Tea Party Themed Meeting

      The Monroeville Garden Club met on January 12, 2023, at the home of Ree Smith, hostess.  Co-hostesses were Bev Colquett, Pat Hendrix and Nancy Ziebach.

     Although the weather outside was wet and stormy, inside was a festive and cheerful atmosphere of a tea party with decorative hats of all types and sizes.  In lieu of a designated program, each member decorated a hat in a delightful motif, predominately flowers, in anticipation of spring growing season!

     Club members discussed the needs of the flower beds around the courthouse square and downtown areas.  Plans were made to work in the rose garden and to discuss, with the mayor, the need to remove the old flower pots from the square, the need to clean out flower beds, prune crape myrtles, and refurbish the Christmas lights in the crape myrtles.

     After the business meeting, delicious refreshments were served on a beautiful table and side buffet.  Club members enjoyed hot spiced tea, water, strawberry chicken salad sandwiches, cucumber sandwiches, cream cheese tarts, shortbread lemon curd cookies, fruit and cheese kabobs and cheese straws.

     Bev Colquett surprised each member with a china teacup transformed into a fragrant candle before the meeting adjourned.  (submitted by Sammye Long)

January Tea Party

Monroeville Garden Club members donned their hats and attended a tea party at the home of Bev Colquett on January 12, 2012.
     Dana Shinholster presented an informative program on skin care and gave everyone a sample of  handcrafted "Working Hands" soap made by The Roots Soap Company.  This is an exfoliating yet gentle soap that is perfect for gardeners.
     Following the program members were served coconut cake, calla lily finger sandwiches, cream cheese mints, Russian Tea and Tea Punch.
     Those attending included Evelyn Bond, Lucy Calloway, Dotsy Compton, Dorothy Crawford, Margaret Groves, Pat Hornady, Dora Pelham, Dana Shinholster, Ree Smith, Gail Touchton, Nancy Ziebach and guest, Louise Barnes.

Hot Russian Tea

(Recipe from Cooks.com)

1 cup water

1 cup sugar

30 whole cloves

1 cup orange juice

1 cup pineapple juice

1/2 cup lemon juice

1 quart strong, sweetened tea

Bring water, sugar and cloves to a full boil for about 3-5 minutes.  Remove cloves.  Add juices and tea.

Reduce heat to low.  Makes approximately 1/2 gallon.

Tea Punch

(Recipe from allrecipes.com)

1 cup white sugar

1 cup strong brewed black tea

4 cups orange juice

4 cups pineapple juice

4 cups prepared lemonade

1 (2 liter) bottle ginger ale, chilled

In a pitcher, combine sugar and tea.  Stir until sugar is dissolved.  Stir in orange juice, pineapple juice and lemonade.  Chill in refrigerator for 4 hours.  Just before serving, pour chilled juice mixture into punch bowl and stir in ginger ale.  (24 servings)

Calla Lily Sandwiches

(Recipe from Easy Parties and Wedding Celebrations by Patty Roper)

1 (2 ounce) package slivered almonds

3 drops yellow food coloring

54 slices white sandwich bread

1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened

1 tablespoon orange marmalade

Combine almonds and food coloring in a jar with lid; shake until almonds are yellow and set aside.  Roll each slice of bread 1/8 inch thick and cut in circle with 2 1/2 inch biscuit cutter. Combine cream cheese

and marmalade.  Spread 1 teaspoon cream cheese mixture on each bread round.  Pinch lower edge of circle together to form the base of lily and press a yellow almond into the pinched portion as the stamen.

(Yield: 54 sandwiches)