The true gift of a teatime celebration

For the third year, I have discovered there are many people who have longed for the foods served at their family table at Christmas.  Each year I have added something new to the menu, as well as invited people who haven't attended in the past. Besides sharing our childhood Christmas traditions and memories around the foods that invoked these thoughts, the goal is always for each guest to experience the true gift of a teatime celebration.

Realizing my gifts are baking, preparing, hosting and serving, holding a tea is a true joy for me.

 
My Christmas favorites, traditional foods according to my own nationality are these: 

Pork Pies (French)

Mince Meat Pie

Plum Pudding (Cornwall, England)

This year I made mini pork pies by using a combination of our families' recipes and those I read on the internet.
Having found a recipe last year for mince meat, I was proud to serve my own in the form of mini pies or tarts.

The Plum Pudding and white sauce is the traditional food that my Christmas teas revolved around.  Either the family member who had always made it had passed away, or no one ever attempted to make it themselves. The recipe I use is my own version of our family recipe.  And this year I made two since I had so many requests.

Just the aroma of each of these three favorites, would send anyone who had once experienced them, into childhood memories...... visions of plum pudding danced in our head!

No teatime celebration is complete without sweet treats, new recipes for me this year.

Chocolate Fudge (low sugar)

 

White Chocolate Cherry Fudge

Cathedral window cookies

Linzer cookies

The teas were Youthberry, a white tea from Teavana, and my standard black tea, PG Tips.

In my dining room and living room, 11 people were served, some who were my long-time tea party friends, and some who had never met each other.  That is the most I've ever served at one seating.

Two things I did differently made serving and enjoying the tea a great success: 
making the tea in the urn so it would be ready and hot as needed; and
accepting the offers of help from friends, Suzie and Kathy (thank you so much!)

The guests looked at the ornaments on the tree, and found their places at the tables.  In no time the hum of women visiting and enjoying the moment was a wonderful sound.

I also shared some of my favorite tea time resources as six had never been to tea:

Tea Time Magazine
Laura Childs' Tea Time Mystery Books
A Cup of Christmas Tea and other tea books
My scrapbook of teas and tea presentations, dating back to the early 1990's
Unofficial Downton Abbey Cookbook

My cousin, and tea loving friend, Wendy, shared two beautiful readings which I will put in my Christmas post.

To quote Emilie Barnes:
"Perhaps that is the true gift of a teatime celebration:  It fills our cups with joy and warmth and friendship.  May the echo of the teacups' message be heard not only at Christmas, not only on special occasions, but anytime friends come together."

Thank you to everyone who attended, enjoyed an afternoon of traditional foods, and friendships over a cup of tea!  Sue

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Calm Enjoyment, much needed!

I've really been challenged with finding time these days to do the things I enjoy the most.  My life has taken unexpected turns, though enjoyable they are.  Now I am where I haven't been since I was working: making time for self with rest and relaxation. 

I knew I needed to sit with friends over tea as much as I longed to plan one.  I set the date for Sunday, November 24, the weekend before a big holiday meal and gathering, at least for most people here in the U.S.A. and the wild frenzy of shopping many take part of the day after.  Here's the menu I planned.  The recipes came from Tea Time Magazine or Pinterest.



To plan, I usually start with the seating, and how many I could fit comfortably and conversationally, so I started off inviting six guests.  Two cancellations created two more invitations, with one accepting.  The more I planned, the more I liked the idea of five at my dining table.







My granddaughter, who has become a willing server at age 9, enjoys greeting the guests and taking their coats. She is acquiring a love for the teacups, and serving pieces, as she sets the table.



 

She serves the plated sandwiches, then sits at a side table, a "sit and sip" table, where we sit in between courses to enjoy a bit of the food and tea ourselves.  It is impossible to sit with friends at tea, and serve it at the same time!

This afternoon tea would be unique in that three of the guests had never been to tea at my house, and possibly had never been to a "tea."  Two of them had been to tea before, who I knew I could count on to be great conversationalists.  They each introduced themselves, and how they've come to be invited to tea.



The favors, are made of recycled cardboard tubes, and filled with a tea stick, candy kisses, and fancy paper clips, and are from my favorite site, Pinterest, Serenitea-sb

It is truly a joy to bring people together who may have never met; who haven't seen one another for a long time; who have things in common that they may not be aware of; and who enjoy sharing some time of calm enjoyment.  Conversations shared crafty past times, like that of Marian who is a tatter.  (Her tatting was featured on this blog in December of 2012).  Sue has just become a grandmother.  Mary's granddaughter was traveling to Dubay; another was looking forward to moving closer to her grandson; and one taught their children. Family connections, generations of stories, and personal survival from accident and disease brought the women together as they shared a cup of tea.

Thank you for sharing tea with me, and coming together to join an afternoon of calm enjoyment!

Teaching the Ritual of Tea

It's two years since I retired and began holding monthly teas in my home.  My three youngest granddaughters have all experienced a personal tea with me.  It is most gratifying when that's what they request when they come to visit or stay overnight.

Just as I never tire of baking and preparing specialized foods, I believe they do not tire of choosing their own teapot, tea cup, and eating at their own tea table.

 

If you have little ladies in your life, invite them to tea; share your good china dishes, specialty table cloths and napkins with them.  They will learn to enjoy the ritual of tea at a young age.  It will warm your heart, like a hot cup of tea!