Tea Party Treats

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Text Box: Afternoon Tea Party Facts: An Excerpt From If Teapots Could Talk

Text Box: Planning a Theme Tea Party: An Excerpt From If Teapots Could Talk Having a theme for your tea party makes the planning easier, and enables the guests to be more interactive, especially when asked to wear a costume, a hat, a color or print pattern. Your theme can be based on a color (“pretty in pink” or “red hot mama’s”), a shape (stars, polka-dots or fleur-de-lis), a flower (roses, sunflowers or daisies), a flavor (chocolate, strawberries or lavender), a place (seaside, garden or French bistro), a historical period (Southern Plantation or Roaring Twenties), a holiday or a season (winter wonderland or summer picnic). To plan a theme tea party, make a list of every item, food, color, costume, activity or fact that fits into your theme. You might need to do some research for historical periods or foreign countries, but it will make your theme more authentic. The things you select from your list will be your guide for choosing the colors, decorations, food and activities for your party.

If Teapots Could Talk: Fun Ideas for Tea Parties

More than 60 recipes for all the treats you’ll need for an afternoon tea party: scrumptious scones, dainty tea sandwiches, savory appetizers, tea time sweets and the perfect pot of tea. If Teapots Could Talk: Fun Ideas for Tea Parties has 15 creative theme party ideas like “Lavender & Lace”, “Mad Hatter”, “Fortune Telling” and everyone’s favorite, “Chocolate”. The book includes suggestions for invitations, games and activities, decorations, menu choices and party favors. Size: 5.5” X 8.5”, paperback, 108 pages, ISBN: 978-0-9790618-2-0. $8.95

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Teapots & Teddy Bears: Fun Ideas for Children’s Tea Parties E-Booklet

20 of the recipes from If Teapots Could Talk for making all the tasty treats you’ll need for an afternoon children’s tea party: scrumptious scones, dainty tea sandwiches, savory appetizers, tea time sweets and flavored teas. It also includes 6 fun theme party ideas, like Garden Fairy Tea Party, Mommy & Me Tea Party and Lucky Leprechaun Tea Party. Inside you’ll find suggestions for make-it-yourself invitations, creative decorations, fun games, menu plans and party favors. Approximate age group: 6-10 years old. 24 pages. E-Booklet sent to you by e-mail for viewing or printing: $3.49

Afternoon tea is usually held between three and five o’clock in the afternoon. It is also called “low tea” because it’s usually served in a sitting room where low tables (like a coffee table or tea cart) are placed near sofas or chairs.

Many Americans confuse the term “high tea” with an afternoon tea. High tea is actually a supper and refers to the height of the table (a dining table) where the food is served, with everyone seated around the table.

And don’t forget to start with a unique invitation, such as a tiny straw hat with the party details attached and mailed in a small box for a garden theme; or the details written on a small pumpkin and hand-delivered for a fall theme.

Simply pick a theme then surprise and delight your guests with your creativity.

High tea is served between five and six o’clock. Unlike the dainty treats served at an afternoon tea, this tea includes more hearty dishes, such as shepherd’s pie.

An afternoon tea party is a festive affair, so plan to use your best dishes and teacups. Dainty tea sandwiches (both savory and sweet) and scrumptious cakes, cookies and pastries will delight the guests at your event.

Use pretty platters and tiered serving trays to present your tea time fare. And don’t forget to include a sampling of scones, which are usually served with jam, honey and Devonshire or clotted cream.

Text Box: Scones You can’t have a proper afternoon tea party without serving scones. There are thousands of recipes for these taste-tempting treats—either savory or sweet. Scones are similar to baking powder biscuits, either cut into traditional, triangle-shaped wedges or in rounds, using a biscuit cutter. Serve your scones warm with Devonshire or clotted cream and jam or flavored butters. Chocolate Chunk Scones From If Teapots Could Talk 2 cups flour 1/3 cup sugar 1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1/4 teaspoon salt 6 tablespoons unsalted butter 1 large egg, slightly beaten 1/2 cup half-and-half 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 3 squares of semi-sweet baking chocolate, chopped Preheat oven to 400°. In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Cut in butter with a pastry blender until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Mix together egg, half-and-half and vanilla extract; stir into dry ingredients just until moistened. Stir in chocolate. Add a bit more flour if dough seems too sticky. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface; knead 8-10 times or until smooth. Pat into a 7” circle, about 3/4” thick. Cut into 8 pie-shaped wedges. Or roll dough to 3/4” thickness and cut out circles with a 2-1/2” biscuit cutter or a 1-1/2” cutter for mini-scones. Brush tops with milk and sprinkle with sugar. Place 1” apart on lightly greased cookie sheet. Bake for 18 to 20 minutes (15-18 minutes for mini scones) or until golden brown. Serve warm with Chocolate Butter, page 33 or Devonshire Cream, page 35.

Text Box: Flavored Teas There are many flavored teas available in the form of loose tea leaves or tea bags at tea shops or your local grocery store that you can use for brewing the tea at your tea party. But it’s also fun to experiment with different combinations of flavors to create a special brew for your event. Try the recipe below: Apple Tea From If Teapots Could Talk Black tea leaves Clear apple juice Sugar to taste Cinnamon sticks This tea is brewed using apple juice instead of water. Place 1 teaspoon of tea per cup of juice needed into a warmed teapot. Heat required amount of apple juice in a saucepan until boiling. Pour juice into teapot and steep for 5 minutes. Stir and then strain tea into cups. Serve with a cinnamon stick. Sweeten with sugar if needed.

Text Box: Tea Sandwiches Dainty tea sandwiches served on pretty platters are a must for an afternoon tea party. Try the recipe below: Roast Beef & Cream Cheese Tea Sandwiches From If Teapots Could Talk 1/4 cup cream cheese, softened 2 tablespoons mayonnaise 1 teaspoon chives 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder 1/2 pound thinly sliced, cooked roast beef from the deli 24 small, pimiento-stuffed olives and toothpicks 12 slices of whole wheat or white bread Butter or margarine, softened Lightly butter each slice of bread. In a small bowl, blend cream cheese, mayonnaise, chives and garlic powder. Spread about 1 tablespoon of cream cheese mixture on 6 of the slices. Arrange a layer of roast beef on top of the cream cheese. Top with the remaining buttered bread slices. Trim away crusts and cut into four triangles or squares. Place an olive on a toothpick and insert into top of each sandwich. Refrigerate until ready to serve. Makes 24.

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Text Box: Get More Fun Ideas for Tea Parties, including FREE recipes and suggestions for invitations, decorations and favors, on the Blue Sage Press Website Tea Party Page.

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