Tea Party

Welcome to my tea party, hosted by Glenda from Sweet Daisy Dreams. I'll be enjoying all my beautiful rose patterned china that I collect and making my table look beautiful. Lots of roses and candles and polished silver serving ware. I'll make my yummy chicken sandwiches and the best banana bread ever (recipes will follow). Pretty cupcakes and petite savoury muffins will adorn my multi-tiered dishes. Green berry tea and champagne will titillate our taste buds. Chocolate dipped strawberries and full-flavoured cheeses will compete for our attention. A feast for the gods :-)

Mmmm. What will I wear? A pretty floral dress and ribbons in my hair. My lovely vintage beaded purse that was my mum's as a young woman. Delicate beaded sandals and pretty pink nail polish. And of course, a smile of delight.

Visit the other tea party girls - Shelby, Genevieve, Shann and our hostess Glenda.




Nutty Chicken Ribbon Sandwiches

15 slices grain bread
90g spreadable butter or margarine
1 1/2 c (200g) finely chopped cooked chicken
1 stick celery, finely chopped
1 1/2 T sour cream
2 T mayonnaise
1/3 c chopped pistachios

1. Spread one side of each bread slice with butter.
2. Combine chicken, celery, sour cream, mayonnaise and nuts in a bowl; mix well.
3. Spread five slices of bread with half the chicken mixture, top with buttered braed, buttered side down.
4. Spread with remaining chicken mixture, top with buttered bread, buttered side down.
5. Cut crusts from sandwiches, cut sandwiches into thirds, cut each third into two pieces.

Banana Bread

2/3 c sultanas
75 ml bourbon, dark rum or orange juice
1 1/3 c plain flour
2 t baking powder
1/2 t bicarb soda
1/2 t salt
125 g unsalted butter, melted
2/3 c sugar
2 large eggs
4 small, ripe bananas, mashed
1/2 c (60 g) chopped walnuts
1 t vanilla essence

1. Heat the sultanas and rum (or substitute) in a small saucepan. Remove from heat, cover and leave one hour.
2. Preheat oven to 170 degress Celcius.
3. Sift flour, baking powder, bicarb and salt into a medium bowl.
4. In a large bowl, blend butter and sugar. Beat in the eggs, then the banana. Stir in the walnuts, drained sultanas and vanilla.
5. Add the flour mixture, a third at a time, stirring well.
6. Spoon into a greased, floured loaf tin and bake for 1 - 1 1/4 hours.