Tea Party! with Recipes

I had a tea party yesterday - and promised to share some recipes.

First thing is to set the table . . . and make some herby centerpieces. Coleus and potato vine, asparagus fern, sage, and some of the herbs I didn't put in the food - parsley, basil and rosemary.

Table is all set!

Le Menu:

Chilled Peach Champagne Soup

Salmon Mousse Hearts

Sandwiches:

Cucumber Herbed Cream Cheese

Tomato and Aged Cheddar

Shrimp Salad

Raspberry Scones with Raspberry Cream Cheese

Fudgy Brownies with Praline Topping

Wines

Tea Assortment

Food preparation - champagne for the soup - and the cook!

Peach Champagne Soup

5 Local Ripe Peaches, peeled and stones removed

Superfine sugar to taste, about 1/2 cup depending how sweet the peaches are.

Juice from 1/4 lemon

Champagne

Put the 1st three items in the blended and puree. Store overnight in the refrigerator. Before serving, add 2 to 3 cups champagne. Stir together with a whisk and serve chilled.

Drink the rest of the champagne.

Fudgy Brownies with Praline Topping

1 1/4 cups flour

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 1/2 sticks butter

4 squares bittersweet chocolate

4 squares semisweet chocolate

(eat the rest of the chocolate - it's good for you)

Get really good chocolate

2 cups sugar

1 tablespoon vanilla

5 eggs

5 tablespoons butter

1 tablespoon vanilla

2 tablespoons water

2 cups confectioners sugar.

Oven 350* Butter a 13 x 9 inch pan.

Mix flour and salt in a small bowl.

Melt butter and chocolates over low heat, stirring

frequently. Remove from heat, stir in vanilla and

sugar. Add eggs, stir until well-mixed.

Stir in flour mixture and spread in prepared pan.

 Bake about 30 minutes.

Praline topping: Heat 5 tablespoons of butter and 1/3 cup brown sugar over medium heat until mixturebubbles, about 5 minutes. With a wire whisk beat in 1 tablespoon vanilla and 2 tablespoons water. Stir in 2 cups confectioners sugar. Spread over cooled brownies.

Making the praline - and the finished brownies!

Salmon Mousse Hearts

, , , and the Raspberry Scones

I forgot a picture of the sandwiches - until they were all eaten! They looked nice on the white three-tier server though!

The guests:

I've set you a place! Love, Linda

"Make thee a box of rosemary, and smell to it, and it shall preserve thy youth."

Wm Shakespeare