Welcome to the First Edition of Tea Party Guide Gazette!

December 24, 2008 Issue #001

In this very first issue of the Tea Party Guide Gazette newsletter you will find:

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5 Decorating Tips for Your Christmas
Tea Party

1. Use bright colors that contrast or soft subtle colors. This may seem obvious with the traditional red and green, but you can consider other options as well.

Gold and/or silver go with all color combinations, so use plenty of it in your bows, beads and glitter accents to help highlight the following colors.

2. Centerpiece made of pre-lit garlands and wreathes. Aside from the traditional centerpieces, I would like to share a couple ideas using battery operated garland or wreathes. ~ Using a length of pre-lit, battery operated garland, (can be greenery, poinsettias, stars...) stretch this down the center of your table like a table runner. Place candles alternating either side of the garland also down the center. If you need an extra 'pop' of color, add miniature bows or mini tree ornaments to the garland.

~Lay a pre-lit battery operated wreath on your table and fill the center with varying heights of candles. Also, if you use the type of battery LED candles, you won't have to worry about getting wax drips on your tablecloth. Add some bows, strands of beads and ornaments for decoration. If you don't want to use candles, filling the center of the wreath with normal sized ornaments, strands of gold or silver beads and bows.

Both of these ideas create low centerpieces that wont interfere with your line of vision at the table.

3. Use plenty of stands of beads. Beads give an elegant look even to the most simple arrangements. If you have some Christmas decorations on side tables like a nativity scenes, a snowman grouping or miniature trees, swirling strands of complimentary colors of beads around your displays will add an extra bit of flair.

4. Candles. Aside from centerpieces, place candles on end tables, coffee/tea tables, along mantles and in your windows.

Candles provide a gentle sense of warmth and coziness. This is especially great if you have no fireplace and it is freezing cold outside!

5. Linens and dishes. Do you have lovely Christmas linens and dishes you are dying to use? Great! By all means get them out, press the linens and pre-wash the dishes if they have been in storage.

A couple hints: If you have linens with a colorful pattern on them, use plain dishes. For example, a tablecloth with a poinsettia pattern, would look great with plain white or ivory place settings,(or another solid color that may compliment the pattern on the tablecloth) maybe with a gold or silver trim, but no obvious pattern.

Conversely, a dinner set that has a definite bold pattern would call for plain, solid color linens or at the most, a jacquard weave.

An Eggnog Cheesecake for your
Christmas Tea

Cheesecake is also 'done' when the center still wobbles slightly. If you cook your cake until it no longer moves, it wont be as creamy, and will actually be overdone.

~1 cup graham cracker crumbs
~2 tablespoons white sugar
~3 tablespoons melted butter

~3 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
~1 cup white sugar
~3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
~3/4 cup eggnog
~2 eggs
~2 tablespoons rum
~1 pinch ground nutmeg

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F
2. In a medium bowl combine graham cracker crumbs, 2 tablespoons sugar and butter. Press into the bottom of a 9 inch spring form pan.
3. Bake in preheated oven for 10 minutes. Let cool.
4. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F
5. In a food processor or mixer, cream the cream cheese, then add 1 cup sugar, flour and eggnog; process until smooth. Blend in eggs, rum and nutmeg. Pour mixture into cooled crust.
6. Bake in preheated oven for 10 minutes.
7. Reduce heat to 250 and bake for 45 minutes, or until center of cake is barely firm to the touch. Remove from oven and loosen cake from rim. Let cake cool completely before removing the rim.
8. Refrigerate completely before serving. Serves 16

And Our Winner Is...

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Sheila, Your Tea Party Guide