That does sound tense. Sorry it was a bad experience for you. I've seen a lot of soldier with rifles and bayonets in my travels in Latin America, but they never made me tense, for some reason. When I crossed the border between Belize and Guatemala, they were having a war over a border dispute, and there were thousands of soldiers at the border. I grew up 25 miles east of Fort Hood (the largest military base in the world, according to them), and so I was used to seeings lots of soldiers growing up and never thought much about it. When I traveled through Chiapas and Oaxaca while they were having guerrilla warfare, I merely thought that I was close to a military post. I thought the same thing when hordes of soldiers would board the train from Laredo to Mexico City near San Luis Potosí. I still think that SLP probably has a military base nearby. You may have seen a naval base in Corpus Christi as well. The last time I saw a large military presence was in 1992 during the Rodney King riots when L.A. was under martial law. That was scary because I had nowhere to go. I looked up Nuevo Progresso, and it looks like a nice place to visit - much smaller and easier to navigate than Reynosa or Matamoros. It looks like you had rather warm weather with possibly a couple of cold days in the 60s. My parents said it had been in the 80s where they are. I'll look forward to seeing your pictures! I haven't been to "The Valley" (south Texas) since the 1980s! Lars

Jessica, he really likes to cook, he cans his own salsa (but has decided that mine is better, smart man!) and actually enjoys Penzey's, Trader Joe's and that Mediterranean grocery. I tried to convince him to sign up but he says that the forum is "my own space" and he's not going to "intrude on it". I think he's just scared of you! Plus, I figure after he meets a few of you, he'll be here out of curiosity. Annie

THough time consuming, these are always a fun addition to a tea party..... DECORATED SUGAR CUBES 1 egg white 1/ 8 tsp cream of tartar 1/ 4 tsp. almond extract 1 and 3/ 4 cups confectioners sugar food coloring Combine egg white, cream of tartar and extract. Blend sugar into mixture. Beat until icing hold stiff peaks. Divide and tint with coloring. Cover until used. Makes 1 cup. TO MAKE FLOWERS OR FRUIT ON SUGAR CUBES: With decorating tubes: Squeeze icing through small tips Without tubes: Double heavy waxed paper; roll into cone. Cut tip for small opening; squeeze icing through opening ********************************************************** Petit Fours Now to bake the cake, no special cake pans are required; a 9 inch round or square pan will work just fine. When the cake has completely cooled, cut it in half horizontally. A serrated knife works well for this; gently saw your way through. Brush the liqueur over the cut sides, and then fill with a thin layer of jelly. Heat the jelly until warm; this will make it easier to spread. A creamy filling sprinkled with chopped nuts is also good. Try: Almond Filling Chocolate Meringue Frosting French Buttercream Lemon Jelly Filling Chocolate Fudge Buttercream Frosting Mint Buttercream with Dark Chocolate Glaze The simplest decorating technique for petits fours is to glaze the top of the whole cake, and then cut it into shapes. A white chocolate glaze or fondant frosting works well for this purpose. Both will dry to a smooth surface. Score the top into squares or diamonds, and decorate. Cut the cake only when ready to serve; since the sides are left uncovered, the little cakes can dry and become stale in a very short time. To cut, dip a serrated knife in hot water and then dry it. A hot knife will cut through the glaze more smoothly. Cookie cutters with simple shapes, such as rosettes or rounds, as well as petit four cutters can also be used to cut the cake. These should be used on the unglazed cake. Each cake is then decorated individually. It is important to completely cover the exposed surfaces with glaze or fondant to prevent drying. Quick Pour Fondant Icing Quick Pour Chocolate Fondant There are innumerable ways to decorate a petit four. One way is to simply pipe designs with melted chocolate or tinted decorator frosting. But don't limit yourself. Candied citrus zest, crystallized edible flowers and leaves, and fresh berries are all excellent decorations. You can also use miniature cookie cutters to shape marzipan or rolled fondant. Add these finishing touches before the glaze or fondant sets. Decorator Frosting Best White Icing Ever To get you started on your petits fours adventure, try some of these combinations of cakes, fillings, glazes, and decorations. Before you know it you'll be the host with the most. White cake, strawberry jam, poured fondant, and tinted marzipan animal cutouts for a children's tea.  Genoise, amaretto liqueur, almond filling and a sprinkling of chopped almonds, white chocolate glaze, finished with almond slices and piped melted chocolate for an elegant ladies and gentlemen's luncheon.  Pound cake, maraschino liqueur, cream filling, poured fondant, and small pastille candies for decoration to serve at the bridal or baby shower. There's a combination for every taste and occasion. So have some fun and plan an elegant gathering to show all your newfound tastes. ********************************************************* ANd here is a lengthy thread from a while ago on great tea sandwiches! Tea Sandwiches from the Cooking Forum Now that the weather has turned colder, I find myself hibernating on Saturday mornings instead of being out and about and inviting friends over for a little tea lunch. I don't like to bake that much so I can manage a dessert like lemon bars or shortbread but not the traditional scones and jam. I usually serve one or two soups from tureens, lots of varieties of tea sandwiches and of course, good tea. What are your favorite tea sandwiches? (I often use cookie cutters to cut them into fancy shapes.) My old standbys are 1)cucumber on white bread with chive mayonnaise and butter 2)wheat bread, olive cream cheese, white bread, egg salad, wheat bread 3)chicken salad on rounds of white bread with the edges of the bread spread with mayo and dipped into chopped toasted almonds 4)open face smoked salmon cream cheese with chopped capers and scallion tops on rye -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Follow-Up Postings: RE: LOOKING for: tea sandwiches Posted by: Ginger_St_Thomas (My Page) on Mon, Jan 24, 05 at 19:53 I like egg salad. Here are a couple more: LADIES DAY BLT'S 1 loaf light wheat bread 1 cup mayo 1 1/2 tsp sweet brown mustard 1 1/2 tsp lemon juice Pinch of sugar 1 TBL chopped fresh parsley 1/2 to 1/4 lb bacon, cooked & crumbled 1 pint Roma or cherry tomatoes, sliced Cut bread into rounds with 2 1/2" or 1 3/4: biscuit cutter. Lightly toast rounds on each side. Combine mayo & next 4 ingredients. Spread mixture on bread rounds. Top with crumbled bacon & tomato slices. Use a 1 3/4" biscuit cutter.~~ TEA PARTY SANDWICHES 11 oz cream cheese, softened 1/4 cup milk 1 TBL Worcestershire 12 oz bacon, cooked & crumbled 1 loaf sliced white bread, crusts removed 1 loaf wheat bread, crusts removed Piniento stuffed olives Beat the cream cheese, milk & Worcestershire in a bowl until smooth. Stir in the bacon. Spread on the white bread slices, top with the wheat bread slices. Cut each sandwich into 3 equal portions. Top each with an olive slice.~~ Can be made a day ahead; cover with a damp paper towel & refrigerate until serving time. Add 1/4 cup each minced green bell pepper & grated onion to the cheese mixture, if desired. (I like it this way best.) I also like chicken salad spooned into bite-sized cream puff shells. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- RE: LOOKING for: tea sandwiches Posted by: Ginger_St_Thomas (My Page) on Mon, Jan 24, 05 at 19:54 Oops! That first recipe should say "1/2 to 3/4 lb bacon". -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- RE: LOOKING for: tea sandwiches Posted by: Roselin32 (My Page) on Mon, Jan 24, 05 at 20:02 They all sound pretty good to me, Ruthanna-if we bring something, are we invited?? I do like to bake! RL` -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- RE: LOOKING for: tea sandwiches Posted by: Teresa_nc7 (My Page) on Mon, Jan 24, 05 at 20:19 Of course, in the South we like homemade pimiento cheese on white, but here are some of my favorites: Curried Egg Salad 3 hard boiled eggs 1/2 cup mayo 1/2 t. curry powder Mix all. Will keep 3 days covered in fridge. I like it spread on thin wheat bread. Cheddar cheese and chutney on wheat Ham salad on finger rolls date nut bread with cream cheese Vidalia onion slices with herbed butter Pineapple Nut Tea Sandwiches 2 cups crushed pineapple, dreained 1 cup sugar 1 cup chopped nuts 1 8oz. pkg. cream cheese milk or mayo In saucepan combine pineapple and sugar. Bring to boil. Cook until thick, stirring constantly. Cool. Stir in nuts. Soften and mash cheese with enough milk or mayo to make a good spreading consistency. Combine with pineapple mixture. Spread on thin bread for sandwiches. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- RE: LOOKING for: tea sandwiches Posted by: woodie2 (My Page) on Mon, Jan 24, 05 at 22:18 You know, I'm the only one who could actually make it to Ruthanna's in time for lunch (so far, anyway)! I don't really have many suggestions for tea sandwiches, but I do have this lovely recipe from Cindy Mac for Pimento Cheese, that Teresa made me remember. WORLD'S BEST PIMENTO CHEESE 4 tbls. mayonnaise 1 (3-oz.) pkg. cream cheese, at room temperature 3 cloves garlic Handful of fresh parsley Several vigorous shots of Tabasco and Pickapepper sauces 1 cup pecans 1 (4-oz.) jar diced pimentos with the juice 12 ozs. extra-sharp Cheddar cheese, grated Purée until smooth in food processor the mayonnaise, cream cheese, garlic, parsley and sauces. Turn into a bowl. Coarsely chop pecans. Add pecans and pimentos with juice to the mayonnaise mixture. Add grated cheese. Stir well to combine. Store in refrigerator at least 1 hour before serving. The spread is even better the next day. Serve on bread, crackers or on vegetables. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- RE: LOOKING for: tea sandwiches Posted by: craftyrn (My Page) on Mon, Jan 24, 05 at 22:20 Here's a couple I like: HAM AND APRICOT PRESERVE TEA SANDWICHES Makes 8 tea sandwiches 4 thin slices raisin-pumpernickel bread 2 tablespoons apricot preserves 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard 1/4 pound Virginia ham, thinly sliced Spread one bread slice with half of the preserves. Spread another slice with half of the mustard. Fill with half of the ham slices and close. Repeat using the remaining bread, preserves, mustard and ham. Trim the crusts from the 2 sandwiches. Cut each into 4 finger sized sandwiches. ========================================= Creamy Date Nut Filling 5 pkg. cream cheese, softened (20 oz.) 1/2 tsp. salt 2 c. chopped walnuts 2 2/3 c. chopped dates Blend until creamy; then add nuts and dates. Makes enough filling for 100 tea sandwiches. Olive & Nut filling 32 oz. cream cheese 3/4 c. chopped olives with red centers 2 c. chopped toasted (in margarine) pecans 1/2 to 3/4 c. cream or milk Whip cream cheese; add milk until soft enough to spread. Fold in nuts and olives. Spread on thin sliced bread. Trim crust (use white, raisin or cinnamon bread). Cut into fingers or triangles. Chill; covered until ready to serve. These are also good as cornicopias--just spread filling on one slice a bread that you've trimmed crust from & rolled a little flat with rolling pin-then roll corner to corner for cornicopia shape. ==================================== RIBBON SANDWICHES This traditional tea sandwich features three ribbons of fillings for a special occasion. Preparation 1 hrs. Chilling 1 hrs. Ham Filling Ingredients: 1/2 cup finely chopped cooked ham 2 tablespoons mayonnaise 2 tablespoons sweet pickle relish 1/2 teaspoon prepared mustard Egg Filling Ingredients: 2 hard-cooked eggs, chopped 2 tablespoons mayonnaise 2 tablespoons finely chopped celery Cream Cheese Filling Ingredients: 1 (3-ounce) package cream cheese, softened 1 teaspoon chopped fresh parsley, if desired* 1 teaspoon chopped fresh chives, if desired** Sandwiches Ingredients: 8 slices whole wheat bread 8 slices white bread LAND O LAKES® Butter , softened Thinly sliced cucumber Parsley sprigs Chives Celery leaves Instructions: Stir together all ham filling ingredients in small bowl; set aside. Stir together all egg filling ingredients in small bowl; set aside. Stir together all cream cheese filling ingredients in small bowl; set aside. Cut crusts from bread slices. Butter 1 side of each bread slice. Spread about 2 tablespoons ham filling on each of 4 slices whole wheat bread; top each with 1 slice white bread. Spread about 2 tablespoons egg filling on each of 4 slices whole wheat bread; top each with 1 slice white bread. Spread top of each sandwich with about 1 tablespoon cream cheese filling. Wrap with plastic food wrap; refrigerate at least 1 hour. Slice each sandwich into thirds. Garnish with cucumber slices, parsley sprigs, chives or celery leaves. *Substitute 1/4 teaspoon dried parsley leaves. **Substitute 1/4 teaspoon dried chives. Yield: 24 ribbon sandwiches ================================================================== Diane -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- RE: LOOKING for: tea sandwiches Posted by: Ann_T (My Page) on Mon, Jan 24, 05 at 23:42 Funny that this topic came up today. I just picked up a little cookbook called Tea, Recipes and Table Settings. Ruthanna, you might like some of these ideas from the Chapter titled - "The Tea Larder": Tea Trimmings A bit of milk, some sugar - one lump or two - these are the traditional partners for a cup of tea. But it's fun to experiment with a few variations on them. Crystallized ginger - sugar's sweetness with an added flavor Honey - Clovers fine, but try elderflower, wild flower or cream honey Lemon - slice it paper thin, or stud the rind with circles of cloves Mint - pick peppermint leaves or crush spearmint leaves and brew with the tea Preserves - stir a bit of strawberry or cherry preserves into the cup the way the Russians and Hungarians do Sugar - fill the bowl with cubes, brown sugars like madeira, French raw sugar cubes, pastel crystals, sugar that's been flavoured with a vanilla bean (insert one bean into two cups of sugar, seal tightly and allow to sit for a week before using) Fillings, Breads and Spreads Beyond the pleasures of traditional cress and cucumber, tea sandwiches may be filled with almost any filling that isn't so wet that it will soak throught the bread. Consider using cream puffs, biscuits, scones, puff pastry shells, tartlets, muffins, and crepes along with the traditional sandwich breads. The simplest chicken , ham, or cheese sandwich will be enlivened by one of these tasty spreads: Mayonnaise variations - To a cup of mayonnaise, homemade or store bought, add 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard, or 1 tablespoon of freshly chopped chives, or two teaspoons of grated lemon rind or orange peel. Butters - To a stick of softened butter fold in until the mixture reaches a creamy consistency - 4 ripe hulled, and mashed strawberries, or 1 tablespoon freshly chopped tarragon, or mixed herbs, or 2 tablespoons honey with greated rind of one lemon. Cream cheeses - To an 8 ounce package of cream cheese, softened, mix in: 1/4 cup chopped dates, or 1/4 cup chopped walnuts, hazelnuts, pecans, almonds, or raisins, or 2 tablespoons chives, chopped, or 1/4 cup raspberry preserves, or 2 tablespoons diced scallions. Tea Sandwiches Make up a quantity of sandwiches, and if you not serving them right away, store them in the refrigerator for a few hours, either sealed in airthight plastic bags or with a slightly damp dish towel draped over them. Here are some interesting tea sandwiches to try in addition to those on page 11. Smoked turkey with raspberry mayonnaise on cracked wheat bread. Curried chicken with walnuts on white bread Shrimp with dill vinaigrette on oatmeal bread Tomato with basil on black bread with homemade mayonnaise Avocado with sprouts and walnuts on whole wheat bread Sliced hard boiled eggs with cracked pepper and bibb lettuc on wheat bread with herb mayonnaise Stilton Cheese crumbled over pear slices on oatmeal bread Sugar cured ham with think pineapple slices on dill bread Asparagus spears with lemon mayonnaise on wheat bread Cream cheese with walnuts on date nut raisin bread. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- RE: LOOKING for: tea sandwiches Posted by: sheshebop (My Page) on Tue, Jan 25, 05 at 8:28 My favorite tea sandwich would be cucumbers on thin slices of a good bread like Pepperidge Farm (or homemade)with cream cheese, a little sea salt, and dill. I could eat these all day, and unfortunately as I age, burp them all night. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- RE: LOOKING for: tea sandwiches Posted by: Ruthanna (My Page) on Tue, Jan 25, 05 at 20:40 Now I'm really inspired! Theresa and Diane, I like fruit but never thought of using fruit flavors for tea sandwiches but I'm going to try them. Roz, I love guests who bring desserts. LOL I really like pimiento cheese but usually buy it from an Amish stand at our famers' market that makes their own. Ann, I'm such a tea fanatic that I have 2 cabinets filled with tea and various types of paraphernalia, including hand decorated sugar cubes. Woodie, if you were in this area, I'd rather take you food shopping. LOL Ginger, recognize anything in that cabinet? Here is a link that might be useful: tea cabinet -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- RE: LOOKING for: tea sandwiches Posted by: seagrass (My Page) on Wed, Jan 26, 05 at 13:15 Ruthanna - now I'm craving old-fashioned pimento cheese. I'll have to go home to Ohio soon (I've run out of Amish egg noodles, too!!). A nice, easy sweet-tasting tea sandwich I've had is made using a can of brown bread (with or without raisins) sliced about 1/4 inch thick. Spread a slice generously with softened cream cheese and topped with another slice of brown bread. Cut into quarters and stack on a pretty plate.

On my birthday one year, I had an Almond Joy martini. It was the first martinit I ever had. It was soooooooooooo good! I've tried to duplicate it, haven't yet! I've also had some sort of pear martini which was also very good. I tried the appletini, don't care for sour apple, so didn't care for this one. I'll keep trying to reproduce that Almond Joy one though. I remember it was clear liquid, because the glass had chocolate syrup swirled all around on it. I'm having trouble making a clear one. LOL.