Ladies Tea Party! (minus the tea!)

I hosted a book club recently and we got to discuss Anne of Green Gables... my favorite!!!  So of course, we needed to have a ladies tea.  I don't drink tea, but we didn't miss it a bit!  White linens with floral table runners, white china dishes, fresh flowers in the middle, and feminine serving platters make for a fun ladies tea!  A few of us even dressed with "puffed sleeves" or lovely ladies hats and beads.  Such a fun night with some sweet ladies. Many selections and small portions make a ladies tea menu just right.  Most of these recipes are make ahead, so I did most of the desserts a couple days before and put them in the freezer, the sandwich fillings the day before, so the day of, you don't have much to do except dress the table. 
I would like to share with you our menu...
Drink:
Peach Citrus Punch
Ice water with lemon slices
Main:
Chicken Salad Sandwiches on Croissants
Cucumber Salad Sandwiches on Rye
Fruit and Salad:
Strawberries Romanov
Fruity Poppy Seed Salad
Dessert:
Mini Lemon Cupcakes
Mint Brownies
Chocolate Dipped Shortbread Cookies

I will share all of these recipes, but will make them separate posts so that I can find them again!  Click on each menu item and it will link you to each of the recipes.
I hope you will host a ladies, or little girls, tea party sometime.  It was so much fun!

Cheese Soup

Soup is by far my favorite comfort food! This soup is one I have made for many years and is always a favorite. My sister-in-law Allison shared this recipe with me and I am so grateful! Yummy, creamy, feel-good, home cookin'!
The soup in this picture has been served with my favorite and fast breadstick recipe! If you want to see the recipe, click here!

8-10 medium potatoes, peeled and diced

1/2 yellow onion, chopped

1 1/2 cups carrots, peeled and diced

1/2 tsp salt

Put these ingredients in a pot and cover with enough water to cover veggies well. Boil until veggies are tender. (Before the next step, I like to drain out some of the water and save it just in case I have been overzealous on the veggie cutting and end up with too much water. You can always add some of the water in again if it needs thinning.)

Ten minutes before serving add:

2 cups chopped broccoli (I use just the flowers)

16 oz. Cheese Whiz or Velveeta

1 can Cream of Celery Soup

Salt and pepper to taste

Just a note: I am actually a real cheese soup connoisseur and contrary to what you might believe, Cheese Whiz and Velveeta actually make a better soup. I have tried grated cheese and it just isn't as creamy, so don't be afraid to use it! This is a no fail, simple, fast recipe...and now it's even faster thanks to my new Food Processor I got for Christmas! Thanks so much Santa's helpers!!!