[Tannasgach]

I'm liking your new avatar, Miss Mandy!

 

[MissMandy]

Thanks Tanna
That bowl is beautiful kitty!

 

[kittyvibe]

thanks ladies From my research that particular pattern was made with many variations and was pretty prolific. Im not surprised its in milk glass, I bet that it is pretty. I need milk glass for my Poe party

 

[Mizerella]

These are all such great ideas. I really want to do a witch party one year!

 

[Tannasgach]

This is my first year; it's a lot of fun planning a witches party.

 

[Tannasgach]

thanks ladies From my research that particular pattern was made with many variations and was pretty prolific. Im not surprised its in milk glass, I bet that it is pretty. I need milk glass for my Poe party

so I don't need to hunt down a camera? lol
here's the milk glass version:

but I'm really liking the carnival glass.

 

[MissMandy]

*drools*....omg I love it

 

[kittyvibe]

I was right! Its Boo-tiful!

 

[Si-cotik]

oooooo...I so love carnival glass!!! My grandmother has some I'm begging her for...lol.

 

[Tannasgach]

I've been working on the menu for the witches tea party. Coming up with a party menu - easy, a Halloween party - fun, a tea party - I dinna know.

When I think tea party, I think of little crustless sandwiches, lots of mini desserts, tarts and scones served on pedestal and tiered trays. Mainly finger foods, no chips, dips or spreads. Well, I'm not sure I want to be eating a cranberry scone with an alcoholic beverage. Traditional tea sandwiches: eggsalad- nope, I would not be reaching for an eggsalad sandwich at a party, chicken salad - too plain, cucumber tea sandwich - I've never had a cucumber sandwich so maybe. I want to get that tea party vibe yet still be Halloweeny. Anyhoo......this is what I've come up with:

Sandwitches: I really like this idea from Miss Mandy, cutting sandwiches into cookie cutter shapes. I have a cat, bat, ghost, and pumpkin but maybe I could find a witch hat, a cauldron and use the cat.

cucumber sandwitches made with cream cheese, cucumber and dill:

shrimp salad sandwich on pumpernickel bread cut into a crescent moon shape, (I figured a simpler shape would hold up better with the shrimp) but I need a name for these.

turkey sliders - smoked turkey on mini bun with cranberry mayonaise and a lettuce leaf.

but....then I found these and thought they looked Halloweeny:

rye bread spread with poppyseed dressing/mayo mix, sliced turkey, white cheddar cheese, granny smith apple slice, and drizzled with a balsamic reduction sauce. I need a name for these too.

Cauldron Cups - spinach/artichoke dip baked in mini phyllo cups and mini quiches - maybe an asparagus or broccoli quiche to add another vegetable.

Witch Hat Cheese Spread - (well, maybe one spread):
http://www.hungryhalloween.com/2010/09/halloween-recipe-cappello-di-strega.html

Desserts:
Cake - kitty litter cake (spice)- it's not a finger food but I've made this before and I have the pan and scooper plus I want that "ewww" factor.

Cookies - witch finger cookies, which I hope I can get somebody else to make.

Candy - chocolate covered cherry mice.

Tarts - not exactly a tart but key lime bars cut bitesize and served in Halloween mini cupcake liner cups.

Nibbles - green M&M's, purple candy coated sunflower seeds (I saw these and liked the color).

Drinks:
Soda, bottled water, iced green tea (I need tea somewhere ) served in a large cauldron with ice.

Green Apple Punch - still working on a punch recipe.

Pumpkin Coffee and ta-da.......assorted teas.

I keep thinking I should have some fruit, but for the life of me can't figure out what to do with it. I thought of mini kabobs stuck in a (white?) pumpkin but kabobs are time consuming and need to be made that day. Apple slices and caramel dip but I already have apples on the turkey sandwiches. Then I thought of a green fruit platter with green grapes, honeydew, apples, kiwi and a green dip but I'm not sure if honeydew and kiwi are available in October.

This has been the most difficult menu I have ever had to put together. The menu itself seems simple enough but trying to decide what to serve has been a challenge. I always look at time factors too when planning a menu. Most of these foods can be made ahead of time; the sandwiches I'll make right before the party so the bread doesn't get soggy and I'll just have to heat up the cauldron cups.

The party will be on a Saturday, starting at 3:00. I'm inviting 12 women and planning on 8-10 to show. So, I don't need large amounts of food but I still want an assortment. I have planned 3 sandwitches, 2 sides (hot), a cheese spread and 4 desserts. Is that enough? I figure I'll make 2 dozen of everything.

Judgement Time - Thoughts, suggestions (fruit?), additions, eliminations...? Do you get that tea party, Halloweeny vibe?

 

[MissMandy]

Haha Tanna, you sound like me...freaking out over a menu! My husband always get irritated and says 'Who the hell cares what it looks like it! It's all gonna end up in the same place" Well I care you ninny! LOL You're ideas are great! I think having those 3 different kinds of sandwiches is good. It provides variety. For the ones you do in Halloween shapes, make it something very classic, like ham and cheese or something. I really like the idea of an all green fruit platter too. I'm sensing a theme If you don't care about the green apple punch being green, I'd try taking some apple cider and heating it up, then adding some cinnamon red hot candies to it until they dissolve. It should taste like a candy apple At my party last year, I had caramel apple shots. It's just equal parts of Dekuyper Buttershots and Sour Apple Pucker

 

[Tannasgach]

errr.....I was only going to make the cucumber sandwitches in the witch shapes:
http://veganyumyum.com/2007/03/cucumber-tea-sandwiches/
plus the shrimp and turkey to give me the three sandwiches. I don't have any meat, so you think I should add a classic tea sandwich too?

The funny thing is I don't cook and I certainly don't know how to bake. If I make anything it has to be simple and easy. But I love looking at recipes and food presentations then whatever I want I tell my husband to cook (he's a chef). I give him the recipes and he'll change them or tweak them, figure out the food amounts, etc. I'll get him to make the quiche, shrimp salad, spinach dip, and the balsamic sauce. He just bought a turkey breast at the store last night so I'll try out the turkey/apple sandwiches when he cooks it.

I'm still working on that punch recipe I saw some recipes with apple cider and alcohol but I'm not sure if that's such a good combination the next day. I was also thinking maybe I should just make a sherbert punch or champagne punch (more tea partyish?) but, you know, I have that apple thing going on.....I could make a tray up of your caramel apple shots. That would be a great idea cause I'm not really expecting anyone to drink tea.

 

[MissMandy]

Oh that's right, the cucumber sandwiches! Duuur Mandy *slaps head*. I just thought ham and cheese because some folks are picky, but chances are everyone like ham and cheese. I always have to think like that because quite a few of my friends are wimps and WILL NOT try anything out of their comfort zone.

I'm sure everyone will drink tea....if it's hard tea

 

[Tannasgach]

I thought shrimp salad would be a classic recipe or maybe I should make the turkey sliders, they're basic and easier than the turkey/apple recipe. But those sandwiches look so cool. I know, I could add ham into the asparagus quiche, yum. Or Boar's Head sells a pesto ham that's delicious and would make a great tea sandwich. Arrrgh!! Somebody stop me.....

 

[MissMandy]

LOL can drive ya crazy huh chickie? Just when I think I have my menu all planned, I see something else I wanna make!

 

[kittyvibe]

I've been working on the menu for the witches tea party. Coming up with a party menu - easy, a Halloween party - fun, a tea party - I dinna know.

When I think tea party, I think of little crustless sandwiches, lots of mini desserts, tarts and scones served on pedestal and tiered trays. Mainly finger foods, no chips, dips or spreads. Well, I'm not sure I want to be eating a cranberry scone with an alcoholic beverage. Traditional tea sandwiches: eggsalad- nope, I would not be reaching for an eggsalad sandwich at a party, chicken salad - too plain, cucumber tea sandwich - I've never had a cucumber sandwich so maybe. I want to get that tea party vibe yet still be Halloweeny. Anyhoo......this is what I've come up with:

Sandwitches: I really like this idea from Miss Mandy, cutting sandwiches into cookie cutter shapes. I have a cat, bat, ghost, and pumpkin but maybe I could find a witch hat, a cauldron and use the cat.

cucumber sandwitches made with cream cheese, cucumber and dill:

shrimp salad sandwich on pumpernickel bread cut into a crescent moon shape, (I figured a simpler shape would hold up better with the shrimp) but I need a name for these.

turkey sliders - smoked turkey on mini bun with cranberry mayonaise and a lettuce leaf.

but....then I found these and thought they looked Halloweeny:

rye bread spread with poppyseed dressing/mayo mix, sliced turkey, white cheddar cheese, granny smith apple slice, and drizzled with a balsamic reduction sauce. I need a name for these too.

Cauldron Cups - spinach/artichoke dip baked in mini phyllo cups and mini quiches - maybe an asparagus or broccoli quiche to add another vegetable.

Witch Hat Cheese Spread - (well, maybe one spread):
http://www.hungryhalloween.com/2010/09/halloween-recipe-cappello-di-strega.html

Desserts:
Cake - kitty litter cake (spice)- it's not a finger food but I've made this before and I have the pan and scooper plus I want that "ewww" factor.

Cookies - witch finger cookies, which I hope I can get somebody else to make.

Candy - chocolate covered cherry mice.

Tarts - not exactly a tart but key lime bars cut bitesize and served in Halloween mini cupcake liner cups.

Nibbles - green M&M's, purple candy coated sunflower seeds (I saw these and liked the color).

Drinks:
Soda, bottled water, iced green tea (I need tea somewhere ) served in a large cauldron with ice.

Green Apple Punch - still working on a punch recipe.

Pumpkin Coffee and ta-da.......assorted teas.

I keep thinking I should have some fruit, but for the life of me can't figure out what to do with it. I thought of mini kabobs stuck in a (white?) pumpkin but kabobs are time consuming and need to be made that day. Apple slices and caramel dip but I already have apples on the turkey sandwiches. Then I thought of a green fruit platter with green grapes, honeydew, apples, kiwi and a green dip but I'm not sure if honeydew and kiwi are available in October.

This has been the most difficult menu I have ever had to put together. The menu itself seems simple enough but trying to decide what to serve has been a challenge. I always look at time factors too when planning a menu. Most of these foods can be made ahead of time; the sandwiches I'll make right before the party so the bread doesn't get soggy and I'll just have to heat up the cauldron cups.

The party will be on a Saturday, starting at 3:00. I'm inviting 12 women and planning on 8-10 to show. So, I don't need large amounts of food but I still want an assortment. I have planned 3 sandwitches, 2 sides (hot), a cheese spread and 4 desserts. Is that enough? I figure I'll make 2 dozen of everything.

Judgement Time - Thoughts, suggestions (fruit?), additions, eliminations...? Do you get that tea party, Halloweeny vibe?

fruit+witches= candy apples! Ive seen some really awesome ones lately. You can have chocolate covred ones or candy colored black. The black ones look so neat!

 

[Tannasgach]

I've seen those black candy apples on the site, they look amazing!! Which reminds me I also saw caramel apple bites.......

<Tanna skipping over to the Good Eats group>

 

[Gothikren]

since you were saying green and purple for m&m's you could make frozen grape kabobs (quick and easy to make & technically you don't have to freeze them lol) here's a link to show you how they look they are kind of kewl I'm thinking of doing something like this for my party...... didn't think of using a pumpkin to put them in great idea.

http://www.thekitchn.com/thekitchn/...rozen-grape-kabobs-and-sunny-citrus-pound-cake-delicious-links-for-52609-085600

http://janaandjoe.blogspot.com/2009/03/grape-kabobs.html

 

[Gothikren]

oh I also found this lemon tea recipe and it uses the grape kabobs too.

http://hy-vee.gsnrecipes.com/Recipe...ecipes/RecipeFull.aspx?RecipeID=60940&QuickSearch=83&PageNumber=2&Source=search

 

[Tannasgach]

Ooooh I like the look of the grape kebabs! And I know how to make frozen grapes they're really, really good. Thanks for the tip. You're very observant Gothikren, cause yup, I'm using purple, green and black as my color theme, which is why that carnival glass punch bowl would be so perfect.

btw, I bought it. Won an ebay auction for $61. Apparently, if the set comes with the 12 plastic hooks and the plastic green ladle it practically doubles the value. I have hooks and a ladle! Now if any of the witches breaks a cup I'll have to kill them. Just joking, there are plenty of replacement cups on ebay, but if they break one of those plastic hooks......