Bloomin Tuesday Tea In the Garden



  Welcome to my Tea Party in the garden! I thought I'd go with a Canadian theme, since a friend gave me some lovely gifts for Canada Day. With a house full of boys, I don't really do tea parties, but when I saw the invitation to join in a tea party tour, I thought it sounded like a neat idea...and what better place to greet my guests than in the garden? I also take part in Bloomin' Tuesday, so I thought I'd combine the two for today. (Note: This post was originally written for two linkups, that are no longer running.)




  No tea party is complete without cookies, so I thought I'd share a favorite recipe, that I learned as a child. It's a very common recipe, but it has a story. When I was little, a neighbour was asking my mom for the recipe for these cookies, and couldn't remember the name. She called them those fiddly diddly things, and the name Fiddle Diddles stuck. I have made it my mission to convert the world to using this name. Funny thing is, I googled Fiddle Diddles one day, just to see if I had succeeded in spreading the word. I was quite surprised to find the recipe on a website. Further research uncovered a real surprise....Fiddle Diddles were included in a Company's Coming cookbook called Kids Cooking, published in August 1995. Ok, I didn't see that coming! All these years, I thought that only my family called these cookies Fiddle Diddles...now, I don't know if the story from my childhood was not quite as I remembered it...perhaps they were already called Fiddle Diddles, not fiddly diddly things...OR, we were really successful in spreading the word, and the recipe made it's way to Alberta by 1995! If anyone can tell me the true history behind the name, I'd love to hear it!

  So, back to the recipe.....You may know them as chocolate unbaked cookies, haystacks, or beaver damns....everyone seems to have their own name, but none as good as Fiddle diddles! Our method of making them is a little different too, as we pour the hot liquid ingredients into the dry, but it seems to work better that way. I hate to admit it, but my husband is much better at making these treats than I am! Mine are always too dry or too soft! So, now that I've shared that family secret here is the recipe:

Fiddle Diddles

2 cups white sugar
1/2 cup hard margarine
1/2 cup milk
1 tsp. vanilla
1 pinch of salt
3 cups rolled oats
1 cup coconut
4 tbsp. cocoa

Mix oats, coconut, and cocoa in a big mixing bowl. Melt margarine in a heavy pot, then add sugar and vanilla. Add milk slowly and bring to a hard boil for one minute, then add to the dry ingredients and mix. Place spoonfuls on waxed paper or a cookie sheet, and leave to set....if you can wait that long!

Now won't you come and stay awhile?



Will that be coffee?





Tea?



Or perhaps a slurpee?
Now grab your drink of choice, 
and take a nice leisurely stroll around the garden!


Glad you could stop by! 



29 comments:

  1. Deb, Thanks for inviting us to your Tea Party in the Garden!!! Everything is so pretty! I'll have to try your Fiddle Diddles!

    So glad you could participate in the TEA today!

    ~Blessings,
    Jan

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  2. what a lovely party! i'm looking forward to trying the Fiddle Diddles. my family has a recipe that's similar, but we don't put coconut in it! i LOVE coconut, so your recipe may replace the old standby! :)

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  3. Good Morning Deborah! So glad you stopped by! I love coffee but not a tea gal either. Although the slurpie looks good since it is very hot again! I love the garden pictures and am so jealous of your property! I live in a housing development and it feels like I am in a fish bowl when I sit outside!! Can't wait to get my privacy back someday! Enjoyed your tea time! Jeannette

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  4. Oh one more thing! I like the Fiddle Diddle name much better than the others! Jeannette

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  5. Mornin' Debroah! I've so enjoyed your tea party sitting outdoors in your beautiful garden. I'll take some tea and two fiddle diddles please! What fun! You know you're invited to come to my tea today!
    Be a sweetie,
    Shelia ;)

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  6. Hi again, Deborah. I see I typoed your name wrong - too big of a hurry! Yes, don't you just love Blue Willow? I have service for 8 and many many serving pieces. I just adore it and sometimes run into an old antique bowl or something and I gotta have it.
    Be a sweetie,
    Shelia ;)

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  7. Shelia..that's okay...I typed my own name wrong just the other day!...no wonder I go by Deb! LOL

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  9. I love those cookies! But here they are called "No-Goods" because a little 4 year old friend of mine couldn't remember the name "No-Bakes". So yah.......lol : )

    I think I'll take a slurpee.

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  10. What a lovely tea party! What if I would like tea, coffee and a slurpee?

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  11. How wonderful to have a tea party in such a lovely garden. Your July 4th blooms were pretty.

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  12. Good Morning Deb, What a lovely blog you have!!..I am just giggling about the tea & a Slurpee!...now that is a tea party that my kids would LOVE!...Your garden & yard looks just beautiful!!!Enjoy the day!...Heidi :)

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  13. what beautiful gardens you have!

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  14. I'll take tea please...my son, he will so have the slurpee!

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  15. I can't think of a better place for a tea party! Your 4th slode show is beautiful. Happy Bloomin' Tuesday! Jean

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  16. I so enjoyed your post, Deb. Your July blossoms are lovely. And I like the link you gave us to the Blooming Tuesdays. I believe I would be in heaven in your garden with my camera. :o)

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  17. Deborah, Your tea party and garden is delightful. I am so glad you decided to join in. Your recipe sounds yummy. I am going to try it. I also love your bright colors and your sweet teapot.

    Thank You for inviting me.

    Jeanne

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  18. What a wonderful invitation! Your garden is beautiful and I love the song birds!

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  19. Your casual tea was just to my liking! I loved seeing your garden slide show--just beautiful! The cookie recipe sounds delicious--I like the new name! I'll have to try your family secret.

    Thanks for having me in to tea!
    Karen

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  20. What a beautiful tea set at the top of your post!
    Thanks for stoppin' by and have a good week.

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  21. Hi Deb, Thank you for visiting my tea party.And your garden is beautiful ! I could drink tea in your garden all day long !

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  22. Thanks Deb, I enjoyed myself immensely....
    Deby

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  23. So glad you stopped in for a visit! Great post! And I would love to have one of those slurpies right now! The recipe sounds delish! :) ~Rhonda

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  24. I had fun at your tea party. The tea was delicious. I'll have to try the Fiddle Diddle recipe. It's so simple that even I can manage it.
    Aiyana

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  25. Oooh that recipe looks delish, I will have to try that!!! :) Sorry I am a day late for the tea party, I didn't get much time on the computer yesterday since my 4-year old has a broken leg.. he is quite the demanding patient!!! :) xoxox!

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  26. Wished I hadn't missed the TEA...

    I'll take a pretty, delicate cup of creme brulee...

    and LOVE the new cookie name..PERFECT!

    I have a wonderful Potato Chip cookie recipe...I'll have to post it and then have a name challenge!

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  27. Thank you all for coming to the garden for tea. I hope you enjoyed your time here!
    ~~~Deb

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  28. Thank you for the lovely tea party!

    ~Susan

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