A Life of Simple JoyReducing stress, increasing joy one post at a time!

I am working on a new book, well, more of a booklet on the simple joy of tea. I love hosting teas. Find them to be the very best way to entertain friends. Much easier than a full-blown meal and perceived as being more elegant and difficult. Tea may be elegant, even the way I do it, but it is by no means difficult when it is done The Extreme Diva way. I frustrate myself trying for perfection with my writing. I must turn my internal editor off and push ahead. The info in this book is too important and a precursor to my book on the simple joy of entertaining. We need to begin entertaining in our homes more.

I believe women are feeling isolated. Many of us have gone back to work or are working longer, harder hours. We are struggling to keep up with things around the house and with our families. We are coping with financial difficulties. All these things have overwhelmed us and caused us to shut ourselves away. Instead, we need to turn to one another for strength, support and guidance. Women do not function well alone. We are social creatures that need a strong social network to build a strong self esteem. Without that strong network, we lack the confidence necessary to tackle the issues facing us daily.

So, I must get busy. Not for my sake but for the sake of all those women out there needing my help. And I know you are out there!

Sandwiches

Salads

Cupcakes

Cookies

Lemon Champagne
Punch

Lemonade

Package pastel colored cupcake cups

Long pipe cleaners

Pastel Easter grass

Candy eggs

Jelly Beans

Glue pipe cleaners on cupcake cups to create handle.  Add grass.  Place
egg in center and add jelly beans.  Make one for each guest with a few
extra.

Chick Flick Movie Night

Take a break with your girlfriends. Invite everyone over for a movie night. Fix comfort food and have your friends bring comforters, throws and pillows so they can relax while watching the movie. What a great night of comfort: warm soup, a warm throw and the warm comfort of your girlfriends.

Menu

• Tomato Soup
• Grilled Cheese Sandwiches
• S’mores
• Popcorn
• Cocoa

Chocolate Friendship Tea

What a winning combination:  chocolate, tea and friends.  This a a great opportunity to show others how much you appreciate their friendship. Teas are an easy way to entertain. While many women believe a tea is a complicated event, it can be the best way to entertain your friends. Tea is a formal snack. It is not a meal. You want to offer a variety of finger foods.

For this tea, you want to set the table buffet-style.  Stick to traditional tea sandwiches, with the exception of chocolate cream cheese sandwiches.  However, the rest of the table is filled with chocolate treats.  For your tea, save time in the kitchen.  Go to the store and bakery.  Look for interesting treats done in chocolate.  The centerpiece of our table is a decadent chocolate layered cake that makes you shudder in delight when you look at it. You can create your own cake. Just use chocolate cake mix, chocolate Cool Whip to ice and chocolate shavings.

Menu

Tea Sandwiches

Chocolate Chip Muffins

Brownie Cups

Truffles

Chocolate Decadent Cake

Vanilla Tea

Cordial glasses are the perfect way to serve sherry and dessert wine. They are smaller than white wine glasses. Sherry and dessert wine should be sip and only a small portion is served in these delicate glasses. Sherry is a wonderful wine to serve at Holiday teas. Just a small libation to offer your guests before tea is served. Dessert wines are a nice compliment to the end of a meal.

This cordial glass is part of the Gala collection from Crate & Barrel.

When you mention champagne glasses, most people think of a coupe which, legend has it, is in the shape of Marie Antoinette’s breast. While these are very traditional glasses for champagne and sparkling wine, I prefer flutes for champagne. The long slender shape of the flute allows the bubbles in the wine to rise elegantly. I believe flutes show sparkling wine off in the best light. Flutes also work well when serving or enjoying Mimosas. I use my martini pitcher to mix Mimosas and then serve in our flutes. Fabulous!

Flutes from Crate and Barrel Oregon Flutes

While there is really no right or wrong when choosing a wine glass, there are still glasses that present specific types of wines to their advantage. When serving white wine, you want to use a narrower glass rather than the balloon glass used for red wine. Remember, part of the wine experience is the bouquet. You want to be able to smell the fragrance of the wine without being overwhelmed by it. Reds have a stronger fragrance than white. Whites have a subtle fragrance. The narrow opening of this glass helps to concentrate the fragrance of the wine. I have one set of wine glasses that have a wider opening than this glass but not as wide as a balloon. I am able to use it for both red and white if necessary. So, you can find glasses that offer a compromise between this glass and a balloon, allowing you to use one glass rather than having to buy 2 different types of glasses.

Glasses from Crate and Barrel Ollie Collection

Choosing the proper wine glas is almost as difficult as choosing the proper wine. Despite what many people tell you, you can use any wine glass for any type of wine. However, there is a reason specific glasses are recommended for specific wines. This week, I am discussing the variety of glasses and why each is perfect for a specific type of wine.

Today, let’s talk about balloon glasses. Red wine has a stronger bouquet that white wine. Therefore, balloon glasses work better with red wine. Balloons allow the wine to breath and emit its fragrance. You wouldn’t want to be overwhelmed by the rather powerful fragrance of some red wines when you go to sip them. Part of the enjoyment with wine involves the bouquet. The balloon glass allows you to enjoy all your red wines to their fullest.

Glasses from Crate and Barrel Ollie Collection.

Enjoy this week’s episode on wine.

Life of Simple Joy Episode 2

As you may have noticed, I like to keep things simple. Rather than working harder, I work smarter. I recognize the things my guest appreciate and offer them dishes and techniques that honor them. I have found my guests appreciate clever more than they do complicated.

For Thanksgiving, I either use frozen pumpkin pie I bake or I buy pumpkin pies that are ready to go. To these easy pies, I add 2 touches my guests seem to enjoy.

1. Fresh Whipped Cream: Few people whip their own cream for a fresh topping anymore. It is so easy to do and, surprisingly, it seems to impress people. Most of us use frozen topping or the stuff in the squirt can. It takes little time to whip the cream, giving others the chance to clear the table. See, there is a method to my madness. Make fresh whipped cream for your pie topping this season.
2. Pastry leaves: Again, these are easy to do since you begin with the pre-made refrigerated pie dough. I found this recipe to be very easy: Pastry Leaves Decorate your pies with the leaves to add a professional touch without the hassle. Once again, very simple.

So there you have it. Two easy things to make your pies special. The perfect end to your Thanksgiving of Simple Joy.