Week 7
"The Heavenly Zoo"
This Week’s Good Shepherd’s Garden Party Menu
Water
Deer Cupcakes
Lucky Lion Lemonade
Beehive Baked Pears
Pelican Toasties
Phoenix-Tail Shrimp
Decorating Ideas
Peacock Feathers
Water Fountain Centerpiece
*Please feel free to modify and be creative with these plans to suit your family!
Recipes and Suggestions
43. The Water
A pitcher of water would be simple and work just fine, but since we do have another drink suggestion, you could also decorate the center of the table with a small water fountain.
Water Fountain Centerpiece
and/or Pitcher of Water
Photo Credit: Shower of Roses
“Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, "Who are these, clothed in white robes, and whence have they come?" I said to him, "Sir, you know." And he said to me, "These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night within his temple; and he who sits upon the throne will shelter them with his presence. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; the sun shall not strike them, nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water; and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes." Revelation 7: 13-17
44. The Deer
Deer Cupcakes
Cupcakes
Chocolate Frosting
(I mixed Milk Chocolate with White for a lighter brown)
White frosting for eyes
Chocolate chips, for the eyes
and nose
Pretzels for the antlers
Photo Credit: Shower of Roses
"As a deer longs for flowing streams, so longs my soul for thee, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and behold the face of God? My tears have been my food day and night, while men say to me continually, "Where is your God?" These things I remember, as I pour out my soul: how I went with the throng, and led them in procession to the house of God, with glad shouts and songs of thanksgiving, a multitude keeping festival. Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my help.” Psalm 42: 1-5
45. The Lion
Our first thought was to make Lion cupcakes, but since we already have deer cupcakes, we decided to go with this fun sounding drink that Charlotte found from the San Diego Zoo.
Lucky Lion Lemonade
3 to 4 scoops frozen vanilla yogurt
1 can frozen lemonade
5 to 6 ice cubes
1 cup lemon-lime soda
Whipped Cream
Chocolate Sprinkles
Fill a blender with frozen yogurt, add frozen lemonade, ice cubes, and soda.
Hold lid TIGHT! Blend together. Pour into cups and top with whipped cream and chocolate sprinkles, to make your lion's mane.
“To this they replied, "Daniel, the Jewish exile, has paid no attention to you, O king, or to the decree you issued; three times a day he offers his prayer." The king was deeply grieved at this news and he made up his mind to save Daniel; he worked till sunset to rescue him. But these men insisted. "Keep in mind, O king," they said, "that under the Mede and Persian law every royal prohibition or decree is irrevocable." So the king ordered Daniel to be brought and cast into the lions' den. To Daniel he said, "May your God, whom you serve so constantly, save you." To forestall any tampering, the king sealed with his own ring and the rings of the lords the stone that had been brought to block the opening of the den. Then the king returned to his palace for the night; he refused to eat and he dismissed the entertainers. Since sleep was impossible for him, the king rose very early the next morning and hastened to the lions' den. As he drew near, he cried out to Daniel sorrowfully, "O Daniel, servant of the living God, has the God whom you serve so constantly been able to save you from the lions?" Daniel answered the king: "O king, live forever! My God has sent his angel and closed the lions' mouths so that they have not hurt me. For I have been found innocent before him; neither to you have I done any harm, O king!" Daniel 6: 14-23
46. The Beehive
Here is another unique idea Charlotte found online, from The Feast Within, to symbolize the Beehive!
Beehive Baked Pears
Ingredients:
Pie Crust
2 large Comice or other pears, firm ripe, washed unpeeled
1/2 cup Walnuts, toasted
1/4 cup Pistachios, toasted
1/4 Honey
2 Tbs. of vanilla scented granulated sugar (put your rinsed and dried vanilla beans -or a fresh one-in a canister of granulated sugar after other uses)
Pinch of Salt
Pinch of Allspice, Cloves, and Cinnamon
Zest from a Small Lemon
4 Tbs. Cream Cheese
Directions:
Toast the nuts. Wash and dry the lemon and zest it. Place the honey in a small sauce pan and cook over medium heat until it boils. Add the nuts and stir to coat. Add the zest and salt and spices and cook until the honey is thickly coating the nuts. Wash and dry the pears. Using a melon baller, remove the blossom end and make a small cavity by removing the core of the pears. Spoon the nut mixture in and then plug the bottom with about 2 Tablespoons of cream cheese- depending on the size of your pears. Set aside. Roll your pastry dough out to a rectangle about the height of your pears and 2 x the circumference. Cut into strips about 1/2″ wide. Wrap the pastry around the pear starting from the bottom side and slightly overlapping each go round. Use a little water join pieces as needed. Wrap all the way to the top and place strips on the bottom to cover. Completely encase the pears in the pastry. Bake in a preheated 350F oven for about an hour or until the pastry is golden and the pear is tender when pierced with the tip of a knife. Cool slightly, cut open and serve with vanilla bean ice cream, a caramel sauce or creme anglaise as desired. Serves 2-8 depending on your appetite!
Photo Credit: The Feast Within
“Then Samson went down with his father and mother to Timnah, and he came to the vineyards of Timnah. And behold, a young lion roared against him; and the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him, and he tore the lion asunder as one tears a kid; and he had nothing in his hand. But he did not tell his father or his mother what he had done. Then he went down and talked with the woman; and she pleased Samson well. And after a while he returned to take her; and he turned aside to see the carcass of the lion, and behold, there was a swarm of bees in the body of the lion, and honey. He scraped it out into his hands, and went on, eating as he went; and he came to his father and mother, and gave some to them, and they ate. But he did not tell them that he had taken the honey from the carcass of the lion." Judges 14: 5-9
47. The Peacock
You can find Peacock Feathers, to decorate the table, at the craft store.
Peacock Feathers
“All King Solomon's drinking vessels were of gold, and all the vessels of the House of the Forest of Lebanon were of pure gold; none were of silver, it was not considered as anything in the days of Solomon. For the king had a fleet of ships of Tarshish at sea with the fleet of Hiram. Once every three years the fleet of ships of Tarshish used to come bringing gold, silver, ivory, apes, and peacocks. Thus King Solomon excelled all the kings of the earth in riches and in wisdom. And the whole earth sought the presence of Solomon to hear his wisdom, which God had put into his mind. Every one of them brought his present, articles of silver and gold, garments, myrrh, spices, horses, and mules, so much year by year.” 1 Kings 10: 21-25
48. The Pelican
We had a hard time coming up with something, other than a Pelican Shaped Cookies, until Charlotte was inspired by a loaf of French bread in her kitchen and came up with these perfect Pelican Toasties!
French Bread
Cheddar Cheese
Gold fish (optional)
Directions: Cut bread as shown. Top with Cheddar Cheese. Toast in oven.
Photo Credit: Waltzing Matilda
“And God said, "Let the waters bring forth swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the firmament of the heavens." So God created the great sea monsters and every living creature that moves, with which the waters swarm, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. And God blessed them, saying, "Be fruitful and multiply and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth." And there was evening and there was morning, a fifth day.” Genesis 1: 20-23
49. The Phoenix
An Easy alternative to the recipe below would be to just pick up a Shrimp Cocktail platter from your local grocery store.
Phoenix-Tail Shrimp
1 pound medium-size or large raw shrimp
1 cup unsifted all-purpose flour
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 dash white pepper
1 cup water
Salad oil
Dipping sauces: catsup and hot mustard or sweet and sour kumquat sauce
Salt-pepper mix
Shell shrimp, but leave the tail sections on for handles. Devein, wash, and pat dry with paper towels. In a bowl, combine flour, baking powder, salt, and pepper. Add water and stir until batter is smooth.
In a deep pan, pour oil to a depth of 1 1/2 inches and heat to 375 F on a deep-frying thermometer. Holding shrimp by the tail, dip into batter so it covers shrimp but not the tail, then lower into hot oil. Cook several pieces at a time without crowding, turning occasionally, until crisp and light golden (about 2 to 3 minutes). Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels. Serve with dipping sauce of your choice.
“I put on righteousness, and it clothed me; my justice was like a robe and a turban. I was eyes to the blind, and feet to the lame. I was a father to the poor, and I searched out the cause of him whom I did not know. I broke the fangs of the unrighteous, and made him drop his prey from his teeth. Then I thought, `I shall die in my nest, and I shall multiply my days as the sand, my roots spread out to the waters, with the dew all night on my branches, my glory fresh with me, and my bow ever new in my hand.” Job 29: 14-20
50. The Dove
We decided to include a menu suggestion for Day 50, Pentecost Sunday, to this final Garden Party. You can find additional ideas and recipes for celebrating Pentecost Sunday over at Catholic Cuisine.
Dove Chocolates
“The voice of my beloved! Behold, he comes, leaping upon the mountains, bounding over the hills. My beloved is like a gazelle, or a young stag. Behold, there he stands behind our wall, gazing in at the windows, looking through the lattice. My beloved speaks and says to me: "Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away; for lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth, the time of singing has come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land. The fig tree puts forth its figs, and the vines are in blossom; they give forth fragrance. Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away. O my dove, in the clefts of the rock, in the covert of the cliff, let me see your face, let me hear your voice, for your voice is sweet, and your face is comely. Catch us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vineyards, for our vineyards are in blossom." My beloved is mine and I am his, he pastures his flock among the lilies. Until the day breathes and the shadows flee, turn, my beloved, be like a gazelle, or a young stag upon rugged mountains.” Song of Songs 2: 8-17
Shopping List
Fresh Produce:
2 large Comice Pears
Small Lemon
Dairy:
Cream Cheese (4 Tbs.)
Cheddar Cheese
Whipped Cream
Meat:
*1 pound medium-size
or large raw shrimp
~OR ~
Shrimp Cocktail
(If you purchase a premade Shrimp Cocktail, exclude all items marked with an asterisk.)
Frozen:
Frozen Vanilla Yogurt
Frozen Lemonade, 1 can
Bread:
French Bread
Spices:
Salt
Allspice
Cloves
Cinnamon
*White Pepper
Baking Supplies:
Cake Mix + ingredients for Cupcakes
Chocolate Frosting
White Frosting
Chocolate Chips (3 per cupcake)
Chocolate Sprinkles
Pie Crust
vanilla scented granulated sugar
Honey (¼ cup)
Walnuts (1/2 cup)
Pistachios (¼ cup)
*all-purpose flour
*baking powder
*Salad oil
Snacks:
Pretzels for Antlers
Gold Fish (one each, optional)
*Dipping sauces
Cookies & Sweets:
Dove Candy
Beverages:
Lemon-lime soda
Other:
Water Fountain Centerpiece (optional)
Peacock Feathers
You can download this post in a printable form here.
A Mr. Linky will be posted at Catholic Cuisine on May 24th, for anyone who would like to share the pictures from your own Good Shepherd’s Garden Party!
playing in the background!) end to a very 
that Twinkle Toes received in her 
I had been saving to purchase for a very long time! Oh, and it goes perfectly with one of my Mother's Day 
from Hubby! :-) 
at the baby's check-up as a "thank you" for breast-feeding Rose for (not quite) 6 months!?! I've never needed any encouragement to nurse, but do love my wrap and was excited to receive another in a different color!
. I also noticed that the girls were wearing the very same dresses as 
, for the past few years now. (You can find links to all of my old Garden of the Good Shepherd posts 
