Drinks and Pinks Tea

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Drinks and Pinks Tea!

I am part of a small group of ladies who faithfully rotate Afternoon Tea throughout the year. I usually do February, July and sometimes one in the fall season. This year I wanted to do a little something different for my theme and decided on... Drinks and Pinks! In addition to Earl Grey, we also enjoyed Pink Champagne! Won't you join us.... Pink attire preferred.

First I have to share with you the steal I got these roses for.... $7.00! Yep, they were on clearance as Valentines Day was over. I'll take a dozen thank you very much!

The lovely Lady Jenifer (I call her Lady because once she wore the most beautiful velvet hat to tea and I swear she looked like royalty) arrived a few minutes early and handed me a tiny box saying that she wanted to share something with all the ladies today. Hmmmm, what could it be?

Oh can I just tell you that it took my breath away when I slowly peeled back the AD-OR-AB-LE teapot paper to reveal gorgeous HANDMADE by JENIFER, sugar cubes! (Squeal!!!!) I know, I know! I LOVE handmade items because I KNOW the labor of love that these things require. I absolutely loved them and so did everyone else. Now I have to tell you that Jenifer is really my sister Melodys' friend FIRST because they became friends over 20 years ago and I got to be friends with her by default. So, yes... you can imagine how much my beautiful sister was coveting my sugar cubes. Jenifer, your on to something here! The perfect hostess gift for a tea party!

My china has never looked so lovely before as it does now with these GORGEOUS sugar cubes!

More guests begin to arrive... here is the newest addition to the tea circle, Alicia and my sister Melody. Alicia is going to be a Mommy this summer and Melody is going to be it's Grandmother! Hmmm, so what does that make me... I think the Great Aunt since my Nephew is the Daddy.
Here is the lovely Victoria who has the most flawless skin ever and her beautiful daughter (who looks like a miniature Cindy Crawford ~ complete with facial mole)!

This is one of my Mother's oldest friends, the beautiful Ann. Sadly my Mother who also rotates being hostess couldn't make it today and she was surely missed.

Please take a moment to make a cup of tea and a enjoy a treat while I put the finishing touches on our lunch.

Here is my place setting. Question for you out there who KNOW their china. Do you happen to know the name of the pattern on my lonely tea cup? My Mother-in-Law got me this cup for my birthday a couple of years ago and all that is on the bottom is YADA CHINA, Made in Japan. I've searched the Internet but can't find the pattern name.

Afternoon Tea is ready, please join us at my table.... Little Cindy Crawford joined us today so I made her a special table setting just for her, complete with party favors and table activities.

And now for the Pink!! Pink Champagne that is... California style!

A toast to friendship and another year of Afternoon Tea!

Oddly enough I forgot to take pictures of my food! I ALWAYS take pictures of the food and today I had quite a spread. You should have seen my tea cart, it was loaded with trays of goodies!

I did remember to take this picture of my plate after I started eating my savories!

Here she is showing me her Bling-Bling ring that she found in her party favors!

Awe, look at the hostess with the most-est! Ann gave me this beautiful rose plate, I just LOVE it!

It was filled with tea bags and a lovely potpourri arrangement!

This CUTE box was filled with stickers and embellishments for my journals/scrapbooks!

Well the party is over now and it was a lovely time. Soft harp and piano music in the background was enjoyed by all. While Alicia and I were looking at my new Victoria magazine that came in the mail, my sweet sister proceeded to quietly clean the dishes. That sneaky girl!

Ahhhh, the house is quiet and the children are already asleep on the couch while 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea plays on the DVD. I think I have my dessert now!

Have a blessed weekend!

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PFF FRIDAY!

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It's Postcard Friendship Friday!

Visit our beautiful host, Marie at Cpaphil Vintage Postcards

My co-worker has this exact sign at her desk and today it was soooo appropriate at our office! Little people.... you gotta love 'em when they are on strike!

By the way, the roof repair crew came today so I'm looking forward to a dry weekend while it storms all around me. And.... a good night sleep without my son's little toes squirming up against me. Why is that? Not his Daddy... nooooo Daddy sleeps like a baby undisturbed by the little love. Mommy get's all the attention of flay-ling arms and dream giggles in the ear at

o-dark-thirty in the morning.

Have a great Friday!

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Roof Leak Update

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Roof Leak Update!

After a long afternoon, we found out that water is ponding at the chimney where the house and chimney meet and make a V shape. The standing water is traveling, thus the reason for the 2 leaks but it's coming from the one source! Unfortunately, no repairs can be done until the rain stops and the area dries up a bit, then they will install a device that wraps around the chimney causing the water to run down both sides and some other minor flashing repairs and that should take care of it as the remaining shingles on the house all look good. The cost will be about $500. Later, when we can, we'll have the ceiling repaired in my sons room. I'm hoping the storm today doesn't damage it further and that we can start repairs tomorrow as SUN is in the forecast for Wedneday & Thursday around here!

Thank you for your sweet comments and prayers! I REALLY do appreciate it so much!

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If you could...

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Please pray for me as I've just now discovered 2 leaks in my roof, directly DRIPPING in my little boys' bedroom! I'm asking specifically that someone can come today, YES ON THE HOLIDAY, to inspect and repair. And... that God would again provide the financial means to get us through this too.

**UPDATE... the roof is leaking in the v-joint area where the roof meets the chimney

and then 3 feet over in the middle on the slope part. The drip is just missing his bed by 2 inches.

Roof crew is expected here within the next hour! Yeah!!!

THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!

You're the best bloggyfriends a girl could ever ask for!

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PFF and Gifts!

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Happy Valentines Day!!

Please stop by PFF Hosts' Marie's Cpaphil Vintage Postcards to wish her precious boy who is turning 9 yrs old "Happy Birthday Noah!"

AND...

look what my dear Mother-in-Law got for me!!! She gave it to me early so I could use it right away! I love themed tablescape items!

Got any plans for the weekend? We are spending it with family! And I'm going to make this for dessert...

It's super easy Sopapilla Cheesecake, for the recipe and detailed directions go here! By the way, I looked up the calories for this and wished I hadn't. Yikes! Just keeping it real, keeping it real!

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Working for it...

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Went to Walgreen's on Sunday after church to get my hair color that was on sale with a coupon for a smoking deal ~ that's right, two boxes, count them 2 boxes of Loreal hair color for $4.20 and the kids asked if they could please get 'something'.

I asked them, like what? $1.00 item or $10 item? They REALLY wanted $10 item. I told them they had to make a choice because the budget is TIGHT... sqeaky tight. If they wanted more hot lunch at school then they would have to choose something $1.00. If they wanted something $$ then they would have to work it off. They both LOVE getting hot lunch and frankly, I enjoy getting it for them because some days when groceries are low, I don't think I can pull together as nutritious a lunch from home. I tend to focus on shopping for breakfast and dinner items. So they chose to work for the $$ item.

As soon we got home, then went to work on what I selected to "work it off". Clean Mommy's Car! Yea Me! Yes, they got out the shop-vac and vacuumed the floors, under the mats, in the pockets, wiped down all the leather, dusted all the dash and washed all the windows. Folks, you' ve never seen a Hyundia look so good done by little people!

So what were the $$ items?

Daughter picked out a new Tamagotchi toy...

and Son picked out a TV plug in game, oddly enough his was cheaper and does WAY more stuff!

What do/did you make your kids work for?

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Melt-A-Way Biscuits

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Here's another requested recipe!

Melt-A-Way Biscuits!

1 cup Butter, melted (no substitutes)

1 cup sour cream

2 cups SELF-RISING flour

Blend butter and sour cream, mix in flour. Fill 12 muffin tins (no paper liners necessary) evenly with the entire batter. It should look and feel sticky. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes, they should be golden brown. Immediately remove from pan and enjoy hot! Obviously, no added butter needed as they will melt in your mouth!

Don't have Self-Rising flour?

Use regular flour, add 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder and a pinch of salt.

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As Requested...

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You are all so sweet with your requests of "Please," "I beg you," "I'll be your BFF"...

Here is my recipe for Crock Pot Stroganoff! It's not a secret recipe as I got the original recipe off the Internet years ago and made my own changes to it.

Sorry I don't have a photo for you but if you follow the recipe EXACTLY and DO NOT make any alterations, you will enjoy the best crock pot dinner... ever!

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Janeen's Crock Pot Stroganoff

2 pounds Flank steak, cut into strips
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon each of salt and pepper
1 teaspoon minced garlic
3 tablespoons melted butter
1 small onion, chopped
1 tablespoon soy sauce
2 beef bouillon cubes (I use the powdered version for easy measuring)
2 (10.5-ounce) cans condensed cream of mushroom soup

1 small can of tomato sauce
1/2 cup water
1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, cubed *

1 large package of wide egg noodles

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Cut steak in 1 x 1/2-inch strips. In a zip lock type baggie mix flour, pepper, salt, and garlic to coat the meat. Now place remaining ingredients, except cream cheese, in crock pot and stir. Fold in seasoned/floured meat. Cook on low for 5 hours. Stir occasionally.
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Half hour before serving, boil up a large pot of water and cook your egg noodles so they are ready.

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This step is important! The last half hour of cooking add the block of cream cheese cubed and stir. Stir again to ensure the cheese is melted just before serving. Serve over the noodles.
Makes 6 generous servings. I serve this with a Caesar Salad and Garlic Bread!

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Enjoy!

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Postcard Friendship Friday

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It's Postcard Friendship Friday!

Greetings! I hope this winter day brings you warmth near a cozy fire and a delicious piece of pie after dinner. Join us Fridays as we post Friendship Fridays with Marie at Cpaphil Vintage Postcards!

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Extra! Extra! Read all about it!

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Hello my friends! I'm feeling so much better after spending 3 days in bed! Thank you for all your lovely messages and prayers for my quick recovery! My appetite is coming back too and I was ready for something sweet but we didn't have much around since I've been sick to cook. Recently a friend of mine sent me a recipe for 5 minute chocolate cake and said it was the most dangerous recipe known to January dieter's everywhere because you can literally be eating this cake from start to finish in 5 minutes. And you know what.... she was right! It was incredible!

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My family couldn't believe it. Actually, the only one I had to convince was my son because he's not big on sweets. I know, I know, I can't believe my Son doesn't have a special place in his heart for sweets. My Daughter on the other hand, well... she is a Mini-Me and the special place is well established! I told him it was delicious and he should try it but he said, "Umm, no thanks." I replied, "It will change your life!" He said, "No it won't Mom." I replied, "Yes it will Son. This cake is so good, you'll love it." He said, "No I won't." I replied, "It will rock your world." He replied, "I don't want rocks Mom." ha ha

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Here is the recipe that serves 2:

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5 Minute Chocolate Cake

4 Tablespoon flour

4 Tablespoon sugar

2 Tablespoon good quality UN-sweetened cocoa

1 egg

3 Tablespoon whole milk

3 Tablespoon oil

3 Tablespoon chocolate chips (optional and yes we used them)

A splash of vanilla extract

1 Large coffee Mug

Using a fork mix dry ingredients. Add egg, mix again. Add wet ingredients. Mix thoroughly until combined and there are no clumps. It should look like cake batter, creamy and smooth.

Bake for 3 minutes in 1000 watt microwave. I have no idea what my microwave is so I did the 3 minutes and tested it and it was perfect. Allow to cool a few minutes and invert on plate and eat warm!
By the way, NO FROSTING NEEDED!

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Here are my photos taken just moments ago so you'll be seeing it as we made it.

Here is the cocoa I used. It is a dutch chocolate and I recommend using the best quality you can afford as it does make a difference.

Combine your dry ingredients.

Add your egg and mix again.

I usually buy a small container of whole milk for use in recipes as our normal 1 % milk just doesn't come out right in recipes. I recommend buying a small container every 2 weeks for this purpose as I cook most of our meals from scratch and it's perfect for this purpose.

Okay here it is all combined including the vanilla extract.

Microwave on high for 3 minutes.

Here's my Girl standing by watching the cake rise in the cup. Don't be alarmed if your cake rises over the cup, that is normal per the instructions and it will fall back down slightly when you let it cool.

So here it is 3 minutes later and I wasn't sure it was done at the very bottom even though it had pulled away from the sides. So I lightly tapped it... yep it is done!

Here's my Girl again waiting for it to cool for a moment while I got the plate and forks ready.

Voila! Here it is! It does have a funny appearance as it has volcano looking holes but let me tell you don't judge a cake by it's sponge holes because it is really rich and delicious!

My Girl said it needed something... I agreed... Ice Cream!

So how is it honey? She replied, "It's the best! It changed my life! It rocked my world!"

See I told you it would!

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Postcard Friendship Friday

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Marie at Cpaphil Vintage Postcards is hosting this post today! She is in France and has the most amazing collection of postcards ever! I encourage you to check out her blog while I go back upstairs to bed to rest as I've got a cold that has kicked my hiney!

Greetings from the area of San Francisco, California!

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I'm being interviewed...

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By Gill at That British Woman... But before we get to the interview, please visit Gill and enjoy all her amazing 50 recipes food posts, easy money saving tips and lovely photo's! You won't be disappointed!



Gill asked me the following...



1. What would be a perfect day for you?

For my family, all of them like a big reunion, to spend the day at the sea/ocean with perfect weather, an amazing picnic basket filled with all our favorites, tent canopies to provide some shade and while I'm at it, some great reclining chairs too, various sand toys to build castles with, a two hour block of time to read a book without being interrupted, firewood to build a bonfire in the evening, and then a beach band to come and play music so we could all dance in the sand, then finally a photographer to be there the whole day to take pictures to capture the memories!

2. Is there anything you wished you could have done before you had a family?

No regrets on this one, I waited until I was 30 to have my first child. I did enough on what I could afford to do at the time prior to having kids.

3. Do you have any goals for 2009?

Yes, to lose 25 pounds before October because my Niece is getting married and as we all know, those wedding photo's stay through history! My next goal is to perfect my skills at Calligraphy so that it comes effortlessly.

4. What is your favourite food/meal and why?

My favorite meal is my own recipe for Beef Stroganoff that I do in the crock pot, served over wide noodles with a Caesar salad and garlic bread. Why~ it is simply because I have the cooking anointing every time I make it as it comes out perfect. If I could have my own show, this would be my signature dish. Currently though my fame only extends to the end of my driveway and my closest friends who call me Betty Crocker revisited.

5. Is there a skill you would love to learn, and if so what is it?

Calligraphy to which I am still trying to learn to do. The weird thing is that I took a class in Junior High School and was a quick learner and did quite well. Now 20 years later, I'm picking up the pen again however this time I'm not so good! ha ha I want it to come effortlessly, like when I sign my name, I don't have to think about it, it's just automatic. With calligraphy, it's painstakingly slow to get the flow and angles just right. So practice, practice, practice is what it takes to learn the skill.

***Thanks Gill, that was fun! I really had to think about my answers too. It wasn't as easy as I thought it would be! Have a great week!

These are the rules for this meme: Want to be interviewed by me? Here are the instructions:



1. Leave me a comment saying, "Interview me" with your email address as to where I can send your questions.

2. I will respond by emailing you five questions. (I get to pick the questions).

3. You will update your blog with the answers to the questions and let me know when you have posted it, so I can link to it.

4. You will include this explanation and an offer to interview someone else in the same post.

5. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions.

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