Too much fun! That's what today was! My delightful favorite niece, Brooke's shower went very well. She received some very lovely gifts, including a lamp and a wall clock that I was a bit green over! I told her that I'd be happy to babysit them for a few years! She was so gracious and appreciative of every little detail. I was so proud of her! The food was absolutely delish and looked great! I took photos of the table before the guests arrived but once the party began, I never got back to the camera. I'm banking on Brooke to send me some pix of her mom's camera so that I can post one of her, as well!
This entry will be my little party cookbook. All very simple recipes, mostly quick and easy ones, that I was 
able to whip up in about ten hours total. I'll include a few pix and recipes and next time you need a quick looks tedious tastes delicious recipe, try one of these! By the way, as everyone knows, cream cheese is my favorite ingredient in anything! Six pounds went onto the table today!
Cucumber Tiers... Soften two 8-oz cream cheese and mix with 3/4 cup Peppercorn Ranch dressing. Cut bread of choice into flowers or heart shapes (I used Sunflower wheat and white). Spread a tablespoon of the dressing mix onto bread, layer a chilled sliced 
cucumber. Garnish with freshly milled spicy pepper!
Turkey Wraps... Roll out a package of Pillsbury Croissants flat. Use a rolling pan to form one rectangle from two triangles. Spread Caesar Dressing onto dough. Chop thinly sliced deli smoked turkey. Sprinkle it on croissants. Shred Swiss cheese over top. Roll up so that you have 9" rolls. Cut one inch slices. Bake until golden brown.
Petite cherry cheese cakes... Place one vanilla wafer in the bottom of a medium size cupcake paper. Mix 2 - 8
oz. cream cheese, 3/4 cup sugar, 1 T. lemon juice, 1 t. vanilla, 2 eggs. Pour over vanilla wafers, filling 2/3 full. Bake at 375° for 15 minutes or until golden. Top each with a spoon of cherry pie filling.
English Crumpets...This one is not really too work much once the batter has risen, but sounds harder to make. Definitely worth it!
Dissolve:
1 T. yeast
1 T. sugar
3/4 cup lukewarm water
Mix together:
1 cup milk
3 lightly beaten eggs
3/4 cups melted butter
Mix together in large container:
3 cups flour
1 1/2 t. salt
Make well in the flour. Add the remaining ingredients. Mix well. Cover. Let double in size. Drop by teaspoons onto hot buttery griddle. Cook 3 minutes, turn and cook 3 more minutes. (that's what the recipe said but they didn't take much longer to cook than a pancake.)
Serve with preserves or this tasty spread:
8 oz. cream cheese
1 cup strawberry banana yogourt
1/2 cup strawberry jam
The most tasty and simple drink!
Mix 2 cans frozen white grape juice concentrate as directed on can. Add a 2 liter bottle of Ginger Ale. Slice lemons and limes, strawberries as a garnish. Fill the punch bowl with Sonic crushed ice! Pretty, tasty!
The most tasty treat I've ever made... Stuffed Strawberries! (When someone asked what was in them today, Liza answered "Heaven".)
Slice strawberries into fourths, from tip to the cap. (Leave the cap on as a garnish and something to hold on to.) Mix 8 oz. cream cheese, 2 cups powdered sugar and 1 t. vanilla. Chill. Using a decorating tube, open the strawberry and fill with cream cheese! OH MY!
I cheated by buying the cream puffs and the quiches. But, hey, give me a break, I've had pnuemonia! Barbie did the beautiful veggies. She's just amazing. Everything was bright and fresh and beautiful! My friend, Connie made the beautiful hand dipped chocolates and Carol made the pizelles, which were a hit! I'd love to be a caterer! Making it beautiful was as fun as eating it!
Last night, the girls were asking me exactly what a "shower" was. They expected water! When I explained that it's an opportunity to shower someone with gifts, they got it. Today, as I watched the interaction of Brooke's family, both on her maternal and paternal side, I realized that she was showered with much more than great gifts. There was much love felt in the room. What a wonderful experience and opportunity for family to show love and support. What a great reminder that family matters. Enough said.
Love the moment, and the energy of that moment will spread beyond all boundaries.
What a great spread! I am seriously craving a taste of heaven now! My little one graduates from Kindergarten at the beginning of June and I am planning on doing something light back at the house for the grandparents and Godparents. I am adding those strawberries to my list! Thanks for the ideas!
Posted by: Cindi | Wednesday, April 18, 2007 at 06:39 AM
wow! Gorgeous spread! You really have a TON of energy!
Posted by: Angela Daniels aka SpiderGirl | Monday, April 16, 2007 at 11:10 PM
Everything looks delish. Thanks for sharing, definitely adding to my list of things to try. Sounds like you had a great time both planning and attending. :)
Stephanie
Posted by: Stephanie | Sunday, April 15, 2007 at 12:14 PM
Holy CRAPNESS of America! Marth who??? LOL! Looks like the shower was a raging success...you definitely went above and beyond for this shower. What a lucky niece!
Posted by: Heather D. White | Sunday, April 15, 2007 at 09:45 AM
wow!!! amazing list of food, makes me hungry!!!
Posted by: johanna peterson | Sunday, April 15, 2007 at 08:20 AM
Just beautiful Sophia!
Posted by: Kerry | Sunday, April 15, 2007 at 08:10 AM
I had those stuffed strawberries at one of my wedding receptions. They are to die for:)
Posted by: Katie | Sunday, April 15, 2007 at 07:54 AM
who needs martha when Sophia is around? Everything looks absolutely fabulous. thanx so much for sharing this as soon as you did. I love being "a part" of your adventures via the blog. I love you, Sophia...and I certainly hope your friends take as good a care of you as you do of them.
Posted by: susan hatch | Sunday, April 15, 2007 at 05:11 AM