Mini Strawberry Topiary Pudding Pots and a Special Teatime

I set up my teatime in my bedroom where I have my Valentine tree.  Having the tree on a timer makes it so cheery in the morning and evening.  You probably remember the vintage-look topper I made and the matching tea cozy.  My tree also has ornaments hanging that are from the same fabric.  Using some carnations, I placed them in some floral foam in my pretty compote.

My Grace's Teaware teacup goes with so many things throughout the seasons.

Here's my cheery tree atop my very old childhood sled.  Growing up in Pennsylvania and Ohio it was used for many years.

I tried to make a strawberry rose, but it didn't turn out quite like a wanted!  If you'd like to make Dirt Cake in a big pot, you can find the recipe for it here.

Yield: 7-8

Author: Kitty

Mini Strawberry Topiary Pudding Pots

These little pudding pots are fun to serve for an individual treat. They are similar to Dirt Cake, but a small version.

Ingredients

• 1 pkg of instant vanilla pudding (I used sugar free)
• 1 and 1/2 cups milk
• a couple of large scoops of frozen whipped topping, thawed (about 4 ounces)
• crushed chocolate sandwich cookies, like Oreos (I did mine in a mini food processor)
• strawberries, cleaned and dried
• chocolate for melting
• sprinkles
• mini food safe pots, or votive candle holders

Instructions

1. Mix the pudding and milk together with a whisk until it is thick. Add a couple of large scoops of Cool Whip, and fold in.
2. Fill the little pots almost to the top with the pudding mixture, leaving room at the top for the "dirt", which is the crushed cookies. Add the the crushed cookies.
3. Make a "V" in the top of the strawberry so that it resembles a heart. Dip that part in the melted chocolate and sprinkle with festive sprinkles. Place a lollipop stick or a small skewer in the bottom of the strawberry and then "plant" it in the pot.

Notes

You can make a strawberry rose and skip the chocolate. Videos are online for directions in making them.

You also can just put a strawberry on top of the crushed cookies, and that looks pretty, too.

My darling daughter gave me for Christmas, a trip to a tearoom that I'd never been to, but always wanted to go. We had to find a weekend that we could go.  The tearoom is called Beatitudes, and it was just the most delightful little tearoom.  We each got our own mini teapot, that held around three cups of tea.  My flavor was Snuggle Buddy, and Molly's was St. Valentine, and we both loved our tea and our lunch.  Molly had the Paradise salad and mini scone, and I had the Sampler with quiche, tomato soup, chicken salad and a mini scone with cinnamon butter.  We each got a trio of mini desserts, which we forgot to take a picture of.  After our lunch we went to their gift shop and browsed.  It was the most wonderful afternoon, and we are already wanting to go back.  

Thank you for your visit!  xo

I'm sharing with these parties:

Talking About It Tuesdays

Love Your Creativity Link Party

Full Plate Thursday at Miz Helen's Country Cottage