CUCUMBER SANDWICHES
Cucumber sandwiches are classic tea party fare. If you prefer, you can make them with French bread.
Cream cheese, softened 1/2 pound Half-and-half 2 tablespoons Chives, fresh snippets 2 tablespoons Bread, rye or wheat 12 slices Cucumber, seedless 1, sliced very thin Basil leaves 24		1. In a bowl, beat together the cream cheese and half-and-half until it reaches the consistency of soft butter. Stir in the chives. 2. With a 2 1/2 inch round cutter, stamp out two rounds from each slice of bread. 3. Spread the cream cheese on the rounds, then top with slices of cucumber and a basil leaf. Makes 24 sandwiches

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TOMATO TEA SANDWICHES
Try this recipe on a variety of breads and on Melba toast. You'll probably find several combinations that you like.
French bread 1 loaf Feta cheese 4 ounces Tomatoes, medium 6, in 1/2 inch slices Olive oil, extra virgin 3 tablespoons Basil leaves 2 tablespoons, finely slivered Salt and Pepper To taste		1. Preheat oven to 350° F and line baking sheet with parchment. 2. Slice the bread into 3/4 inch thick slices so that each bread slice can hold a tomato slice. 3. Spread a thin layer of feta cheese over each bread slice. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. 4. Place a slice of tomato on each, top with the slivered basil leaves and a drizzle of olive oil, and place on a baking sheet. 5. Warm in the oven for 3 to 4 minutes before serving.

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SUGAR COOKIES
One dare not leave a sugar cookie unattended in the presence of Orbit the Cat! Crumbles are eaten, and whole cookies are pushed off the table where they are considered hockey pucks.
Margarine 1/3 cup Powdered sugar 2/3 cup Eggs 2 Vanilla 1/2 teaspoon Flour 1 cup Baking powder 1/2 teaspoon Baking soda 1/8 teaspoon		1. Preheat oven to 375° F. 2. Mix margarine and powdered sugar together thoroughly. 3. Add eggs and vanilla. Beat until blended. Add dry ingredients and blend well. 4. Shape dough into 24 one-inch balls and place on ungreased cookie sheets. Crisscross balls by using fork prongs. 5. Bake until lightly brown, about 10 minutes. Makes about two dozen cookies

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OATMEAL COOKIES
These delicious cookies should be part of every gathering, formal or informal. They keep well, too, but you aren't likely to want to put any aside for later.
Sugar 3/4 cup Margarine 2 tablespoons Egg 1 Canned applesauce 1/4 cup 1% lowfat milk 2 tablespoons Flour 1 cup Baking soda 1/4 teaspoon Ground cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon Quick rolled oats 1 cup + 2 tablespoons		1. Preheat oven to 350° F and lightly grease cookie sheets. 2. In a large bowl, use an electric mixer on medium speed to mix sugar and margarine. Mix until well blended, about 3 minutes. 3. Slowly add egg; mix on medium speed 1 minute. Gradually add applesauce and milk; mix on medium speed, 1 minute. Scrape sides of bowl. 4. In another bowl, combine flour, baking soda, and cinnamon. Slowly add to applesauce mixture; mix on low speed until blended, about 2 minutes. Add oats and blend 30 seconds on low speed. Scrape sides of bowl. 5. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto cookie sheet, about 2 inches apart. 6. Bake until lightly browned, about 13 to 15 minutes. Remove from baking sheet while still warm. Cool on wire rack. Makes about 16 cookies

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BLACK WALNUT COOKIES
These cookies always seem so special since our family doesn't eat walnuts very often.
Flour, sifted 2 1/3 cups Baking powder 2 teaspoons Salt 1/2 teaspoon Eggs 2 Oil 1 cup Brown sugar 1/2 cup Light corn syrup 1/2 cup Vanilla 1 teaspoon Black walnuts, chopped 1 cup (4-ounce can) Milk 1/4 cup		1. Preheat oven to 375° F and grease cookie sheets. 2. Sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt. 3. Beat eggs well and continue beating as you add oil, sugar, corn syrup, and vanilla. 4. Fold in nuts. 5. Add sifted dry ingredients alternately with the milk. 6. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto baking sheet. Bake 20 minutes or until done. Makes about 60 cookies

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PEACH CAKE
Peaches are always in season when you bake this delicious cake.
Canned peaches, light-syrup pack, drained and chopped 2 1/4 cups (29-ounce can) Sugar 1/2 cup Flour 1 cup Egg 1 Baking soda 1 teaspoon Vegetable oil 2 tablespoons Vanilla 1 teaspoon Brown sugar, firmly packed 2 tablespoons Whole milk 2 teaspoons		1. Preheat oven to 350° F. Lightly grease 8-by-8-inch pan. 2. Spread peaches in baking pan. Mix remaining ingredients, except brown sugar and milk, together in mixing bowl; spread over top of peaches. 3. Bake until toothpick inserted into cake comes out clean, about 30 to 35 minutes. 4. For topping, combine brown sugar and milk in small bowl. Drizzle mixture on top of cake; return cake to oven, and bake 2 to 3 minutes. 5. Cut into 8 pieces

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CHOCOLATE POUND CAKE
Favorite cake of Orbit the Cat's Meowmie, but Orbit does not share in eating it since chocolate, like caffeine, can be toxic to cats.
Butter 1/2 pound Sugar 3 cups Cake flour 3 cups Baking powder 1/2 teaspoon Cocoa 4 tablespoons Safflower oil 1/2 cup Eggs 5 Milk 1 cup Vanilla 1 teaspoon		1. Preheat oven to 325° F and grease tube cake pan. 2. Cream butter and sugar. 3. Sift dry ingredients. 4. Lightly wisk eggs and add them, along with safflower oil, milk, and vanilla, alternately with dry ingredients. 5. Bake 325° F for about 80 minutes or until cake tests done. Hint: for "fudgy" interior, remove cake a few minutes early. Takes a bit of practice to master, but praise from guests makes it worthwhile.

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~~~ Orbit's Lytel Herball ~~~

Origin of Disease & Medicine	Materia Medica	Herb Pages	Tea Pages	Old Wives Lore
Cherokee story has truth and wisdom. go there	What part of plants to use; how to collect and prepare. go there Plants toxic to cats. go there Plants not reported as toxic to cats. go there	~Catnip & more~ Pages about herbs to use and enjoy. go there	~Tea and Cakes~ Leaves, brews, and recipes to accompany. go there	Old wives knew a lot; that's how they lived to become old. go there

~~~ My life as a cat ~~~

I am Manager of Bitsy's Whackers gurlz baseball team Click for photo of team executives. Click for game against boyz	I am happy to be a memfur of the Circle of Charms gurlz club.

~~~ Around the Web ~~~

Caring for Cats	Awards Won	Webrings
Don't be cruel to a heart that's true. go there	Recognitions that keep my whiskers alert. go there	Kindred spirits teleporting around the galaxy. go there

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