This is a very easy and quick recipe for Cranberry Ham Salad. Served on Raisin Bread, this is a great choice for an afternoon tea sandwich. This Cranberry Ham Salad spread can be served on any bread and even crackers for a great appetizer or snack. INGREDIENTS Chopped Ham Celery Green Onion Sweet Pickle Relish Mayonnaise Hard Boiled Egg Dried Cranberries Bread of choice PREPARATION Simple and quick, if you have chopped ham, it’s as simple as measuring everything and mixing in a bowl. If you don’t have chopped ham, I use 12 ounces of cooked ham and pulse in my food processor. As listed in the ..read more

The season is beginning to change but it is still time to have a picnic…a teatime picnic that is. I had the opportunity to host a picnic tea and incorporated the elements of an afternoon tea as a picnic. It was great fun and here is how it came together. The whole idea of a picnic was originally a 17th Century French word, picque-nique. Its meaning was similar to today’s meaning: a social gathering where each attendee brings a share of the food. The French piquer may have referred to a leisurely style of eating (“pick at your food”) or it may, simply, have meant, “pick” (pic). The Victor ..read more

Twice Baked Potato Bites are a miniature version of that dinner time favorite – Twice Baked Potatoes.  This little morsel is easy to prepare and easier to eat.  Perfect for an appetizer, party or afternoon tea.  I serve Twice Baked Potato Bites as part of the savory course for my afternoon teas.  And they are always a hit – gone when the plates are cleared. Just like the bigger version, Twice Baked Potato Bites go together in a very similar way….just much smaller. INGREDIENTS 12 small potatoes Sour Cream Cream Cheese Butter Cream Shredded Cheddar Cheese Bacon Chives Salt a ..read more

What is a skewer appetizer? These Skewer Appetizers – an easy treat are a delightful little tidbit of several flavors, easy to make and easy to enjoy! There are so many variations – I will be sharing a Caprese Skewer that I frequently serve for afternoon tea as a savory. Its fresh taste is a nice interlude so all the richness that is frequently served with savories. But this only serves as a platform for you to change and create new skewers depending on your menu. Here is Caprese Skewer – one skewer appetizer – an easy treat. Ingredients Fresh Italian Basil Mozzarella Balls (I use the marinat ..read more

This little treat is a delicious little mouthful of almond flavor and elegance. Not to be confused with Petit Fours, these little cakes are called Pretty Fours. First presented by my sister, Pretty Fours are simple yet elegant cakes. This recipe can also serve as a basis for many variations depending on your imagination. These are a great option for Afternoon Tea – Desserts or for group functions. Here is how it comes together – its really just this easy! Here is Pretty Fours – Simple Elegant Cakes. Ingredients Cake Flour Almond Paste (can or tube) Sugar Eggs Unsalted butter Buttercream Frost ..read more

I do love to enjoy afternoon tea but have you ever wondered about the ceremony of afternoon tea? Have you thought about how it got started and how does one do this thing called Afternoon Tea? There are many resources out there to tell you about the history and the etiquette about having tea. So let’s pour ourselves a cup and walk through these tidbits of knowledge surrounding the ceremony of afternoon tea, History of English Afternoon Tea Tea has been around for centuries. In the 1660’s, King Charles and his wife from Portugal were introduced to tea. The queen was so delighted with it, she bro ..read more

March comes around and all the delicious Irish recipes come to the table. One favorite of mine is Irish Soda Bread. Best fresh out of the oven, great toasted and loaded with butter. Anyway you serve it, Irish Soda Bread is a treat. Here is an easy Irish Soda Bread recipe that I have been using for years. This recipe comes from Ina Garten https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/irish-soda-bread-recipe-1949134. I first started using this recipe around 2006 and have kept it as one of my favorites since then. The History of Irish Soda Bread Let’s talk about this historic bread. You might in ..read more

Here is a delicious quick bread, one just ready for spring time. Its Citrus Almond Quick Bread. A perfect bread for sharing with a great cup of tea. This recipe was developed by Michelle from A Latte Food and I didn’t change a thing. I love a good quick bread and this one will not disappoint. Here’s how it goes together Ingredients All purpose flour Sugar Baking Powder Salt Lime Zest Lemon Zest Canola Oil (or Vegetable Oil) Milk Eggs Lemon Juice Lime Juice Almond Extract GLAZE Powdered Sugar Lemon or lime juice Almond Extract Almond Slices Putting the dry ingredients together In a medium ..read more

A tea or not to be…. A true tea comes from the Camellia Sinesis plant and is divided into 6 true teas – black, green, oolong, pu-erh, yellow and white. The difference in these teas is based on the way the leaves are dried, oxidized, fermented and prepared. But in recent years, non-traditional “teas” have gained popularity. These “teas” are known as tisanes, teas made from berries, roots, spices and that do not contain any Camellia Sinesis. Let’s have an early lesson in Rooibos Teas. One of my favorite tisanes is a type known as Rooibos, pronounced “roy-boss”. So Rooibos teas are not a true tea ..read more

Want to take a basic recipe and make it into a special favorite? This is how to make Chocolate Madeleines from a basic recipe. Perfect for Valentine’s, these madeleines are easy to make into some chocolate goodness. You may have already seen those beautiful golden madeleines that have spurred the age-old question….Is it a cookie or a cake? These have the same texture but are laden with chocolate flavors. But what are these little delights. The story goes that, in 1755, Louis XV, son-in-law of the duke, was charmed by the little cakes prepared by Madeleine Paulmier ..read more