WW Linky: Okashi (Sweets) for Japanese Tea Ceremony

I have a Wordless Wednesday linky each week. Be sure to link your post below and to follow me if you want to easily find this weekly linky. This post is shared with Trish's Tea Party Tuesday, Donna's Tuesday Tea Chat, Martha's Tea Cup Tuesday,  Terry's Tea Cup Tuesday, Wordless Wednesday, What I Love Wednesday, Vintage Share the Love Wednesday, Woo Us To Your Blog, and Thursday-13.


1. Japan

Dessert bars, buffets, tables: All pretty for the party

From wedding showers, weddings, baby showers, graduations, family reunions or 4th of July parties, there are lots of reasons to prepare a beautiful display of desserts. Whether you call them dessert bars, buffets, or tables, they will all feed a crowd, and add to the decorations of your celebration.  They might even be a focal point for your party.

There are a few key elements to remember when

Graduation cake inspiration

I'm always a proud mom, but this year our son is graduating, so that makes me a bit more proud.  I was searching for ideas for his graduation cake and I'm sharing for any of you who might also have a graduate in your life, but some of the cakes could work for other occasions too.  There are cakes for Super Grads of all ages from elementary school to university and graduate school. 

May flowers: pretty and edible

Happy Wordless Wednesday and Thursday 13. I've also just discovered What I Love Wednesday, and I'm linking there.  You can too.  :-)  If you have your own WW post, be sure to sign in with the linkie below.  I have beautiful and edible May flowers to share with you today.  I hope these photographs give you inspiration for your own culinary delights.  I find it impossible to choose a favorite.  Can

Red Diners

Time to celebrate the cheery color red again.  My theme this week is diners.  Many were known for their homemade desserts, too, and a good time was always had by all, right?  There was music, friends, a warm place to chat, good food, friendly service, and a cheerful atmosphere.  Plus the color red is known to make people hungry.  Enjoy the pictures!

This post is shared with:
Ruby Tuesday

It's strawberry time!! Enjoy the season!

Happy Wordless Wednesday!!
Happy Rednesday!!
Happy Thursday 13!! 
It's strawberry time!!  Enjoy the season!!

From tiny ...
To GIANT!!!
Hover over each photo for credits.

That's 16, but who's counting?These happy red strawberry selections are shared with:Wordless Wednesday
Rednesday
and the new
Thursday 13

If you haven't already, don't forget to enter my giveaway of 101 Things I Learned in

French Apple Tart Or Tarte Aux Pommes Recipe

This is my 17th Thursday 13!Visit More Participants!French Apple Tart Tarte aux PommesThere are 13 ingredients needed for a classic French Apple Tart or a Tarte aux Pommes. It may seem like a lot, but really, this is quite simple to make and often one of the first things taught to French children when their mothers or grandmothers show them how to bake.First, the ingredients for the short pastry

Pies! History, Photos, Recipes & Roundup Invitation

This is my 16th Thursday 13!Visit More Participants!PIES! PIES! PIES!1. 2. Pie was enjoyed by the ancient Egyptians.3. The Oxford English Dictionary states that the word 'pie' was already a popular word by the 14th century.4. Click on photo to enlarge recipe.5. Chaucer makes reference to baking a pie in the Canterbury Tales (circa 1400).6. The first recorded pie recipe found was published by the

Pear Facts, Pear Recipe, Pear Photographs

This is my 15th Thursday Thirteen!Visit more participants!While you are here,be sure to enter my fun cookbook giveaway!!PearsThere are more than 3,000 known varieties of pears in the world.How in the world do you get a pear to fit in a bottle???!!! It's a French specialty from the Alsace region -- also done with apples. Think hard and see if you can come up with the solution. (Click here to see

It's Apple Time! Time For Dessert!

This is my 14th Thursday Thirteen!!It's Apple Time!!Happy Thursday To All!! An apple's skin should be shiny, not dull. It is a sign they will be crisp and tasty.Apples should be firm and free of bruises and punctures."I know the look of an apple that is roasting and sizzling on the hearth on a winter's evening, and I know the comfort that comes of eating it hot, along with some sugar and a drench

Thirteen To Try This Thirteenth Thursday Thirteen

Boy that headline is a tongue twister!Even if you can't say it fast 13 times, here's13 FUN Things You Can Do On My BlogThis is my 13th Thursday Thirteen!!Visit other Thursday 13 participants.Enter a great giveaway. Five WINNERS!!Read the book review of this great giveaway;Join the Need To Knead Bread Roundup;Participate in the 100 For The Sweet Tooth Meme;Check out all the great recipes from

Goat Milk Facts For Thursday Thirteen

This is my 12th Thursday 13!"Goat cheese ice cream in France" by Lara Ferroni in Flickr public filesGoat's milk is the number one consumed milk in the world (70%);Goat's milk is much less popular in the United States, but steadily gaining popularity;It is used to make cream, cheese, butter, ice cream, yogurt, candy, soap and other body products;Goat milk is whiter than whole cow milk;It is

Fun Grape Facts From The Golden State Of California

This is my 11th Thursday 13!Grapes have been cultivated since biblical times;Grapes have grown wild since pre-historic times;Grape juice is a concentrated source of anti-oxidants;The belief that grapes have healing properties dates back to ancient times, long before scientific research gave grapes disease-fighting credibility;Botanically, grapes are berries;The Thompson Seedless is the favorite

Pomegranate Health Facts And Some History too

This is my 10th Thursday 13!If you've never seen beautiful pomegranate blossoms in several stages, be sure to look at my previous post (just click on the link). Pomegranates are not only beautiful and tasty, they are extremely healthy too. Be sure to check back tomorrow for some yummy pomegranate dessert recipes. In the meantime, Happy Thursday to all!The pomegranate tree is native from Iran

Blueberries: True Blue, All-American Stars

This is my 9th EditionMore participants @Thursday Thirteen1. The Blueberry is native to North America (cranberries and concord grapes too).2. July is National Blueberry Month in the United States.3. Blueberry Jelly Bellies were created for President Ronald Reagan.4. The Native Americans called blueberries "star berries".5. Each blueberry blossom forms a 5 point star.6. Native Americans gathered

Sundaes On Thursday

This is my 8th EditionMore participants @Thursday Thirteen13 Luscious Ice Cream SundaesClick on thumbnailfor complete details.

Fun, Cool, Friends, Visitors, Authority, Page Rank, Blog Reactions, Ice Cream, Sorbet, Frozen Yogurt

This is my 7th EditionMore participants @Thursday Thirteen13 ReasonsTo Participate In MyIce Cream Recipe Round UpIt's going to be FUN, FUN, FUN!!!You'll get lots of ideas and recipes for ice cream, sherbert, frozen yogurt, or any ice cream-like confections;It's going to be COOL!You'll meet new friends;You'll get more visitors to your blog;You'll raise your authority;You'll raise your Blog

Life Gives Lemons; I Make More Than Lemonade

Life gave me lemons and I'm making a whole lot more than just lemonade. Lemons are so versatile and can be used in both sweet and savory dishes. I'm getting started by giving you a few facts -- well it's Thursday so -- I'm giving you 13 facts, but who's counting? The good folks at Thursday Thirteen have lots of reading material with hundreds of participants.Meyer lemons were discovered in 1908

Thursday's Thirteen Delectable Desserts

Watch out! It's a drooling zone!These desserts all come from Flickr's public files.Did you enjoy? Don't forget to leave me a comment!Happy Thursday to all!For more entries be sure to visit Thursday 13.

Raisins From Biblical Days To Television Days

Thirteen Facts About RaisinsRaisins are cholesterol-free;Low in sodium;Fat-free;Rich source of antioxidants; Four pounds of fresh grapes produce one pound of raisins;Raisin juice is a pure extract of raisins;It is a natural substitute for preservatives;It sweetens and colors natural baking goods;It can be used as a sugar substitute;Raisin paste is used in fillings for fine confections;Raisin