Tuesday, November 22, 2011

A Little Help?

Here is the short story:

I am hosting our neighborhood cookie exchange this year. Typically it is  munchies with tea and coffee affair. I am serving a light luncheon--meatballs, festive green salad, marinated cheese with crackers, rolls possibly, gingerbread, Costco cream puffs. What I need to figure out is beverages. It is kind of a ladies' tea type situation, but I obviously don't really do tea and coffee here. Jeff suggested that I get box coffee from Starbucks (he has picked it up for people at work in the past and they really like it); I could get tea packets, but what kind and what to have with it? Lemon? Honey? Cream? Sugar? All of the above? Or I could just do lemon water and gloss over no tea or cookies by just not saying anything about it?What about hot chocolate? Do non-Mormony people feel like I do--that hot chocolate can be served any time any where and in any weather?

Not really interested in making any kind of moral stand here. Don't really feel the same about tea and coffee in the house as I would say cigars and brandy (insert chuckle); I mostly want to be hospitable and somewhat accommodating without spending money on something that nobody is going to like.What would you do?

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

i would do the lemon water. you could always get on of those boxes of tea packets that have a variety of flavors in it.

i wish i lived closer, i would want to come!!

Kimberly Bluestocking said...

I would serve mulled cider. Heat up some cider (or even apple juice) beforehand in a big pot (or crock pot) and toss in some whole spices (I like Trader Joe's Mulling Spice, but Google could suggest some good alternatives), and let the flavors get friendly for an hour or so before everyone arrives.

It's hot, seasonal, tasty, fairly nutritious, and seems fancy even though it's very easy.

Melanie said...

Mmmm, I love hot chocolate! I would also serve tea for those that don't want hot chocolate.

Unknown said...

I was going to say water with an herbal tea option, but I REALLY like the mulled cider idea... very festive!
Have FUN! It'll be fine.

Supergirl said...

I do like the cider idea. Milo might be fun...tells something about you too. Just make sure you have plenty of sugar for first timers! Sounds fun, can I come?

Science Teacher Mommy said...

Milo!!

I found an Asian store here that sells it and I've been drinking it all fall. Milk, two scoop milo, one scoop hot chocolate mix and a dash of cream. Oh. Yummy.

Keep the ideas flowing; this is great. Full menu to come soon.

Doreen said...

Sorry if this is double posted, something strange happened when I tried submitting my comment...

Anyway, my suggestion was wassail. Half orange juice, half apple cider in a crock pot, with a few cinnamon sticks and whole cloves stuck in orange slices. Yum. You could also get rooibos tea. It's an herbal tea served much like black tea, with sugar and milk. I have it every time I visit my South African neighbor, it's delicious.