March 24, 2006

Morning Glory

Cherry Blossom Picnic at Dawn

The rosy fingered dawn, as the ancients called it, is the best time to see the cherry blossoms. How to make that early-rising thing tolerable? With a cherry blossom picnic.

First, the invites. Luxe Paperie has the perfect ones; you provide the info:

What: Cherry Blossom Picnic at Dawn
Date: {Insert Date Here} 
Time: Dawn. {Insert Time Here} (Nb: You can check sunrise times at timeanddate.com.)
Location: Tidal Basin, under the trees, near the Japanese lantern

Next, whip up some super-easy cherry muffins.

Ingredients:
2 cups flour
¾ cup sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon almond extract
1 cup pitted cherries (drain if using canned fruit)
½ cup milk
½ cup melted butter
2 eggs
½ cup slivered almonds
3 tablespoons pink sugar sprinkles

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

2. In a large bowl, mix the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.

3. In a small bowl, beat the eggs, blend in milk, butter, and almond extract. Add to flour mixture and blend. Fold in cherries.

4. Fill pink muffin cups with batter, sprinkle with almonds and pink sugar. Bake for 35-30 minutes.

Round out the menu with pink fruit salad (cherries, watermelon, raspberries, strawberries, edible flowers), thermoses of hot tea (cherry, raspberry, strawberry), and pink lemonade. (Nb: Pink champagne is also fun, just be sure to hide it from the park police.)

Finally, spread out your blanket and get down to picnicking. (Oohing and aahing of blossoms mandatory.) At the end, think seriously about distributing party favors — a cherry blossom journal, candle set, or mini dish  should make up for the early call time.

Or just about.