Cottage Blessings

If only I'd thought of this a few days ago

Wouldn't these cookies have made a fun and easy Teatime for the Feast of the Holy Family?

Oh well, there is always next year! Besides, our Epiphany Tea is coming up shortly, and between that and the Mary's Day Tower of Cupcakes, the children will have more than enough sweets for the week! We'll put this dear little family away for company.
And another thought: This year, we decided to begin a tradition of putting together our gingerbread house on the Feast of Our Lady of Loreto, December 10th. Sometimes Advent can be extra busy as we try to accomplish everything before December 25th. It would have been a good idea to put together the gingerbread house during the quiet Feast of the Holy Family, reminding us of the home in Nazareth.

Mary, Mother of God

"Mary, Mother of God" is still my favorite title for the Blessed Mother, and we passed the evening with hymns, the Holy Rosary, and our traditional tower of cupcakes for Our Lady. Mary is the "Tower of David" and "Tower of Ivory," and this year, instead of blue, we frosted our little cakes in pure white, a tribute to her spotless purity. Gumdrop flowers represent her divine Son, the Flower of Jesse, reminding us that Mary is truly the Mother of God.

Yesterday, my friend Willa wrote:

Dear Alice, Many, many blessings on your Cottage. May you always have walls for the winds, a roof for the rain, tea beside the fire, laughter to cheer you, those you love near you, and all your heart might desire. And may God ever continue to hold you in the palm of His hand! (paraphrase of Irish blessing -- it seemed to fit you and your beautiful blog!)

I repeat this dear message to introduce the Christmas gift my husband gave to me this year, an Irish Blessings Cottage teapot inscribed on the bottom with the words to another version of this heartfelt prayer, one that was the final blessing at our wedding:

May the road rise up to meet you, May the wind be always at your back, May the sun shine warm upon your face, And the rains fall soft upon your fields, And until we meet again, May God hold you in the palm of His hand.

I love this image, not only because it shows off the teapot, but because it seems to capture the humble Domestic Church (the homes each and every one of us tend and nurture) with the Mother of God and her Son watching over it, seeing it through its day to day joys and struggles. This is a happy thought at the outset of a brand new year.

And so, along with Willa, I repeat the prayer: May God hold all of you dear ones in the palm of His hand today and always!

A Very Simple Tea for the Twelve Days of Christmas and Epiphany

As 2006 draws to a close and we make ready to celebrate the Epiphany next week, I hope some of you will enjoy this simple Tea suitable for any of the Twelve Days of Christmas. While I would prefer to create detailed menus emphasizing the infancy narratives found in St. Luke and St. Matthew, time is of the essence, and a simplified version will work well for this year.

In advance of the Tea, I would suggest that mothers set aside three things--a little bit of money for the poor box, a list of special prayers said thoughout the week (especially prayers for your children), and notes of sacrifices made or sufferings offered in love (parents experience this everyday). These will be important at the end of the Tea. If you are so inclined, ask your children to join you, setting aside a portion of their Christmas money, saying special prayers, and keeping track of little hurts and sufferings they remember to offer up.

Christmas and Epiphany Tea Menu

House of Bread
Tea from the Innkeeper
Sugar Cubes for Our Lady
Milk for St. Joseph
The Babe in the Manger
Shepherds' Staffs
A Host of Angels
Wise Men's Gifts

Recipes and Suggestions

Begin by reading from any good picture book on the Nativity, choosing your version based on your children's ages and the beauty of the illustrations. As you serve the tea, re-tell the story of the Nativity, explaining the significance of each menu item as you go along. (In the recipe section below, I will attempt to show in a small way how this might be done.)

1. "House of Bread" (Lk. 2: 1-4.)

Offer the children a basket of rolls with butter to represent Bethlehem, which means "House of Bread." As you read or tell the beginning of the Nativity story, explain the significance of this, reminding them of the Holy Eucharist. The gospel begins:

"In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the whole world should be enrolled. This was the first enrollment, when Quirinius was governor of Syria. So all went to be enrolled, each to his own town. And Joseph too went up from Galilee from the town of Nazareth to Judea, to the city of David that is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child."

2. "Tea from the Innkeeper" (Lk. 2.)

Bethlehem was crowded, and there was no room for Joseph and Mary in the Inn. Taking pity on the young couple, the innkeeper allowed them to take shelter in a cave used by animals. Tea represents warmth, hospitality, and comfort, and so, as we pour our tea, we remember the innkeeper who offered a humble roof to the blessed couple on that holy night.

3. "Sugar Cubes for Our Lady"

We call Our Blessed Mother "our life, our sweetness, and our hope." As we sweeten our tea, we are reminded of Our Lady's sweetness, the spotless whiteness of the refined sugar symbolizing her purity and innocence. The cubes dissolve in the hot liquid, just as Our Lady conformed herself completely to the Divine Will. Stirring the cubes into our tea, we repeat Mary's Fiat as proclaimed in the Angelus saying, "Behold the handmaid of the Lord. Be it done unto me according to Thy Word."

4. "Milk for St. Joseph"

Often, when we drink tea, it is hot and can burn our lips. The milk cools the tea and protects us, just as St. Joseph protected the Holy Family. It's pure whiteness reminds us that St. Joseph was a pure and just man.

5. "The Babe in the Manger" (Lk. 2: 6-7)

"While they were there, the time came for her to have her child, and she gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn."

The manger was a place where animals ate, reminding us that our dear Lord provides food for our souls in the Holy Eucharist. The swaddling clothes prefigure the burial cloth that would be placed around Christ's body after the Crucifixion.

To assemble sweet mini-mangers, gather:

Waffle Bowls for ice cream (or individual graham cracker tart shells)
Ice cream or pudding
Toasted Coconut or shaved white chocolate (optional)
Pepperidge Farm "Gingerman" Cookies
Whipped Cream or Cool Whip
Necco Wafers (optional)
Decorator's gel icing (optional)

Put a scoop of ice cream or pudding into a waffle bowl, sprinkling toasted coconut or white chocolate shavings on top for hay. (In the photo, I used a mixture of white coconut and shaved milk chocolate, but white chocolate would be even better.) Nestle a Gingerman cookie in this "manger," tucking a yellow Necco wafer under its head for a halo. Dollop Cool Whip or Whipped Cream over the center of the body for "swaddling clothes," drawing a sweet little face and curl of hair with decorator's gel icing. As you will note from the photo, I used a graham cracker pie shell, but waffle bowls make even better mangers if you can find them at your local store.

6. "Shepherd's Staffs" (Lk. 2: 8.)

"Now there were shepherds in that region living in the fields and keeping the night watch over their flock."

Hand each of the children a candy cane to represent the staffs of the shepherds. (These may be taken home or saved for later.) Teach the children of the spiritual significance of the candy cane. Each one reminds us that Jesus is the Good Shepherd. The red and white represent the blood and water from His side and, when turned upside down, the candy cane forms the letter "J."

7. "A Host of Angels" (Lk. 2: 9-20)

Hold a simple white tissue paper angel up for view as you tell about the angel who first came to the shepherds. Then, just before you say, "[a]nd suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying: 'Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom His favor rests,'" ask the children to peek under their plates or placemats. There they will each find a simple tissue paper angel with the words "Glory to God in the Highest" emblazoned across the front. Have the children shout out the angels' message with joy while waving their special angels, "Glory to God in the Highest!" or "Glory to God in the Highest and on earth peace to those on whom His favor rests!"

8. "Wise Mens' Gifts"

Tell or read about the gifts of the Three Wise Men, allowing the children to take turns opening three beautifully wrapped gifts for the Baby Jesus they will find in the center of the table. In the first box, representing "Gold," put money gathered for the poor or for your parish. (This is especially effective if the children have shared some of their Christmas money in advance.) The next box, representing "Frankincense," will contain a spiritual bouquet of prayers said by Mom and Dad on behalf of and in thanksgiving for these precious children. Ask the children to continue to "fill" the box with prayers throughout the month. The last box, representing "Myrrh," will contain a list of sacrifices or sufferings offered up for the Christ Child. If these were completed by Mom and Dad, ask the children to continue to fill the box during the month of January.

At the end of the Tea, process to your familiy's Nativity scene, presenting these three boxes to the Christ Child and adding the figures of the Wise Men to the creche if you have not already done so. If you decide to make this Tea a tradition in your home, it might be worthwhile to consider filling the Three Wise Men's boxes as an activity throughout Advent or during the Twelve Days of Christmas.

_______

Christmas and Epiphany Tea Shopping List

Tea
Milk
Sugar cubes
Bread or rolls
Butter
Waffle bowls for ice cream (or individual graham cracker tart shells)
Ice cream or pudding
Toasted Coconut or shaved white chocolate (optional)
Pepperidge Farm "Gingerman" Cookies
Whipped Cream or Cool Whip
Necco Wafers (optional)
Decorator's gel icing (optional)
Candy canes

Other items you will need:

White tissue paper to create simple angels (The great thing about tissue paper is you can cut out several at once.)
Pen or marker for writing "Glory to God in the Highest"
Three wrapped boxes containing money for the poor, prayers, and sacrifices as described above

May God continue to bless you and your families during this holy season!

A Jesse "Tea" for Advent

Our wait is almost over, and the children's hearts are aflutter with anticipation toward the birth of the Christ Child. As we enter the final week of this all too brief Advent, perhaps we might succeed in brushing aside the visions of sugarplums for just a bit longer by preparing a Tea honoring the Old Testament figures whose lives were a compass for humanity, pointing the True path toward the Promised Redeemer.

My aim for this Tea was simplicity, suggesting plain offerings with common ingredients, in hopes that this menu will not add to the burdens that creep in the week before Christmas. Children are so dear, so unfailingly receptive to religious themes, and so easy to please that I have reason to hope symbolism will triumph where my culinary advice fails.

A Jesse Tea Menu

Jesse Tea
Adam's Apple
Noah's Ark
Abraham's Stars
Isaac's Bundle of Sticks
Jacob's Ladder
Joseph's Coat of Many Colors
The Burning Bush
Moses' Tablets of the Law
The Root of Jesse
David's Star Tea Sandwiches
Bethlehem, House of Bread (optional)
John the Baptist's Honey
Angelic Messengers (optional)
Pure White Cakes for Our Blessed Mother OR Flowers of Jesse (or both)

*******

How to shorten this Tea, if needed:

Host a "Tea of Promises," emphasizing God's Covenants with Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, and David, along with the Blessed Mother as the promised "Woman" of Genesis.

*******

Recipes and Suggestions

1. "Jesse Tea"

Children love plays on words. Any type of tea or iced tea would work for this one.

2. "Adam's Apple" (Genesis 3: 6)

During the Christmas season, we are all a bit overworked. A plain bowl of apples is enough for this offering. If you are like me and forgot to put out those fun little Gummi Worms for your Tea in Honor of Guadalupe last week, you might want to add them to the bowl for effect. They could represent the serpent or just stand on their own as worms to remind us that the sin of Adam brought death and decay in the world.

Another thought would be to skip the tea and serve "Adam's Apple Cider." I prefer the visual image of the apples in a bowl, but you should do whatever is most convenient. Other possibilities: apple chips, tea sandwiches spread with apple butter, or some kind of apple pastry.

3. "Noah's Ark" (Genesis 9: 12-17)

I thought about suggesting bakery rainbow cookies for Noah's Rainbow, but did not want the tea to be too loaded with sweets. Noah's Arks (pictured below) are a cute and healthy alternative. Take a piece of celery, and cut it to a length of about two inches. Trim the bottom so that it will sit flat on the plate, and trim the two ends on an angle so that it begins to have the shape of a boat. Cut a grape tomato in half and pop it on top. The plate could be lined with a thin layer of Ranch dressing for a "sea" if you do not think it would be too messy.

[Celery is extremely choke-able, so please exercise caution when serving to young children.]

4. Abraham's Stars (Genesis 15: 5)

We still have tons of Dora the Explorer Cinnamon Stars cereal left over from our Guadalupe Tea, so this is an obvious choice for us. You might consider star cookies, white chocolate chips, or even star shaped sprinkles. Then again, for something very, very easy and impressive for younger children, just take one of the Adam's apples, cut it in half horizontally, and show them Abraham's "stars" inside. (I am a firm believer in cutting corners--and apples--when necessary!)

5. "Isaac's Bundle of Sticks" (Genesis 22: 6)

Abraham's son, Isaac, carried the bundle of sticks for the sacrifice as a precursor to the wood of the cross carried by God's Only Begotten Son on Calvary. For this symbol, put exactly eight small pretzel sticks per child into bundles, and tie them with a bit of embroidery floss, yarn, or, as my imaginative daughter Agnes suggested, shoestring licorice.

6. "Jacob's Ladder" (Genesis 28: 12)

To commemorate Isaac's son Jacob's flight from the fury of his brother Esau, and the prophetic dream he had along the way, have the children remove the floss from their pretzel sticks and arrange them on plates in the shape of two-runged ladders--or perhaps even one long shared ladder in the middle of the table.

7. "Joseph's Coat of Many Colors" (Genesis 37: 3-4)

The coat of many colors given to Joseph by his doting father Jacob incited the wrath of his jealous brothers who sold him into slavery in the land of Egypt. I can think of many ways to symbolize this coat, but here is a particularly easy one. Spread peanut butter on bread (already cut into a pretty shape, or just cut in fourths with the crust removed). Using a stencil made out of wax paper, pour colored round sprinkles over the peanut butter to create the shape of a "coat of many colors." You could also use the stencil to spread the peanut butter, adding the sprinkles afterward like glitter on glue. If you are pressed for time, do not worry about the stencil. Spread peanut butter on small bread shapes and let the children sprinkle the colors on it themselves. (The results of these three suggestions are pictured below.)

Another thought would be to cut the sandwiches using gingerbread girl cookie cutters, trimming all but the robe.

8. "The Burning Bush" (Exodus 3: 2-3)

Broccoli florets look exactly like tiny green bushes. Add a bit of Thousand Island or Honey Mustard dressing to each to remember the flame that burned but did not consume the bush. Children would probably prefer dipping the florets into the dressing themselves, but I photographed a few already completed to show the effect. Once again, please remember--I am no food stylist, and broccoli is not an especially photogenic vegetable!

9. "Moses' Tablets of the Law" (Exodus 34: 1)

Two Pepperidge Farm Milano cookies or Mini Milanos per child, and you are in business! You might want to write numbers on the "tablets" from a tube of icing, but I would suggest leaving it plain for convenience.

10. "The Root of Jesse" (Isaiah 11: 1 and 10)

Show the children a root vegetable, such as a carrot (or some fragrant ginger), preferably with the plant still attached, and explain how the root forms the base from which a plant can grow and flourish. Then let them help themselves from a bowl of baby carrots to represent "The Root of Jesse."

11. "David's Star Tea Sandwiches" (1 Samuel 17: 12-51)

The Star of David is such an easy shape to recreate. Use your favorite thin-sliced bread and cold cuts. For example, you might put American Cheese on a bit of buttered white bread, cutting it into a triangle shape. Then rotate the top bread triangle halfway, forming a Star. (This is a simple and kid-friendly suggestion. Needless to say, you could make much tastier sandwiches for this. All that matters is that you choose a filling that will not fall out of the bread when the top slice is turned.)

12. "Bethlehem, House of Bread" (Matthew 2: 5-6)

God promised that the Savior would be born in the City of David, Bethlehem. Because Bethlehem means "Houst of Bread," I couldn't resist suggesting a basket of bread, rolls, or scones for the table.

13. "John the Baptist's Honey" (Luke 1: 41; Matthew 3: 3)

St. John the Baptist spent his life exhorting others to Prepare for the coming of Our Lord, living on honey and wild locusts in the desert. My guess is that your darlings would not be interested in trying locusts, but perhaps they would enjoy a squirt of honey in their tea or swirled on the peanut butter "Coats of Many Colors."

14. "Angelic Messengers" (optional)

If you have a few Stella D'oro Angel Wings cookies left over from your Guadalupe Tea, you might want to put them on a tray to represent the Angel Gabriel (or perhaps add them to your Jacob's Ladders). Then again, you might share a gorgeous cookie like the one we found at our local bakery (below). One of these is enough for a whole family, with each child taking a little piece.

15. "Pure White Cakes for Our Blessed Mother" or "Flowers of Jesse" or both

Mary's Fiat brought our Redeemer into the world, and no Advent Tea would be complete without a vivid reminder of her. One thought would be to bake pure white cupcakes to represent her spotless, perfect purity. (Last year, we made a tower of cupcakes to celebrate the Feast of Mary, Mother of God that could be adapted with white cake, white frosting, and white sugar.)

If you are pressed for time and unable to bake, make quick "Flowers of Jesse" out of red and green spice drops, readily available this time of year. Press down the red spice drop with your thumb as if you were making thumbprint cookies. This will form the rose. Then do the same for a green spice drop, cutting it in half to form two leaves arranged around each flower.

These make a perfect final course to the Tea on their own, but the ambitious may use them to decorate "Our Lady's Cakes." I love the idea of the vibrant Flowers springing from the pure white cakes, reminding the children of Our Lady and her Divine Son. These would be great for Christmas as well.

As with the Lenten and Easter Teas, small cards with the Biblical Quotes handwritten or printed on them add to the display and reinforce the symbolism for the children. Oh, and if you decide to host this Tea for next year, here is a tip: the time to purchase pink and purple table linens is around Easter. Last March, I was able to purchase gorgeous, inexpensive pink and purple table cloths to save for Advent very inexpensively. Nowadays, everything is red, green, and gold.

Here are a few photos to illustrate some of the suggestions above. Believe me, I know these are not anything too spectacular, but I think they illustrate well how easy this menu really is. I had to laugh outright as I dipped those homely broccoli florets into Thousand Island dressing, and 12 year old Agnes beamed with admiration, exclaiming, "Mommy, you are like the Catholic Martha Stewart!" : ) : ) : ) Ah, see what I mean about children? They truly look with the eyes of love!

Adam's Apples:

Noah's Ark:

Or, if you are in the mood for something sweet, try Noah's Rainbows instead:

Abraham's Stars (an idea borrowed from the Guadalupe Tea):

Isaac's Bundle of Sticks:

Jacob's Ladder:

Suggested Steps for Joseph's Coat of Many Colors:

Three possibilities for these sandwiches:

The Burning Bush:

Flowers of Jesse:

*******
Jesse Tea, Shopping List

Produce:

Apples
Grape Tomatoes
Celery
Broccoli
Baby Carrots

Dry Goods:

Dora the Explorer Cinnamon Star Cereal (or any other "stars")
Slim Pretzel Sticks
Peanut Butter
Multi-colored round sprinkles (non-parielles)
Thousand Island, Honey Mustard, or Ranch Dressing
Honey
Tea

Bread:

White or wheat bread for two kinds of sandwiches
Bread to put in a basket for "Bethlehem" (optional offering)

Dairy:
Milk for the tea
Butter for the tea sandwiches

Deli:

American Cheese or other cold cuts for "Star of David Tea Sandwiches"

Sweets:
Milano or mini Milano Cookies from Pepperidge Farm
Stella D'oro Angel Wings (optional)
Ingredients for White Cupcakes and/or red and green spice drops

Scenes from our Guadalupe Tea

We invited Heather and the beautiful gang from Doodle Acres to join us for our Tea in Honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe. If you have a moment, please take a look at our Photo Album of the afternoon. You will find notes explaining each of the dishes and pictures by clicking on the thumbnails.
The children enjoyed everything, including the St. Lucy's craft Heather generously provided using one of Dawn's ideas from O Night Divine. (If you want to warm my heart and put a smile on the faces of my children, please be sure to bring one of Dawn's crafts when you come to visit. Thank you dearest Heather!)

[Marie's St. Lucy Ornament. I cannot stress enough how pretty these ornaments are in person. We may be making these all year! This is such an attractive and meaningful use for our extra holy cards and Christmas card images. Can you imagine making these to decorate gifts for friends and family?]

[Praying Hands sandwiches, symbolizing that Our Lady always points us to her Son.]

Guadalupe Tea, Shopping List

To complete the entire "Tea in Honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe," you would need:

Boxes, Cans, and Jars:

Hot chocolate ("Aztec Chocolate")
Mini marshmallows ("Aztec Chocolate")
Pringles potato chips ("Hats")
olives (optional for "Hands" and/or "Hats")
Mustard or Thousand Island Dressing (for "Tilmas")
Dora the Explorer Cinnamon Star Cereal (or white chocolate chips or star-shaped sprinkles) ("Stars")
One or two cans of mild, beanless Hormel Chili ("Sun")
Tortilla chips ("Sun")
Vanilla extract (church)
Sugar (church)

Sweets:

Gummy Worms ("serpents")
Stella D'oro angel wings ("angels")
Stella D'oro anisette sponge ("crescents")
Nabisco Famous Chocolate Wafers ("church")
Sugar cones or Oreo Chocolate Cones ("church")
Other possibilities for decorating churches: Red jelly bells, pretzels, Pepperidge Farm Chantilly Cookies

Bread:

Large flour tortillas ("Tilma")
Dark firm sandwich bread ("Hands")

Dairy:

String cheese ("Hats")
two or three packages cream cheese (for "Sun" and "Hands")
Shredded Cheddar ("Sun")
Whipping Cream ("church")

Deli:

Black Forest Ham or other pinkish cold cut ("Tilma")
Guacamole or Potato Salad ("Hill")

Optional Punch Ingredients:

Seltzer (plain or flavored)
Packaged Berry Punch or other red juice
Frozen berries
Rasperry or other pink sherbet

*******
This list does not include ingredients for the Bishop's Miter cookies or tea sandwiches, listed as an optional menu item.

In naming the ingredients, I made parenthetical notes of the specific treat intended. This way, if you are abbreviating or adapting the menu, it will be easy to cross off anything you do not need.

Happy Feast Day tomorrow!

A Tea in Honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe

Sitting at my computer here on Long Island, I can already hear what you are saying--"Alice, honey, what are you doing to us posting this now??? The Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe is two days away!"

Right you are, dear friends, yet this menu need not sit in your files until next year. Please consider hostessing a tea to honor Our Lady of Guadalupe as the Patroness of the Unborn during January, perhaps preparing it for children or grandparents unable to attend the March for Life on January 22nd. While the anniversary of Roe v. Wade is hardly something to celebrate, I think it would be worthwhile to spend the day talking to the children about Our Lady of Guadalupe, emphasizing the difference between her blessed message of life and love and the bloodthirsty "culture of death" she came to crush.

This menu, it should be noted at the outset, has the potential to become a bit expensive, but perhaps some of you will invite friends to contribute dishes, celebrating the cause of life together, and praying a Rosary for the unborn. While you are putting the finishing touches on your spread, it would be lovely to have a mother or older child read the story of Our Lady of Guadalupe aloud to the children. As you introduce each dish, reiterate the aspects of the story each offering is meant to symbolize. I will include these simple points below to give an idea of some of what a mother hostessing the tea might share with the children.

Our Lady of Guadalupe Tea Menu

Aztec Chocolate
Heavenly Rose Punch
Juan Diego's Sombrero
Tepayac Hill
A Woman Clothed with the Sun
A Mantle of Stars
Crescent Moons
Supporting Angels
Praying Hands
The Tilma of Roses
Bishop Zumarraga's Miter
Crushed Serpents
"Build me a Church"

Roses from Heaven Punch

Recipes and Suggestions

1. "Aztec Chocolate"

Chocolate is always associated with Mexico, so for this item, I would suggest serving any type of hot chocolate your family likes. If you think it is appropriate, it would make a big impact to provide mini marshmallows on the side of each saucer, encouraging the children to toss them in to the burning liquid to remember the many innocent human lives lost in the Aztecs' bloodthirsty sacrifices to the gods. As you stir, say the prayer,

"Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and may the perpetual light shine upon them. May their souls and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen. Our Lady of Guadalupe, patroness of the unborn, pray for us!"

2. St. Juan Diego's Sombrero

I do not know whether Mexican Indians actually wore sombreros in the 1500s, but I am sure they would have needed some type of headcovering to protect their heads from the unforgiving sun. Besides, what child could resist hats made from Pringles potato chips topped with tasty, sliced rounds of string cheese? For a more colorful display, green or black olive halves work too, although they would need to be eaten immediately, preventing the olive juice from seeping in and softening the chips.

3. "Tepayac Hill"

In our "recipe test" of the tea this afternoon, the children and I heaped potato salad on a plate to represent the place on which St. Juan Diego first encountered Our Lady, adding swirls of pimento to remind us of the roses she would provide for him later. Most of my children do not especially like Guacamole, but I would actually suggest a nice, green mound of this classic dip to make the perfect Mexican "hill." Fastening a holy picture of Our Lady of Guadalupe to a toothpick and sticking it at the top would form a memorable visual image as well.

4. "A Woman Clothed with the Sun"

When St. Juan Diego saw Our Lady, she was radiant and shining brighter than the sun. Her image on the tilma shows rays framing her person.

This menu item could be skipped altogether for a lighter tea, but, if you are serving lunch, try layering cream cheese, mild, beanless Hormel chili, and a generous layer of bright orange shredded cheddar in a pie or quiche pan. Pop it into a 350 degree oven for about twenty minutes before arranging baked tortilla (triangular) chips all around the edge with points facing out to form a "Sun." Leave an extra bowl of chips on the table to accompany the guacamole.

5. "The Mantle of Stars"

I was intrigued to learn Our Lady's Mantle on the tilma contains forty six stars, the exact number of constellations that would have appeared in the sky on the night of her December 12th apparition. This fact will undoubtedly interest the children as well. There are many, many ways to represent stars--you might use anything from star cookies to star-shaped tea sandwiches, but we decided to take a simple, yet effective, approach by arranging exactly forty-six "Dora the Explorer Cinnamon Star Cereal" pieces on a plate. My guess is that children, particularly young children, will enjoy nibbling the little stars and seeing exactly what forty six of them look like. If you have trouble finding this exact cereal, try using star-shaped sprinkles or even white chocolate chips.

6. "Crescent Moons"

How stirring it is to see Our Lady standing on the crescent moon, proving she is the woman of Revelation, "clothed with the sun, with the moon beneath her feet." Rev. 12: 2. There are many ways to represent moons--consider, for example, fresh baked crescent rolls, crescent shaped cookies or cheese slices or tea sandwiches. We opted for convenience choosing Stella D'oro Anisette Sponge, one of my favorite cookies.

7. "Supporting Angels"

While we were in the Stella D'oro aisle, we couldn't resist picking up a bag of Angel Wing cookies, reminding us of the trusted messenger supporting Our Lady with such love and care. This menu item is fun for the children, but optional, especially if you are concerned about too many sweets.

8. "Praying Hands"

In all her ethereal splendor, Our Lady looked to St. Juan Diego like an Aztec goddess, except her head was humbly bent, and her hands were in a position of prayer, pointing lovingly toward the Babe in her womb. To honor this gesture, we suggest "Praying Hands Tea Sandwiches." A mitten cookie cutter might work for these, but I cut them myself with a sharp knife from sandwiches made of cream cheese on firm dark rye. (I chose dark rye because it best mirrored the shade of the hands in the image). Olive cream cheese would be even tastier, but my children will have none of that!

For added symbolism, arrange the "hand" sandwiches on a platter pointing toward an image of the Christ child or the infant in the manger, reminding the children that Our Lady always leads us directly to her son.

9. "The Tilma of Roses"

This is perhaps the cutest of the menu items, and I hope your children will like it as much as mine did this afternoon. Our Lady asked St. Juan Diego to gather roses in his tilma to show the bishop. She arranged them lovingly with her own blessed hands, ordering him not to show what he was carrying to anyone along the way. To recreate this tilma for the tea table, take a large flour tortilla, cutting it in the shape of a primitive robe. For flavor and a bit of fun, apply an oval of bright mustard or even Thousand Island Dressing. (This will be a bit reminiscent of the shape of Our Lady's image on the tilma.) Then twist thin pink slices of Black Forest Ham into "roses," following the steps laid out in the photos below. You might also want to try proscuitto, bologna, or even turkey for this purpose, depending on what your children like. Now fold up the tortilla, serving one on each plate reminiscent of a tilma holding a special surprise. When your children open it, they will see the "roses" and smile!

10. "Bishop Zumarraga's Miter"

This optional offering is especially for all you wonderful friends who purchased gorgeous Miter shaped cookie cutters for the Feast of St. Nicholas and cannot wait to use them again! (Dawn, Katherine, Meredith--you know who you are!) Make a batch of gingerbread miters or use the cutter for special tea sandwiches to add to the bill of fare. Alas, we here at the cottage do not have miter-shaped cutters, so this particular treat will not grace our table this Tuesday. (It is a good thing too--if I were to attempt those gorgeous homemade gingerbread cookies, none of these other treats would ever be made!)

11. "Crushed Serpents"

My guess is that there are many young boys out there who will love this part of the afternoon. Some scholars theorize that "Gualalupe," the word Our Lady used for herself, was actually "Coatlaxopeuh," a Mexican Indian word meaning, "she who crushes the serpent." Either way, the sentiment is certainly accurate, and my guess is that the younger children round your table (and probably even the older ones) will not mind smooshing and smashing a few Gummi Worms meant to represent the "serpent."

12. "Build Me a Church"

Our Lady's wish that her Church be built was brought to fulfillment by the bishop. Just before the conclusion of our tea, the children will build their own representation of this Church, hopefully reminding us that we must always strive to carry out all of Our Lady's requests each day.

There are countless ways this could be done, but we plan on "building" a no-bake refrigerator icebox cake. My own girls will do this themselves in advance of the tea using chocolate wafers and fresh whipped cream (following directions on the package of Nabisco Famous Chocolate Wafers). At the table later, the children will add a sugar cone steeple, "Chantilly" stained glass windows, and, hopefully, a pretzel cross at the top. I will be sure to post pictures and have no doubt our "church" will be more like a teepee on a log than anything else. Still, the children are guaranteed to have fun doing it, and chocolate refrigerator roll cakes are delicous. (If I had to do one thing over in shopping, I would have purchased Oreo chocolate cones, because they would go so well with the black and white cake.)

In lieu of a refrigerator roll, you might consider giving each child a cone, pretzels, and a few sugar wafer cookies to build individual "churches" of their own. Do not fuss with royal icing or anything like that. Have each child use the edible materials you provide as they would a set of blocks. They will eat their churches before the icing would have a chance to set anyway!

13. "Roses from Heaven Punch"

Pour any type of flavored seltzer along with two parts berry juice (we use Minute Maid from the refrigerated section) into a punch bowl (or, if you are like me, a large pot!). Add a bag of frozen mixed berries and scoops of raspberry sherbet for a rose colored punch the kiddies will love.

*******

It is late Sunday Night, so this rough, unedited draft will have to serve as a post for now. I will try to iron out the kinks and post a suggested shopping list tomorrow.

My research and specific information on the story of Our Lady of Guadalupe comes from the book "Saint Juan Diego and Our Lady of Guadalupe," by Josephine Nobisso (Catholic Home Educating Mother and all around lovely, faithful woman).

I must go, but tomorrow I will post some of the photos we took in our test kitchen this afternoon. These should serve as proof positive that I have no claim on being a food stylist! Fortunately, the tea is meant for children, and they tend to see all things with a charitable eye. I hope to serve this menu to friends this week, so we wanted to try out a few things. I will post again to let you know how it is received by our guests, and to share a few ideas for decorating and presentation.

*******
Several possibilities for "St. Juan Diego's Sombrero":

The Tilma of Roses, step-by-step:

Step by step ham "roses":

"Praying Hands," step-by-step:

"Crushed Serpents":

"A Mantle of Stars":

"Supporting Angels" and "Crescent Moons":

A basket of possible ingredients for "Build me a Church":

Begin with a chocolate refrigerator roll, the easiest and most delicious little confection you will ever make:

Inspired by our tea rose centerpiece, Theresa suggests decorating the church by scoring jellied Christmas bells into roses:

*******
Happy Feast, everyone!

*******
Updated: Scenes from our Guadalupe Tea, including a photo album

Plans for Today

The linens are laundered, the baguettes have been bought, and these tarts and treats need only a pretty tray to turn them into "Many Signs and Wonders" for the moms. (Jelly beans and marshmallow chicks just did not seem sophisticated enough for these wonderful ladies!) There is a nip in the air, but the sun is smiling on us, and I think today's Easter Tea will be a good one!

[Lissa, the eclairs were purchased in your honor, and I see there are just enough for you and all five of your little ones! I still can't believe I'm saying five!]

A Joyous Easter Tea

[Resurrection by Rembrandt]

Alleluia! Lent is over, and, throughout this blessed Easter Season, we continue to celebrate the Resurrection of our Lord. Unlike our two Lenten Teas, this Easter Tea Menu is loaded with sweets and treats and even a slice or two of savory ham. We turn to the Gospel of St. John the Evangelist for our narration, because he provides details, including the story of doubting Thomas, not included in the book of St. Mark.

Easter Tea Menu

Tea*

Stone Scones

Linen Cloth and Napkin

Two Angels

The Gardener

Peace be with You

Receive the Holy Spirit

The Twin

Thomas' Thumbprint Cookies

Many Other Signs and Wonders

Recipes and Suggestions

1. "Stone Scones" (John 20: 1-3)

Scones, the most popular offering at any tea table, make the perfect representative of the stone rolled away from the tomb on Easter morning. I would not recommend that the scones be rock hard, as the name somewhat humorously suggests, although they could be made to look a bit like stones with a sprinkling of cinnamon on top. Cinnamon serves the dual purpose of representing the spices used to prepare Jesus' body for burial as well. (John 19: 40.)

Scone recipes abound, but this is a fairly easy one:

Ingredients

2 cups self-rising flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
6 teaspoons granulated sugar
1/2 cup whole milk
1/4 cup chilled butter, cut into small cubes
cinnamon for dusting (optional)

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

Sift together the flour and baking powder.

Using a pastry cutter or two knives, cut the chilled butter into the flour mixture. Stir in the sugar. Make a well in the center and add the milk, stirring until the dough is just soft, but not overmixed. (Overmixing will lead to tough scones.) Knead lightly on a floured surface and pat into a circle half an inch thick.

(Here I like to chill a bit to make the dough easier to handle, but this is not a necessary step.) Cut with two-inch round or fluted cookie cutters, making about a dozen small scones. Dust with a bit of cinnamon for a stoney effect.

Bake on a lightly floured cookie sheet for about 10 minutes, and cool on a wire rack.

If you are blessed to have a local bakery that makes scones, you might be able to pick up a batch the morning of the Tea. Call ahead to request a sprinkling of cinnamon on top.

Quote: "Now on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb." (John 20: 1.)

2. "Linen Cloth and Napkin" (John 20: 4-10)

This is not a menu offering, but a suggestion to use a white linen tablecloth and napkins to represent the cloth and napkin found left behind in the tomb. Children will not mind if you do not have real linen--any white fabric will do.

Quote: "Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb; he saw the linen cloths lying, and the napkin, which had been on his head, not lying with the linen cloths but rolled up in a place by itself." (John 20: 6-7.)

3. "Two Angels" (John 20: 11-13)

The most delectable thing that can be served with scones is raspberry jam and lightly sweetened whipped cream or creme fraiche. Use this pairing to represent the two angels Mary Magdalene found in the tomb. Slather each split scone with raspberry jam and a dollop of whipped cream for a rare treat.

Quote: "[S]he saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet." (John 20: 12.)

4. "The Gardener" (John 20: 14-18)

Mary Magdalene mistook the risen Jesus for the gardener until she heard Him say her name. To represent this unforgettable moment, fill a bowl with an offering your children absolutely love. (Mine are wild about strawberries.) Secret the treat under something mundane and not especially appealing. The classic covering might be raw spinach, although my children enjoy a good spinach salad, so I might opt for something like cabbage or kale. Move the leaves aside at the moment you read the word "Mary" in the narrative to disclose a delight underneath. Remember, it is no longer Lent, so be lavish. If your children love chocolate pudding or rocky road ice cream or blackout cake, do not hesitate to use it. The hidden delicacy should be extravagant to represent Our Lord and perhaps draw a few gleeful gasps from the children to remind them of the joy and surprise Mary must have felt that blessed morning.

Quote: "Jesus said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping? Whom do you seek?" Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, "Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away. Jesus said to her, "Mary." She turned and said to him in Hebrew, "Rabboni!" (which means Teacher). (John 20: 15-16.)

5. "Peace be with You" (John 20: 19-21)

It is impossible to imagine how this divinely reassuring greeting must have calmed and heartened the anguished apostles. Because an olive branch is universally recognized as a sign of peace and goodwill, I would suggest olive and cream cheese tea sandwiches, a favorite of mine since my father introduced me to them to me as a child:

Ingredients

Rye or other sturdy sandwich bread
Cream cheese
Green olives with pimentos

Drain and chop the olives, folding into slightly softened cream cheese. Sandwich between slices of bread and cut into neat rectangles.

6. "Receive the Holy Spirit" (John 20: 22-23)

Having soothed them with His peace, Jesus next told the apostles, "Receive the Holy Spirit." To represent the burning love of the Holy Spirit and help the children anticipate the celebration of Pentecost, I would recommend creating canapes to look like flames:

Ingredients
Plain rectangular or round crackers
White cheddar or American cheese
Yellow cheddar or American cheese
Slivered grape tomatoes (optional)

I used a knife to thinly slice the cheese, cutting a large flame shape out of the white cheddar and a smaller flame shape from the yellow. When layered on top of the cracker, it created the look of a tongue of fire, with a small bit of red tomato for garnish. (Sliced American cheese is easier to work with than cheddar, and might be more palatable for children, especially young ones.) This photograph should give you a very rough idea of how this savory might look, but please remember that we here at Cottage Blessings have yet to hire a food stylist:

7. "The Twin" (John 20: 24)

Ham and cream cheese sandwiches on baguette rounds are always a favorite on our tea table. Here is a way to adapt these tea sandwiches to represent doubting Thomas, whose name means "twin":

If you are able to get French baguette at your bakery or supermarket, it makes a perfect open-faced sandwich base. Otherwise, Italian bread may be used as a substitute. Cut the loaf on an angle into round medallions. Spread each one with cream cheese. Tightly roll slices of Black Forest Ham, cutting the rolls to about the length of the baguette rounds, and place two small rolls atop the cream cheese. These little sandwiches are so good you will not be able to make enough of them!

Quote: "Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came." (John 20: 24.)

8. "Thomas' Thumbprint Cookies" (John 20: 25-29)

What could be more perfect for representing Thomas' vow not to believe, "[u]nless I see in his hands the print of the nails and place my finger in the mark of the nails," (John 20: 25) than classic thumbprint cookies? If at all possible, the children should help preparing these, so that they can make the thumbprints themselves.

Here is a recipe for these simple cookies:

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 sticks of butter, softened
1 egg yolk
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/3 cup jam

Beat the butter and sugar at medium speed until fluffy. Add egg yolk and vanilla extract, continuing to beat until blended in. Turn the mixer to low and add flour one tablespoon or so at a time until combined. Refrigerate, covered, for 2 to 3 hours.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees, and roll the dough into balls about an inch in diameter. Put the balls on a cookie sheet at least two inches apart.

Now here is the part that will remind the children of St. Thomas. Allow them to use their own thumbs to make a well in each ball of dough. Put about a quarter teaspoon of jam in each impression. A ruby red jam, such as strawberry or raspberry, would remind the children of the wounds of Christ.

Bake for 15 minutes until the edges of the cookies are golden brown, and then set on a wire rack to cool.

Quote: "Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side; do not be faithless, but believing." (John 20: 27.)

9. "Many Signs and Wonders" (John 20: 30-31)

Now is your chance to use up all those jellybeans, chocolate eggs, and marshmallow chicks that may still be brimming in baskets in your house. Put them on the tea table in a colorful bowl to represent the many wonderful signs Jesus performed before his disciples.

Quote: "Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book." (John 20: 30.)
______________________

Easter Tea Shopping List

Produce:

Spinach leaves, or some other leafy offering for "The Gardener"
Fresh Strawberries, or whatever your children truly love for "The Gardener"
grape tomatoes (optional)

Breads:

French baguette or other long loaf, such as Italian
Rye bread
Scones, if using store bought (if so, please be sure to remove scone ingredients from this list)

Dry goods:

Crackers
Sugar
Self-rising flour
All-purpose flour
Baking powder

Jarred goods:

Raspberry Jam
More jam for Thomas' thumbprint cookies
Green olives stuffed with pimentos

Deli:

Sliced white American and sliced yellow American cheeses (if not using cheddar)
Sliced Black Forest Ham

Spices:

Vanilla extract
Cinnamon

Dairy:

Heavy whipping cream (or store bought whipped cream)
Cream cheese (two packages)
Whole milk
Butter (4 sticks)
White and Yellow cheddar cheeses (if not using American)
one egg

Snacks:

Miscellaneous leftover Easter Treats (jelly beans, chocolate bunnies, marshmallow eggs)

* Do not forget to purchase tea, and perhaps sugar cubes, to include on the table. My children love Twinings Blackcurrant, but any kind of tea, preferably decaffeinated would work well. For an added treat, heat some milk with a vanilla bean or a bit of vanilla extract in advance. Allow the milk to cool, and add it to freshly brewed tea with a bit of sugar. This makes "Vanilla Milk Tea" a favorite with children and adults alike. The thing I appreciate about Vanilla Milk Tea is that the milk and sugar are added in the kitchen just before the tea is served. This makes for a peaceful tea table without little ones handling creamers and sugar tongs.

A Second Lenten Tea

This second Lenten Tea menu proved a bit more challenging to prepare than the other for a number of reasons.

First, when representing a subject like the Crucifixion, care needed to be taken to avoid menu items appearing frivolous or in poor taste. Hopefully, this menu will be palatable for the children, yet help them to recollect the particularly solemn nature of the sacred event it represents. Second, the menu needed to be meatless and include no sweets, in case it is ever served on Good Friday itself. Needless to say, this limited menu options somewhat. Finally, the Tea had to be balanced and hopefully nutritious, in case adults fasting on Good Friday choose to use it as a light dinner.

At long last, here is the second menu, based on Chapter 15 of St. Mark's Gospel:

Lenten Tea Menu, Part II

The King's Crown

Out of Envy

The Purple Cloak

The Crown of Thorns

Golgotha Eggs

The Seamless Garment

Two Robbers

Vinegar to Drink

The Roman Centurion

Laid in the Tomb

Recipes and Suggestions

1. "The King's Crown" (Mark 15: 1-5)

There are many possibilities to represent a crown for the tea table. (Fruits or vegetables cut with a serrated knife can be made to look like crowns, for example). To create "The King's Crown," for this second Lenten Tea, I plan to line a pie or tart pan with cream cheese, arranging baked triangular-shaped corn tortilla chips around the edges, forming the points into a crown-like halo. Needless to say, if your family likes salsa or any other meatless accompaniment, extra condiments could be layered on top of the cream cheese before adding the tortilla triangles. Also, if they are available in your area, specially shaped tortilla chips called "Scoops" would work well as crowns and could be set out on a platter with no other advance preparation.

Quote: "And Pilate asked Him, 'Are you the King of the Jews?' And He answered him, 'You have said so.'" Mark 15: 2.

2. "Out of Envy" (Mark 15: 6-15)

Green is the traditional color of envy, and store bought or homemade guacamole makes an excellent compliment to "The King's Crown." Green salsa would work equally well if your family prefers it. "Out of Envy" could be set out in a bowl on its own, or layered over the cream cheese as part of "The King's Crown" itself.

Quote: "[H]e perceived that it was out of envy that the chief priests had delivered Him up." Mark 15: 10.

3. "The Purple Cloak" (Mark 15: 16-17)

Ideally, I would suggest fruit leather cut into large squares to represent "The Purple Cloak." Still, fruit leather, available in many organic specialty stores, may prove difficult to obtain. Instead, a bowl of scarlet or purple jelly could be set out and served as an accompaniment to the next menu item, "The Crown of Thorns."

Quote: "And they clothed Him in a purple cloak . . . ." Mark 15: 17.

4. "The Crown of Thorns" (Mark 15: 17-20)

These savories require a bit of individual preparation, and might be difficult to provide for a large crowd of children. Still, I would suggest creating individual crowns by coating Ritz crackers (or any other round cracker) with natural peanut butter (cream cheese or another substitute if allergies are a concern) and then sprigging the outer edges with broken bits of very thin pretzel sticks to serve as "thorns."

Quote: ". . . and, plaiting a crown of thorns they put it on him." Mark 15: 17.

5. "Golgotha Eggs" (Mark 15: 21-23)

To represent "The Place of the Skull," each child might be given a hard-boiled egg with a skull drawn on the shell in non-toxic black marker. Not only are eggs a good shape for depicting a skull, but these mournful "Golgotha Eggs" will provide a sharp Lenten contrast to the joyful colored eggs abounding on Easter morning.

Quote: "And they brought Him to the place called Golgotha (which means the place of the skull)" Mark 15: 22

6. "The Seamless Garment" (Mark 15: 24-27)

This is another offering that might work better for a small group, but I do believe the slight preparation involved is well worth it for the memorable image created. "Seamless Garments" can be cut out of flour tortillas using a medium-sized Gingerbread Girl cookie cutter. Once the head, legs, and feet are trimmed, you will have a tunic-shaped piece of flat bread (clean kitchen shears could also be used to cut shapes from tortillas). Each of these "tunics" will be served with two small cubes of white or yellow cheese on top, representing the dice cast as the soldiers gambled for Our Lord's garment. (Mozzarella cheese would work very well with the next few menu items.) St. Mark's Gospel does not specify that the tunic was seamless, so you will notice that the quote for display on the tea table (below) is from St. John.

Quote: "But the tunic was without seam, woven from top to bottom; so they said to one another, 'Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see whose it shall be.'" John 19: 23-24.

7. "Two Robbers" (Mark 15: 27-32)

As a palatable addition to the next two menu items, not to mention the squares of mozzarella suggested along with the "Seamless Garment," I will be offering each child two fresh sprigs of Basil to represent the two robbers. According to The Herb Society of America, legend has it that the Basil plant grew around the site of Christ's crucifixion. The Victorian Language of Flowers lists Basil as symbolic of both hatred and best wishes. The taunting thief and the good thief come to mind.

Quote: "And with Him they crucified two robbers, one on His right and one on His left." Mark 15: 27.

8. "Vinegar to Drink" (Mark 15: 33-37)

A bottle of Balsamic Vinegar will go well with the mozzarella, basil, and tomatoes suggested in menu items 6 through 9.

To help the children understand what it would be like to be given vinegar to drink, instead of merely a tasty condiment, I plan to offer them each a bit of plain vinegar on a spoon to try first (optionally, of course). Small bread cubes or croutons could be soaked in vinegar and passed around instead.

Quote: "And one ran and, filling a sponge full of vinegar, put it on a reed and gave it to him to drink, saying 'Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to take Him down.'" Mark 15: 36

9. "The Roman Centurion" (Mark 15: 38-39)

In the Roman army, a Centurion would have commanded one hundred men. To represent the Centurion present at the crucifixion, a bowl of exactly one hundred grape or cherry tomatoes would work well. If the children are serving themselves, encourage them to make a little salad of the tomato, basil, mozzarella, and Balsamic vinegar.

(By the way, one hundred may sound like a lot, but a pint of grape tomatoes contains about sixty. If you prefer not to purchase two pints, it would only take a few minutes to split fifty of them in half.)

Quote: "And when the centurion, who stood facing Him, saw that He thus breathed His last, he said, 'Truly this man was the Son of God.'" Mark 15: 39.

10. "Laid in the Tomb" (Mark 15: 40-47)

For a Tea representing so solemn an event as the Crucifixion and Burial of our Lord, no sweets need be offered, but a muffin or mini-muffin would make a pleasant treat at the end. To represent the "Tomb," cut the top off each muffin, scooping out the centers slightly. Place a grape, berry or banana slice on the inside, and replace the lid to represent the stone being laid over the entrance of the tomb. For a smaller group of children, serve the prepared muffins and fruit separately, and allow the children to fill and cover the "Tomb" themselves. (If you prepare this yourself in advance, please be careful to mention anything tucked in the center of the muffin to reduce the risk of choking.)

Quote: "And he brought a linen shroud, and taking Him down, wrapped him in the linen shroud, and laid Him in a tomb which had been hewn out of the rock; and he rolled a stone against the door of the tomb."

11. Other Possibilities

--Instead of serving water in the tea pot, put it out on the table in a punch bowl to remind the childen of the moment Pilate "took water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, 'I am innocent of this righteous man's blood.'" Matthew 27: 24.

--Provide paper napkins, and encourage the children to rip them in half when you read, "And the curtain of the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom." Mark 15: 38.

--Serve the Tea at 3 o'clock, to remind the children of the moment Jesus breathed His last.

As with the first Lenten Tea, the specific quotes are included to help you or your children create small cardstock signs explaining each of the dishes on display. We used purple index cards for our last Tea, and the meaningful little reminders greatly enhanced the overall look of the table.
_____________________

Lenten Tea, Part II, Shopping List

Produce:

guacamole or guacamole ingredients
fresh basil
100 grape or cherry tomatoes
fruit (banana slices, berries, grapes or strawberries for tucking inside the muffins)

Breads:

flour tortillas
muffins or mini-muffins

Dairy:

cream cheese
mozzarella or other cheese for cutting into cubes
eggs

Snacks:

Triangular-shaped tortilla chips, preferably baked (or "Scoops")
Thin pretzel sticks
Ritz or other round crackers
Fruit leather (optional)

Jarred Goods:

Natural Peanut Butter
Scarlet or purple-colored jam (if not purchasing fruit leather)

Condiments:

Balsamic Vinegar
Salsa (optional for layering on "King's Crown")