Watercress isn't something I usually look for in the produce department so I'm not even sure if it's available at Safeway or Fred Meyer, I'll have to look next time I'm there.
The Lady of the House Speaking
Friday, April 26, 2024
W is for Watercress
Thursday, April 25, 2024
V is for Victoria Sandwich
Not a traditional cake that is found on a tiered server, the Victoria Sandwich is a "cut cake", a cake that is sliced and served with tea (still in the afternoon but not in the sense that we have been discussing afternoon tea so far in this series). The sponge cake is named after Queen Victoria and would have been served in her time sandwiched with jam. These days, cream has been added. It is not iced or frosted but simply sprinkled with icing sugar, made more pleasing if it is sprinkled through a doily to make a decorative pattern.
Wednesday, April 24, 2024
U is for Universal
U is another tough letter, so I chose Universal as one of its definitions is including or covering all or a whole collectively or distributively without limit or exception.
Anyone looking at an afternoon tea table would probably think "gluten overload" as their first thought! Bread, scones, cake, pastry. How long has gluten-free been a thing? Thirty years? Forty years? It seems to me that when I was younger, it was not a term I ever heard. If something didn't agree with you, you just didn't eat it. Happily, things have changed, and afternoon tea is available in many venues to everyone.
Here's a look at the Diamond Jubilee Tea Salon at Fortnum & Mason with three menu variations.
Classic Afternoon Tea
Tuesday, April 23, 2024
T is for Tea Time Magazine
Monday, April 22, 2024
S is for Scones
Whether it's an afternoon tea at a posh venue or at home or a cream tea in a tearoom, there will always be scones.
There are usually two types - plain and rich. Rich scones have raisins or today, a variety of dried fruits or other additions.
I've always used the Be-Ro cookbook recipe for scones. Be-Ro is a food manufacturing business with products such as flour and baking powder and later a variety of other products. Thomas Bell, the founder, developed the world's first self-rising flour. My Mum had the Centenary Edition of the cookbook which I believe is from 1975 as Be-Ro was founded in 1875. I currently have the 41st edition which, sadly, is only available in the UK. I was fortunate to have a UK friend order and send me a copy.
Sunday, April 21, 2024
National Tea Day 2024
Saturday, April 20, 2024
R is for Royal Afternoon Tea
I briefly mentioned in A is for Afternoon Tea that adding a glass of champagne makes your tea a royal afternoon tea. It also increases the price considerably (from as much as £15 to £30 depending on the venue). So, unless it's a really special occasion, I'd save the champagne for another time.
However, this really does look delightful, doesn't it?