Tea Parties, They're Just What They Used to Be

Last week's ladies gathering was at Beth's house, on a refreshingly overcast Saturday afternoon.  The morning started stormy for us all.  Laura had to compost her lemon basil cookies, I had to toss out some strange bean dip and rice flour pancakes that looked more like smashed potatoes on top of pink playdo disks.  And Ashley was feeling rather poorly....

But into cars we piled none-the-less, dressed in our fancy dresses and donning Sund'y hats, with whatever impromptu food we could come up with.  And up the mountain we rolled.

When we arrived the air was cool, the birds were singing, and the flowers were blooming around Beth's sweet lovely log cabin tucked amongst the Big Leaf Magnolias and a nice old oak.  Ashley threw down her quilts and we set up a table, upon which went:

Cumberland cheese, latkas with tomato chutney, scones, cucumber and handmade cream cheese sandwiches (of the very small sort), pound cake and blueberries, pasta salad with red ripe tomatoes, hibiscus tea, lemon balm tea, almond cookies, gorgeous pickled beans, and wee little cherry tomatoes.

Hair braiding, portrait taking, story telling, eating, laughing, and much lying about followed.  We learned why one Beth wouldn't eat Orange Sherbet for 15 years, and about the book the other Beth was reading.  I think I actually remember it's called Far Away and Long Ago, and that it is beautiful and will change your life (in a most wonderful way).

I literally split my sides laughing (of my dress at least) and Elspeth practiced her photo-taking skills with Shane's camera, which we all had turns looking through at our topsy, turvy, backwards world.   And all too soon we had to return off the mountain, back to our lowland homes with their heat and humidity; but with a smile on our lips and a sweet song in our mouths.

And that's what it's all about.

         -Ann

PS- Other Things To Remember:

Books to Read: My Family and Other Animals -and- Birds, Beasts and Relatives by Gerald Durrell

                        Far Away and Long Ago by W H Hudson

Movie to Watch: Paper Moon

And: If you are ever ten-years-old again and your mother tells you you can eat as much orange sherbet as you want; don't. You'll regret it if you do.

Silk Threads and Carrot Shreds

In early June, I left these Tennessee hills and headed for my Louisiana lowlands. My dear friend Wilhelmina was getting married in New Orleans, and I had the wedding dress in tow. With hands happiest making and baking, I had volunteered to come up with Willy's gown and the wedding cake. So here we are, with a few bits of Wilhelmina-in-dress. There are few more pictures, and a longer dress-story at my own little webspot, which you can find here. 

Willy's ever in wonder of all things growing, so she deemed a botanical theme for the evening. I had the great fun of carrying a long-stemmed artichoke, which I wasn't quite ready to release come waltz-time. 

Post vows and leafy-crown exchange, W and J escaped into a canoe, and paddled under the oaks through a cloud of lavender buds. 

 Willy and Jacob are long-time fans of a carrot cake recipe I swear by, which I'll include below. The recipe is easily tossed together, once all those carrots are grated, and stays moist for ages. The first version I made for Wilhelmina was on her 21st birthday. I was living in a kitchen-less dorm room, and baked in a borrowed oven. Once the cake cooled, I realized I didn't have a plate big enough for the largest layer, so I slumped the whole thing into a large serving bowl that my mother made. Since then, varied versions have appeared over the years for many a birthday and mail sending. I spent the thursday before the wedding baking layer after cupcake after layer (with the help of a grating food processor and a standing mixer), and my (unbelievably sweet) sweetheart Shane whipped up vats of cream cheese icing. Come the day of the wedding, we were left with 30 minutes before the ceremony to slap the layers together and toss on some flowers. My parents helped to lug all layers and decorations to city park, and spread palmetto fronds on the tables while I frantically piped icing. After which, I jumped into my maid's dress and tugged Willy's silk o'er her head. AND all turned out just right-- the dress stayed on (with the help of a needle and thread), no-one noticed the un-hemmed lining (see first picture and my Terribly Concerned Face), and the cake was gobbled right up. Well, after a few days. With no experience gauging a cake for hundreds, I made a 6 layer cake and 80 plus cupcakes for the ceremony. And... a 5 layer backup. Better well-carroted than under-cupcaked, I suppose!

 (there's my mom-to-the-rescue, finding fronds in the background)

CARROT OIL CAKE

from the depths of the 1975 Joy of Cooking 

(lovingly referred to in our house as the J.O.C.)

the original recipe only makes a single layer cake, so the version here I've tripled, making a large double layer or moderate three layer cake that'll serve 24

Preheat oven to 325* F

Sift 3 cups flour before measuring

Resift with:   - 3 tsp baking soda

                     - 3 tsp baking powder

                     - 3 tsp cinnamon

                     - 1.5 tsp salt

Mix together and add to flour, mixing well:
                     - 2 cups vegetable oil

                     - 3 cups sugar

                     - 6 beaten eggs

Add and blend well in: 

                     - 1.5 cups chopped pecans

                     - 4.5 cups grated carrots

Grease and flour pans, fill, and bake about 30 minutes. Easy Peasy!

WHIPPED CREAM CHEESE ICING

For the frosting, I adapted this recipe, which claims to hold up in the heat. It whipped well, and remained soft without melting. This recipe will make a generous amount, certainly enough for your 3-layer cake above

Whip together in an electric mixer on medium speed until smooth:

       - 2 8oz packaged cream cheese (cold)

       - 1/2 cup white sugar

       - 2 tsp vanilla extract

       - 1 Tbsp Steen's Cane Syrup (LA's version of Sorghum, which will work in its stead)

Scrape the bottom of the bowl to incorporate. Once blended, add in slowly while mixing:

       - 2 cups heavy whipping cream
Continue whipping till cream holds a stiff peak (which will NOT happen if you use anything other than heavy whipping cream-- you'll instead end up with a lovely-tasting glaze. Good for dripping, bad for mortar) 

that's all, folks! I believe I'll elope... 

- Elspeth