Baby Shower Menu

A baby shower for Katherine is planned for 12th of April.
What will be on the table? Pretty spring flowers will play center piece surrounded by refreshments for the 30 guests.

Raisin Finger Sandwiches

INGREDIENTS
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup chopped pecans
10 slices raisin bread

DIRECTIONS
In a mixing bowl, beat cream cheese and mayonnaise until smooth. Stir in pecans. Spread over five slices of bread; top with remaining bread. Cut each sandwich into three strips. Serve immediately.

Olive-Cucumber Finger Sandwiches

INGREDIENTS
1 medium cucumber
1 cup water
1/2 cup cider vinegar
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon onion salt
1/8 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
36 thin slices bread
Paprika
36 stuffed olives

DIRECTIONS
With a fork, score cucumber lengthwise; cut into thin slices. Place in a bowl; add water and vinegar. Let stand for 30 minutes. Meanwhile, in a small mixing bowl, beat cream cheese, mayonnaise, garlic powder, onion salt and Worcestershire sauce.
Cut bread into flower shapes with a 2-1/2-in. cookie cutter. Spread each with cream cheese mixture; sprinkle with paprika and top with a cucumber slice. Remove pimientos from olives; place in center of cucumber. Cut olives into five wedges and arrange around pimiento in a pinwheel pattern.

Asparagus Sandwiches

INGREDIENTS
1 bunch fresh asparagus, steamed and cooled
1/2 cup mayonnaise
2 tablespoons finely chopped chives
1 pinch seasoning salt
1 (1 pound) loaf soft, sliced white bread, buttered

DIRECTIONS
Set asparagus spears onto paper towels to absorb excess liquid. In a small bowl, mix together the mayonnaise, chives and seasoning salt. Remove crusts from bread slices, and spread mayonnaise mixture thinly on each slice. Place a spear onto the slice and roll up. Cut each roll in half, and arrange on a serving tray. Cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate until serving.

Brandy Baked Brie
1 1/2 c. brown sugar
1/2 c. brandy
2 c. chopped walnuts
2 lb wheel Brie Cheese

In a small mixing bowl, combine brown sugar and brandy. Stir in walnuts.
Place Brie on top of ovenproof serving platter and spoon walnut mixture over top, covering completely. Wrap platter in plastic and refrigerate for at least two hours. Preheat over to 400 degrees. Remove Brie from refrigerator, unwrap and bake for 10 to 15 minutes or until cheese begins to melt. Cool slightly and serve with buttered and toasted bagetts.

Baby Cake

Other goodies~
Little dishes filled with Jordan Almonds, mints, nuts will be be fun, anchored by two punch bowls. One with champagne fruit punch and the other with sherbet punch will complete the refreshments.

The asparagus sandwiches might be changed to a more hearty recipe for Asparagus Rolls. What do you think? Have any suggestions?
iJune

Flight into Egypt ~ Chapter 6

Aboard Egypt Air, I wasn't surprised that all announcements were in Arabic. Once we we were airborne the pilot came on the address system and spoke. His soft tone seemed to be just above a whisper with 'sushes' here and there. I was reminded of how we read bed-time stories to children.

Whatever he said sounded like a big secret.

The Attendant came around asking dinner preferences.
"Inglis?" I asked.

She then attempted and I selected what sounded like "chicken."

When the meal came, at a glance, it wasn't chicken.

My husband taught me when traveling just try the food.

If you like it, eat it..BUT NEVER ask what it is.

Whatever, it was wonderful and served with spiced rice.

I guessed it to be crushed chickpeas with something I didn't know, gently mixed with eastern spices, rolled in a ball and deep fried.

It was totally delicious.

The seven hour flight had gone into the night. I slept.

Was awaken to the "hush-hush" announcements which were useless to me. I put my head back for another nap.

Suddenly I woke with a bounce~ the plane was banking and descending.

We were actually landing and I'm still sleeping with seat back down and no seat belt. No one came to tap me on the shoulder and say anything in any language.

"What the hell?" I thought.

Through Customs I went to the arrival ramp to discover it was about 3:30 AM.

Everyone was scrambling around and leaving the airport. I didn't see my Egyptian friends. Concern came over me. No one here to met me? Concern deepened into a little fear.

My mind was spinning. I didn't know what a phone looked like and didn't have Egyptian coins. My mind went blank.

Within ten minutes, all the people were gone except one group wearing western clothes and as I approached, they were speaking English with the British accent. Thank goodness, they were a tour out of London. They must have been in the back of the plane and happy was I to see them.

I went to their tour director and explained that for some reason, my Egyptian friends were not there and I didn't know how to phone them.

I went on to ask if I could go with them to the hotel and not be left alone here at the airport.

The sternness of that guy is still in my mind. He looked at me and replied, "Madam, THESE people have paid."

"Oh my," I told him, "I most certainly expect to pay." Then he explained it was company policy.

"I understand," I said...but thought it wouldn't have been to big of a deal to let one little woman tag along with them.

They left and I looked around and I was the only person to be seen there on the darkened waiting ramp.

A few Egyptian guys came walking through...they looked like street people to me. I stood there wondering what had happened and couldn't come up with anything to do at this point.

Soon a man in a white uniform came over to me. He introduced himself as the airport security...and I was very happy to think he was. I felt I could trust a man in uniform and asked him if he could make a phone call for me as I had arrived a day late and my friends apparently didn't understand when I would arrive.

He summoned a guard to watch over my bags and asked me to go to his office with him.

He sat behing a big desk, looking very official.

I supplied the phone number for him, but he wanted to have all the details of my travels...he started questions. I recognized the stall... he wanted money.

I told him I had no money to pay him, but would bring money to him when I left Egypt for his efforts.

That seemed to please him and he wrote down the date of my departure and said he would be there.

I sat there wondering if my luggage would really be there went I got back.

The uniformed security man dialed the phone for me. I felt so relieved. The General himself answered the call. He was horrified that I had arrived and was at the airport alone.

Twenty minutes later, he was there. I had never been so happy to see anyone in my entire life. I ran towards him and he put up his hand and said "Stop!"

He knew I would give a grateful hug so he continued as he came closer, "We don't touch another person in public here in my country."

They lived in a flat on the third floor of an apartment building downtown Cairo.

As we drove, the streets had no traffic as was before the city was awake. He explained they had met my first flight as the Telex sent didn't arrive. When I didn't get off that plane, he said they assumed I had changed my mind about coming.

At their flat, he showed me to my bedroom and advised me to rest as they would be gone until about noon but home to lunch with me.

A hot bath, and a deep sleep were much needed.

When I woke, a tray of food had been placed on the dresser.

There were dried figs, cheese, flat bread, tea and a pitcher of water.

Sounds of dinner being prepared came from the kitchen.

I had slept through lunch.

Opening the drapes was to discover a balcony and beyond,

was Cario, Egypt at mid-day.

I was there ~

I was in another world.

To be cont...

iJune

Visiting Travel Expo ~ Washington DC

Yesterday was a day all travelers would have enjoyed. We attended the Travel Expo that was this past weekend at the Washington Convention Center

A few of our seasoned traveling friends met for Brunch at the Morrison House in Old town Alexandria and afterwards went on to the Expo.
This was also the Annual Cherry Blossom Festival, therefore a large turnout

Was a lovely afternoon, to say the least. Booths for most all of the United States plus Representatives for most countries in the world.

You could learn to scuba while there or rock climb or even have your teeth whitened. What the latter had to do with travel, I don't know.

The Ambassador of Kenya spoke about the travel conditions there and other
Seminars were done by National Geographic...plus lots and lots of neat travel books.

Another seminar was with Patricia Schutz, who wrote "1000 places to See Before you Die" ...she has a new one "1000 places to see in the US and Canada" out now. Both are hot sellers for today's baby boomers who, in retirement, have become our Globe Trotters.

I especially enjoy the Seminar was Peter Guttman. Peter Guttman is an American original. He’s an award-winning photographer, acclaimed author, world adventurer and television personality. Peter has been on assignment to all seven continents where his camera has exquisitely captured life in more than 200 countries. He interlaced a verbal/visual travel log
in the most entertaining way.
He spoke as fast as a person can, going flash, flash, flash....amazing, exciting shots.. which he verbally interlaced blending all the shots going around the world ....putting everything nicely together. Was amazing. I would really enjoy seeing him again.

Traveling has become more interesting than ever and packages of all kinds are being put together and sold. We definitely are going back to Africa and yesterday we learned there are private custom-made tours that you can put together yourself. You are escorted and are taken from one destination to the other...That is what we are looking into...
however, a 3 -4 week to China seems to be the best buy right now, with the dollar so weak.

We also learned that when visiting Pennsylvania Dutch Country your B&B can arrange for you to have dinner with one of the Amish families. We have always enjoyed the authentic Restaurants there, but an in-home experience would top that experience.
LOVE TO TRAVEL!!
iJune