: Jan 11 2007 at 2:11pm | IP Logged
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I am hosting a Mothers Tea the end of this month. I've invited 6 dear friends that I don't see nearly enough any more, and a woman I've not met but that recently moved to the area, is going through RCIA, and plans on homeschooling her two children.
Being January, it will probably be a blustery cold evening. I plan on having lots of candles, fresh flowers, a pretty new tablecloth, and of course, Tea.
I'm looking for any decorating ideas, food ideas, or anything else. I hope to make it a very warm and memorable evening. And of course, you are all invited also! (seriously, any of you that are close to NW Ohio, pm me! :) )
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Lisa, wife to Tony,
Mama to:
Nick, 17
Abby, 15
Gabe, 13
Isaac, 11
Mary, 10
Sam, 9
Henry, 7
Molly, 6
Mark, 5
Greta, 3
Cecilia born 10.29.10
Josephine born 6.11.12
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MichelleW
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| Posted: Jan 11 2007 at 2:28pm | IP Logged
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For winter teas, I usually start off with a small ramekin or cup of soup. It just starts off feeling cozy. If this is a lunch or dinner tea, then a heavier soup like potato; if it is an afternoon or after dinner tea, a lighter soup like a consomme, butternut squash, etc. Let me know if you'd like some recipes. I always go simple.
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Michelle
Mom to 3 (dd 14, ds 15, and ds 16)
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Tina P.
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Hi Lisa:
We had a tea for my daughter's last birthday party in January. For tea, we made tea sandwiches. We cut the crusts off the bread and made shrimp salad, cucumber and whipped cream cheese, cold salmon, turkey, and ham. We cut them in triangular quarters. Presenting them on paper doilies on plates would be a nice touch. We also made jam-filled scones for a treat.
They danced to classical music. You probably won't be dancing, but classical music in the background might be nice, no? 
Have you thought of anything for non-tea-drinkers? Maybe a nice, light punch?
I think you've got decorations covered. It sounds lovely. Can I come? 
God bless,
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Tina, wife to one and mom to 9 + 3 in heaven
Mary's Muse
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Lisbet
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| Posted: Jan 11 2007 at 2:32pm | IP Logged
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I love both the soup and the doilie idea. I planned on Marie Bellet in the background. Tina, please come! I'd LOVE that!
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Lisa, wife to Tony,
Mama to:
Nick, 17
Abby, 15
Gabe, 13
Isaac, 11
Mary, 10
Sam, 9
Henry, 7
Molly, 6
Mark, 5
Greta, 3
Cecilia born 10.29.10
Josephine born 6.11.12
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alicegunther
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| Posted: Jan 11 2007 at 3:20pm | IP Logged
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Lisa!!! Congratulations on that new addition to your signature!!!!!!!!! Oh what a joyful home you have!
Here are some photographs from our Mom's Tea and Rosary in November. It was so much fun!
A few sure fire menu suggestions:
Ham and cream cheese tea sandwiches:
Black forest ham
Fresh baguette from the bakery
Cream cheese
Cut the baguette on the diagonal into rounds. Smear with cream cheese and top with a savory piece of black forest ham. Delicious! (I started making these out of ingredients we happened to have on hand several years ago, and it was a huge hit. Even kids love these pretty little sandwiches.)
English Cucumber Tea Sandwiches:
One seedless English Cucumber (or regular cuke, if need be)
Butter
Fresh Dill
Thinly sliced white bread
Peel the cucumber and slice it thin, blotting it with paper towels to remove excess water. Butter thinly sliced bread, and top with a thin layer of the cucumber. Sprinkle with snipped fresh dill and top with another slice of buttered bread. Trim off the crusts and cut into triangles. It is hard to make enough of these! I usually pile several up so that I can trim and cut all in one fell swoop.
Cheese and crackers always go over well, especially with grapes, sliced apples, and strawberries. Tartlets from the bakery are also a welcome touch.
Have fun!
Love, Alice
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Love, Alice
mother of seven!
     
Cottage Blessings
Brew yourself a cup of tea, and come for a visit!
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Maryan
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This isn't very sophisticated or gourmet, but it's fast, easy, and my neighbors loved them! I bought a Betty Crocker (or Dunkin Hines - can't remember) mix for lemon poppy seed muffins. I wanted to make mini muffins, but the package gave instructions for 6, 12, or 36 muffins but my Pampered Chef mini muffin pan was for 24. So I followed the same instructions for 36 and they came out great! A little lemon glaze on top too! They're bite sized so easy to eat and serve.
Served them at my "neighborhood coffee clutch" and they were all gone!
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Maryan
Mom to 6 boys & 1 girl: JP('01), B ('03), M('05), L('06), Ph ('08), M ('10), James born 5/1/12
A Lee in the Woudes
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Cici
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| Posted: Jan 11 2007 at 7:24pm | IP Logged
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I second Alice's cucumber sandwiches. We've had a few "tea party" showers and these are a MUST as they go QUICKLY! Sometimes I add a bit of watercress, too.
Another thing I do is make a few (at least 2 and never more than 3) quick breads - flavor depending on the season. Pumpkin, apple, pear, cranberry, I always do a banana. I put out little bowls of honey butter, and plain, whipped butter. I have a long, narrow bread pan I use - but you can always use a regular 9x or 8x whatever and then cut the loaf in half. The good thing about these, too, is that you can bake these ahead of time and freeze them. (I wouldn't slice ahead of time, though).
Another sandwich that seems to go quickly - especially if there will be children - are good old fashioned pb&j. I make them, cut the crusts, and cut them in triangles, too. Oh (do you notice I serve in "threes"?) I serve a chicken salad sandwich, too - of course cut the same way.
Decorating for a tea can be so easy and fun with just the stuff you have around. Doilies are a must. I like to have a "centerpiece" for the table - or at least a serving of various heights (if you aren't going to be eating around the same table you are serving off of). Do make and decorate these "platforms" I use phone books, inverted baking pans, or whatever else can be clever disguised. I am then known for grabbing napkins/placements/pretty hankies - whatever you have that will do the trick and "cover" these platforms. The table always looks so elegant - and it never costs a dime!
Hmnn...another table decorating idea. Lay out your table cloth (a heavier one) and then drape another (lighter both in fabric/texture/feel) and tie a small knot on either end.
Fruit is a must have. Pears are readily available right now and go well with a cream cheese/butter/sugar fruit dip.
I'm making myself hungry...and desirous of a tea....
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JodieLyn
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for non-tea drinkers.. hot apple cider is another possibility and keeps the drinks hot.
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Jodie, wife to Dave
G-18, B-17, G-15, G-14, B-13, B-11, G-9, B-7, B-5, B-4
All men who have turned out worth anything have had the chief hand in their own education.
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Mrs.K
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Congratulations, Lisa!!!! I pray you have a happy and healthy pregnancy. I hope you won't need to serve saltines and ginger ale at your tea, too.
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Mrs.K
My rosariesBeads of Mercy
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Jesus,I trust in You!
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marihalojen
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I like to have something special that my friends might not get at home, for instance when I had a large garden and my roses were blooming I floated the tiniest blossom in the tea cup and it was gorgeous! At the same tea party I gathered blown roses and sprinkled their petals over the table, our Winn-Dixie sells containers of rose petals for about $2 and there is nothing simpler or prettier.
Now I generally have champagne (they make good non-alcoholic versions too) and float a berry in the glass, (raspberries are nice for near Valentine's or blackberry or a tiny strawberry - not those plum sized ones!) as I don't have a garden or tea sets anymore!
I don't have champagne flutes either, but use my stainless steel martini glasses. They are good all purpose kitchen tools! Iced shrimp hanging around the edge and cocktail sauce in the center is Marianna's current favorite hors d'oeuvres to make. Look at your kitchen items in new ways like that too, a colander that just fits inside a bowl can keep biscuits/rolls warm if you fill the bottom of the outer bowl with steamy hot water and cover all with a pretty cloth.
Thinking on roses...at a party I attended once the sugar cubes had frosting roses on each one, lovely!
Just some random thoughts, I'm getting all inspired by this thread myself! It has been way too long since I threw a party...
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~Jennifer
Mother to Mariannna, age 13
The Mari Hal-O-Jen
SSR = Sailing, Snorkling, Reading
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Mrs.K
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Lisa and Alice and others,
Can I have more details on your Mothers' Teas? What day/ time did you have your parties? Do you just invite the mothers? What about mothers with littles who can't leave them? Were your own children (and husband ) invited? If not, what did they do? Thanks!
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Mrs.K
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Jesus,I trust in You!
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4Real Forums : Tea and Conversation
Topic: Help planning a Tea
