6th Annual Tea Party

Last weekend I hosted my 6th annual tea party. Each year I invite several of my friends (19 were in attendance this year) to an afternoon of tea, good food, and most importantly, laughter and friendship. It is an event that I start planning months in advance. Everything is thoughtfully planned, down to the smallest detail. I spend almost as much time narrowing my guest list as I do planning my menu. And even though I spend many, many hours in my kitchen and on my feet, it is something that I thoroughly enjoy. It is one small way for me to show appreciation to my friends and the many blessings that they bring into my life. And of course I couldn't have pulled it off without my fellow tea-mate, Steph. She spent several hours on the day of my tea helping prepare the savories, and even found time in her busy schedule to help with party favor preparations in the weeks before. It was wonderful having a partner in the kitchen not only to share in the work but also to have as company.

For the second year in a row I hosted a "Royal" tea. The addition of champagne is what makes an afternoon tea, "Royal." Also this year, my menu featured herbs that were mostly evident in my savories and lavender scones. Tub tea party favors also helped to tie in the herbal theme.


I asked each guest to bring their own "favorite" teacup, and they shared charming stories of their teacups and china. Some teacups were family heirlooms, some were from overseas, and even some were disguised as coffee mugs.

All in all I think it was a lovely afternoon. My only wish was that Steph and I would have had more time to mingle with guests and less time in the kitchen.

Champagne glasses and lilacs

Finger sandwiches

Lavender Scones

2 1/2 cup flour

1 stick butter

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

2 tsp of edible lavender

1 egg

1/3 cup of honey

1/3 cup sour cream

Tiered tray of sweets

Mini chocolate cakes

Fresh fruit tartlets

Cream puffs and chocolate eclairs

Tub Teas

Oats

Lavender

Chamomile

Calendula

Lemon balm