Fruit Jewels and Carols

 

There are just some cook books that you turn to time and again, and this is one of those books for me! Every recipe I have prepared using Gail Greco's Tea Time at The Inn has been delicious. Whenever I'm planning to have guests, especially for tea, I crack open my dog-eared copy. The book includes 200 recipes and detailed descriptions of the teas held at 41 inns, and Greco offers readers countless ideas for hosting their own parties. When College Girl said she was in the mood to bake yesterday I suggested making Fruit Jewels. So, she rolled up her sleeves and preheated the oven while I got a Christmas c.d. playing.

• 2 sticks butter
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 2 egg yolks
• 1 TB lemon juice
• 2 and 1/4 all purpose flour
• 1 and 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 each cinnamon and salt

Preheat oven to 350. Cream butter and sugar, add yolks and lemon juice. Beat until smooth, then add remaining ingredients and blend into a ball. Roll into balls - 1 TB each and place in mini muffin tins lined with petit fours papers. Make a small dent in the center of each cookie ball and fill with an assortment of jams. Bake 20 to 30 minutes, until golden brown.

    

When the cookies were cool I set up the living room tea table for an evening teatime by the tree~

 We used our Mikasa Holiday Season teacups and a festive striped cozy I made a couple of years ago.

I love the delicate embossed bells and holly adorning the saucer and sides of the cup - it's so textural, and I enjoy running my fingertips across it.

 There are two different Partridge In a Pear Tree pillows nestled with a Santa pillow on the sofa. The Santa pillow has a pocket on the back for last minute notes for Ol' St Nick - so we keep it near the tree in anticipation of his visit. :)

I could not decide between raspberry jam and plum jam filling, so I had one of each! I always mix and match dish patterns because I find it charming and less formal, especially at a cozy tea for two.  

 

I filled the lantern with ornaments from the 99 Cents store and some pine cones from our neighbor's tree - inexpensive, but pretty, don't you think? College Girl and I chatted about  this and that. Our thoughts turned to a recently acquired cabinet, placed in the dining room for now. It has dentil molding along the top and handsome Marlborough legs.

The front drawer is functioning and it has movable glass shelves. Handyman and I discovered this little beauty at a shop in Old Towne Orange, which has several inviting antique stores. We are trying to decide where to place it and what to display in it. We offered to let College Girl have it for her collectables, but we'll see - I am tempted to use it myself if she hesitates too long!

Keeping all those impacted by the tragedy in Connecticut in prayer. John 16:33

Also, remembering Megan Rough and the selfless gifts she bestowed so that others could thrive. Megan was a perfect example of Theta love.

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