A few weeks ago I decided to actually use all the things I buy and hoard and never use. I have the most beautiful tea cup collection and some delightful bowls and glassware that never actually get used and it seems like such a shame not to create a reason to use all that gorgeousness instead of hiding it in a cupboard and so the idea of High Tea was born. I am a tea mug and eat the biscuits from the packet kind of girl so much research was needed to ensure we did this properly. Oh google I love you so.
So on Saturday I dressed in my best girly clothes (jeans and a polar fleece vest with my fluffy white slippers ) and dragged out the tea set and all my pretty china for High Tea. Many many hours were spent baking and I bought a new table cloth for the occasion. I invited my best girlfriends and we sat down to an afternoon of gossip and sipping tea.
Peppermint slice and caramel slice
Gluten free goodies for the wheat challenged.
I'm sure that in the days of old they had chocolate at High Tea.
Teeny tiny one bite sandwiches- ham and mustard and fish paste (not all in the same sandwich because that would be too gross)
Scones - courtesy of Sister of Pyjamas
Mmmmmmmmmmm....
Butterfly cakes.
Our resident expert SAJ showed us how to class it up because she's actually from the land of High Tea.
Sister of Pyjamas confessing her scones are made from a box of CWA mix. Just add water.
Patty Pie (Mother of Pyjamas ) showing us the correct way to use a tea pot.
Lamington sponge. An Aussie favourite.
Aside from the fact I traded both my lamb barrah kebab and cinnamon bun pancake recipes for the scone "recipe" (I'd like to know exactly how long she's been cheating for) and also the fact that I stuck my left boob right in one of those butterfly cakes reaching across the table in a very unclassy fashion it was a very high brow afternoon. I think this is something I need to do more often!
PS. I totally cheated. Aside from the sandwiches everything else came from Bruce the Baker. Thanks Bruce.
36 comments:
Wow very sophisticated. As I am sworn off carbs for the forseeable future this post has been absolute torture. I am sure I could have sat there and just sipped tea NOT. If you hadn't of told me I would have thought you had made everything. Have a good one.
You're so funny! I thought that was an awful lot of baking just to use your tea cups! I have a friend who has a collection and uses a different cup each morning for her tea.
Yes! i would have believed it all too! Your table looks gorgeous Shay, love the tablecloth!
The scones - classic!
x
What a great idea! I might have to try that too!
I have a set of Limoges china that I inherited from my mom, and it has never seen the outside of the kitchen cupboard! Maybe I could even bake some scones???
No photos of you dressed in all your finery and with the new hair do?
It was a great idea Shay, I really enjoyed setting up my high tea party.
Sisters!!!!!!!
Looks like a lovely day!
Very nice......I like all those goodies! I have seen the CWA scone mix but haven't yet tried it.
Going to the baker is not cheating - it is good allocation of your time and energy. You didn't want to be too tired to enjoy yourself! It all looks lush and I have no aversion to wheat, sugar, or carbs in general (which would explain why I am no longer a size 8) so can I come next time? It only takes about 24 hours to fly to you after all! (I'll make a lemon drizzle, and not from a packet, and I'll give you the recipe.)
You went all out for your High Tea. It's so pretty! What fun to invite your family and friends. The food looks delish. ☺
LittleGirl and I had High Tea - Southern Style. Not near as fancy as all your lovely baked goods, but fun just the same. Happy Monday! ☺
Wow, so fabulous! Your treats look delectable - sorry about the boob - I can relate!
Congratulations Your High Tea Looked Beautiful...Your Slices look Amazing..
cheers
Looks like great fun .. I didn't have mine. I really want to though. I'll have to find my china cups .. I'll have to try having friends over .. what a novel idea. Miss Sunshine provided me with a ton of information.
True confession time .. I have attended two teas and went to a tea room once. I think tea at the house with friends would be more fun.
Very classy. It all looks gorgeous and very yummy.
What a gorgeous layout! Sure wish I lived closer I would have brought along some super chocolate chunk brownies with chocolate frosting too!
Looks like everyone had a wonderful time.
I really wish.... that I had made it to your Tea Party ......
the food look so Beautifully displayed Peppermint slice so yummy
Looks like a blast, Shay! Very posh indeed.
Oh if you were as old as I am, you would remember when those lovely cups were used for showers. We had about four boxes that were stored and brought out for showers.
High tea is so hoity toity...lovely lovely goodies too!
I could hear your beautiful teacups sighing with pure joy at being so beautifully presented and USED! Everything looked devine. I gained weight just looking at all that beautiful baked finery. 'Butterfly cakes' are my all time favourite since childhood. I must now go get a cloth and wipe the lick makes off the screen. So elegantly done!
Your High Tea looks fabulous, I love that tablecloth! It seems a fun time was had by all :-) I totally forgot but I did get an afternoon to myself as hubby took the boys delivering firewood.....that was almost as good as High Tea as its the end of the holidays and my brain is fried :-)
Looks like an altogether lovely afternoon was had by all who attended. Pretty tea cups and pretty food with good company - Perfect.
What a great idea- there does not seem much purpose for keeping all these beautiful things for a rainy day.
It looks like you had a splendid time together.
Thanks for sharing your lovely afternoon, your goodies and your time together.
Regards from Western Canada,
Anna
Glad you fit in some fun this weekend amongst all the crazy :-) And 3 cheers for Bruce! That is totally the way to do it!
Gosh your readers are gullible! (Perhaps they didn't all know how crazy your weekend was!)
It looks lovely, no matter who did the baking. My favourite baker from round your way is Paul the baker down near Barnacle Bills. He makes an excellent giant donut!
You may be fooling some with your "tablecloth" but methinks you have a clever cover for augmenting your fabric stash with that one! Don't worry, your secret's safe with me.
Girl, I'll have you know I baked scones for the first time in your honor yesterday. You would have likely spat them out covertly into your napkin, but I tried anyway.
All kidding aside, your spread looks SO lovely and fab. You really had be going that you baked yourself into a frenzy, until I read your disclaimer. Anyway, it's just wonderful and I hope you all enjoyed it!
Lovely idea, even if you are a cheater. You and your sister are a pair, apparently, LOL! Glad your soiree was delightful and delicious.
I'm back for seconds, if Ann Marie brings her chocolate chunk brownies can I please have an invitation.
My hubby would have been in heaven he loves all that stuff. The butterfly cakes look very spiffy. You should never have revealed Bruce the Baker.
I love that fabulous table cloth!! And all those yummy goodies look so yummy and good!
Shay,
What a wonderful event! Her majesty would have been honoured to attend. I LOVE dainty dishes etc. I must admit that I use them at least twice a year just because they add a touch of refinement to this otherwise jumble of a house that we live in. Bravo!
Helen, (Nanci's P.T)
Do I recognise that tablecloth fro the clearance fabric racks at Spotlight? I certainly hope now that you didn't pay full price, I'm pretty sure it's the same stuff.
I know they're not very "high teaish" but does scoffing three chocolate donuts yesterday count?
Oh no...you shouldn´t have told us you didn´t bake that stuff yourself...I would have believed it all....well should I ever make it to Australia, I will definetly drink tea with you (for the first time in my life:-) )
so sorry I didn't join you - looks like you had a great time! I would have been sad if you really had baked all of your treats - if anyone deserved to have a little help from Bruce, it was you!
Thanks for sharing all of your family with us - your china is beautiful!
I agree with Marg - we really needed a visual of you all dolled up with your new hairdo!
I'm so glad you finally used all your beauties! Looks yummy and like great fun!
OH MY GOSH, SHAY!!!!!! This is the BEST idea! How awesome that you used that precious tea set! Just so cool! I bet all the girls had a blast! I can't believe you told on your sister to the world, though. Now even America knows about her scone mix. You're a meanie. ;)
You're killing me with all that scrummy goodness sitting there! Looks Luke a wonderful version of Aussie high tea :) Xx
Those scones really do look yummy. The came from a box? Seriously?
Also, I was going to do High Tea, but I don't drink tea and I don't have a teapot, or even a pretty pitcher to put the lemonade we were going to have instead in. But, I loved! reading about your high tea. It looks like so much fun and I wish I could have been there. You know how to throw a party.
xo -E
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