May 11, 2008

Mother's Day Tea Party

A true garden tea party calls for floppy hats, sundresses, tiered serving trays, and fine china. But it is possible to feel just as finely treated without the elegance. This morning we decided to host the get-together in the afternoon, called a few friends and relations, looked in the fridge, and declared the planning done. I didn't even vacuum.

All the tea was appropriately luv-ly, from the chrysanthemum-blossom green tea to the Yunan Extra Fancy. The cups were an unmatched assortment, some little tasting cups (Japanese), some Russian or English china. We used 4 of the 5 pots we own, and one large glass jar (to watch the tied tea leaves unfurl into the chrysanthemum flower.

The nibbles were simple, based on odds and ends in the fridge and pantry. Crumpets with cream cheese and cucumber slices, of course. Tuna and avocado on thin-sliced bread with crusts removed. Olive bread toasted and topped by egg salad, and alternately with hummuss and bits of roasted red pepper. And doughnut holes. Traditional? Hardly. Yummy and fun? Spot on.

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