Instructions for an afternoon tea in the Victorian Era Serve rolled bread and butter, sandwiches made of ham paste, potted ham, tongue or chicken. The crusts of the bread should be cut off, and the sandwiches cut into three corner shapes or fingers. Anchovy sandwiches or those made with cheese paste are liked by Gentlemen. Salads are allowable nowadays at afternoon tea; egg, oysters, or chicken are suitable with brown bread and biscuits. Cakes for this purpose should be very small. Wine and cordial should always be on the sideboard, claret cup or champagne cup on the table.
Author: Treeca
It’s National Cake Week this week in the UK so get out your scales and pop on that Pinney to make your special cake this week. A movable feast that is always celebrated in the first full week of October. National Cake Week was founded by Lynn Hill in 2011, with the sole purpose of celebrating and sharing a whole cake together with family and friends. You will find a cake at the heart of almost every formal and informal gathering, whether in the office, a family birthday party, or a wedding and who doesn’t love a slice or two?…
Chocolate Week 9-15th October 2017 If you love chocolate (like I do) then you have to go over to the Chocolate Week website to check out what events and tastings are going on during this week. The Chocolate Show takes place at the Olympia National Hall on the 13th-15th October where some of the delightful and delectable things happening at The Chocolate Show include: – A selection of the finest chocolatiers and pastry makers from the UK and around the world – Celebrity chef demonstrations – Workshops for adults and budding chefs – Tastings – Sculptures – A pop-up chocolate restaurant…
All crumpets should be toasted on both sides, the smooth side first, the holey side last, as this produces a suitable concavity for the butter…Never cut a muffin, snip round the curved side and pull top and bottom apart and insert the butter in thin slices, do not attempt to spread it. Dorothy Harley Food in England
Did you know that there is an art to steeping your tea ? Get it wrong and the tea can taste quite different. Tea Type Temperature Steep.it for Black 206°F – 97°C 2-3 minutes Green 175°F – 79°C 1 minute Herbal 208°F – 98°C 4-5 minutes Oolong 195°F – 90°C 3 minutes White 175°F – 80°C 30 seconds Mate 208°F – 98°C 5-6 minutes Rooibos 208°F – 98°C 5-6 minutes Chai low boil 10-10 minutes If you go to a site Sexy Red Head Nuns (great name:) you can find out exactly what to steep each type of tea in and…
 Help your immune system in the winter by keeping in your store cupboard some health boosters. Honey has natural anti-fungal and antibacetrial properties. Garlic has natural anti-fungal and antibacterial properties as well. Tumeric acts as an anti-inflammatory. Ginger also contains natural anti-inflammatories. Pumpkin seeds are rich in zinc, which helps infection-fighting white blood cell activity. Dandelion helps with fluid retention. via FOODIE HEALTH BOOSTERS OFTEN USED IN THE VILLAGE KITCHEN… — The Village Kitchen…
They are now saying that housework can count as an exercise (well I already knew that), and some tasks can actually help to improve your strength and flexibility. They are now saying that housework can count as an exercise (well I already knew that), and some tasks can actually help to improve your strength and flexibility. They are now saying that housework can count as an exercise (well I already knew that), and some tasks can actually help to improve your strength and flexibility. They are now saying that housework can count as an exercise (well I already knew that),…
While on a day trip out to Bakewell we popped into The Lavender Tea Rooms for a spot of tea and cake. It is centrally located in Hebden Court, in a charming courtyard setting. The decor is period and you feel like you have stepped back in time to a bygone era when you step inside the tea room.  It’s set over two floors with a lovely outside little courtyard with a few tables which have blankets on chairs in case the temperature drops. Dogs are also welcome in the courtyard area and they provide water bowls so your canine companion…
To clean any spills in the oven, sprinkle with automatic dishwasher powder, cover with a wet paper towel, let stand for a few hours, then clean with a damp sponge. Or make your own oven cleaner from 1 tablesp of bicarbonate of soda mixed with a good cup of hot water. Wipe over the whole oven, including the glass door and shelves and the stains will gradually disappear. Soak oven shelves, trays etc overnight in a solution of biological washing powder or dis washing powder and hot water and next day just rinse Put one cup of ammonia in…
This Scottish Quick Bread is said to have taken its name from the Stone of Destiny (or Scone) the place where Scottish kings were once crowned. Scones became popular and an essential part of the fashionable ritual of taking tea in England when Anna, the Duchess of Bedford (1788 – 1861), one late afternoon, ordered the servants to bring tea and some sweet breads, which included scones. It is especially popular in the UK, US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Belgium, and Ireland. The original triangular shaped scone was made with oats and griddle-baked. Today’s scones are more flour-based and baked…
Beautiful cake stands are everywhere at the moment, but they can cost quite a lot of money. So make your own, it’s very easy. All you need are two (or three) plates, a central rod, washers and a handle to hold it all together and bobs your uncle. You can buy cake stand fittings from eBay from £2.29, with instructions and some with templates. If it’s a two tier cake stand you want to use a dinner plate and a side plate. Measure the diameter of the largest plate and mark the centre with a pen, then do the same…
Which do you prefer a mug or a tea cup and saucer? Personally, I think both are appropriate in certain situations. You would give the builder a mug, and yourself one while sitting reading your favourite magazine. Although if you were sitting in a nice tea room or having a cup of tea with a friend, I’m sure you would probably prefer the cup and saucer. The other problem is which one to buy? Do you go for Cath Kidston’s latest designer mugs, Tesco’s Spell Out Mug ‘ Home is where the Heart is’, or an antique china tea cup…
Although Tea Cosy’s are back in fashion again the first documented tea cosy in Britain was in 1867 and it was probably the Duchess of Bedford, who by establishing the activity of afternoon tea in 1840, increased the popularity of tea cosy. They then flourished during the late 19th Century and were also starting to be used in North America at the same period. It is defined by Wikipedia as ‘a cover for a teapot, traditionally made of cloth or wool, which is used to insulate the tea, keeping it warm while it brews’. Cloth tea cosies often have padded…
It’s been a while since we popped into House of Fraser in Nottingham so while we were there I suggested we gave the Restaurant a try. I chose the Bakewell Sponge and my husband had the Rich Fruit Cake, both were delicious and reasonably priced. The reason we had not been in for such a long time was because John Lewis offers rewards with their My John Lewis card which just for creating an account with John Lewis you are rewarded with free coffee and cake every month and you needn’t spend a penny! It’s quite obvious that this get’s…
This post contains affiliate links, which means I may receive compensation if you make a purchase using this link. Twining’s have an exclusive offer for this special ‘Afternoon Tea Week 14th – 20th August’. Celebrate afternoon tea week with a fabulous spread of afternoon tea. Invite your favourite people for an afternoon in the garden, a gathering round a beautifully set kitchen table or a glamorous picnic in the great outdoors. Use the code AFTERNOON TEA when you check out to get your 3 for 2 tea offers. Check out there Afternoon Tea Recipes by going online and reading their blog. You can also get 20%…