Tea With An Englishwoman (also known as: An English Morning Tea)

Sarah's Victoria Sponge Cakes

"Tea" to the English is really a picnic indoors. ~Alice Walker 

If this modern girl had a Bucket List, Reader, receiving an invitation to tea at the home of an Englishwoman would be right at the top. So imagine my surprise and delight when my English friend (we'll call her MEF--she's married to MEB: my English boss and they have three DEC's: delightful English children.) did just that and asked me to help throw a traditional English Morning Tea at her home for 25 ladies! 

MEF

After squealing and jumping around like a small child for a moment or two, I regained my composure and began mentally packing all the tea party goodies we would need to pull this off. We then talked guest list, menu options and planned to re-convene a few days later at the World Market and Trader Joe's, where MEF assured me, traditional English delectables abound.

I have to tell you, Reader, if you've never taken a tour of World Market's international food section guided by an authentic English-person (or other proper European representative), I highly recommend it! You will spend a magical afternoon learning all about Hob Knobs, Digestives, Crisps, Devon Cream and Squashed Fly Biscuits. Also, you will learn that Vegemite is not very tasty. Just sayin'.

But I digress... after loading our cart with most of the goodies listed above as well as some Harrowgate Traditional English Lemon Curd and an assortment of fun English napkins & novelty teas, we hit Trader Joe's for crumpets and then headed home to prepare the mother of all English Tea Party spreads. 

 The morning of MEF's tea party dawned bright and a tad brisk. When I arrived at her front door, MEF's glowing smile greeted me and my bushels o' tea cups and party paraphernalia. We got to work straight away and in just 30 minutes, an English tea party paradise was laid out before us.

Come along inside... We'll see if tea and buns 

can make the world a better place. 

~Attributed to Kenneth Grahame

Butterfly Cakes & Jam Tarts

"Would you like an adventure now.... or would you like to have your tea first?" Wendy said "tea first" quickly, and Michael pressed her hand in gratitude.... ~J.M. Barrie

No sooner was the table gorgeous and bursting with delicious treats than the first guests began to arrive.  Once all of the ladies--dressed in their tea party best--had gathered excitedly in the kitchen, MEF and a few of her fellow English friends gave a proper tutorial on how to make a cup of tea.

Equipped with steaming cups of warm goodness, the ladies then ventured into the dining room to sample the English fare.

Trying Crumpets

 Butterfly Cakes, Victoria Sponges, Sour Cream Scones (check back for recipe links) and biscuits (cookies)--all were pronounced delicious and every bite was savored. MEF's lovely home was full of laughter and delightful companionship well into the afternoon and her English Morning Tea declared a smashing success. A little tea party fantasy fulfilled...

A cuppa British Invasion black tea with cream

Sour Cream Scones

A plate tutorial

MEF's new Tea Set

 ...a land of sheltered homes and warm firesides — firesides that were waiting — waiting, for the bubbling kettle and the fragrant breath of tea. ~Agnes Repplier

Tea Quotes courtesy of the Quote Garden.