Afternoon Tea menu

[pointydog]

Help me create the ideal afternoon tea menu please. I want to reach some sort of perfection for dd1's birthday.

Current ideas:

mini sandwiches (unfortunately fillings will be dull because dd1 has no sense of sandwich adventure)
either mini sausage rolls or little cheese roux pastry things (never made those before)
mini golden meringues with cream and rasps
mini pecan tarts (never made before, will need trial run)
chocolate fridge cake or chocolate, cherry and coconunt slice (little squares)
cupcakes - chocolate or vanilla? buttercream or fondant? These will be the 'birthday cake' so need to include something spongy

[Scathac]

are you mental? how old is dd1? is she some sort of gourmet? you really need to simplify!!! who are you trying to impress? ask dd to make a list for you, and follow it!! then you will have made everything she likes! hey presto!! i am willing to bet the meringues go down a treat, although in my experience, the cream isn't always well received by children. neither are nuts (mini pecan tarts) or coconut. cupcakes - big yes! esp if they are all different colours, with glitter on. give the little cheese roux a miss, and go for mini pizzas instead. children aren't as sophisticated as you, and they like things they recognise. even if dd is a teenager .... actually, especially if dd is a teenager. and don't go overboard on the chocolate - again, they don't all like it!

[pointydog]

I am trying to impress myself. I am so looking forward to this, scathac. What sort of name is that anyway?

dd1 will be 15. I made a cake standy thing last year too and it went down a bomb. It's a lot simpler than it sounds, you know. Sausage rolls, fRidge cake, meringues and cupcakes is hardly egon ronay sophisticatedness.

But I agree re the roux things. Mini pizzas better but a bit faffy perhaps?

I was veering towards vanilla cupcakes due to the chocolate in the fridge cake or cherry slice.

[thisisyesterday]

mini pizza is so NOT afternoon tea territory.
if you want it to be like a proper afternoon tea stick with your original plan, otherwise it's just regular party food on a cake stand isn't it?

[pointydog]

yes, ok. No pizza. Saves me the faff too.

[thisisyesterday]

you could do cheese straws? they're easy.

look up afternoon tea menus from fancy places and see if there are any "easy" ideas

[fivegomadindorset]

No pizza, rest sounds fabulous.

[thisisyesterday]

ok, the Dorchester does a classic afternoon tea see menu

all fairly easy to prepare.... just sandwiches and a cream tea and some pastries.

ditto the ritz very similar menu

[pointydog]

Never done cheese straws. Is it just a case of twisting strips of puff pastry and sprinkling on cheese?

Yes! I will look up cafe menus

[pointydog]

Aha, you've linked for me.

Damn dorchester doesn't list exactly what their fine platter of cakes and tarts consists of. Good tips re sandwiches

[Clayhead]

What you describe sounds just perfect!

But then my dc quite like cream...

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

For teenage girls I'd be inclined to homemake fewer items tbh. I'd do something like -

Mini sausage rolls as you say (any veggies? The Linda McCartney frozen ones are good)
sarnies - I'd do a few different flavours because even though dd may have no sandwich adventure, her friends might!
Crisps (because whatever posh hotels think, a sandwich without a crisp or two is just bread with stuff in)
Cherry tomatoes and grapes (so they get a few vitamins)
Vanilla cupcakes with buttercream and sprinkles in lurid pastels (homemade)
Caramel shortbread (Thorntons)
Chocolate and coconut slice sounds fab (when shall I get there?!).
Chocolate dipped strawberries - dead easy but look like you've put a lot of effort in!

[pointydog]

Hi remus. I'm getting the hang of your name changes

This year, the afternoon tea is just for family. Dd1 does not want loads of friends at the house, they're all going en masse to the beach a few days later. I don't feel snubbed. Honest.

ANyway. Few crisps. Good. Decorative cherry toms - good, dd1 loves them. Choc strawberries - fabulous idea. Yes, lurid cupcakes wuold go down well I think, rather than tasteful.

[LemonDifficult]

Oooh, your tea sounds fab.

You could ponce it up with some mini savoury tarts, if you wanted more ponce. Patum peperium on toast is very wanker-y too.

[pointydog]

I have no idea what patum peprium is. Not pepper pate?

[cleanandclothed]

Scones with jam and cream? Fruitcake? ( can make ahead) sounds delicious!

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

Nope - me neither. It sounds like it might involve anchovies or something equally stinky though.

Glad you recognised me! :) I need to change it again because it's time to get rid of the Potter name BUT do I go back to a previous one or think of something new. Decisions...

Mini savoury tarst are a good idea and dead easy. You can do tiny quiches in jam tart trays.

[Al0uiseG]

Home made Fondant Fancies, they look amazing and I've never dared attempt them.

[LemonDifficult]

It's like a grand anchovy squish. You can get it in the supermarket. You spread it on thinly, very like marmite. Deeeeeeelish.

[ivykaty44]

afternoon tea

sarnies white and brown bread with crusts removed - cut into triangles and sat upright on plate.
sausage roll, pork pie, scotch egg

lashings of squash

Scones - jam and cream
shortbread
jam tarts
treacle tarts
batternburg cake

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

Ooh do I won a prize for guessing anchovies? Is it like the stuff they always used to have in Malory Towers?

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

win not won

[ivykaty44]

If you want to do those ritz tarts on the top layer

www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/fruit-recipes/raspberry-mascarpone-tarts do jamie filling to just some jam tart size rich pastry case

[LemonDifficult]

Yes, and your prize is lashings of ginger beer.

[ivykaty44]

what date is the birthday?

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

Thank you. LOVE ginger beer! :)