Tuesday, January 12, 2016

My first teatime of 2016!


One of my goals for the new year was to host more teas in 2016, and I got to host my first one yesterday with my friends Angie and Amy! Monday worked for both of them, and one of the great things about having my own writing business is that I can juggle my schedule to work whenever I like. This week, that meant kicking off the week with tea, and I must say I liked it!

I hadn't seen these two friends in a while, and I so enjoyed the luxury of getting to catch up with them over cups of tea and some teatime treats. I made almost everything on Sunday afternoon, so all I did on Monday morning was bake scones and assemble a few tea sandwiches. Our menu included Cucumber Sandwiches (the teapot-shaped ones), Pimiento Cheese Ribbon Sandwiches, and Broccoli and Cheese Mini Quiches (forgot to get a picture; you know how it goes!). We had Cranberry Scones with Lemon Curd, and our sweets were Cake Mix Cookies (thanks to a super easy recipe from my pen pal, Sandy), Matcha Sugar Cookies, and Dark Chocolate Fudge Brownies.

I couldn't decide which of my teas to serve, so I let them choose! We ended up having Green Tea Ginger Twist from Argo Tea, Tiramisu Mascarpone Rooibos from Tin Roof Teas, and White Chocolate Peppermint Rooibos from Teavana. It's fun to have tea with friends who are so adventurous in their tea selections. (I'm sorry to say that I forgot to take their photo once they got here, though! I discovered the camera about five minutes after they left and thought,"Oh no!" But at least I got a few pictures of our treats.)

The other thing I enjoyed about this "tea with friends" was that I was able to use so many teawares from friends. I used a three-tiered server that was a gift from Linda Rivers, who operated the Holly Cottage Tea Room in Newnan. The little rose pastry forks were a gift from my friend Liz, and the plates, cups, and saucers were a gift from my friend Deberah. I loved mixing and matching all these rosy wares, and it was just the thing to kick off my year of more tea parties. Have you been to tea yet this year? If not, when do you think you'll enjoy your first tea of the year? I'm all for making plans!

14 comments:

  1. Lovely! On an unrelated note, I just finished a tin of tea and wondered if you or your readers have any ideas for re-using tea tins. It seems a shame to just throw them out.

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  2. What a lovely tea! Having been sick for a week ( yuck) I am not making any plans yet but will be glad when I can enjoy tea treats again.

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  3. No plans for a formal tea, but I am enjoying lots of teas that I received as gifts this year.

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  4. Your first tea of 2016 is just lovely, and I'm sure Angie and Amy enjoyed it immensely. The first 'official' tea on my calendar is Cristy Bennett's, Victorian Valentine's Tea on Feb. 20th, but my daughter and I have been enjoying our mini pre-viewing Downton Abbey tea parties the last two Sunday nights.

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  5. Everything looked perfect for tea at home with friends. I don't know where you find the time for your many adventures!

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  6. What a lovely tea time! I and a friend gave another friend with an aching heart a tea last week. Thank you for the comment on my blog.

    I plan on having more teas this year also. Hubby and I make all our bread and I have purchased a Pullman pan to make square loaves for tea time bread. First test worked out great just haven't made tea sandwiches with it yet.

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  7. Your tea is lovely. Love the napkin rings especially.

    On January 2, with the help of two friends, I hosted a tea for twenty-four at our local library. Pam, from the library, made a beautiful display of vintage clothing and purses, and then taught hat making. Some of the guests looked adorable in their creations.

    There are photos on my blog at www.teasandts.blogspot.com and also on Facebook for Christian County Library.

    I'm working on a winter tea for my Everyday Afternoon Teas book right now, trying to perfect an apricot-orange scone recipe. My first attempt was very tasty, but tough, and if the dried apricot pieces are too large, the scones are difficult to cut.

    Wish I'd been a guest at your tea. Everything is so beautiful. Thank you for promoting the idea of teas. Wouldn't we love to recapture some of the simple lives we once led when our entertainment was sharing our time with others and sipping a nice cup of tea?!

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    Replies
    1. Patsy--have you tried plumping your dried apricots in boiling water (or hot tea) before you add them to the scones? That way, they're easier to cut and more tender.

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    2. I have not, but I will. Thanks for your help.

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  8. Your first tea looked lovely. Right now. Do not have any p,Ana for a tea. Hopefully that will change.

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  9. No tea parties yet this year, but I had a great one to end last year. I have great plans for tea times in May and hope to have lots of tea parties in my garden in the summer.

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  10. Happy New Year, Angela! Your tea looks lovely! I also used a pink theme with my first tea of 2016: I hosted 5 ladies for tea on January 2nd. Some were long time friends and one was a brand new friend. Everyone enjoyed the camaraderie--and the tea! I served cucumber sandwiches, egg salad with watercress sandwiches and curried chicken salad on tiny croissants. Freshly baked cream scones were accompanied by real clotted cream and black cherry preserves. The tea was Coronation Tea from Darvilles in England and the sweets were Christmas cookies and an orange bundt cake. Everyone took home a little tea cup calendar (from Oriental Trading Company) as a favor. I'm looking forward to more teas this year including a Downton Abbey tea fundraiser for our library in March.

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  11. Your tea looks lovely, Angela - what a great way to start the new year! I love how you mixed in the sweet and the savories, such a tempting menu. So far, my tea time is with "Downton Abbey." Hope you have a wonderful week, Joanie

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  12. Such a lovely afternoon tea party among friends! Looking forward to my first Afternoon Tea (where I am a guest!) this coming Sunday. It is a Downton Abbey themed tea in a beautiful old Victorian mansion. Can't wait!

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