Tea at Dawn: The Menu

As a follow-up to yesterday’s post, I wanted to tell you that my tray is Russian Gzhel Porcelain. A friend brought it back for me after visiting family there. The tray has a tab for hanging but I’m too afraid it might fall off the wall to do that. You’ll see the tray again, as well as some of my other Russian pieces, when I feature a Russian Tea Theme.

Okay, back to Tea at Dawn. Since the hostess for this tea will be busy walking, biking, touring or tai chiing with her guests before the tea, she’ll need everything to be made ahead and ready to serve. This menu handles that perfectly.

For all those energetic, hard-exercising guests, set up a Smoothie Bar. Smoothies can be both super healthy and super tasty. Fresh fruit, yogurt, honey, nuts, low-fat milk and even ice cream will give everyone a great choice in their own smoothie. Offer a few special organic supplements too for those who might like an extra boost.

What is a breakfast without muffins! I’ll have recipes for a couple that I especially love using more fresh fruit and healthy grains.

Homemade granola tastes nothing like the stuff you get in a box. Some guests will want to eat it dry, out of hand, some will like it in a bowl with a little milk and others will like it on top of their smoothie.

Often guests, especially the guys, might enjoy something a bit more substantial. Offer a slice of cheesy quiche packed with veggies for the really hungry. The quiche features a whole wheat crust continuing the good-for-you theme.

Last but not least, the tea for this party is an Iced Spiced Tea. Cold and very refreshing, it will help your tea friends to get on with their busy days, especially those who going on to work.

Join me again tomorrow for the recipes and how-tos!

My World Wednesday: Eye Cups

People will collect anything and here is proof. Have you ever heard of an eye bath? It was quite popular in days gone by. An eye bath could be used to strengthen the eyes, as it was believed then, as a treatment for eye infections or to soothe eyes that had been subjected to dusty or sooty conditions.

People were instructed as follows in Strengthening the Eyes, published in 1925: “A weak solution of salt and water or a dilute solution of boric acid and water, is the best for this purpose, under ordinary conditions. These solutions must on no account be strong. The water must not be brine, nor the boric acid solution too strong. The water should usually be cool, or lukewarm; but the temperature must depend upon circumstances. In certain inflammatory conditions of the eye, it is often advisable to have the water quite cold, while, on the other hand, in all injuries and local affection which render the eye sore or tender, it is best to bathe it in warm or hot water--at least at first. The bath, as a rule, should not last more than twenty or thirty seconds for each eye, and should be followed by a blinking of the eye--which, however, will probably follow automatically.

The eye-cup is filled with whatever solution is to be used, the head leaned forward and the cup placed over the eye; then the head is tilted backward, and the eye under the cup opened and closed a number of times. The same operation is repeated with the other eye. It is a good thing not to keep the cup against the eye for too long a time, owing to the suction which develops in consequence. It should be removed and re-applied several times.

As regards medicinal substances to be used in the water, there are but few of these which can be recommended. A small percentage of salt is often strengthening to the eyes, but a heavy brine is irritating and injurious. A dilute solution of boric acid is often beneficial, as it tends to cleanse the eye and wash out irritating substances. Apart from these solutions, it is safe to say that ordinarily, the further the patient keeps from "eye lotions" and concoctions of that sort, the better. These eye baths should have the effect of strengthening and stimulating the eyes in a wholesome, hygienic manner, without irritation. Cases of weak and dull eyes are especially helped by them, and they are helpful in practically every case of eye disease and defect, where they are not distinctly contra-indicated.”

My own collection of antique eye cups is small but it shows the variety of cups that were available. I find them quite pretty, especially the cobalt blue ones. Each one is marked on the bottom with the symbol of the manufacturer like fine china. I’m often tempted to use them on the tea table as tiny vases. But I wouldn't want any delicate ladies to swoon at the thought. :)

Tea at Dawn

The best time of a summer’s day is dawn. The air is fresh and cool, the sun is clear and bright and everything is enveloped in quiet and peace. Dawn is the only time for outside activities here on a day like today when the temperatures are in the 90s and the dew point is a sultry 70. Take advantage of the early morning to get together with friends for tea!

Start this tea party with some exercise to get the day moving. You could suggest a leisurely bike ride on a local trail. Or take them on an architectural tour of your neighborhood; scout out those little details we usually miss and show your friends. You could walk in the alleyways to sneak a peak at gardens or meet in the park for a jog (or to play on the swings while the little kids are still sleeping.) If that seems a bit too physical, invite a tai chi teacher to give a class in your back yard for your friends.

The reward for getting up early and exercising is a tea party afterwards. Invite everyone back to your house to continue the pleasure of the outdoors. Make the setting super casual on your patio or in your yard. A variety of lawn chairs, including loungers for those not used to moving, a serving table and some smaller tables scattered about work better than expecting people to sit close at one big table.

An old fashioned red and white checked tablecloth looks just right. Decorate with crocks filled with sunflowers. Wrap silverware in red and white napkins and stick in a clean Campbell’s Soup can. Simple metal pails can be filled with ice and used to hold bottles of water. Use blue splatterware plates if you have them; this is a popular summer paper plate pattern too. Red plastic plates from the grocery store will look good too. Ball jars with handles can hold the tea; pick some up at a dollar store. Remember, casual is the word.

Take a portable CD player outside but be considerate of neighbors at that hour. Make a mixed CD of morning songs, anything from Johnny Cash’s Sunday Morning Coming Down to Cat Steven’s Morning has Broken. Go classical with Beethoven’s 6^th (Pastoral) Symphony or Grofe’s Grand Canyon Suite. Or mix it up further with songs like It’s a Beautiful Morning, Angel of the Morning, I Feel Good, Amarillo by Morning or the very appropriate Good Morning from Singing in the Rain.

Ah, rain. That is definitely a consideration. Plan to invite your guests only a couple days in advance, after checking the weather report. Just give them a phone call or talk to them in person. The food for this tea party can be held easily if the weather predictor is wrong and it is raining the day of your tea.

If you want to give favors, present each guest with a goodie bag at the start of the morning’s activity. Little bottles of sunscreen, lip balm, moist towelettes that you’ve kept in the freezer, sweat bands, even goofy sunglasses are all things your friends might enjoy. It you want to go more expensive, give each guest a pedometer. To go less expensive, give everyone a bag of the homemade granola you served at the tea. Tie a glassine bag with raffia and attach an artificial sunflower.

Yep, homemade granola is on the menu. But for the other treats and the recipes, come back again tomorrow!

Celebrate!

Happy July 4th to all my blogging friends in the USA!

Life is Just a Bowl of Cherries

We have sour cherries for only three weeks each summer, less if the weather is especially hot. They’re in now so it was time for me to get to work. I had 6 quarts of cherries and with them I made 3 pies and 2 cherry puddings. It isn't difficult to do the baking but pitting the cherries is the part I hate. It took me 90 minutes to pit all 6 quarts. There was cherry juice everywhere, even on Seamus' head. You can just see his foot in the picture above.

Cherry pudding is called cherry clafouti in some circles but no one here in Pennsylvania Dutch country would know what you meant if you said clafouti. This is a favorite of my mother’s friend John so I make the cherry pudding for him. He told me that when he was a little boy, they had cherry trees on their farm. He’d pester his mother over and over to make cherry pudding. She grew so weary of his constant requests that she thought she’d teach him a lesson. She baked a large cherry pudding and told him it was all his. The only catch was that he had to sit and eat it right then. She was hoping that it would make him sick and he’d never want it again. But he couldn’t have been happier. He ate the whole thing without any ill effects. The next day he was back to bugging his mother for another cherry pudding.

Cherry Pudding

2 eggs
½ cup granulated sugar
¼ teaspoon salt
½ to ¾ cup milk
4 tablespoons soft shortening
2 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 cups red sour cherries

Cream together shortening and sugar; add eggs. Sift in dry ingredients. Add milk and mix well. Fold in drained cherries and bake in greased and floured pans (1 ½ quart.) Bake at 400º for 35-40 minutes until top forms a rich brown crust. Serve at once with milk and sugar or with ice cream and a syrup made from left-over cherry juice.

My friend Anita from Prairie Dreams passed this award to me. I think it is so cute. Thanks, Anita!

Retro Tea: Dump Cake

Despite its name, Dump Cake is a quick and tasty treat. These cakes were so popular when I was a kid. Each baker would put her own spin on the cake by varying the fruit used. There is even a pumpkin dump cake. The recipe is from Betty Crocker herself. :)

1 box Betty Crocker® SuperMoist® yellow cake mix
1/2 cup butter or margarine, melted
1 can (21 oz) cherry pie filling
1 can (8 oz) crushed pineapple, undrained

1. Heat oven to 350°F (325°F for dark or nonstick pan). In large bowl, stir together cake mix and butter until crumbly; set aside.
2. Spread pie filling and pineapple in ungreased 13x9-inch pan. Sprinkle cake mix mixture evenly over fruit.
3. Bake 39 to 46 minutes or until deep golden brown. Cool 30 minutes. Serve warm or cool. Store loosely covered.

Retro Tea: Magic Marshmallow Crescent Puffs

These were one of my favorite weeknight desserts when I was a kid. They still taste just as good today.

Rolls:
1/4 cup sugar
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon cinnamon
2 (8-oz.) cans Pillsbury® Refrigerated Crescent Dinner Rolls
16 large marshmallows
1/4 cup butter, melted
Glaze:
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
2 to 3 teaspoons milk
1/4 cup chopped nuts

Heat oven to 375°F. Spray 16 medium muffin cups with nonstick cooking spray. In small bowl, combine sugar, flour and cinnamon; mix well.

Separate dough into 16 triangles. For each roll, dip 1 marshmallow in melted butter; roll in sugar mixture. Place marshmallow on shortest side of triangle. Roll up, starting at shortest side and rolling to opposite point. Completely cover marshmallow with dough; firmly pinch edges to seal. Dip 1 end in remaining butter; place butter side down in sprayed muffin cup.

Bake at 375°F. for 12 to 15 minutes or until golden brown. (Place foil or cookie sheet on rack below muffin cups to guard against spills.) Cool in pan 1 minute. Remove rolls from muffin cups; place on wire racks set over waxed paper.

In small bowl, blend powdered sugar, vanilla and enough milk for desired drizzling consistency. Drizzle glaze over warm rolls. Sprinkle with nuts. Serve warm.