Food for a tea party should be light and fresh.

Set a buffet table with finger sandwiches, scones or muffins, fresh fruit and veggies. At the beverage station, serve fresh juices, sparkling ciders and a good selection of teas.

Fill colorful teacups with packets of tea and a flavored honey stick and set at each place setting as a favor for your guests.

Zesty Orange Cookie Cups are simple to make and just the right size to serve with tea.

Zesty Orange Cookie Cups

1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened

1/2 cup granulated sugar

2 cups all-purpose flour

2 cups (12-ounce package) white chocolate chips

2 large eggs

1 can (14 ounces) sweetened condensed milk

1/2 to teaspoon orange extract

1 tablespoon grated orange peel (1 medium orange)

1 cup (approximately) white chocolate morsels

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease 48 mini-muffin cups.

Beat butter and sugar in medium mixer bowl until creamy. Add flour; beat until mixture is evenly moist, crumbly and can be formed into balls.

Shape dough into 1-inch balls. Press each ball onto bottom and up side of prepared muffin cups to form wells. Place five white chocolate chips in each cup.

Beat eggs in medium bowl with wire whisk. Stir in sweetened condensed milk and orange extract. Spoon almost a measuring tablespoon of mixture into each muffin cup, filling about three-fourths full.

Bake for 15 to 17 minutes or until centers are puffed and edges are just beginning to brown. Upon removing from oven, gently run knife around each cup.

While still warm, top each cup with eight to 10 chips (they will soften and retain their shape).

Cool completely in pans on wire racks.

With tip of knife, remove cookie cups from muffin pans. Top with grated orange peel just before serving.

Store in covered container in refrigerator. Makes 48 cookie cups.

Variation: Substitute lemon extract for the orange extract and use grated lemon peel (two lemons needed).

Nutrition information per serving: 130 calories; 60 calories from fat; 7 grams total fat; 4.5 grams saturated fat; 20 milligrams cholesterol; 50 milligrams sodium; 15 grams carbohydrate; 0 grams fiber; 11 grams sugars; 2 grams protein

Courtesy of CTW Features

Ice Cream Cakes

Low-fat ice cream sandwiches look sweet when stacked in a pyramid and topped with creative garnishes. Use one flavor for a consistent look or mix and match flavors for extra guest options. Featured: Strawberry sandwiches from the Skinny Cow.

Beverages

Sangria is an unexpected and delicious drink to serve at a shower. Added bonus: The ingredients are inexpensive and easy to find. You can substitute grape juice and seltzer water for wine for a nonalcoholic version. The only other ingredients required are slices of fresh fruits such as oranges, pears and peaches, and about cup of sugar.

Favors

Pamper your guests with homemade body scrubs in simple, elegant glass mason jars. You can even customize the recipe below to include your favorite scents and colors.

Homemade Body Scrub

You will need:

3 cups Epsom salt (or coarse sea salt)

1 cup oil (almond, canola or olive oil usually works best)

Essential oils for fragrance

Mason jars

Instructions:

First, measure out your salt and pour into a large container. Measure out the oil and slowly pour into the salt while stirring. Finally, add the essential oil to the desired strength. Attach ribbon, hangtag or other decoration to outside of jar.

Courtesy of ARA Content

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