Tag Archives: Mother

Lemon Glazed Pumpkin Pear Teacakes (Gluten-Free Vegan, Dairy-Free, Egg- Free) for Mother’s Day Tea

May 6, 2015 Leigh

My dairy, egg, and gluten-free recipe for Lemon Glazed Pumpkin Pear Teacakes began as an experiment to concoct an original healthy and allergy-friendly cake. It can be fashioned into your choice of layered cake, cupcakes, and teacakes. The level of sweetness can be controlled by the amount of glaze you choose to top it with, and almost four cups of pumpkin and pear make this a yummy but guilt-free treat for all to enjoy. So for this Mother’s Day, let them eat teacakes!

Pumpkin Pear Cake Ingredients:

4 cups gluten-free baking mix (brands vary greatly… I used Arrowhead Mills)
2 egg replacers (3 teaspoons + 4 Tablespoons water = 2 eggs… or just use eggs)
1 cup of canned pumpkin (or use homemade purée)
2 ¾ cups pear puree (blended ripe pears, or other fruit purée)
½ cup melted coconut oil (or butter)
1½ cups sugar (or alternative granular sweetener)
2 tablespoons lemon juice (or other citrus juice)
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract (not imitation)
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 teaspoon ginger
½ teaspoon nutmeg
½ teaspoon cloves
½ teaspoon allspice

Lemon Glaze Icing Ingredients:

4 tablespoons lemon juice (or any citrus juice)
1 cup confectioner’s sugar (or use powdered)
optional: dust with more confectioner’s sugar (or use powdered)

Instructions:

Mix all the dry ingredients together.

Add in the wet ingredients to make a super sticky batter.

Spray a 2 tea cake pans, 1 muffin tin, or 2 cake rounds with coconut oil… or use a jarred stuff to grease them the old fashioned way. Do not dust with flour afterward.

Pack the dough into your pans. If you’re making muffins, shape rounded tops with the back of a spoon. If making cakes or tea cakes, smooth the mixture flat with a spoon. (This is a sticky dough that will retain more of its shape than the more fluid batters.)

Slide your filled pans into a non-preheated 350ᵒ oven. (This is because gluten-free vegan goods bake a bit differently than the wheat and egg types.) Bake according to your oven’s temperament, for about 40 minutes.

Let them cool off a little before popping them out.

To make the glaze while you’re waiting for them to cool completely, simply mix the ingredients well in a bowl.

Spoon the glaze onto cooled teacakes.

Confectioner’s sugar may also be dusted over the top if you like. (Confectioner’s is a dusting sugar without corn additives.) Top these teacakes with raspberries for a delightful sight.

They were a delicious allergy-free addition to my Spring Garden Mother’s Day Tea.

I hope they bring a smile to your face too!

Faithfully Yours,

Leigh

Recipes

Easy to Mold Naturally Colored Pink Sugar Shapes Sweethearts Recipe = a Spoonful of Sugar for Your Mother’s Day Tea

May 6, 2015 Leigh

Celebrate Mother’s Day the Mary Poppins way with a spoonful of sugar in your tea! This no-cook recipe for pink sweethearts utilizes natural beet juice instead of artificial food coloring, but you can substitute any color of juice you like. Plus, they’re really easy to make and mold into any shape you desire. They’re a “supercallifragilisticexpialidocious” alternative for decorating your baked goods as well, because they contain no corn syrup. It only takes a matter of minutes to mix and mold, then let them dry overnight. They are “practically perfect in every way”.

Ingredients:

2 cups granulated sugar (I used evaporated cane juice)
3 teaspoons water
1 teaspoon bottled beet juice (or other juice… or gel food color + 1 teaspoon water)

+ flexible silicone molds in your choice of shape

Instructions:

Gather the ingredients, and measure them precisely.

Mix them together very well, until the pink color is evenly distributed.

Use spoons to dispense the sweet mixture into each well of the mold. Pack it down tightly, flattening the top with the back of a spoon. (This recipe filled two of my heart molds.)

Let them sit out to dry overnight, and unmold them gently in the morning. Keep them stored in an airtight container until you’re ready to use them.

Here they are at the Spring Garden Mother’s Day Tea.

One must be allowed to indulge in girliness every once in a while.

These are so much cuter than plain little squares of white sugar.

So how about you… one lump, or two?

“In every job that must be done, there is an element of fun. You find the fun, and – snap – the job’s a game!” –Mary Poppins

Faithfully Yours,

Leigh

Recipes

Cherry Pecan Chicken Salad (Soy-Free / Egg-Free with Stuffed Tomato & Gluten-Free Shaped Finger Sandwich Options) for Mother’s Day Tea

May 6, 2015 Leigh

Skip the watercress and cucumber, and opt for heartier fare for your Mother’s Day Tea with this easy allergy-friendly recipe for Cherry Pecan Chicken Salad. Serve this delicious soy-free and egg-free delight with gluten-free bread or crackers for all your guests to enjoy worry-free. Or just make a nutritious lunch of adorably shaped finger sandwiches for the kiddos and a stuffed tomato for yourself. Either way, try some today!

Ingredients:

1 oven baked chicken breast (see my recipe for this here… or use a can, leftovers, or even turkey)
½ cup pecan pieces (or walnuts, almonds, etc.)
½ cup diced green onion (or leeks, onion, etc.)
½ cup dried cherries (or dried cranberries, raisins, etc.)
¾ cup soy-free veganaise (or mayo, vegan unsweetened yogurt, etc… or mix these ½ and ½)
sea salt to taste (or salt free substitute)
ground peppercorns to taste
optional: heirloom tomato to stuff, gluten-free crackers to top, artisan lettuce to fill, gluten-free bread for tea sandwiches, etc.

Instructions:

Bake and cut a chicken breast into cubes. (See my roasted cocorico chicken with root veggies recipe here, and my chicken with sautéed mixed greens recipe here.) Wash and dice the green onion.

Measure and mix all of the ingredients. Add sea salt and pepper according to your taste and sodium requirements.

Here I cut the top off of a large red and purple heirloom variety tomato, and then scooped out some of the center. Then I spooned a good portion of chicken salad into it and garnished the top with ground red peppercorns and green onion.

The green and purple artisan lettuce it’s resting on, also makes a wonderful carb-free wrap for the chicken salad. Those are gluten-free vegan Mary’s Gone Crackers in the Super Seed variety… yum!

The chicken salad was the perfect filling for the gluten-free tea sandwiches I served at the Spring Garden Mother’s Day Tea.

To go beyond tea sandwich triangles, simply press a cookie cutter into the bread, and fill with chicken salad. (Tulip, daisy, and butterfly shapes were my choice for the tea, but you can see bunny bread here with my carrot crouton recipe.)

Thanks Mom, for all the chicken salad you’ve made me over the years!

Faithfully Yours,

Leigh

P.S. If you’re looking for another easy version of this, try my turkey salad recipe here.

Parties & Tablescapes

Spring Garden Mother’s Day Tea Party Tablescape Décor Ideas (+ Free Printable Card & Invitation)

May 5, 2015 Leigh 2 Comments

You’re invited for tea at my nest where enchanting tablescape décor awaits, where butterflies will carry you to a flower filled spring garden complete with the melody of birdsong. Delight upon delectable teacakes, treats, tarts, and tea sandwiches while sipping mint scented tea sweetened with pink sugar sweethearts. Celebrate with handmade gift crafts conveying heartfelt sentiments along with free printable invitations and cards sending your warmest wishes for a beautiful Mother’s Day!

Harken your ears to the call of birds whistling a merry tune of invitation to the spring garden. Two nests double the blessings bestowed upon the day as finding even one is said to be the harbinger of prosperity.

Notice the greeting of butterflies rising from moss laden purses filled with the yellow roses of friendship and tulips representing strength and life itself.

Take a seat cushioned with pastel patchwork pillows provided for your comfort.

Touch the threaded texture of a tablecloth hand embroidered generations ago.

Release baby pink vintage napkins from their handcrafted tapestry and lacework rings.

Sip mint scented tea from delicate vintage china teacups ornamented with floral motif.

Sweeten your tea with pink sugar sweethearts delivering a spoonful of sugar in the perfect dose.

Stir in flavor with silver tea spoons that have been lovingly held by previous generations.

Sup on tea sandwiches packed with cherry pecan chicken salad, whose butterfly and floral shapes echo the garden’s delights.

Try almond crusted chocolate tarts balanced with healthy red raspberry fruit.

Taste pumpkin pear teacakes dripping with lemon icing, dusted with confectioner’s sugar, and topped with more fruit.

Cleanse your palette with pink peppermint almonds held in small antique silver bowls.

Sink your teeth into juicy plump strawberries offered amid vintage salt and pepper shakers.

Replenish your china plate from a grapevine heart topped tower of treats wrapped in lengths of tapestry and lace.

Gaze upon sunlight reflected from gleaming antique silver service layered with vintage doilies atop layers of vintage lace and patterned cloth.

Feel the impressions of vintage buttons encrusting a jewelry box gift sheltered by a lofty spring floral arrangement.

And at last, read the Mother’s Day card that will hold the memory of the cherished event for years to come.

Sincerely wishing you the happiest of Mother’s Days!

Faithfully Yours,

Leigh

P.S. Right click on the small image below, and select print to make your own invitations (at the left) and cards (at the right) free (for personal use only). Print them on photo and color settings for the best results.

P.P.S. Click on the links below for teacake, chicken salad, and sweetheart recipes as well as crafting instructions for the jewelry box, keychain, and napkin rings.

Quick & Easy Tapestry Napkin Rings, Upcycled Button Jewelry Box, & Keychain Gift Crafts Tutorial (for Mother’s Day Tea)

Easy to Mold Naturally Colored Pink Sugar Shapes Sweethearts Recipe = a Spoonful of Sugar for Your Mother’s Day Tea

Lemon Glazed Pumpkin Pear Teacakes (Gluten-Free Vegan, Dairy-Free, Egg- Free) for Mother’s Day Tea

Cherry Pecan Chicken Salad (Soy-Free / Egg-Free with Stuffed Tomato & Gluten-Free Shaped Finger Sandwich Options) for Mother’s Day Tea

Arts & Crafts

Quick & Easy Tapestry Napkin Rings, Upcycled Button Jewelry Box, & Keychain Gift Crafts Tutorial (for Mother’s Day Tea)

May 5, 2015 Leigh

This tutorial will teach you how to quickly craft elegant tapestry and lacework napkin rings for your Spring Garden Mother’s Day Tea Party, then easily make cross keychain gifts and an upcycled jewelry box encrusted with vintage buttons. These are great last minute projects that are actually pretty inexpensive to produce, but would cost a pretty penny if purchased from a boutique. So craft along with me… the best is yet to be!

Let’s begin our crafternoon by making 6 napkin rings so that our tables may be set early.

Start with 3 feet of any variety of woven tapestry ribbon. (I always snatch these up when I find them on clearance, because they are just so versatile. I’ll show you more craft ideas to use it with in the future.) Also look for 6 feet of lovely lacework in a small width.

Cut all of your ribbon and lace into 6 inch lengths.

Glue the ends of the tapestry together overlapping them slightly. Use hot fabric glue or clamp a cold fabric glue to dry… or sew it if you’re so inclined.

Glue one length of lace to either side of the ring, layering it over the serged seam of the ribbon to conceal it.

Fill with any coordinating cloth napkin to suit your event’s color scheme.

Next, let’s craft a cross keychain gift to extend our best wishes for a blessed life… or one with a heart full of loving-kindness.

Begin with any variety of coordinating beads of various shapes, a shape pendant, a key ring, thin fishing line, and a small split ring. (These can almost always be purchased on sale or clearance.)

Slide the small ring onto the key ring. (This will enable keys to be added to the ring later.)

Slip one end of the fishing line into all the beads first then through the pendant.

Now feed the line back up through those same beads.

Tie the two ends sticking up out of the beads onto the small ring with your choice of a double knot or surgeon’s knot. (Try triple looping the ends then triple looping them again in the opposite direction. Pull the ends really tight to bring it together. This is a great knot to keep keychains secure.)

Cut the dangling ends close but with a little bit sticking out of the knot to keep it from unraveling.

Package it with an apropos and sincere message.

Think about buying extra beads to make one for yourself as well!

Now I’ll tell you how I made an upcycled jewelry box, so that you can think about making your own quickly and easily. It would be lovely to enclose that keychain in it as a complete gift… because it’s bad luck to give away an empty jewelry box.

I actually began this upcycled project many years ago as a gift for my grandmother. I hot glued vintage mother of pearl, glass, and pearl buttons to a vintage powder puff box. I then used tacky glue to adhere white grosgrain ribbon to the sides and inside of the box. I added silicone feet to prevent table scuffing along with a button closure.

I never felt that it was quite good enough for my liking, so this year I decided to embellish it further with some ivory lace.

I simply hot glued dots onto the points of the lace then gently tapped them down onto the ribbon. I continued all around the box, and then cut and glued the end corner.

To finish it, I simply inverted another length of lace and glued it all the way around as well.

It looks so much more finished now, so I am happy to present the new and improved version back to my grandmother. To make your own, upcycle any old but pretty box or paint a new paper maché one. Cover it with vintage buttons or newly purchased ones. Glue on silicone or wooden feet. It’s an easy project that makes a beautiful gift.

Now you’re on your way to a fantastic Mother’s Day!

Faithfully Yours,

Leigh

P.S. Get free printable cards and invitations, plus see the napkin rings and box placed in the whole Tea here: Spring Garden Mother’s Day Tea Party Tablescape Décor Ideas (+ Free Printable Card & Invitation)

Living Faithfully ~ Embracing Creativity