The Monroeville Garden Club met on May 10 at 11:30 a.m. for one last hurrah before the summer break. Bev Colquett hosted the gathering at her home in Monroeville, and Robin Rawls co-hosted. There was no official meeting, just a time of fun and fellowship. The ladies enjoyed an informal salad luncheon including chicken salad with grapes, crackers, pasta salad, fruit salad, mini lime baby cakes, mini strawberry cupcakes, coffee and fruit tea. The recipes for the chicken salad and key-lime baby cakes are posted. After lunch, the ladies were each given a potted daylily from Robin Rawls' collection, and they also traveled to Robin's home in Mexia and toured her garden. The weather was beautiful and the ladies had a wonderful time.
Robin's Chicken Salad
8 cups cubed chicken, baked
1 can water chestnuts
2 cups chopped celery
2 cups sliced almonds
2 lbs grapes
1 can pineapple tidbits, drained
3 cups mayo
1 Tbsp curry
2 Tbsp soy sauce
Mix together and enjoy!
Lime Baby Cakes
3-1/2 cups AP flour
2-1/4 tsp baking powder
3/4 tsp kosher salt
1 cup unsalted, room temp butter
2-1/2 cups sugar
4 large eggs, room temp
5 Tbsp fresh lime juice
2 Tbsp finely grated lime peel
neon/electric green food coloring
1-1/2 cups buttermilk
Frosting
8 oz cream cheese, room temp
1-1/2 cups powdered sugar
1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temp
1 Tbsp finely grated lime peel
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
Cakes: Preheat oven to 350. Whisk flour, baking powder, and salt in medium bowl and set aside. Beat butter in large bowl til smooth. Add sugar and beat to blend. Beat in eggs one at a time, then lime juice, lime peel, and food coloring. Batter may look curdled, but that's okay. Beat in flour mixture alternately with buttermilk, in 3 additions. Spoon batter into liners, about 2/3 cup full. Bake cupcakes until tester comes out clean, 20 min or so.
Frosting: Beat all ingredients in a medium bowl until smooth. With a medium-large plain round tip, pipe frosting onto cooled cupcakes, or simply spread it on with a knife. Sprinkle a bit of lemon zest over tops if desired.
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| Centerpiece at Luncheon |
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| Luncheon |
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| Luncheon |
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| Bev's Patio |
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| Robin's Garden |
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| Robin's Garden |
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| Robin's Garden |
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| Robin's Garden |
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| Robin's Garden |
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| Robin's Garden |
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| Robin's Garden |
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| Robin's Garden |
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| Robin's Garden |
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| Robin's Garden |
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| Robin's Garden |
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| Robin's Garden |
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| Robin's Garden |
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| Robin's Garden |
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| Robin's Garden |
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| Robin's Garden |
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| Robin's Garden |
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| Robin's Garden |
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| Robin's Garden |
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| Robin's Garden |
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| Robin's Garden |
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| Robin's Garden |
