A Valentine Tea Party

The time had come for a long overdue fete...
These are the goods for the party favors

I love to wrap presents. Here are the components for the favors.

Lovely wide satin ribbon that I used for decorating the backs of our chairs.

Hersheys candy=antiqued.

I made one of these for each of the girls. Hersheys hugs+wrapped in cellophane+chocolate brown ribbon+paper roses+palest pink organza.

Here are some of those pillow boxes (such as those that I have listed on www.thegildedbee.etsy.com ) tied off with some satin ribbon.

Place setting.

I was fussing around with the napkins the night before and finally decided on this design, which double-tasks as a silverware holder.

The dishes for dessert and tea+the favors.

Place cards. The table at a glance, before it was filled to capacity with salads etc.

Does it get any more beautiful? I think that chocolate is one of the most sensory-pleasure-activating foods ever invented, from the wonderful smell, the literal eye-candy, and smooth textures. Gorgeous.

More chocolate!

I love to photograph dessert. It's so gratifying with it's colors and textures.

Wafer cookies.

Little chocolate creme filled cakes.

Paper liners. I love them.

The back of my chair=a really big bow.

Black olives and spicy pickles= I love.

I'm actually very fond of very briny foods. A taste is enough, but I really crave that little taste.

Carrots= to help justify all of those lovely sweets. :D

For the rest of the recipes from this party (all invented my your truly) just scroll down.

Apple Cider Salad

Apple Cider Salad

Combine in bowl:
5 Gala Apples, sliced
1 c. dark raisins
1 t. ground cinnamon
1 t. ground mace
½ t. salt
¼ c. apple cider vinegar

Toss. Place salad in fridge for a few hours: for the flavors to blend.

Creamy Pasta Salad

Creamy Pasta Salad

16 oz. cooked pasta (I used wacky mac), drained and rinsed (to remove the starch that would make the pasta gummy)

For the dressing:
Combine:
¼ c. lemon juice
1 c. Mayonnaise (not a salad dressing, such as miracle whip)
½ t. freshly ground black pepper
1 t. salt
2 T. sugar

Toss with pasta to serve.

Sweet+Salty Ham and Vegetable Salad

Sweet+Salty Ham Salad

For the dressing:
In the bowl of a blender, or in a jar:
Combine:
¼ c. mustard
2 T. olive oil
2 T. white vinegar
½ t. freshly ground black pepper
2 T. honey

Combine in bowl:
8 c. oven roasted ham chopped
1 c. pimento stuffed green olives, chopped
½ c. black olives, chopped
1 green bell pepper, chopped
1 red bell pepper, chopped
1 bunch celery, chopped
1 onion, chopped

Pour dressing over ham and vegetables. Toss.

Black Bean+Corn Salsa

Above: Serve with these= very good.

Black Bean+Corn Salsa

Combine in bowl:
16 oz. black beans
16 oz. fresh corn, white or yellow
1 t. basil
1 t. ground cayenne pepper
1 c. finely chopped onion
1/3 c. lemon juice1 t. salt

More from Sarah's Birthday Party

O.K. I finally posted these pics from December!
Yipes, this is overdue. I should post more often.
(Above: the partiers, I appear to be swirling my grape juice in an intellectual manner)
The birthday girl+cake. Shaina did Sarah's hair up in a fancy woven style.

Balloons from heaven.

Bubbly. Cheers.

Lovely+sparkling+sweet.

A fruit salad that I made: Lots of apples and white grapes+some raspberries which turned the salad pink.

Buttery candy cane cookies.

Shaina+balloon.

Shaina+Rachel.

Blow.

We had a lovely feast.

I *love* kringle. I want some now.

Happy Birthday to Me...

My first taste of birthday cake 19 years ago.

It was a yellow cake, with white frosting and tart cherry topping.

I still adore anything cake related and I love cherries.

I haven't made a cake for today, of all things for me to do.

I will have to make some cake soon.

Black Bean Chicken Chili

Black Bean Chicken Chili

I brought this to our soup supper that we had after our annual traditional Christmas Caroling.
Here it is Aunt Cindy, I'm very glad you liked it. :)

Combine in a large soup pot:
1 lb dried black beans, cooked according to the package directions,
OR 4 small cans black beans, don't drain them
6 T. chili powder
2 T. onion powder
1/2 t. garlic powder
1 t. cayenne powder
4 c. diced tomatoes
4 c. tomato sauce
1 t. dried basil
2 boneless skinless chicken breasts, thawed and cut into slices

Simmer together for 2-3 hours, till thickened and chicken is cooked through.
Season with salt and black pepper to taste.

Chocolate Birthday Cake

A cake I made for our Family party, in honor of my sister Sarah's 17th birthday.
It is chocolate with large chunks of dark chocolate and marshmallows, iced over with chocolate frosting. The candles were a gift from my sister Shaina, they are 6-7 in? tall.

Gingerbread Bars

I love gingerbread too.

Gingerbread Bars

Butter an 8 by 12 by 2 in. pan, then line with parchment.

In a mixing bowl combine:
2 ¼ c. whole-wheat flour
2 t. baking soda
1 ¼ t. ground cinnamon
1 ¼ t. ground cloves
1 t. ground ginger

Combine in separate bowl:
1 c. honey
½ c. melted butter
¼ dark molasses
1 egg

Combine wet and dry ingredients.
Pour into prepared pan,
Bake at 350 for 25-30 min.
or till toothpick inserted into center comes out clean.

I iced these with one batch of the Almond Cream Cheese Frosting.