Four o'clock on the dot was tea time in my great grandmother's house. If you were late woe betide you. The same tradition passed down to the next generation too so there was always tea and cake at four. It was the same at my paternal grandparent's too - work stopped in the garden and workshop for afternoon tea, and if guests happened to be around or it was a larger family gathering savoury things also made an appearance - you can't beat sardines on toast!
Is it that sense of nostalgia for olde england that makes us love afternoon tea so much? Or it could be that it all just tastes so good. It certainly makes for a great wedding breakfast like this one we served last Saturday in Stanton near Broadway.
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| Buck's fizz to start anyone? |
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| Afternoon tea sandwiches: Smoked salmon and watercress Chicken and apple Ham with apricot chutney Cucumber, cream cheese and rocket Egg and cress - can't beat the classics! |
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| Baking coconut macaroons at 11pm |
I was addicted to making these as a tween - then shredded coconut was easy to find. Not so easy now - nowhere sells it. Much more succulent that dessicated coconut (dessicated makes them dry). Finally after a hour's trawling I found it at The USA Foodstore - great fast shipping btw thanks.
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| Homemade plain & apple and sultana scones with clotted cream and Dove Cottage Hedgerow preserve White chocolate and blueberry torte Fruit crème pâtissière tarts Rose & vanilla cupcakes Coconut macaroons |
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| White chocolate and blueberry torte - using the dark choc recipe but exchanging dark choc for white |
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| Added to my collection of cake stands a couple of days before from Forgotten Treasures - based in the same village as the wedding was. I love these - rather than the cake stand handles that everyone else uses they have vintage glasses between the layers - much more individual. Each plate has a story behind it. |
