Friendship Tea For A Great Start!

'Tis the season of new beginnings! School has started,we meet with new teachers, make new friends, seek out sign ups for all sorts of new activities.
One thing I have been involved in that is starting up this week, is MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers). Over the past 2 1/2 years, I have been the group coordinator, hoping to assist mothers in cultivating authentic friendships! It is so important that we have support and encouragement in this season of life with small children. Friendship is important at all stages of life, but so far, I have craved it most as a stay-at-home mom.
In honor of all the mommies out there who are pouring into their children, cultivating new friendships and depending on old friendships, I want to give you a recipe that is near and dear to me because I was first introduced to it by one of my oldest friends. It just so happens to be called, "Friendship Tea", and the recipe is from my Alma Mater (Texas A&M) Mother's club of Dallas County. Yep, it's from moms to moms and it's all about FRIENDS! :)

Friendship Tea

1 (3-ounce) jar instant tea
2 cups sugar
2 (5-ounce) packages instant lemonade mix
1 (16 ounce) jar instant orange drink (Tang)
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Mix ingredients thoroughly. Use 2 rounded teaspoons in 1 cup of boiling water. Keep in air tight container. A great gift for friends, teachers, or anyone. (From Anna Sheffield)

picture by Kanko at Flickr (http://www.flickr.com/photos/kankan/68944043/)

Recipe~Heart Attack on a Stick

This should be a funny post, since I am a vegetarian, but alas this was not always the case and so here is the proof! :)

This is actually a recipe for two appetizers, both bearing the same name and both for bacon lovers, a group of which I was once a card carrying member! Both are quick and easy, if you don't mind handling greasy, raw bacon.

Heart Attack on a Stick/Water Chestnuts

Ingredients:

1 can WHOLE water chesnuts
1 pkg bacon
wooden toothpicks, 1 per water chestnut (NOT with colorful plastic on top)

Do you see where I am going already?? That's right. Wrap bacon around water chesnut and secure with a toothpick! Whew! That was complicated.

There are a couple options for cooking. These can be microwaved, but it creates a lot of grease. I usually place SEVERAL paper towels on a plate and fit as many as I can on it, start at 5 minutes and then see where we are. The thickness of the bacon and each chestnut and how lean the bacon is, means not all will cook in the same period of time, but fast nonetheless.

Now, if you have the time, oven baking is healthier, creates a better taste and the bacon cooks nicely, ending up snug around the water chestnut. This I would do on a broiler pan so the grease can drip, about 300 degrees and just watch until they look done.

Want to go the extra mile? Add some color? Toothpicks are long enough to add one additional item... a slice of cherry tomato, zucchini, cheese!! These items can be added before, during or after, depending on how well you want them cooked.

Want to go crazy? Forget the toothpicks! Use disposable wooden scewers and throw all kinds of things on there for a kabob effect!

Heart Attack on a Stick/Breadsticks

Ingredients:

1 pkg bacon
1 pkg sesame seed breadsticks (these are hard, like you might have with a salad, not doughy, not soft, about a centimeter thick)
grated parmesan cheese, artificial works best

Wrap each stick in bacon and lay on a broiler pan, or something that will allow for grease to drip. When pan is full, bake as indicated above, just watching for bacon to be cooked fully. When these are done, much of the grease has soaked into the breadsticks, but not enough to make them too soft. Then sprinkle with parmesan on both sides or roll in parmesan. The saturated sticks will absorb the cheese as well. Yum!

Both of these are great for finger foods, sporting events, picnics. Nothing fancy, but oh soooo good!

Recipe ~ Chick Dip

by Cherilyn David


I call this chick dip due to the chicken, but I think it’s good for ladies too. It is actually nearly carb free and only made up of skinless chicken, cream cheese and scallions. *Optional Ranch mix.

1 large container whipped cream cheese (I like whipped, plain is fine too)
1 large can white chicken meat
(or cook and cut your own breast or other chicken of your choice.)
Scallions, cut up like chives and set aside
1 packet powdered Ranch dressing mix (also ok to season yourself)

Optional: Hot sauce of your choice, diced olives, etc.

The chicken for this recipe should already be cooked, so we want everything else to be warmed with it, so they are all equally hot and creamy.

Heat chicken and cream cheese in a sauce pan and add ranch/spices (and any other ingredients you have chosen such as olives) as soon as cheese is soft and creamy. Continue stirring over low heat until thoroughly mixed.

Now fold entire mixture into a loaf shaped glass pan. Warm in the oven, again at low heat since everything is already cooked. Remove and top with scallions, sprinkle hot sauce, etc. Serve in glass pan with chips for dipping or vegetable sticks.

Plan B: This recipe is delightfully simple, but anything can be dressed up, etc. For some flavor and consistency, ground chick peas would be a great addition, along with chopped Calamata olives, sauted onions and really any thing you think sounds good!

I am ashamed to say I have no short cut. This is as easy as it gets! Enjoy!