Melissa's Birthday Tea

This year to celebrate my dear friend Melissa's 35th birthday. I offered to have an afternoon tea party for a her and a few of her friends at my home, and she happily accepted. Melissa and I go way back... we met in the 7th grade, when we were only 12 years old. Wowza... We were only kids!

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It was a beautiful April day and I was honored to meet some very cool and interesting people and had a wonderful afternoon. We drank A LOT of tea, which I never mind and will happily keep the kettle singing until people push themselves away from the table groaning and filled to the brim, which we did.

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Here is snapshot of the table, all set and ready for guests.
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The flowers are (mostly) from my garden and a little help from Trader Joe.
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Lots of great nibbles too, not all of it traditional "tea party food" like the Hummus, for instance. But Melissa likes hummus, and who am I to deny her that on her birthday?
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Moms "Magic Bullet" Hummus recipe, easy-peasy!

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And my chicken salad sammies with apricot, cranberry & almonds. These have become a staple at my tea parties... never any leftovers, ever.

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Sparklie water too, just in case of the unimaginable (gasp!) someone doesn't like tea!

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For our dinner, I made a pear & blueberry spring greens salad with feta cheese and a Champagne Pear Vinaigrette, healthy and very tasty. Our main course was Sweet Italian Chicken Sausage crumbled over Cous-Cous and topped with fresh Parmesan cheese. I didn't really get any pictures of these, as we were too busy scarfing as delicately as we could manage.

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Of course it's not a tea party with out sweets!

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For desert, I made chocolate cuppie cakes topped with whipped cream and various sprinkles.

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But the Birthday Girl had her very own little cake. Yes, I know... it's a bit of a wreck, don't look too close. I like to think of it as a cute little wreck, and therefore acceptable. It tasted good anyway, or at least that's what Melissa said.
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Here she is, about to make a wish!

It was a wonderful afternoon stretched far into the evening. Friends, food, conversation & tea, the perfect combination for a perfect day.

Here's one last snap shot taken by my dear hubby of the last of the revelers, from left to right is Leaf, Melissa, yours truly, and in the front

Ms. Olivia.

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