Mother's Day Tea
Dear Friends,
Today we're celebrating some people who are very important to all of us, people who have shaped us, encouraged us, and raised us up to what we are today. Happy Mother's Day everyone, I'm sure that you all have someone special who you're thinking about today, and that you're each finding your own way of celebrating.
Sometimes, what with caring for babies, chasing after young children, and offering emotional support even to fully-grown children, the mothers in our lives don't get to experience the simple, elegant things, so today we would like to give them a little gentility, in the form of flowers, a break from the tedious household chores, a dinner prepared especially for them, or, in this case the most genteel thing I can think of, a Mother's Day Tea.
Here are the basic components of a genteel Mother's Day tea:
Today we're celebrating some people who are very important to all of us, people who have shaped us, encouraged us, and raised us up to what we are today. Happy Mother's Day everyone, I'm sure that you all have someone special who you're thinking about today, and that you're each finding your own way of celebrating.
Sometimes, what with caring for babies, chasing after young children, and offering emotional support even to fully-grown children, the mothers in our lives don't get to experience the simple, elegant things, so today we would like to give them a little gentility, in the form of flowers, a break from the tedious household chores, a dinner prepared especially for them, or, in this case the most genteel thing I can think of, a Mother's Day Tea.
Here are the basic components of a genteel Mother's Day tea:
- Cucumber Sandwiches
The classic tea sandwich, with a simple ingredient list:
White Bread
1 Cucumber
Butter {always use butter, never mayonnaise}
Simply spread the butter on the bread, add the sliced cucumber in an even layer, and add the top piece of bread. Cut off the crusts and cut to desired size.
White Bread
1 Cucumber
Butter {always use butter, never mayonnaise}
Simply spread the butter on the bread, add the sliced cucumber in an even layer, and add the top piece of bread. Cut off the crusts and cut to desired size.
- Fruit Tarts
Any good tea has a delectable dessert to go with it, tarts are a classic as well, and you can put whatever fruit you want on the top.
Tart Shells
I just used a basic pie crust recipe {bottom only}, to which I added a teaspoon of lemon zest and half a cup of sugar.
Roll the pastry out and cut into circles to line tart pans or a large muffin tin. Line whatever you're using with parchment, and then line the pastry with parchment on the inside, so you can fill with rice to keep them the proper shape.
Bake at 355ºƒ for 10 minutes, then remove the rice and bake for 5 more minutes, or until the edges start to turn golden.
Filling
I was going to make a custard tart filling, but I realized that was not something that would be easy to assemble right before tea, so I found a different way of filling the tart shells.
Whip cream cheese until smooth, then add jam, whatever kind you like, and beat until well mixed. It is best to use jam that is not too chunky, but don't use jelly, it doesn't blend well. Whip some cream and add a little at a time to the cream cheese mixture, just to spread it, not thin it. If you have whipped cream left over you can use it in the topping.
Top with your favorite fruit, whipped cream, and whatever else you like.
Tart Shells
I just used a basic pie crust recipe {bottom only}, to which I added a teaspoon of lemon zest and half a cup of sugar.
Roll the pastry out and cut into circles to line tart pans or a large muffin tin. Line whatever you're using with parchment, and then line the pastry with parchment on the inside, so you can fill with rice to keep them the proper shape.
Bake at 355ºƒ for 10 minutes, then remove the rice and bake for 5 more minutes, or until the edges start to turn golden.
Filling
I was going to make a custard tart filling, but I realized that was not something that would be easy to assemble right before tea, so I found a different way of filling the tart shells.
Whip cream cheese until smooth, then add jam, whatever kind you like, and beat until well mixed. It is best to use jam that is not too chunky, but don't use jelly, it doesn't blend well. Whip some cream and add a little at a time to the cream cheese mixture, just to spread it, not thin it. If you have whipped cream left over you can use it in the topping.
Top with your favorite fruit, whipped cream, and whatever else you like.
- Flowers
Don't forget to pick or buy a centerpiece.
Unfortunately in the part of the world I live in we don't have flowers until at least next month, but we always save any we receive by drying them.
Together dried roses and budding shoots are a lovely combination.
Unfortunately in the part of the world I live in we don't have flowers until at least next month, but we always save any we receive by drying them.
Together dried roses and budding shoots are a lovely combination.
- Tea
Choose your Mother's favorite tea, or whatever you have on hand. Make sure that if she likes cream in her tea that whatever you choose doesn't have citrus in it.
My Mom's favorite tea is Lapsang Souchong, but for special occasions Rose Pouchong is a favorite.
Happy Mothers' Day!
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