Katie’s Kite-Themed Baby Shower, Part 2: Food & Favors

With kites flying over our heads, Katie’s baby shower was set to be a success. I wanted to serve something light but delicious since it was an afternoon event. Tea was a must so I ordered Katie’s favorite: Cardew’s Black Vanilla Tea from Oxford’s Covered Market. We sipped it out of the pink china teacups I received as a Christmas gift when I was 16. They were the first teacups Katie had ever experienced. We drank from them together the first time we met.

Along with the tea, I served a crudite platter with the Barefoot Contessa’s pan-fried onion dip, egg salad on crackers, and tomato basil mozzarella skewers (inspired by this shower).

For some sweet treats, I made chocolate mousse from Barefoot Contessa Family Style (I leave out the coffee and the liquor) and white chocolate citron tarts from Fran Bigelow’s Pure Chocolate (this time I used a shortbread crust recipe but her sugar crust is delicious).

Tim made a delicious raspberry lemonade for the party. Here is his recipe: Equal parts simple syrup and fresh-squeezed lemon juice. Dilute with water to taste (we use half water and half sugary lemon juice). Then we added a bag of frozen raspberries and let it sit overnight. Yum!

As I’ve mentioned before, I am a big fan of games. I knew I wanted to include a little activity during the shower that would be fun but also connected to the guest of honor. Tim created a little quiz about baby Edith. Guests had to guess if she will be more like her father or her mother based on activities and characteristics of her parents. It was fun to hear some stories and predict Edith’s future.

For favors, I wanted to give guests a remembrance of the celebration that they might actually use. I didn’t really want to give something edible or consumable. Instead, I thought a small piece of jewelry might be nice. Katie has started to make jewelry so I thought it would be an appropriate keepsake. After unsatisfactorily scouring Etsy and many other online sources, I decided to make my own memento.

After gathering supplies in downtown LA, I made simple beaded kite earrings. I’ll share a little how-to for these at some point soon. They turned out to be a great token that would remind guests to think about and pray for Katie and Edith in the coming weeks and months. I displayed them in an old soda crate that I use as an advent calendar. It was a perfect shadowbox to house the little packages.

I’m so grateful to have been able to celebrate with Katie and welcome the new babe she is carrying. Katie, I’m thankful for your friendship, beauty, and deep love. What a blessing it is to be part of your life.

Tags: baby shower, Barefoot Contessa, basil, Beads, Chocolate Cream Pie, crudite, diy, Downtown LA, earrings, egg salad, handmade earrings, Katie, Kite-Themed Baby Shower, kites, Lemon Tarts, Mozzarella, onion dip, raspberry lemonade, Shower games, tomato