The Luncheon

It is the day after and Marion and I, Candy, the two hostesses are a bit tired but happy.  Everything went well including the weather.  Just before the arrival of the guests I sprinkled antique German mica snowflakes on the carpet.  My how they glistened!  Just like diamonds!  All noticed when they entered.  The snowflakes looked like fresh fallen snow.

We began with button mushrooms filled with crabmeat as the appetizer and washed these down with apple chips in cider punch.

Shortly after we tasted Marion's Apple Rutabaga Soup which all proclaimed was most delicious as indeed it was.  Smooth and very tasty some of the ingredients were sweet potatoes and granny smith apples.  This was our first course.

Next on the plates was juicy beef tenderloin with cranberry sauce, pomegranate pilaf, red cabbage, lemon braised brussels sprouts and crescent rolls.

More favors were passed out including the gingerbread mini wreaths (pictured in a previous blog) and decorated sugar cookies.

Before doing our intermission craft project we decided to eat one of the three desserts.  The little Christmas tree cupcake was served and enjoyed by all with many questions as to how it was created.  When serving it I added some snow (powered sugar) to the plates.

Now we proceeded with the craft project.  Each lady gittered and decorated two candles with paper snowflakes and embroidered (by Candy) Christmas ornaments and the words 'Merry Christmas'.  Each candle creation was different and unique.

Note that the rubber bands were cut off after the glue had dried.  Don't they look professional?  Do know that our guests are long time crafters.  Crafting these candles with embroidery is the kick off to this Holiday season. 
Pictures of our guests come next:

After finishing our candles we ate the last two desserts; the chocolate raspberry roulade and the lemon pot de creme with crystallized rose petals from my garden.  During all of this time soft Christmas music played in the background.  The rose petals I picked last September and crystallized them then and stored them until today.  Yes!  You can eat rose petals.
Now that the luncheon is over I am getting back to my embroidery projects that will soon be appearing in my shop on Etsy: candytheartist.etsy.com

And, last but not least each lady was presented with an embroidered Holly & Berry pin embroidered by me.  You can purchase this very same pin on my Etsy web site.  Click on the link above.  It is pictured here.  By the way, the Holly pin as pictured here is very close to actual size!