Absolutely! I have both easy & harder recipes.
The one thing I try to stress to chapters (ones that aren't filthy rich, anyhow) is that alumnae really don't expect you to put a lot of money into a Homecoming or Alumnae event. They've been there, they know what it costs.
So, plan on a few things, but serve them elegantly. If the Chapter has silver or china, this is the time to trot it out. <Polishing silver is a good Pride event!> Have coffee & tea on hand, with hot water for decaf in the kitchen.
Shopping list should be something like:
*Coffee (not instant!)
*Decaf coffee
*Tea
*Lemon slices
*Sugar (cubes really dress it up)
*Sugar substitute
*Tea goody #1
*Tea goody #2
*Tea goody #3
*Seedless grapes (break into small clusters for both decoration and eating
*Strawberries (ditto, but only if they're not too expensive)
*Mixed nuts (one large can).
*Pillow mints (one package should suffice).
*Napkins, if you're not using cloth.
Ideas for tea goodie include:
* The tea sandwiches I mentioned under adpiucf's bridal shower thread; cut them into diamonds.
*Sugar cookies #1 (Roll out very thin, and using a ruler, cut them into diamonds. Dilute frosting with water until you have more of a glaze (white or tint blue). Then, put baked diamonds on a wire rack, pouring the glaze over them. They'll look
very chic! I like blue diamonds with two piped white stars at the appropriate places, or white diamonds with violets on them - harder to make!)
*Sugar cookies #2 (flavored with orange, lemon or almond extract). (Use an oval or egg-shaped cookie cutter, and pipe 2 eyes & a smile. Then, using orange frosting, outline the cookie, and while still moist, roll the edges into orange tinted coconut for a mane.)
FYI - one
never puts tea bags out on a tea table! I have promised to haunt my chapter if I
ever see them putting tea bags out to become mushy, icky trash left on the otherwise lovely table!!