Simple afternoon tea ideas?

[AmazingCoffee]

I shall be WFH indefinitely as my work have decided to save money and sell of the office building.

One thing I have loved about WFH is that when home schooling finishes the DCs and I sit down for a cup of tea and a quick snack. So far this has revolved around scones and jam, pancakes, little cakes, cheese on toast and that sort of thing and it has been such a lovely way to take stock and reconnect with the family. But I am running out of fun tasty ideas!

I'd love some more ideas if anyone is willing to give them. :)

That's a lovely idea. I barely get a grunt out of my DCs after school, so might give this a try.

A couple of ideas. I use this shortbread recipe and it's easy to jazz up with other flavours - I've done a chocolate orange version, and vanilla also. www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/chocolate-recipes/scottish-shortbread/

I've not tried these yet but how about some sort of puff pastry pinwheels? Ham and cheese work well as a simple option. www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/pizza-puff-pinwheels

Crumpets
hot cross buns
finger sandwiches
Nachos with cheese & salsa/dip
fruit kebabs
Fruit and melted chocolate dip

Yummy yummy yummy!

I had forgotten about crumpets. That is for today then!

I have been scared to make shortbread as I am a rubbish baker....I shall definitely try that recipe!

[looks for bullet journal to write ideas down]

fruit and melted chocolate! Mmmm.

Traybakes
Waffles
Croissants with savoury or sweet fillings
Brioche

Cheese and biscuits, toasted tea cakes, a little bowl of soup, homemade muffins (either savory or sweet), hot chocolate and cream with marshmallows

Cinnamon Toast is one of our favourite afternoon tea 'eats'

Oh loving it. Thank you so much everyone.

Welsh cakes. Keep a ball of dough in the fridge and straight into the frying pan - done in two minutes.

We did this when my DC were in primary as I WFH and they didn't have dinner until late because they had hobbies and activities. We did try to be healthy most days but fun treats/tips that haven't been mentioned already were:

Homemade cookies from frozen: I make them in a batch then freeze them individually. They can be cooked from frozen in 10/15 mins.

Cheddar and Parmesan shortbread: as above they also go very well with a glass of wine

Mini baked frittatas

Homemade sausage rolls/mini pasties/samosas/scotch eggs/feta filo pastries/quiche (but shop bought are fine)

Ice cream sodas/milkshakes/smoothies

Vegetable crisps

Crudites with hummus

Soft pretzels

Cheese and crackers or a mini baked brie

Iced frozen berries (melted white chocolate and cream poured over frozen fruit)

Individual fruit jellies

Actually anything "mini" or served as a selection made it seem like a treat and exciting to them

Oh crumpets with butter and honey today. Peppermint tea for the Dcs and a glass of sherry for me (as I finish early on Fridays.).

I just love all these ideas. :)

I am sure baked brie will be loved by the DCs but they so far have turned their nose up. But I find they are more willing to be slightly adventurous for an afternoon tea (perhaps because they know they will have dinner later).

DC1 has food and sensory issues and is incredibly thin so the additional calories per day is really good for him. (Not so good for me, but I am prepared to take one for the team )

One of mine also has food and sensory issues @AmazingCoffee and I found afternoon tea was a great way adding additional calories, variety and less pressured way of trying new things too because it is easy to offer another alternative eg 2 types of cookie or 4 different crudites or 2 different types of charcuterie or cheese, and they are things that are easy to take a small piece to try IYSWIM? Whereas as trying a new type of pasta sauce for dinner means having an entirely different stand by option if you have a child with sensory issues.

It sounds like you are having a great fun. Enjoy your afternoon teas! If you are able to enjoy a cheeky sherry on Friday afternoons, I definitely recommend the cheese shortbreads for next week

100g plain flour
100g softened butter
50-75g grated cheese to taste (cheddar or a mix with parmesan)

Mix, roll into small balls about the size of a walnut, chill until the butter is hardened or freeze for future use. Bake at 160C fan for around 15 mins until they are golden and the cheese strands are dark golden. They will melt around the edges at first before they form a domed biscuit and cook. Don't panic! When they are cooked, leave them to cool until they have hardened (they will be soft when they come out of the oven).

You can also roll the dough into a sausage, chill and slice into rounds. They will cook quicker and look less rustic but it's more work

Baked cheddar and parmesan crisps are another good recipe especially with a sherry:

www.wholesomeyum.com/recipes/baked-cheddar-parmesan-crisps-recipe/

oooh briliant. :)

Cheeky sherry might become a thing.

i have just managed to get a mini magnum down DS1. Things are looking up. :)

Tea loaf. Easy to make and keeps well.

Welsh cakes are especially tasty hot from the pan.

cheese scones (cheated got them from my tesco delivery) warm & than with another slice of cheese inside & sweet pickle plus a salad garnish cherry tomatoes & olives (salad sprinkled with the nice mango mayonnaise tesco's own)
half a jacket potato with tuna mayonnaise
egg mayonnaise sandwich with mustard & cress in triangles or curried egg

i have just managed to get a mini magnum down DS1. Things are looking up

I am feeling your joy My DS is at uni now but I think I was almost more happy when he ordered unfamiliar (and quite adventurous) food for the first time in a restaurant than I was about him getting in to university, which was the purpose of the celebratory dinner!

Cheese straws (using shop bought puff) are really quick and easy, smell delicious when you walk in the door.

@orangenasturtium

i have just managed to get a mini magnum down DS1. Things are looking up

I am feeling your joy My DS is at uni now but I think I was almost more happy when he ordered unfamiliar (and quite adventurous) food for the first time in a restaurant than I was about him getting in to university, which was the purpose of the celebratory dinner!

DS went through a (regrettably fast] phase of pretending he was Gordon Ramsay (without the swearing) and rating my food. I got a third of a brussel sprout down him by asking 'What would Gordon say?'. (Gordon said 'phenomenal' but has refused it ever since. )

I like the puff pastry ideas on this thread and the cheese scones!!! Certainly for me anyway. :)

Thanks everyone!

I think cheese scones today. I might even make them myself....

also Welsh cakes!

I might become more adept at baking after all!.

What a nice idea! I'm now going to make scones for the DC for after school on Monday

Bara brith
Homemade iced buns (a hot water & butter icing is really quick & easy to make, & sets well)
Spiced fruit loaf
Individual bread plaits / twists with pepperoni, cheese, tomato etc twisted in, like a tiny pizza, & lightly sprinkled with cheese halfway through cooking
Definitely American style cookies, freeze balls of the mix & bake as needed, most don't need rolling out

Another puff pastry ice which we all love:

• sheet of ready rolled puff pastry (I love baking but draw the line at pastry making!)
• spread with salted butter and marmite
• roll up and cut into discs
• liberal sprinkling of Parmesan
• bake and enjoy

Gah, one not ice!