Afternoon tea

A quick trip to M&S food...problem solved, they have everything.

Just a slight dampener. If any of your friends are diabetic, afternoon tea is one of the worst things for them. The amount of carbohydrate is the problem.
I hope none are and you have a super time

Cucumber sandwiches with a side salad (not too much) and scones with jam/strawberries cream or shop bought soft sponge cream cakes...mmmm..yum...what time do you want me round!

My daughter treated me to afternoon tea in a newly opened Cafe - it was very nice but nothing that I couldn't do myself at home - we had crustless sandwiches - a cream cheese version plus egg mayonnaise plus smoked salmon with cucumber. There were four little cakes -two chocolate based and two plain sponge with jam and cream filling, and two cherry scones with jam and cream served separately. Finally, on the tiny top plate, there was a selection of mint biscuits. My 1930's cookery book I inherited from my late mum in law talks about doing an afternoon tea and recommends hiring in a day servant to serve guests - but it too has a selection of crustless sandwiches along with a non crumbly cake that can be easily portioned.

I hope none of your guests are gluten intolerant. I am really envious of people who can enjoy afternoon tea.

All that talk of afternoon teas is making me hungry. Pass the cake tin! (haven't got one really got no will power)

When I had friends to tea my Mum used to bake a sponge mixture in a Swiss roll tin, ice it then cut the edges off and cut it into small pieces. She put a glacé cherry and pieces of Angelica on top and we used to love it. Sometimes she woud sprinkle coconut on top of the icing before it set. Usually the icing was white but sometimes she coloured it pink. You could also use a small cutter and make mini Victoria sponges.

Cream tea, scone, jam, cream and nice pot of tea. Always hear the ladies order this in the tea shops.

I Recently held a tea party for older people (for my dear aunt and her friends) I worked very hard and they all were very appreciative BUT lots of people had health issues such as diabetes and food intolerance so lots of food went to waste before I called my grandkids in to help. So whatever you decided maybe check first that there are no off limit foods. Good luck hope it goes well

Very small, crust less sandwiches, small scones , split and spread with jam, cream and berries, perhaps shortbread and a sponge cake - plain, coffee or chocolate. Most leftovers can be frozen. Shortbread keeps well in a tin.

Home-made scones with side dishes of butter, jam and cream in pretty dishes (let them add their butter, jam, clotted cream themselves) choice of 2-3 sandwiches (cucumber went down very well at my afternoon tea) and Mr Kilping fondant fancies (I'd given up after baking scones and making sandwiches)

All served from a 3-tier plate with handle for passing around and Bone China teacups and plates.

Or Angel cake

Not everyone likes Earl Grey (or Ear Grey!) tea, so not sure about that...

Yuk! Can't stand that taste of bergamot Ana - yes offer a choice of tea too.

Is it still possible to buy thin cut bread for sandwiches? It seems to have gone out of fashion! If I buy sandwiches when out for the day, I usually wind up ditching one round of bread and having an open sandwich - too much carbohydrate otherwise. But sandwiches at home are also a problem, I can't find thin cut bread to buy, and can't slice it thin enough myself.

I think the delight of "afternoon tea" is having it prettily presented by someone else. Nice china etc. It has to be done properly.

henbane I've not found any. Let me know if you do.

Have my friend coming to lunch on Wednesday, decided on quice ordered from Waitrose, cheese and onion, cheeses, French bread, dishes of pickle, cucumber and cherry tomatoes. Making a cake and selection of biscuits and tea.oh and some rocket.

Dainty sandwiches and a Victoria Sandwich always go down nicely with a pot of tea.

I'm doing a tea for friends tomorrow and wanted thin-sliced bread. Not seen any for years.is medium sliced the same as thin was? And thick sliced what medium was? And farmhouse what thick was?

Anya, pensionpat - The thinnest I've found are medium, but specifically in the ultra cheap ranges - Lidl's Simply, Sainsbury's Basics, white or wholemeal - though I'm sure they're still thicker cut than the old thin sliced we used to use for posh sandwiches!

And perhaps some tiny sausage rolls?!

Oh dear, I didn't know you can't buy thinly sliced bread, I rarely buy bread and certainly can't cut it myself.
What I can do myself is cook, wouldn't dream of buying cakes from Mr Kipling or M&S!

I hadn't realised thin sliced bread was a thing of the past! If it helps I have occasionally made pinwheel sandwiches, which are very dainty. Cut the crusts off white bread, flatten and lengthen it with a rolling pin, spread filling on, roll up and slice into bite-sized pinwheels. They've always gone down well.

I agree Hilda a really good cream tea is excellent.
The afternoon teas we have had ( eye wateringly expensive in The Cotswolds) have been disappointing.

But anyway, finger sandwiches ( crustless) with smoked salmon, egg and cress,
Or ham and chutney,
Small cakes to choose from and a choice of teas.