Celebrating: Church ladies!

Celebrating: Church ladies!:

Twice a year, the Women's Group at our Church has a luncheon.  It is a great opportunity to visit with old friends and also to meet new ones.  The meals are catered, usually by a member of the Church.  The food is always plentiful and outstanding - and this year was no different.  Our buffet included Ham and Cheese Croissants, Corn Pudding, Fruit Bowl and also Vanilla Yogurt with  berries and granola for toppings!  But I'm not finished - the dessert table was filled with an assortment of treats.  Glazed Zucchini Cookies, an apple cream cheese cake and another type of  pound cake..But my personal favorite - mini Pumpkin tartlets! And for the sake of my blog, I tried to sample everything, but unfortunately missed the pound cake, but I heard from others at my table that it was delish!

We also have a tradition of "decorating the tables."  You sign up to "host and decorate" a table for 6-8 people.  This is an opportunity to use that China that may be hidden in a box or just used for "special" occasions.  There are so many talented "tablescape" creators" at our Church!  I always look forward to see the 'theme" people have come up with for the day.  This Fall luncheon had a different twist!  Paper products!  I had decided on a theme months ago when I was researching creative ways to display fruit for Mom's birthday reception.  On one display, they had made a palm tree out of pineapple skins!  So there was my theme -Luau! My clever mom came up with our "table favor."  She made crabapple jelly, filled a plastic martini glass, sealed it with parafin and stuck in a little umbrella! Walla!  The perfect Presbyterian cocktail!   They really "made" the table. Luckily I had several "Hawaiian" type nick-nacks, so most every thing I used I already had on hand.  I went to Hobby Lobby to find some flowered napkins and instead found the cutest napkins shaped like a Hawaiian shirt.  Just love when that happens!

                                               Look what we did! 

Bonnie's Table

Nicole's Table

Michelle's table

Pepper's table

Diedre's table

Ponnies' table

The" Garrett Girls" table

My Table

The Presbyterian Cocktail!

My feature recipe comes from our Saturday caterer, Pat!  She was kind enough to share the recipe for the Pumpkin Tartlets. Not only were they very tasty, but cute as a button!  They were garnished with  a dollop of whip cream, a sprinkle of cinnamon and a mini maple leaf shaped cookie was perched in the cream!  

Pumpkin Tartlets

9 14 or can EAGLE BRAND sweetened condensed milk (NOT evaporated milk)

1 1/4 cups canned pumpkin puree

2 TBS Brown sugar

1 egg

1/4 tsp ground cinnamon

1/4 tsp pumpkin pie spice

24 (3 inch) unbaked tart shells

Directions:

1) preheat oven to 375 degrees

2) Whisk together EAGLE BRAND milk, pumpkin, brown sugar, egg, cinnamon and pumpkin pie spice.  Pour evenly into tart shells.

3) Bake for 18-25 minutes or until center is just set and pastry is golden.**Check at 13 minutes - may  

    need to turn to prevent over browning.

4) Cool and garnish

***Cooks notes - Use 1 1/2 recipe for 24 tart/pie shells.  Cook a few minutes longer for full shells - looks much nicer when full instead of skimpy.

Ya'll come back!

Susan
May the Lord bless his people with peace and happindess and let them CELEBRATE! Psalm 64:10

*Originally posted September 25, 2011