Time for Tea

Photography by: Alison Mae Photography

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I started hosting tea parties at the mere age of 5 or 6, and, well, I never quite stopped. It’s well beyond a girly girl hobby of mine. It stems from the special place in my heart dedicated to fancy dinner parties, old fashioned etiquette and historical lifestyles.

I’m one of those weirdos who loved cotillion and those etiquette sessions they make you take in school. When my mom’s family came over for dinner in my elementary school years, it became a ritual for me to make each guest a place card at the table. And, anyone who knows me understands that if there is even the slightest opportunity to dress up at an event, I will be in a dress, potentially with heels.

I’ve exposed most of my friends over the years to tea rooms around the city. My good friends come to equally enjoy the fancy, delicious fun. My best friends wave their hands, fanning their faces with glee when I suggest a dressed up lunch at a tea room or my house like it’s their heaven, too.

While the French, dessert stylings of The Cake Bake Shop in Broad Ripple often call out my name, my favorite local tea room is Tina’s Traditional Old English Kitchen in Carmel. One of the reasons it’s at the top of my list is because they serve traditional English (as in England, folks) food, and teach you about the historical origin behind the dishes. Zach took me there for a 5-course English etiquette dinner on my birthday this past year. I died of happiness.

Well, the time came for me to roll up my sleeves and host my own legitimate tea party once again. And, this time, I emulated both of my favorite tea rooms. Below are the recipes for the traditional tea sandwiches I made, in honor of Tina’s Traditional. And, in a second post, I will have the recipe for individual bread pudding cups, inspired by Cake Bake. It’s tea time!

Serves: 3-4 sandwiches per recipe

8-10 guests if you make all four recipes for a tea party

Cucumber tea sandwiches

Ingredients:

• 1 8oz pkg cream cheese

• 1 stick butter

• 2-3 cucumbers

• 1/4tsp garlic powder

• ¼ tsp lemon juice

• 1T dill

• White bread loaf

Directions:

1. Soften cream cheese & butter, then mix until smooth

2. Add dill, garlic powder, lemon juice, & salt/pepper to taste

3. Spread on both sides of bread

4. Thinly slice cucumber & place on one side of bread

5. Cut off crust & into desired shape

6. Add sprig of fresh till to top of sandwich for fancy touch

Egg salad tea sandwiches

Ingredients:

• 4 eggs, 1/4C mayo

• 1/2tsp yellow mustard

• 1/8tsp paprika

• 1/8tsp curry

• 1/8C chopped green onion

• 1/8C celery

• White or Rye bread loaf

Directions:

1. Hard boil the eggs (10-12 min in boiling water)

2. After they have cooled, peel off the shell and chop finely

3. Stir in rest of ingredients with eggs

4. Add salt/pepper to taste

5. Spread on bread

6. Cut off crust & into desired shape

Tuna tea sandwiches

Ingredients:

• 2 can tuna

• 1 avocado mashed

• 1/2C minced celery

• 1/2C minced red onion

• 1/2tsp Dijon mustard

• 1T lemon juice

• 2T cilantro or parsley

• (Optional: ¼ tsp cumin, 1tsp dill.)

• White or wheat bread loaf

Directions:

1. Peel and mash avocado

2. Mix all ingredients

3. Spread on desired bread

4. Cut off crust & into desired shape.

Ham, brie, apple tea sandwiches

Ingredients:

• 1 stick butter

• Dijon mustard (to each sandwich taste)

• 1 block of brie

• 2 green apples

• ¼-1/2 lb ham slices

• White or French bread loaf

Directions:

1. Spread butter on one side of bread

2. Spread mustard on the other side

3. Layer slices of brie, thin slices of apples, and ham slices on bread

4. Cut off crust & into desired shape

Another stunning shot by Alison Mae Photography. Happy Teaing!

#Food #Recipe #Lifestyle #Sandwich #Tea #Teaparty #Photography