This week’s blog is dedicated to a few versions of one book; the infamous ‘Alice in Wonderland’ buy Lewis Carroll. I chose this movie because you can use this menu for any version of the film you’d like. There’s the rather awkward 1903silent version (which is roughly 8 minutes & 20 seconds long & can be seen almost anywhere on the internet), the live action 1933 version which was the first talkie take with huge stars such as Gary Cooper, Cary Grant, W.C. Fields and so on, which tcm.com so awesomely has on sale right now, or even my personal favorite the 1951 Disney cartoon version. But these three are not the only ones, just IMDB it & you will find other silent versions & even more recent live action adaptations. Ginger Rogers even voiced a book on record edition of this Carroll classic. But this timing is no coincidence; I coincided to put it out the week of the latest telling of Alice discovering this strange world with Tim Burton’s take which just came out the 5th. Also, I’ll be preparing this menu to go along with my mom’s birthday ‘tea party’, which is the 6th of this month. Oh yes, perfect timing!
'Read the directions and directly you will be directed in the right direction.' - The Doorknob
The book was published in 1865 & is a story that can be told in so many ways & so many times over. However, if you’ve been living in a rabbit hole for the past 145 years I’ll give you a quick synopsis. A young girl (well depending which version you’re watching) discovers a talking White Rabbit & follows him down a rabbit hole. Here she falls into a world she thought only existed in fairy tales. She meets an array of strange characters. But none other have been more popular in time than the Mad Hatter. Some accounts of the movie have had only certain characters from the book, but only the Mad Hatter has been depicted in every single version. So, what better way to have an ‘Alice in Wonderland’ viewing party than with a tea party menu? Now I refuse to tell anymore of this tale until you pick a version & see what happens for yourself. Because trust me, every single one is completely different from the last.
Now here we go, it’s time for a very, very unbirthday (or in my case actual birthday) tea party menu that is so good, you’ll celebrate every unbirthday you have during the year. First up, a super easy, sweet & savory Pineapple & Mandarin orange pasta salad. Then serve up this amazing Butternut Squash & Macintosh Apple Soup. Next, delicious & easy Chicken Salad Croissant sandwiches that will make you ‘mad’. And finally, chocolate chip scones with an almond whipped topping spread, that would make the Queen of Hearts herself scream out “Off with their heads! Wait, maybe not…” So make sure there’s a stove behind your Garden door & get ready to prepare these mouth watering treats that will have the White Rabbit & his friends chasing after you.
Pineapple & Mandarin Orange Pasta Salad:One box Tri-Color Pasta
1 12 oz Jar Maries Ranch Dressing
1 15 oz Can Mandarin Oranges
1 8 oz Can Diced Pineapple
1 16 oz Bag Frozen Peas
1 8 oz Bag Cubed Mild Cheddar & Monterey Jack Cheese
S& P to taste
Cook pasta according to directions on box. Drain well. Mix the Remainder of ingredients together in a large bowl with warm pasta. Refrigerate for up to 4 hours & serve.
'What is the use of a book, without pictures or conversations?' -Alice
Chicken Salad Croissants:
About 6-8 Large store bought Croissants (Check for fresh ones from your local bakery)
4-5 Boneless Chicken Breasts
1 Cup Sweet Red seedless Grapes cut into halves
5 Celery Stalks, diced very small
1 ½ cups Mayonnaise
1 Tbsp Salt
1 Tbsp Pepper
Boil chicken for about 25 minutes or until white all the way through. Drain & allow to cool. Dice chicken into about one inch cubes & mix with remaining ingredients in large bowl. Allow to sit & absorb flavors for about 2 hours. Cut croissants in half & spread a heaping full of chicken salad one side of croissant, then place the top back on for the sandwich & serve.
Butternut Squash & Macintosh Apple Soup:
3 Butternut Squashes Peeled & Chopped
4 Macintosh Apples Peeled & Chopped
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
2 Yellow Onions Julienned
24 oz Chicken Broth
1 Tbsp. Salt
1 Tbsp. Pepper
Preheat oven to 450 degrees. On a cookie sheet toss squash, apples, & onions with olive oil & salt & pepper. Roast butternut squash & apples for 40 minutes or until tender. Take roasted ingredients & blend in a blender or food processor until creamy. Stream in chicken broth and you will see the consistency turn soupier but still thick. (You can add more or less broth depending on the consistency that you prefer.) Add more salt & pepper to taste if desired. Serve warm.
'We're all mad here.' - Chessire Cat
Chocolate Chip Scones:
3 cups All Purpose Flour
1 Tbsp. Baking Powder
1 Cup Unsalted Butter, Softened
¼ Cup Granulated Sugar
3 Large Eggs, Room Temp
1/3 Cup Buttermilk
½ Cup Chocolate Chips
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Sift flour & baking powder. In a separate large bowl beat butter until creamy. Then add the sugar & beat until fluffy. Then add the eggs one at a time while still mixing on medium, and then gradually add the flour mixture in stages, followed by the buttermilk. Next, add the chocolate chips & fold into dough. Spray mini muffin tins with baking spray & place dough in each slot about ¾ of the way full. Bake for 12 minutes. Allow to cool.
Almond Whipped Topping Spread:
1 pint Heavy Whipping Cream
3 tbsp. Granulated Sugar
1 Tbsp. Almond Extract
Mix all ingredients together until stiff peak. Serve with scones.
(Tip: You can find ‘Lemon Curd’ jarred in any grocery store it is amazing served alongside the scones & cream also.)
'Tut, tut, child! Everything's got a moral, if only you can find it.' The Duchess
How to Guide for great tea:
Boil water & pour into tea pot over 2-3 bags of your favorite tea. Steep for 4-5 minutes and remove bags to keep the leaves from getting bitter. Stir.
For Sweet Iced Tea:
Boil 8 cups of water. Once boiling remove from heat & add 5 tea bags. Steep bags for 30 minutes. Remove bags & pour tea over 2 cups of sugar. Top of tea picture with cold water until picture is full. Stir until sugar is dissolved. Serve over ice.
'If I had a world of my own, everything would be nonsense. Nothing would be what it is, because everything would be what it isn't. And contrary wise, what is, it wouldn't be. And what it wouldn't be, it would. You see?' -Alice
‘Alice In Wonderland’. Pick a year & a country & have at it! Genre: Fantasy…Sometimes Musical..Sometimes Silent…Sometimes Comedy…Sometimes Drama. Based on a novel by Lewis Carroll. Nominated for Oscar in 1951 for Best Score. Nominated for 5 Emmy’s in 1986, Won 4 Emmy’s in 1999. Alice’s Include: May Clark, Viola Savoy, Kathryn Beaumont, Kate Dorning, Tina Mojornio, Mia Wasikowska.
*Photos by Mary Leanne Payne
A very special UNbirthday cake!
