Tea Time

Afternoon Tea

My copper kettle

whistles merrily

and signals that

it is time for tea.

The fine china cups

are filled with the brew.

There's lemon and sugar

and sweet cream, too.

But, best of all

there's friendship, between you and me.

As we lovingly share

our afternoon tea.

by Marianna Arolin 

Wearing your vintage finds to an afternoon tea party adds to the festive mood as you mingle among the guests enjoying conversations and food. Here are some recipes for your consideration just in case you should decide to throw you own tea party one fine spring afternoon. 

Check out Anytime is Tea Time a blog posting from 10/2/10 for more tea conversations and ideas.

 Tea Sandwiches

Use firm bread like whole wheat, brown bread, banana bread. Serve as open face sandwiches with crusts trimmed and cut into triangles. You can freeze bread until firm which makes it easier to trim and cut. Sandwiches can be made up to four hours ahead. Cover loosely with wax paper and a damp paper towel, cover and refrigerate.Each filling serving will be about 1/4 cup.

The following are some alternative fillings to the standard egg,tuna, ham salad

Cucumber and Strawberry Filling

Ingredients:

• 1- 8 oz. package of cream cheese softened
• 1/2 cup finely chopped cucumber
• 1/3 mayonnaise or Miracle Whip
• 1/4 cup minced red onion
• 3 TB.finely chopped fresh basil

Directions:

• Beat cream mixture till smooth and spread on bread
• Lay sliced strawberries over top-cut bread into triangles  

Walnut Cream Cheese

Ingredients:

• 12 oz. of cream cheese softened
• 3/4 cup finely chopped walnuts-use food processor
• 2 TB. parsley
• 2 TB. finely chopped onion
• 1 tsp. lemon juice
• 1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg
• dash salt and pepper

Directions:

Beat all ingredients till smooth

Smoked Salmon

Ingredients:

• 1 cup mayonnaise or Miracle Whip
• 1 tsp. dill weed
• 1 tsp. parsley flakes
• 1 tsp. lemon juice
• 1/2 tsp. dried thyme
• 1/2 tsp. dried tarragon
• 1/2 tsp. grated lemon peel
• Dash ground nutmeg
• 1 package of smoked salmon (4 oz.) 

Directions:

• Combine all ingredients except salmon and  lend till smooth
• Spread on pumpernickel bread and top each bread slice with salmon
• Garnish with dill sprigs

Orange and Cranberry

Ingredients:

• 1-8 oz. cream cheese softened
• 2/3 cup dried cranberries
• 1/3 cup orange marmalade
• 1/2 cup chopped pecans

Directions:

• Blend well and spread on pumpernickel bread
• Add thinly sliced smoked turkey

Russian Tea Cakes A.K.A. Walnut Snowballs

Ingredients:

• 2-1/4 cup flour
• 1/2 cup butter and 1/2 cup margarine softened
• 3/4 cup powdered sugar
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 2 tsp. vanilla
• 1 tsp. baking powder
• 1-1/4 cups finely chopped walnuts
• 1 large egg yolk
• optional 3 tsp. brandy
• large bowl of 1 cup powdered sugar

Directions:

• Preheat oven 350
• Line cookie sheet with parchment paper
• Combine 3/4 cup powdered sugar, salt, vanilla, egg yolk, brandy,margarine and butter
• Beat on low speed about  1 minute
• Add nuts
• Shape into 1 inch balls
• Bake about 9-11 minutes
• While warm roll in bowl of powdered sugar
• Cool on a wire rack and then roll again in powdered sugar

Cashew Clusters

recipe from Celebrations with Carmela Cucina by Carmela Hobbins

Ingredients:

• 12 oz. chocolate chips
• 12 oz. butterscotch chips
• 2 cups salted cashews-chopped

Directions:

• Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper
• Melt chips in double boiler
• When chips completely melted add chopped cashews
• Drop the mixture by teaspoons onto pan 
• Put pan in refrigerator till set