Cucumber sandwiches - what's right, what's wrong?!

[bebejones]

Planning a nice afternoon tea for 'The Wedding', as we are having a small gathering to bitch about the outfits watch the proceedings, and of course I will be making cucumber sandwiches. So apart from cucumbers, what else do I need?

White bread or brown? (I'm thinking white)
And I cut the crusts off yes?

Do I do triangles or fingers?

Butter or margerine?

Peel the cucumbers or not?

Salt?

My Godmother used to make heavenly cucumber sandwiches, I used to love them! Just can't remember much about the technicalities/etiquette!

Also, anything else that should be included in the tea? Pimms anyone?! :o

[lljkk]

Oh Gawd, don't tell me there's supposed to be technique to cuke sarnies.
I do margarine on brown bread, sliced in rectangles.
I do not peel or add salt or remove crusts. I would not like extra salty sandwiches or white bread without crusts, myself.
DC like 'em my way, all happy.

[BikeRunSki]

White
Butter not marge
Triangles
No crusts
Skin on

We had "afternoon tea" for a friends' baby shower, last summer. That group of friends is all competitive undereaters and could not work out why they were so nice. It's butter you skinny loons, butter!

[charitygirl]

I ALWAYS soak my cucumber slices (yes, peeled) in some wine vinegar for 5 minutes them drain. It bring out their flavour and adds moistness. I like white bread for cucumber sandwiches and I remove the crusts for a posh tea. Fingers seem to be what you get in restaurants but triangles or squares are easier to eat IMO.

And DEFINITELY butter (I'd use salted but I am a salt fiend).

[KatyMac]

Well I think traditionally they were pickled in vinegar & served with mustard (or something revolting like that)

[overmydeadbody]

white bread
butter. Always, always, butter
crusts removed
triangles
unpeeled

[Cattleprod]

Maybe some alternative sandwiches for people like me who can't stand cucumber!!

Cheese and tomato, blt, ham, egg etc.?

[headfairy]

the key is to get the cucumber really thinly sliced... maybe use a mandolin or the slicey bit on the side of a box grater.

But yyyy to white bread and salted butter - God I want a cucumber sarnie now.

Pimms definitely, maybe teeny cupcakes. I like a macaroon too. And something like a Victoria sponge with raspberry jam and cream filling. Or scones with strawberry jam and clotted cream.

And you need one of those cake stands, and proper cups and saucers for the tea :)

[bebejones]

How could I forget scones!

Right, so...white bread, salted butter, unpeeled cucumber & crusts off!

(Will do some other sandwiches too)

Might do some shortbread too.

Headfairy - when you say Macaroon do you mean the coconutty ones or ones like this

[storminabuttercup]

white, butter, no crusts, unpeeled and triangles!

how about salmon sandwiches? prawn sandwiches?

yy to scones

i would like strawberries and cream too

[shinyshoes]

white
butter
unpeeled cue
crusts off
triangles

[bebejones]

Jam tarts? Or are they not 'posh' enough?

[piprabbit]

Cucumber sandwiches need a little pepper too, it's about the only thing I add pepper to by choice.

[storminabuttercup]

i'd like jam tarts.

in fact what time shall i be there?

i'll bring a bottle of something fizzy!

[bebejones]

Would noon suit?!

[storminabuttercup]

perfect

[headfairy]

bebe, those ones you linked to. Not the coconut ones, but the teeny weeny delicate French style ones. I know, French cakes in a Royal wedding party, but they are uber chic no? :o

[bebejones]

They are tres chic yes! :o Can't think of anywhere round here I could get them, so would have to make them! Not impossible...but a bit of a pfaff!

So far I am thinking:
Cucumber sandwiches (plus possibly Smoked salmon and cheese & tomato)
Small scones with clotted cream & jam & butter options
A sponge cake with whipped cream & fresh strawberries
Jam Tarts (mostly for the kiddiwinks)
Tea
Copious amounts of Pimms :o

I feel I need more savoury, but crisps just won't cut it!

Any suggestions? I'm afraid my budget won't stretch to caviar! Maybe some Blinis with smoked salmon?

[boosmummie]

Blinis with creme fraiche, smoked salmon and a dollop of fake caviar or salmon roe

Mini mini yorkshires with a horseradish cream (2tbls creme fraiche/1tsp horseradish), get a small rump steak, cook to liking and slice in tiny slices to top said horseradish cream.

Mini tarlet cases with a smoked mackeral pate made with philli, s&p, squeeze lemon juice and s.mackeral fillets.

I could go on and on!

[boosmummie]

*tartlet

[bebejones]

Please do! Fab ideas...making me very hungry!

[bebejones]

Had thought about mini toad-in-the-holes, but what you said with the beef sounds much nicer posher!! :o

[headfairy]

cheese straws
mini quiches (shop bought natch, I'm not suggesting for a minute you make them :o)
Dainty toast fingers with gentlemen's relish on

[bebejones]

Dainty toast fingers and pate too maybe?

My friend did some lovely little tartlets with tomato & chorizo at the weekend, but maybe that's a bit non-British?!

Cheese straws are a good idea, DD will probably scoff them all though!

[bebejones]

Cheese & crackers?

[HerRoyalHighnessPrincessCervix]

loving these idea.

so far i'm doing

cucumb sandwhes
egg sandwiches
smoked salmon
i'm planning a red/white/blue meringue thing with blueberries, strawbs and cream.
cake

need a savory nibble

pimms
bucks fizz
champagne