Sunday tea.

After yesterday's stress and trauma We had a friend round for Sunday Tea.
She has been responsible for my lovely afternoon tea books that I was lucky enough to have for my Christmas and birthday presents.

Afternoon tea is so fab, I love the whole ritual and am glad that I am able to do this from time to time.
So last night and this morning was spent, cooking and baking and preparing.

We have a delightful mismatch of china that we have accumulated over the years. So here are the pictures of our tea.

For Sandwiches I made, Ham, Smoked Salmon with soft cheese and of course cucumber. Along with an egg and watercress roll. 

I have decided to put in my wish book a pair of serving tongs as well as some sugar tongs. (I have a little handbag book that reminds me of things I want/need. It has useful measurement's in as well such as the collar size of my father in law and the size of the dining room fireplace.)

Now I have to work on my scones because these were a little to moist and a bit flat, they tasted nice enough and I served them with clotted cream and strawberry jam. 

For the pastry's I made some little tarts, they were made with a sweet pasrty, some sweetend cream and fresh fruit. they tasted lovely, However they could have been a little more pretty. 

They tasted scrummy. 

Now the 2 cakes under the tartlets on the stand are a rich dark and white chocolate brownie and a honey and poppy seed mini loaf cake. 

Brownies are yum and the loaf cakes go very nicely with the tea. I made 4, but 1 sliced was more than enough for the tea table.

Finally I made cup cakes. 

Now I need to improve upon my icing as it does look like it was done by a 5 year old.  However the contents were yum. 

It was not just the food that made it such a nice afternoon, it was the company and the whole ritual of afternoon tea, the good linen, the nice china, taking time and conversing. A very nice way to spend the afternoon and a perfect antidote to a horrid day the day before. 

Hope you all have a happy week. x