Tea Parties
Sarah Beth Krupnick
raise your hand. Uh...maybe not. Okay, lets try again.
All those out there who like to throw tea parties...post something about
them. Your favorite party, what you make to eat and recipies, theme
parties, why you love to make them....anything.
I'll start us off. When I am at college, I love to make tea parties. There
are two types of tea parties that I make. One type is an impromptu tea
party. About once a week I get an uncontrollable urge to bake. I usually
bake scones and/or a cookie of some sort. When my friends come over and/or
drop over unexpectedly I pull out the tea table, the pot, the kettle, the
tea and whatever I have baked that week. Its always fun and its great that
my friends know they can always stop by for some tea to warm them from the
Rochester cold.
The other type is what I call a special tea. This is planned more in
advance. I make a date with someone, usually send them an invite if I have
time and do the works. In addition to the regular stuff I take out my best
teacups and my three-tiered silver plate. I stuff the silver plate with
cucumber and dill butter and cream cheese and herb finger sandwiches, scones
(with mock devonshire cream and jam) and one or more of the following:
merangues, ginger cookies, chocolate covered strawberries, or hamentashen.
When they walk into my room the table is perfectly set with soft music
playing in the background.
Now, the question is - why do I do this? With everything else I have to do
- why go through all the trouble? The truth is because I can't think of a
better way to get together with my friends. I haven't had a complaint yet.
When I have a tea party my friends relax from thier busy lives and usually
leave very refreshed - and if I can give them that it makes my day. Its
just fun. Everyone gets a kick out of it - and it beats getting drunk.
So now I want to hear about your tea parties!
Sarah
Andisheh Mahdavi
>I'll start us off. When I am at college, I love to make tea parties. There
>are two types of tea parties that I make. One type is an impromptu tea
>party. About once a week I get an uncontrollable urge to bake. I usually
>bake scones and/or a cookie of some sort.
I am a tea lover but among my friends---and even my acquaintances---I am the
only one. There are people who have tea bags from time to time but there are
none as heavily into it as I am. I think this is the sad condition of most
of us in America who love this beverage, so you're lucky. Also, it's great
that you find the time during college to do this!
But what I wanted to ask you, is how do you make scones? They are very good
but kind of expensive. The kind I like are the ones that aren't as much on
the sweet side... if you could mail or post a recipe that would be great.
Andy
Ellen Smith
: All those out there who like to throw tea parties...post something about
: them. Your favorite party, what you make to eat and recipies, theme
: parties, why you love to make them....anything.
Don't worry, Sarah, you're not alone. I have gained a reputation for being
able to lay out a pretty fair afternoon tea.
I organize what you generally referred to as "special teas" for my
friends. The menu generally consists of several finger sandwiches, fresh
baked scones with lemon curd or jam, crudites or fruit, and a killer dessert.
The only rule is damn the cholesterol and leave your diet at the door. :-)
I agree that this is a pleasant way to gather together a few friends to
just chat over some warm tea and creative food - the bonus is that there
is still time left in the evening for other activities! We usually wind up
the evening playing board games or engaged in debate.
Sometimes I like to pair a tea with a cultural event (one of my best teas
was a simple "cream tea" just prior to an outing to the theater) when one
can anticipate the evening's entertainment (and still have dinner after
the show).
I also like to alter the venue occasionally. One of my friends has a
sister who lives on Middle Bass Island in Lake Erie - their deck has a
wonderful (western) view of the lake. I had another friend who rented a
room in a wonderful old Victorian house (with the original furniture) and
had a roommate who could play jazz piano very well.
It is a simple yet elegant way to entertain, and not as much work as a
full fledged dinner party (the prospect of which scares the bejesus out of
me). Otherwise when would I get to use all of me fancy tea pots and tea
accoutrements that I have been collecting all these years at antique shows
and flea markets? -e
--
Ellen Smith
a.k.a. - Cyberpunk Librarian
"All great truths begin as blasphemies" G.B. Shaw
Rimon Orni
In article <1995Jun20.1...@galileo.cc.rochester.edu> sk0...@uhura.cc.rochester.edu (Sarah Beth Krupnick) writes:
[snip]
> The other type is what I call a special tea. This is planned more
> in advance. I make a date with someone, usually send them an invite
> if I have time and do the works. In addition to the regular stuff I
> take out my best teacups and my three-tiered silver plate. I stuff
> the silver plate with cucumber and dill butter and cream cheese and
> herb finger sandwiches, scones (with mock devonshire cream and jam)
> and one or more of the following: merangues, ginger cookies,
> chocolate covered strawberries, or hamentashen. When they walk into
> my room the table is perfectly set with soft music playing in the
> background.
> Now, the question is - why do I do this? With everything else I
> have to do - why go through all the trouble? The truth is because I
> can't think of a better way to get together with my friends. I
> haven't had a complaint yet. When I have a tea party my friends
> relax from thier busy lives and usually leave very refreshed - and
> if I can give them that it makes my day. Its just fun. Everyone
> gets a kick out of it - and it beats getting drunk.
> So now I want to hear about your tea parties!
> Sarah
Hey, could I be your friend? I'd love to drop by and get a cuppa, and
the special tea sounds absolutely scrumptious. Might you have one in
my neighborhood, say, in the next hour or so?
Rimon
darin
sk0...@uhura.cc.rochester.edu (Sarah Beth Krupnick) wrote:
> ......
> Now, the question is - why do I do this? With everything else I have to do
> - why go through all the trouble? The truth is because I can't think of a
> better way to get together with my friends. I haven't had a complaint yet.
> When I have a tea party my friends relax from thier busy lives and usually
> leave very refreshed - and if I can give them that it makes my day. Its
> just fun. Everyone gets a kick out of it - and it beats getting drunk.
>
> So now I want to hear about your tea parties!
>
> Sarah
for the better part of my years in grad school my office mate was
also a big fan of tea. so we'd try to think up reasons to have a
tea party, right in our office. our fave was of course a
'boston tea party', held around
december 17 ( i think thats the day ). she was into baking, i could
handle the pop corn maker. i also gave the historical background. it
was fun especially with my former advisor's wife (she's english).
--
darin
burl...@tcg.anl.gov
"cogito cogito ergo cogito sum" - ambrose bierce
Arthur S. Pruyn
sk0...@uhura.cc.rochester.edu (Sarah Beth Krupnick) wrote:
All those out there who like to throw tea parties...post something about
> them. Your favorite party, what you make to eat and recipies, theme
> parties, why you love to make them....anything.
> Sarah
Hello!
I am part of a Stitch & Bitch sewing circle in the Bay Area made op of
12 professional women. Next Saturday I will be hosting the 6th Annual
Jane Austin Tea for my friends. This event started as an excuse to watch
the BBC versions of Jane Austen's works. 10-12 women get together with
linen, silver, my best china and what ever tea goodies we decide to make
usually including sandwiches, scones with butter, jam, lemon curd, and
double cream, tea cakes, fresh friut, and tea biscuits. This year we are
taking it on the road and having it in a park- linen china and all plus
garden party dresses and hats, croquet and readings from Jane Austin.
(Does anyone know any passages from J.A. that mention food or tea?)
We also have had teas in honor of birthdays and as baby and bridal
showers and one member served a extended tea at her wedding reception and
of course at the twice monthly sewing session. It is a lovely way to
relax from life's crazies and have conversation with one's closest
friends.
Yours,
Elizabeth Pruyn
p.s.
I would be interested in exchanging tea recipes and information on
books with any who are interested.
E.P.
Arthur S. Pruyn # "It's is not, it isn't ain't, and it's it's, not
ASP Systems # its, if you mean it is. If you don't, it's its.
Oakland, Ca # Then too, it's hers. It isn't her's. It isn't
asp...@slip.net # our's either. It's ours, and likewise yours and
# theirs." The Oxford Rule.
Arthur S. Pruyn
(Andisheh Mahdavi) wrote:
> sk0...@uhura.cc.rochester.edu (Sarah Beth Krupnick) writes:
>
>
> But what I wanted to ask you, is how do you make scones? They are very good
> but kind of expensive. The kind I like are the ones that aren't as much on
> the sweet side... if you could mail or post a recipe that would be great.
>
> Andy
Hello.
My favorite scone recipe comes from the book, "The Best of Shaker Cooking"
2 C. flour
2 T. white sugar
3 t. baking powder
1 t. salt
4 T. butter
1/3 C. light cream (half and half)
2 eggs beaten (First reserve a little of the unbeaten egg white.)
Mix and sift all dry ingredients. Work in fat quickly with a fork.
Add cream mixed with eggs all at once and stir up lightly to make a soft
dough. Turn out on a slightly floured board and kknead lightly for a few
seconds. Roll out to 1/2" thickness. Cut, dipping the cutter into flour
after each use. Brush each scone with the reserved egg white and sprinkle
with sugar. Bake in a hot oven (400°) for 12-15 minutes. Makes 12
scones.
This recipe calls for a dimond shaped cutter. I have use that, a round
cutter and divided the dough into two pats about 1"- 1 1/2" thick and
scored the tops and baked whole. They all taste great. You can also add
dried berries, chocolate chips, etc.
Enjoy,
Elizabeth Pruyn
RED
never-worn hats out of the closet, put on some of their "Sunday best" and
have what basically results in an elegant "hen party." I prepare all of
the hand-decorated tea sandwiches myself, along with miniature scones,
imported clotted cream, homemade preserves, and assorted miniature tarts
and pastries. After the first couple of rounds of tea, champagne and
sherries are added, along with party favors and small gifts. I
intentionally make scads of extra food, and invite spouses/significant
others to join us after we've had a delightful afternoon of "catching
up." Everyone is enthusiastic about doing a summertime version, which I
would enjoy, but it seems that I barely catch my breath and the holidays
roll around again! We do have a summertime croquet tournament, but to
save energy , it is catered.
Elizabeth E. Gray
You really showed me up with your description of what you do for tea
parties. I too am a college student, living in my poor little room without
access to anything remotely resembling a kitchen. But every once in a while
I will invite friends over to try my variety of teas. I do candles and nice
music and get my Brown Betty out. My favorite part is all the fun cups that
I have. Especially now that I am back from Japan I intended to have lots of
tea parties, but most of my tea drinking friends aren't around now, and it
is a little hot for tea anyhow. (Can you tell I'm not real hard-core?)
What does everybody else do?
Arthur S. Pruyn
edal...@lmsc.lockheed.com (RED) wrote:
HI there.
What is your source for clotted cream? I can find double cream in the
Bay Area but not clotted. Do you mail order it? If so, please send the
address.
Thanks,
Noreen Palazzo
In article <edalvarez-220...@129.197.16.79>, RED (edal...@lmsc.lockheed.com) writes:
>I have an annual Holiday Tea, where I encourage my guests to drag those
>never-worn hats out of the closet, put on some of their "Sunday best" and
>have what basically results in an elegant "hen party." I prepare all of
>the hand-decorated tea sandwiches myself, along with miniature scones,
>imported clotted cream, homemade preserves, and assorted miniature tarts
>and pastries. After the first couple of rounds of tea, champagne and
>sherries are added, along with party favors and small gifts. I
>intentionally make scads of extra food, and invite spouses/significant
>others to join us after we've had a delightful afternoon of "catching
>up." Everyone is enthusiastic about doing a summertime version, which I
>would enjoy, but it seems that I barely catch my breath and the holidays
>roll around again! We do have a summertime croquet tournament, but to
>save energy , it is catered.
>
Hi,
Sounds great. Where are you? Where do you import the clotted cream
from?
Noreen
--------------------------------------------------------------
Noreen Palazzo
Massachusetts, USA
sta...@westmin.win.net
Noreen Palazzo
No matter how hot the climate, nothing refreshes me like a good cup
of tea. Nothing.
Rosemarie Smith
What's hamentashen?
and (to anyone who knows) What's the difference between clotted
cream, devonshire cream and whipped cream?
Rimon Orni
I think I can answer the second question. Hamentashen are cookies traditionally
served on the Jewish holiday of Purim. They are a pastry filled with
something and folded like a triangle. My favorite are filled with
poppy seed and raisins, but they are also made with jam or with dates and
nuts. Now that you know they should be tasty, I'll allow myself to add
that 'hamentashen' means the ears of Haman, who was the bad guy in the
story of Purim (a nice holiday where people wear costumes and drink lots
of wine), and so we eat the ears in retribution :) .
I'd still like Sarah to tell us what kind of hamentashen she serves
at tea parties.
Rimon