November Tea and Treats Party

I was humbled to be invited as a guest contributor with Mary and Pam. 

What an honor it is to share Tea on Tuesdays with these two ladies who make teatime so enticing, beautiful,  and incredible.   Be sure to visit their teatimes at the bottom of the page for you'll be in for a treat.  

I used my Great Aunt Kitty's beautiful topper on my coffee table.  Aunt Kitty had so many pretty things and I was fortunate to receive so many of them.  I chose to do a softer side of Fall with my color choices.  

 Mary always has wonderful tutorials on creative flower arrangements, and I copied one by using some mums that I found on clearance from the grocery store.  I thought they matched my teacup fairly well.  You can view Mary's tutorial by going here, where she uses floral foam on top of the pumpkin.  For some greenery, I snipped some nandina from my shrubs.  I like the way it turned out!

I made this tea cozy to coordinate with my teacup, and it's reversible.  Trying new flavors of tea is always interesting, although it's always Irish or English Breakfast tea in the mornings for me.  In the afternoon, I like trying flavored teas, and today we are having Twinings Herbal Lemon and Ginger tea which aids in digestion.  We all might need some after our big Thanksgiving meal.   

This Royal Albert November teacup from the Flower of the Month series looks pretty with my tea cozy, don't you think?  I actually completed the entire set of the series and enjoy getting each new one out at the beginning of the month.

For our tea party we are having Baked Gouda, which is a longtime family favorite, and it's really easy to do.

Now that crescent rolls come in the sheet form, it makes this even easier.  I cut the gouda is half horizontally and cut the crescent rolls sheet in half, spread the middle with some of my homemade fig jam.  You can use any jam or leave it plain.

The gouda goes on top and then you bundle them up.  

With the excess dough on top, I formed some leaves and attempted to make a  pretty design.  The cheese gets all melty inside and you can cut wedges and serve as is or with crackers.  

start here

Yield: 8 as an appetizer; 4 as a snack

Author: Kitty

Baked Gouda

This recipe came from a co-worker years ago, and my family has always loved it.

Ingredients

• 1 7-ounce round Gouda cheese
• 1 8-ounce Pillsbury Crescent rolls (the crescent roll sheet is the best)
• 1 egg
• preserves, optional

Instructions

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Cut cheese in half horizontally to form two circles; remove wax if yours has it; some do not.
2. Separate dough into 4 rectangles. Firmly press perforations to seal. Place one rectangle on top of second; repeat with remaining rectangles, making two double-thick rectangles. If you have the crescent roll sheet, you can just cut it in half.
3. Press each into a 6-inch square. If you want to add some preserves, add this to the middle. Place cheese circle in center of dough.
4. Pull corners of dough to top of center of cheese. Press dough tightly against cheese. Twist dough in center to seal, twisting off excess dough. Press seams to seal.
5. Repeat to make second Gouda wrap. If desired, press out excess dough. With canape cutter or paring knife, cut out decorative shapes; place on top of each Gouda wrap.
6. Brush with beaten egg. Place 3" apart on ungreased or parchment lined baking sheet.
7. Bake at 350 degrees for 18-22 minutes or until golden brown. Cool 10 minutes before serving. Cut into wedges to serve.
8. Apricot Gouda:
9. Coat the top of each Gouda cheese with 2 t. of apricot preserves & top with the dough. Bake as directed, omitting the egg wash. After baking, coat the top of the baked Gouda with 1 T. honey & sprinkle with 1 T. toasted, sliced almonds.

Our second teatime treat is one of my all-time favorites that my family has enjoyed since the 1980's. I could eat the whole plateful of these! 

Yield: 15

Author: Kitty

Bacon Wrapped Water Chestnuts

This is another favorite appetizer that my family has enjoyed since the 1980's. It's hard to believe how something this good has only three ingredients.

Ingredients

• 1 can whole water chestnuts (my can had 15)
• Brown sugar, a couple of tablespoons
• Bacon, cut into thirds ( I used 5 slices)
• Toothpicks for securing

Instructions

1. Drain the water chestnuts, and place into a container. Sprinkle with a couple of tablespoons of brown sugar and marinate for a bit.
2. Wrap the bacon that was cut into thirds around each water chestnut and secure with a toothpick.
3. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper and place the water chestnuts on and drizzle with the marinade.
4. Bake at 375 degrees until brown. Mine take about 25 minutes, but check to see how crispy you like them.
5. Enjoy!

I know that you will enjoy visiting these lovely friends for lots of Thanksgiving inspiration.

Mary at Home Is Where The Boat Is

Pam at Everyday Living

Thank you Mary and Pam for inviting me to join in!  Happy Thanksgiving to everyone, whether you be a virtuous friend or a virtual friend, for I am truly blessed by your friendships.  xo

I am sharing this with:

Love Your Creativity Link Party

Full Plate Thursday at Miz Helen's Country Cottage