SPRING GARDEN PARTY

 

“She was so Southern that she cried tears

that came straight from the Mississippi,

and she always smelled faintly of

cottonwood and peaches.”
~Sarah Addison Allen, Garden Spells

 

My mother often gave garden parties. She also attended garden parties on a regular basis when living in Vicksburg. Hmmmm, perhaps that is why I was left in the care of Miss Mary so often,  since she was in her whirlwind of social activities! I can certainly understand that now that I'm older. It was either the Ladies Auxiliary, The Junior League, the local medical society wives, the Presbyterian Women's Club, The Vicksburg Garden Club, The Knife and Fork Club.....such an endless list of luncheons. These types of ladies luncheons are a tradition in the south, even today. Ladies luncheons, bridal showers, birthdays are still celebrated at the best tea rooms across the south.

 

In fact, the Divine Miss M will be attending a bridal shower at The Swan House in Atlanta in a few weeks. I posted about our day trip to the Swan House a few years ago. It was a most marvelous Mother/Daughter day and one of the tried and true southern traditions I cherish! You can read about our day trip here!

 

http://themainehouse.blogspot.com/2011/02/sipping-champagne-in-high-cotton-dont.html

 

This is the new springtime dress she ordered for the luncheon!

 

 

When I have hosted bridal showers or ladies luncheons in the past, I love serving some of mother's best fruit salads, a good chicken salad, a southern asparagus casserole, assorted petite muffins, sweet peach tea and peach Bellini's! And you must have a sweet ending that they will remember! If you ever host a shower or luncheon, you may want to serve this marvelous Mushroom Crust Crab Quiche! It will have your guests swooning and asking for your recipe! Oh how I love the south and the tea rooms.....I think Miss M and I need to plan another Mother/Daughter luncheon at The Swan House......."I'll throw on my pearls and Be Gone with the Wind, faster than you can say Puh-Cahn Pie!! "

 

 

MUSHROOM CRUST CRAB QUICHE

~A Taste of Pisgah

5 T. Butter

½ lb. mushrooms, chopped finely

½ cup crushed crackers

1 ¼ t. dried tarragon

¾ cup chopped scallions

¾ cup Monterey Jack Cheese

¾ cup shredded Swiss cheese

¾ cup small curd cottage cheese

¼ cup ricotta cheese

3 eggs, beaten

½ t. red pepper

2 T. sherry

6 ounces of crabmeat

 

 Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Melt 3 T. butter in a skillet. Add the mushrooms and sauté until tender. Remove from heat. Stir in the crushed crackers (saltines) and 1 t. tarragon. Press into an oiled 9-inch pie plate. Bake for 1 minutes. Melt the remaining 2 T. of butter, add the scallions and sauté until tender. Spread the scallions over the cooked mushroom crust. Blend together the shredded jack and Swiss cheeses, the cottage cheese, ricotta and beaten eggs. Season with the remaining ¼ t. tarragon, cayenne and Sherry. Fold in the crabmeat. Pout over the mixture of onions and bake for 40 minutes. Allow to sit for 5 minutes before serving! Divine!!

 

Be Your Most Beautiful