English Afternoon Tea Sandwiches Video

Recipe Video presented by Tara de la Motte

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vpb4Lb1m4CU

The Origins of Afternoon Tea One lump or two?

By Tara de la Motte

Afternoon tea is a civilised affair; it has all the sophistication of smart entertaining but in a relaxed environment - a meal of informal elegance that can be enjoyed in the cosy, relaxed environment of your sitting room or garden. Anna, the 7th Duchess of Bedford is often credited with the invention of the tradition of afternoon tea in the early 1840's. Traditionally dinner was not served until 8:30 or 9:00pm in the evening and the Duchess often became hungry, especially in the summer when dinner was served even later. She ordered a small meal of bread, butter, and other niceties, such as cakes, tarts, and biscuits, to be brought secretly to her boudoir. When she was exposed she was not ridiculed, but her habit caught on and the concept of a small meal, of niceties and perhaps tea, became popular and eventually known as "afternoon tea". Obviously the origins of the well known British tradition of afternoon tea cannot be credited to only one woman, but evolved over a period of time, as many cultural customs do.

How to Serve an Afternoon Tea

Not only does Agatha Christie's English detective, Miss Marple, knit and solve crimes, but she also serves a traditional afternoon tea to die for! Here's how you can do the same. Select the prettiest, most delicate, china tea service that you own. Make sure your cutlery is gleaming bright. Set the table with a snowy white lacy or linen table cloth. Add matching napkins. Use tea leaves rather than teabags, if possible, and provide a tea strainer. Set out the essentials. As well as milk and sugar, provide a small dish of thinly sliced lemons. Provide two teapots. One teapot should contain the actual tea. The other one should be filled with hot water. Serve dainty finger sandwiches, and scones with clotted cream and homemade jam, delicate sweet golden crumbly biscuits, mouthwatering slices of buttery, freshly baked cakes and other fancies such as meringues and fruit - filled tartlets. Have a three-tiered cake stand with sandwiches on the bottom tier, freshly baked scones on the middle tier and a selection of fruitcake and fairy/cream cakes on the top tier. Set out the condiments. Put jam, honey, clotted cream and butter into small individual pots or dishes. All these delicious treats create the quintessential English teatime experience.

"A selection of Sandwiches to die for!"

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English Afternoon Tea Sandwich Recipe

Ingredients

Tara's Egg Mayonnaise & Cress Sandwich Ingredients:

• White Bread

• Butter

• Egg

• Mayonnaise

• Mustard

• Cress

• White Pepper

Directions

1. Mash the hard-boiled eggs with mayonnaise, a little mustard, salt and white pepper.

2. Butter the white bread, spread the egg mayonnaise evenly and sprinkle over the cress.

3. Top with a second slice, remove the crusts and cut into finger sandwiches.

Ingredients

Tara's Smoked Salmon & Cream Cheese Sandwich Ingredients:

• Brown Bread

• Butter

• Smoked Salmon

• Cream Cheese

• Chives

• Lemon

• Black Pepper

Method

1. Mix the cream cheese with finely chopped chives and black pepper.

2. Butter the brown bread, spread with the cream cheese mixture and lay smoked salmon slices on top with a squeeze of lemon.

3. Top with a second slice, remove the crusts and cut into finger sandwiches.

Ingredients

Tara's Cucumber Sandwich Ingredients:

• White Bread

• Butter

• Cucumber

• White Vinegar

• Black Pepper

• Salt

Directions

1. Peel and thinly slice the cucumber, sprinkle with white vinegar, salt and pepper, leave for half an hour, then drain.

2. Butter the white bread and lay two layers of cucumber on top.

3. Top with a second slice, remove the crusts and cut into finger sandwiches.