APRICOT AND CHEESE TEA SANDWICHES

Spread apricot jam/fruit spread on two slices of bread.

Slice thin slices of a really nice cheese and lay them on the jam. We used Dubliner, an aged cheese from Ireland for Jennell and JoAnn's tea parties.

Top with other slice of bread.

Trim crusts and cut into rectangles or use cookie cutters to make special shapes, such a hearts for a wedding tea.

FAST, EASY, and TASTY!!

CHOCOLATE TRUFFLES

3 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 can Eagle Brand Sweetened Condensed Milk
1 T. vanilla

Melt the chocolate chips in the microwave. Start with 2 minutes. Stir. Heat an additional minute. Stir. If needed, try one more minute. Bowl may be very hot!

Stir in the vanilla. Chill until firm. Scoop out a spoonful and roll into a small ball. Roll in colored sugar. Wilton has colored sugars near each holiday and it is fun to roll the chocolate balls in the sugar for added 'sparkle'.

LEMON CURD

4 eggs
1 1/4 cups sugar
4 lemons
12 T. unsalted butter

Wash lemons and grate the rind of 2 of the lemons. Then cut in half and squeeze the juice from the lemons and discard seeds.

Beat eggs and sugar together until fluffy. Add the lemon juice.

Pour the mixture into a pan and cook over low heat, stirring continually. Add butter 1 Tablespoon at a time. Cook until thickened. Add the lemon zest.

Pour the mixture into sterilized jars and screw lids on tightly. Store in the refrigerator. Serve with scones.

This is an easy recipe because you don't have to worry about the eggs curdling and lumping.

DADDY'S CUSTARD PIE

I love it when my mom gives me a recipe that Daddy loved for dessert. My mom makes the best anything and often got the recipes out of old cookbooks from when they were first married back in 1947! I need to find out the oven temperature for this one.

4 eggs, slightly beaten
3 c. milk
1 teas. vanilla
1/2 c. sugar
1/2 t. nutmeg
1/4 t. salt

Mix all ingredients and pour into a 9 " pie shell. Bake 1 hour.

RASPBERRY SHORTBREAD CAKES

1 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 egg
3/4 cup flour
1/4 cup cornstarch
1 teas. baking powder
1/4 teas. salt
seedless raspberry jam

Heat oven to 325 degrees. Grease and flour pan, or use a spray with flour. Mix butter, powdered sugar and egg until fluffy. Sift dry ingredients together and add to butter mixture. Mix well. Spoon about 1 rounded tablespoon of the batter into individual cups of a Nordic Ware Bundt cakelet pan. Bake 20-23 minutes or until light golden brown. Cool in pan 10 minutes and remove. Cool on a rack. Place 1/2 teas. of jam in the center of each cake. Dust with powdered sugar. Makes 12 mini cakes.

Cream Cheese Mints

3 ounces cream cheese, softened
1 Tablespoon butter, softened
3 cups powdered sugar, sifted
1 teaspoon almond extract, or flavoring of your choice
Wilton food coloring
small amount of granulated (table) sugar

Mix first three ingredients. Add extract and coloring (try a small amount to begin) to complement the party/wedding colors. Mix well. Add more powdered sugar if necessary.

Roll into small balls and roll in the granulated sugar. Press into a rubber mold. Pop the candy mint out of the mold and let dry for two hours. Mints may be frozen. Thaw before serving.

CREAM CHEESE DATE SPREAD

Sarah made this WONDERFUL spread for my grandmother's banana bread. We served it at JoAnn's wedding tea and now we need to make it again for Jennell's tea. Hope I get the amounts near to what she used--she made it up, and it's been seven months ago!

1 8 oz. package cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup (?) chopped dates
1/2 cup (?) powdered sugar
1 teas. almond extract

Mix well. Spread over banana bread. YUM!!