help with info. I'm having a high tea and would like to find pictures on the web for my table, and
- Thread starter barb
- Start date
Thanks Dawn and everyone for the suggestions. It's my mom's 90th birthday (July); and she loves
high tea so I'm diving in head first, so to speak!
I've got all the tableware, silver and crystal; however, besides scones (cream, apricot and chocolate chip), tea sandwiches, (do you have recipes?), maybe english triffle (any t&t?) I haven't a clue what else.
I want this to be a surprise for her; a very special lady who still lives alone. Besides doing a pretty good job of raising my sis and I, she owned her own company, retiring at the age of 73. My desire is to make it a perfect day for my mom.
high tea so I'm diving in head first, so to speak!
I've got all the tableware, silver and crystal; however, besides scones (cream, apricot and chocolate chip), tea sandwiches, (do you have recipes?), maybe english triffle (any t&t?) I haven't a clue what else.
I want this to be a surprise for her; a very special lady who still lives alone. Besides doing a pretty good job of raising my sis and I, she owned her own company, retiring at the age of 73. My desire is to make it a perfect day for my mom.
What a lovely gesture... how about some beautiful tiny Cream Wafers (cookies)
They are so pretty on a tea table and you can tint the filling in pastel shades. The last time I made them, I paid attention to how long they stay fresh and even 2 days later they were perfect... they melt in your mouth!
http://www.finerkitchens.com/swap/forum28/35_REC_Cream_Wafers_Cookies
They are so pretty on a tea table and you can tint the filling in pastel shades. The last time I made them, I paid attention to how long they stay fresh and even 2 days later they were perfect... they melt in your mouth!
http://www.finerkitchens.com/swap/forum28/35_REC_Cream_Wafers_Cookies
Here are just the BEST cucumber sandwiches.... these are always requested.
Cucumber Sandwiches
from Rhetta Walters, Charleston, SC
Makes about 48 sandwiches (2” round)
1 medium cucumber (English or ‘burpless’ are best as they have few seeds)
8 oz. package cream cheese, at room temperature
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1/4 tsp. garlic powder
1/4 tsp. onion salt
dash Worcestershire Sauce
1 loaf bread, sliced (I always use the ‘wimpy’ white bread for this, like Wonder, or a seedless rye)
Garnish: thinly sliced pimento-stuff green olives or paprika
Score the cucumber lengthwise with a fork (decorative look), and slice very thin; put in ziploc bag and set aside. Combine cream cheese, mayonnaise, garlic powder, onion salt, Worcestershire, until blended well. Cut bread out into shapes desired (usually rounds or squares slightly larger than the diameter of the cucumber), making sure crust is not included. (I can usually get 3 rounds out of a slice of bread). Lightly spread cream cheese mixture on each round, then top with a cucumber slice. These can be layered in a shallow container, with waxed paper between layers, for a couple of hours. Before serving, top each cucumber sandwich with a slice of olive or dash of paprika.
Cucumber Sandwiches
from Rhetta Walters, Charleston, SC
Makes about 48 sandwiches (2” round)
1 medium cucumber (English or ‘burpless’ are best as they have few seeds)
8 oz. package cream cheese, at room temperature
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1/4 tsp. garlic powder
1/4 tsp. onion salt
dash Worcestershire Sauce
1 loaf bread, sliced (I always use the ‘wimpy’ white bread for this, like Wonder, or a seedless rye)
Garnish: thinly sliced pimento-stuff green olives or paprika
Score the cucumber lengthwise with a fork (decorative look), and slice very thin; put in ziploc bag and set aside. Combine cream cheese, mayonnaise, garlic powder, onion salt, Worcestershire, until blended well. Cut bread out into shapes desired (usually rounds or squares slightly larger than the diameter of the cucumber), making sure crust is not included. (I can usually get 3 rounds out of a slice of bread). Lightly spread cream cheese mixture on each round, then top with a cucumber slice. These can be layered in a shallow container, with waxed paper between layers, for a couple of hours. Before serving, top each cucumber sandwich with a slice of olive or dash of paprika.
Here is another pretty tea sandwich - simple, 2 ingredients...
Take whipped cream cheese and a couple of canned pickled beets. Shred the beets on your grater, drain a bit, then fold into the cream cheese. It will turn a pretty pink color and taste delicious! No set amounts, just do it to your own "color" preference... naturally, the more beet you add, the darker the filling. It looks wonderful on white bread or you can do a nice dark seedless rye.
Take whipped cream cheese and a couple of canned pickled beets. Shred the beets on your grater, drain a bit, then fold into the cream cheese. It will turn a pretty pink color and taste delicious! No set amounts, just do it to your own "color" preference... naturally, the more beet you add, the darker the filling. It looks wonderful on white bread or you can do a nice dark seedless rye.
I make them the night before ....
Take a shallow container with a lid and lay a SLIGHTLY damp paper towel in the bottom. Lay a piece of waxed paper on top of that. Then layer in your tea sandwiches, putting a piece of waxed paper between each layer. Keep tightly covered in the fridge. They keep quite well!
Oh, and use the seedless (burpless) cucumbers, and cut the bread out in rounds slightly larger that the diameter of the cucumber.
Take a shallow container with a lid and lay a SLIGHTLY damp paper towel in the bottom. Lay a piece of waxed paper on top of that. Then layer in your tea sandwiches, putting a piece of waxed paper between each layer. Keep tightly covered in the fridge. They keep quite well!
Oh, and use the seedless (burpless) cucumbers, and cut the bread out in rounds slightly larger that the diameter of the cucumber.
Here's another favorite tea sandwich recipe...
Curried Chicken
2 cups finely chopped, cooked chicken
2/3 cup drained crushed pineapple
1/2 cup finely chopped celery
1/3 cup mayonnaise
1/3 cup finely chopped, toasted, slivered almonds
1 tbl. curry powder
1-1/2 tsp. sugar
1-1/2 tsp. lemon juice
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. white pepper
Stir all together in a bowl.
Note: If you make these open-faced, you can garnish each sandwich with the almonds on top, instead of stirred into the mixture, or use one of these alternate decors:
sprinkle a few currants on top.
Put a dab of chutney on top. (Trader Joes has good chutney)
Add a sprig of watercress.
TIP: if you want to assemble these the night before, spread butter on the bread first so the filling won't soak in.
You can do the sandwiches several ways - make them open-faced rounds, triangles or squares. Make a regular sandwich and cut diagonally into triangles. Make a 4-layer sandwich (4 slices of bread, with filling between each, then cut into narrow rectangles.
Light filling, like egg salad or the chicken curry, look better on a dark, or wheat bread.
A cookie cutter is good for cutting out rounds.
Curried Chicken
2 cups finely chopped, cooked chicken
2/3 cup drained crushed pineapple
1/2 cup finely chopped celery
1/3 cup mayonnaise
1/3 cup finely chopped, toasted, slivered almonds
1 tbl. curry powder
1-1/2 tsp. sugar
1-1/2 tsp. lemon juice
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. white pepper
Stir all together in a bowl.
Note: If you make these open-faced, you can garnish each sandwich with the almonds on top, instead of stirred into the mixture, or use one of these alternate decors:
sprinkle a few currants on top.
Put a dab of chutney on top. (Trader Joes has good chutney)
Add a sprig of watercress.
TIP: if you want to assemble these the night before, spread butter on the bread first so the filling won't soak in.
You can do the sandwiches several ways - make them open-faced rounds, triangles or squares. Make a regular sandwich and cut diagonally into triangles. Make a 4-layer sandwich (4 slices of bread, with filling between each, then cut into narrow rectangles.
Light filling, like egg salad or the chicken curry, look better on a dark, or wheat bread.
A cookie cutter is good for cutting out rounds.
For sandwiches, we made these cucumber sandwiches, and also
tuna with water chestnuts, egg and olive, ham salad, and chicken salad. Just simple recipes, but everyone's favorites (don't forget to cut the crusts off).
I also made bread in fancy tubes that I ordered from Valtrompia. You just put in a tube and a half of crescent rolls and when they bake and are cut into slices, they come out like little hearts, flowers, whatever you choose. Much easier that it sounds.
We also had mini quiches. And strawberry-flavored cream cheese with a slice of strawberry on top of the "heat" bread.
But remember, I did say I made too much!!
tuna with water chestnuts, egg and olive, ham salad, and chicken salad. Just simple recipes, but everyone's favorites (don't forget to cut the crusts off).
I also made bread in fancy tubes that I ordered from Valtrompia. You just put in a tube and a half of crescent rolls and when they bake and are cut into slices, they come out like little hearts, flowers, whatever you choose. Much easier that it sounds.
We also had mini quiches. And strawberry-flavored cream cheese with a slice of strawberry on top of the "heat" bread.
But remember, I did say I made too much!!
You guys are funny, sure.......
you can join my sprogs.....I have many....I feel like the "old Woman who lived in a shoe...." do you know that nursery rhyme???
I feel the more the merrier.
Only thing is the house is more empty than full these days so you need to promise and be good and be home in time for tea!
(Actually at the mo I am very happy to have our youngest home for a gap year (she is doing an internship) and the 19 year old son of a friend who is here for a few months...they are doing tonights meal.....we went kayaking way out near the waves where the surfers were riding on Sunday, took lovely photos out there... and this week-end we plan to go zip-lining and to a night club which starts after mid-night....such fun...so I dont feel so empty-nester for the moment...OH and DH???? well he sometimes joins in too, he also loves having lots of sprogs around....Join us, join us, anytime)
you can join my sprogs.....I have many....I feel like the "old Woman who lived in a shoe...." do you know that nursery rhyme???
I feel the more the merrier.
Only thing is the house is more empty than full these days so you need to promise and be good and be home in time for tea!
(Actually at the mo I am very happy to have our youngest home for a gap year (she is doing an internship) and the 19 year old son of a friend who is here for a few months...they are doing tonights meal.....we went kayaking way out near the waves where the surfers were riding on Sunday, took lovely photos out there... and this week-end we plan to go zip-lining and to a night club which starts after mid-night....such fun...so I dont feel so empty-nester for the moment...OH and DH???? well he sometimes joins in too, he also loves having lots of sprogs around....Join us, join us, anytime)