Cucumber Sandwiches, and other Delights...

"It is a truth, universally acknowledged, that a group of women in possession of a great novel, must be in want of some cucumber sandwiches."

- paraphrased from Jane Austen

So, this week, in honor of Valentine's Day, I played hostess for our Book Club reviewing the beloved classic Pride and Prejudice. Of course, no discussion of Jane Austen would be complete without also enjoying a spot of Afternoon Tea. So I started my research and began testing my recipes. One dilemma I had was how to serve tea to a whole group of women when I did not own any tea cups, or a tea pot. As I was searching for some kind of disposable tea cups, it suddenly hit me...I had a box of china dishes, inherited from my grandmother upon my marriage more than ten years ago, that had never been opened (I obviously don't entertain much). 'I bet there are some tea cups in that box,' I thought to myself. And so, I dug the box out of the hutch in the dining room, cut the tape open and gently, yet eagerly, opened the flaps to reveal...ten teacups and saucers as well as a myriad of beautiful serving dishes. Perfect! I was on my way, and so my next step was to head out to my favorite store for inexpensive yet fancy dishes (TJMaxx) and look for a tea pot. I found the perfect one right off the bat...Hooray!

Next, came the testing of the recipes. Could I really make a batch of chocolate chip scones that would be fluffy and delicious? Yes, I could. And, it was surprisingly easy. Too easy, really, to be good for my waistline. Could I successfully make shortbread? Yes, I could. The shortbread was less of a success than the scones, but still yummy enough to ruin any diet I may have fancied myself on. Fresh fruit? Check. Egg Salad and Cucumber Sandwiches cut into cute little heart shapes? Check. Some yummy Orange Spice herbal tea? Check. My spread was now complete...

Of course, Sarah and I had to test the teacups and teapot as well as the sandwiches and scones to make sure everything would work out.

We have also had several tea party lunches after the big night (I have to justify the somewhat frivolous purchase of a fancy teapot), and I am sure there will be more tea parties in the future.

On to other culinary thoughts... The following photo is of the Udon Noodle soup I made for dinner the other night. This is the result of a simple "I can't think of anything else to cook" meal that Tim brought to our marriage from his dad...a meal called 'Chinese Noodles': Cooked Spaghetti, Chopped Ham, Chicken Broth, Hard Boiled Eggs, and Soy Sauce. Over the past year or so, we have been trying to 'improve' the meal, to make it more authentic - adding some green onion here, a little shaved carrot there, etc. This was the best result yet, though it is no longer the last minute meal that it once was: Homemade noodles, sauteed veggies (carrots, celery, green onions, red peppers, edamame), sauteed chicken breast, chicken broth, soy sauce, and a dash of Rooster Sauce (a recent and delicious discovery in the Asian food aisle) .

Perfect for a cold winter day...

Yesterday, Tim indulged me (a Valentine's gift, he said) and took me to the Boston Museum of Science to see the Harry Potter Exhibit (costumes and props from the movies - only there through the end of February). We bought a membership to the museum and enjoyed the various exhibits. Photography was not allowed in the Harry Potter exhibit, but it was really fun to see the details of the clothing and the intricate details of the individual wands. Things you can easily miss during the action of the movie. I think my favorite things were the huge chess pieces from 'Wizard's Chess' and the full sized 'Hungarian Horntail' head that you could look right in the eye.

Sarah had fun in the lights and mirrors room. This mirror apparently reveals the actual size of your brain ... see how smart our little girl is ;).

Here Sarah has channeled her inner diva and strikes a pose worthy of any fashion magazine...

This chess piece from the "Chamber of Secrets" movie was on display in the main foyer of the museum, and was therefore legal to photograph.

We had a wonderful visit overall, and it was tainted only by the fender bender we experienced on the drive home. We had taken a detour to avoid a big accident on I-95. We had slowed down for a red light only to be slammed into from behind - BUMMER! So far, the damage to our car seems to be minimal...just some scuffs and cracks on the bumper...

... I can't say as much for the other guy's car...