Tea Party or Jury Duty?

What do you do when you have planned on having a tea party on a particular date, and your tea group is depending on that date, and then you get summoned for jury duty that week? That was the dilemma I was faced with. I didn't want to change the date for the tea party because it's so hard for everyone to change dates. These people are so busy! I also didn't want to go ahead and prepare all the food and then be called to report for jury duty. Usually, when one is called, you can just call in the night before and they tell you that you do not have to attend the next day. So, I have decided to take a chance, and send out the invitations as planned. Instead of preparing all the food, I am asking each lady to bring a tea lunch for one in a pretty decorated box, like a hat box or something. Then we'll draw numbers for the boxes, and everyone will get a surprise lunch and a pretty box to take home. I will furnish tea and a dessert. If it does turn out that I have to go to court that day, a dear friend has volunteered to host the party in her home instead of mine, and I'll send the dessert over to her. I was still planning on table decorations and favors, and looking for things in the stores. While rummaging through a closet looking for something completely unrelated I came across a big bag from "Body and Bath." Inside were 8 lovely scented candles and pretty holders that I had bought while on vacation in Arizona. They were on sale and I thought at the time that they'd make great table favors for a tea party sometime. So, on with the tea party!

Scones come in so many different types. Some are like a cookie, some like a muffin, some are more cakelike. A scone can be crunchy or not. Dry or moist. But whatever they are, I've never met a scone I didn't like. Of course, lemon curd and Devonshire cream go a long way in dressing up a bland, dry scone. The verdict is still out on when a scone should be served. Some insist it comes before the tea sandwich, and there's those that serve it last, more like a dessert. Personally, I'm happy with just tea and scones. I have read conflicting views from reliable sources on when a scone should be served. Most of the hostessess of tea parties I attend serve the scone first. I'm thinking of offering a scone recipe every month, either on the blog, or sending it out to everyone on my newsletter list. Perhaps start a sign up list for those who want the recipes? Please let me know what you think. Do you have a favorite scone recipe you'd like to share? I asked a friend who came from England for her best scone recipe. She thought a minute, and then said, "Do you ever bake with Bisquick?" Here's the recipe she gave me: 2 cups Bisquick 1/2 cup chocolate chips or dried cranberries 1/3 cup whipping cream 3 Tablespoons sugar 1 egg 1 tsp vanilla (omit if using cranberries) Mix all together. On floured surface, pat into circle and cut into triangles OR drop from spoon onto greased baking sheet. Bake 425 for 10-12 minutes. 400 for drop scones.

Tea Party Napkin Etiquette

You're at a tea party and one of the first things you see is the lovely linen napkin placed beside your plate. It's almost too pretty to use. As you take your seat you wonder if there are any etiquette rules you are supposed to follow.
So glad you asked! You did ask, didn't you?
The first thing to do is keep an eye on your hostess. You should not pick up your napkin until she does. When she places her napkin on her lap, you can unfold your napkin under the table and place it on your lap. If it is a large napkin, leave it folded in half and place it on your lap with the fold facing you. If it is a smaller napkin, o0pen it all the way.
Once the napkin is placed on your lap, it should never go back on the table unltill you are ready to leave the table, at the end of the meal.
If you need to use your napkin, just dab the corners of your mouth with it. Do not blot your lips, leaving an ugly sipstick stain.
If you need to leave the table for a short period, but plan on returning, place the napkin on the seat of your chair. At the end of the party, when you are ready to leave, fold the napkin, loosely, and place it to the left of your plate. Again, follow your hostess. If she finishes before you, and places her napkin on the table, you should do the same. Follow her lead, even if you have not finished eating.
Most tea parties are not so formal that you need to worry about the "Napkin Police" coming to arrest you, but it's nice to know the right thing to do.

Tea for what ails you

I usually don't catch colds or flu, but this year it seems they have caught me. I have a scratchy throat, and my voice sounds more like a fog horn than a human voice. I don't have fever or chills or aches, just not much energy.
So, I am drinking tea with lemon and honey, lots and lots of tea. Stash Tea makes a very nice blend of peach and ginger tea and also lemon and ginger and I've been drinking alot of those. Ginger is supposed to be beneficial for sore throats.
Hope you all keep drinking your tea, it really does help ward off colds and flu. I'm sure the amount of tea I drink on a daily basis has helped me stay well in the past and is probably why I only have a slight case of whatever this is now.
I am planning on attending a tea luncheon at a tea house in Rancho Cucamonga on Friday, so I must be 100% by then!

Tea and Hospitality

Did you ever notice that the word "Hospitality" ends with the sound of the word "tea?" A coincidence? I think not.
There's just something so friendly and comforting about sharing a cup of tea with a friend. Tea can't be rushed, for one thing. You have to bring the water to a boil and then wait for the tea to steep a few minutes. That gives one enough time to fill a plate with cookies or cake and make your guest feel welcome.
The day's happenings then are shared as you relax, unwind and enjoy sharing a cup of tea with a friend.
I like to keep some scones in the freezer so I can invite someone for tea on the spur of the moment.

How to Eat a Scone

Scones. I love them! Scones come in different sizes and shapes. Some are like biscuits, some more like cookies and some have a more cake like textures. I love them all!
To add to the enjoyment of eating these delicious treats, one adds lemon curd, jam, and/or Devonshire Cream to them. But just what is the proper way togo about eating a scone? Here's a short lesson, Scone Eating 101.

Just remember that scones are finger food. They are not to be eaten with a fork. The correct way to eat a scone is to break it apart. Never cut a scone in half with a knife, always break it. The lemon curd, preserves and cream should be placed to one side of your plate. Then add a little dab to the corner of the scone as you take a bite. It is not correct to spread each side with your knife. Just dab and enjoy each bite. Mmmm.

January - Hot Tea Month

January is a time for new beginnings, new dreams and new resolutions or goals. For many of us, taking better care of our health was at the top of the list. January is also national Hot Tea Month, and tea is a very fitting way to begin striving for a year of good health.
There are detox teas, teas that aid in digestion, and teas that are high in antioxidents and vitamin C.
Celebrate National Hot Tea Month by trying some new teas. Visit a tea shop and invest in at least one high quality tea that you've not tried before. You may be surprised at the difference in flavor between loose leaf tea and teabags.
Add a dash of lemon to your tea for a nice citrusy taste. I like to add a sprinkle of cinammon to my green tea.
To get the most health benefits from tea, drink at least 4 cups of tea a day.

Christmas Tea Flavors

I love this time of the year. A nice hot cup of tea is just the thing to chase away the winter chill.
I was delighted to find some Holiday tea flavors in the store when I went shopping recently.
Celestial Seasonings offers Gingerbread Spice,and Sugar Plum Spice, both herbal teas. They also have Candy Cane Lane, a decaffeeinated Green tea. The herbal teas are naturall caffeine free. My favorite is the Gingerbread Spice. It has just the right combination of spice and sweetness to suit my taste.
Celestial Seasonings Tea bags do not come in individual wrappers as many teas do. That makes it hard to serve if you like to offer your guests a tea tray filled with many different types of teas that they may choose from. However, because their tea bag don't have strings, tags, staples or individual wrappers, they are able to save more than 3.5 million pounds of waste from entering landfills every year. So, when I'm serving their tea at a party, I make several different pots of tea, and let my guests choose their favorite flavor. That works just fine, and I'm helping the environment, too.

Survey

A big thank you to all who participated in the recent survey that I conducted. The results were very encouraging and helpful.

The last few months have been spent doing research on marketing and trying to find more ways to reach women. Marketing can be a full time job! Social media, blogs, internet marketing – whew, it can be overwhelming.

I am very grateful to all of my customers, for their repeat orders and for helping to spread the word about Mystery Tea Parties.

All of the mystery plans can be seen at www.mysteryteaparties.com.

Mystery Tea Character on U Tube

Lady Tipton of "Who Killed the Darling Duke of Darjeeling?" can be seen on U-Tube! Copy and paste http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bSB0k5-ed4s in your browser to see the Tea Company heiress explain how the Duke of Darjeeling was blackmailing her. For more information click on www.mysteryteaparties.com.

Thanksgiving Tea

It's my turn to host a tea this month for my Victorian Tea Society. I've decided on a Thanksgiving Theme. What a novel idea, huh? I went searching on the internet this morning and found a free Thanksgiving Trivia game to play. I'm planning on decorating my table with a centerpiece of wheat tied with a pretty fall ribbon, and a ceramic turkey on either side. I also have some ceramic Pilgrim figures that I will use. It's going to be a potluck tea, with everyone bringing something (pre-arranged, so everyone doesn't bring beans). A potluck is very appropriate for Thanksgiving, as basically that's what the Pilgrims did. Everyone brought something to the table. At past Thanksgivings we've gone around the table and each person shared something they were thankful for. I think I'll do that also, but will have each person share something they are thankful for about the person sitting next to them, on their right.

"The Missing Christmas Tree" the newest mystery tea party plan is now available on the website www.mysteryteaparties.com. Just in time for your Christmas Tea. Read more about it in the press release at http://www.pressbox.co.uk/detailed/Entertainment/Entertain_with_New_Mystery_Christmas_Tea_Party_Plan_777223.html

Benefits of tea

Now that fall is here, there's nothing like a hot cup of tea in the morning. I enjoy the teas with spices added to give it a hearty taste, as well as being good for your heart.
I've been on vacation, and visited a coffee and tea shop in Baraboo, Wi.
They had a wonderful selection of fine loose teas to choose from, and it was difficult to make a choice. I finally settled on a spicy Masala Chai and Wuyi Mountain Oolong. Oolong is good for boosting your metabolism and aids in weight loss. After all that eating on vacation, I need all the help I can get. I also replenished my supply of Rooibos Wildberry, one of my all time favorites. The Masala Chai will do nicely to perk me up as the mornings get colder.

The name of the shop? The Coffee Bean Connection.
I encourage you to visit a store that carries good loose leaf tea. You will love the many choices and the amazing difference in flavor between a tea bag and loose leaf tea. And you can usually get 2 to 3 good cups of tea from a single serving.
For more information on the health benefits of tea and tea information in general, subscribe to my newsletter at www.mysteryteaparties.com.

New Mystery Tea Party Plan

It's hard to realize that it's the beginning of Fall, when it's still so hot here in the Ca. desert. But the stores are already featuring Halloween, Thanksgiving and even Christmas. So I don't think it's too early to start thinking about hosting a Christmas tea for friends, or perhaps for a church or club program. My new Christmas party plan will be available shortly. Watch for it at www.mysteryteaparties.com. draft

Tea Poem

Three tea parties in one week is too much! But I enjoyed every one of them. Precious time with precious ladies. Now I'm working on losing the weight I gained from all those precious savories!

Preparing for a tea party often becomes a family affair, with others pitching in to help. This husband may have been recruited to help one to many times. Ed wrote the following poem for his wife Alice"

ALAS - TEA TIME!

Well, it's time for you to have your tea.
You've decorated so beautifully,
The food's prepared,
The china shown
The guests all arrive, saying
"Gimme a scone!"

Tea for weight-loss

A cup of tea is so good for you, it's unbelievable! Many reports show that good tasting, inexpensive, widely available tea does help one lose weight. It works by helping to reduce cravings for sweets and suppress the appetite. It helps to lower cholesterol and helps the body burn fat by stimulating the thermogenesis.
There are 3 main ingredients in tea that do the work. The first is caffeine. Although caffeine has some harmful side effects, the amount in a cup of tea is far less than in a cup of coffee. Tea also has an ingredinet in it that negates the unhealthy caffeine effects, L-theanine. That same ingredient tells the brain that you're not hungry.
The weight-loss worker is EGCG, an antioxident that helps your body burn fat.
Drinking 4 cups of tea, or more, while following a good weight-loss plan
will definately help you lose weight faster and easier. Just be sure it's real tea, black, green, white or oolong, not an herbal tisane.

Update

We have been gone for a month, cooling off in Northern Ca. We came back to the desert to early though, it's going to be over 100 all week.
I have three tea luncheons to attend this week. That, on top of vacation food, is making weight gain a real challenge.
Fortunately, I found a great book about tea and how it actually does work to help us lose weight. There are three important ingrediants in tea that do the trick. But I'm talking real tea, not tisanes.
What's the difference? Real teas are black, green, white and oolong.
The herbal blends, fruit blends, etc are called teas, but are actually not made from the tea plant. They are blends of herbs and fruits, spices, etc.
The benefits are not the same.
More about this in my next blog, which I promise will be in the next day or two.

Wedding Shower party plan

This person had trouble posting to my website, so I thought I'd post her review of "Who Stole the Wedding Bells?" here. This is what she wrote:
Hi Maxine,



I was going to post my thoughts on your web site, but couldn’t figure out

how to get to it.

We had a blast last night for our bridal shower, performing the ‘Who stole the wedding bells’.

The girls really got into their parts and some said they enjoyed it even more then the one

we did last year, The bodacious babes, which was also a blast. I can’t get over how

well everyone took to their parts and the laughter went on all night. Without a doubt

the most fun bridal shower I’ve ever been to.

Thanks for your contribution to a successful night.



Always,



Sue

Mystery tea party review

This is an email I received shortly after sending out Tea Tips Newsletter:

How delightful to get your email upon returning from the Ann Arbor City Club and our afternoon mystery tea event. The mystery was your "The Murder of the Darling Duke of Darjeeling"
which I had purchased two years ago in hopes of doing this, and now we have done it! What fun we had putting it on for members and their friends!. All our tea party guests were very
much into the tea and the mystery. The ladies who were my guests - Devon Shire's guests - at Warwick Cottage went all out with fun, appropriate to their character, over the top character
costumes. You should have seen Lacy Frills in her fantastic wedding gown and hat with veil, purchased at the Salvation Army, and Lady Tipton in her disguise with long black wig with bangs,
black hat and dark glasses and clothing, and Fancy Frou Frou with boa and much costume jewelry. My guests were truly into their character, as they walked around the tearoom, telling their
background and then how the Darling Duke had done them wrong, and why they had reason to do away with him. Even I who was hostess to the seven other "characters, had butterflies before,
but they flew away as the tea progressed and we enjoyed tea and hearing each guest's tale of woe. (We did not know the other guest's story until they acted it out and felt that was a good way to do it.)


Our dear friend who had proposed the tea several months ago, greeted the "observer" guests, and set the scene for the Murder Mystery Tea. Then the "actresses" arrived with grand entrances
after the first course had been served to the observer guests. After we had played our roles while enjoying the food and tea, she explained about the voting, and answered the question of
how the Duke was murdered. All guests voted at the end as to who they thought was guilty of the murder of the Darling Duke of Darjeeling. After the votes were counted our General
Manger dressed in a black t-shirt, with large foil covered star took the guilty one away in handcuffs. Our wait staff really enjoyed the event while doing a superb, unobtrusive job of serving
the delicious and attractive three course tea prepared by the kitchen staff . All guests stayed after the two hour Mystery Tea to talk as the "players" mingled. Of course, each guest had
party favors of teas, and chocolates. The enthusiastic guests definitely want to have another Mystery Tea again next year. Thus, we will come to you, Maxine, to select another of your scripts f
or our second Murder Mystery Tea Party.


Many thanks for the fun you brought to all of us.
Mary Ann Pierce

Mystery tea party fund raiser

The Womans Club of Fallbrook, Ca hosted a "not-so-high " mystery tea party as a fund raiser for their scholarship fund. They performed "The Bodacious Babes of Buzzard Bend" to a sold out house.
These ladies did an outstanding performance. Each character was perfectly done. They actually memorized their entire scripts, and strolled around the dining room as they told their stories. Their costumes were fantastic. Two of the dance hall girls were in red satin can-can dresses. Calamity Joan looked like she just came in off a cattle drive. Carlotta, the flamenco dancer, looked the part and really shook her maracas.
The audience thoroughly enjoyed the performance, as well as the food. Scones, sandwiches and dessert were served, along with endless tea.
I was inivited to attend, as a mystery guest. The "director" was afraid that if the cast knew I was there, they'd be more nervous. So, I was not introduced until the performance was over, and the mystery of who shot the scoundrel, Calhoun Cahootz, was solved.
I told the ladies that their performance was the best I'd ever seen. I only write the lines, it's women like them (and you) that bring them to life and by doing so, bring laughter into the lives of others.
In a troubled world like ours, we all need more laughter.

May Tea

I attended a May Day Tea Friday. Everyone brought a May Day basket filled with flowers, candy, etc. Then we drew numbers for the baskets, and each one of us received a basket to take home. Mine was filled with fresh flowers,tea, decorated sugar cubes, and note cards.
The hostess decorated the table by making a May Pole with ribbons as the centerpiece. A chocolate basket filled with MandM's was the favor at each place setting.
A Spring tea is a wonderful way to welcome Spring. Are you hosting one?