Fancy fixings not needed for children’s garden parties

When school is out and the weather is finally fine, children of all ages will enjoy preparing a small-scale “garden party” to celebrate summer. This doesn’t have to be a big deal – it might be just Mom or Dad and a child sipping tea and eating banana bread on the back steps – but a few special touches will make a simple occasion seem grand.

Locate, with your child’s assistance, a place outdoors where you can sit and be comfortable. Ideally there will be a flat surface on which to set a plate or a tray. Children who love to decorate might want to add a tablecloth and place a small vase of dandelions or pansies.

Next, you and the children can prepare something to eat outdoors. Herbed or strawberry cream cheese sandwiches are kid pleasers and some kids will love mushing the mixture up. The finished sandwiches could be cut into pretty shapes with a cookie cutter, too.

Or, let your child help you bake banana bread in advance of the “party.” Use a really big bowl to contain the batter if your child is a rambunctious mixer. You can add chocolate chips or nuts to the batter, or sprinkle sesame seeds on top before you bake it. Remember: adults only on oven duty.

Once the food and table is ready, it’s time to make the tea. (Soda just will not do for a garden party; if cold drinks are called for, make lemonade.) There are several fruity kids’ teas on the market, or you could choose regular tea in decaffeinated form.

I bought my son a tea set when he was quite young – at least one company, Schylling, makes a very colorful, gender-neutral set – and it has provided him and his friends with many a garden party. But if you don’t have a child’s tea set, just use the smallest cups you have. Try to use real dishes and silverware and napkins instead of paper, as they will add to the sense of occasion. (If the rule is no running around while eating, the silverware won’t get lost in the grass or bushes.)

Carry everything outside carefully. Provide some cream and a tiny bit of sugar, letting the children pour their own tea if possible, and enjoy a few civilized moments while everyone eats.

Herbed or Strawberry Cream Cheese Spread

Use 1 small container of spreadable cream cheese. In a bowl, mix cream cheese with either 2 tablespoons of mixed fresh herbs diced finely (basil, chives and parsley are good), and a tablespoon or two of sour cream or plain yogurt. Substitute 1 tablespoon of dried herbs if you don’t have fresh.

If making strawberry cream cheese, omit the herbs and sour cream and mix with the cream cheese 1/2 cup of smushed strawberries and a tablespoon of powdered sugar. Blend by hand with the back of a spoon until consistency is even and spreadable. Serve on sandwich bread or bagels.

Banana Bread

My Fannie Farmer cookbook falls open to this banana bread recipe, I’ve used it so often. Note: There’s no butter or oil, and you or your child can mix it by hand if the bananas are very ripe.

3 ripe bananas, well-mashed

2 eggs, well-beaten

2 cups flour

3/4 cup sugar

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 cup coarsely chopped walnuts (or substitute chocolate chips)

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease a loaf pan. Mix the bananas and eggs together in a large bowl. Stir in the flour, sugar, salt and baking soda. Add the walnuts and blend. Put the batter in the pan and bake for 1 hour, until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Remove from the pan to a rack. Serve still warm or cooled, as you like it.

Yield: 8 slices

Approximate nutrition per serving: 299 calories, 6 grams fat (less than one gram saturated, 19 percent fat calories), 7.5 grams protein, 55 grams carbohydrate, 3 grams dietary fiber, 69 milligrams cholesterol, 470 milligrams sodium.