Tea Party Fun

Tea Party Stars

Parties are wonderful whether they are big or small they are always a celebration of something that is a shining star in your life. We celebrate birthdays and anniversaries, wedding and baby showers and love to share the fun of family holidays.

Welcome To Our Tea Party

Parties are wonderful whether they are big or small they are always a celebration of something that is a shining star in your life. We celebrate birthdays and anniversaries, wedding and baby showers and love to share the fun of family holidays. Tea parties are a wonderful way to gather with family and friends serving the star of the show of course, tea and fabulous light but delicious finger foods, little sandwiches, desserts, laughter and memories.

I love to hold small tea parties too. A relaxing few hours with my beautiful daughters where we share tea, home baked and store bought yummies depending on the day and how busy all of us have been all week and most importantly sharing stories, plans for the future and a few laughs which is like sugar in our tea, cream on our strawberries and chocolate on our cookies. Sweet and fun and even more special when shared.

No matter how big or small your tea party is, make it fun. Make it classic simple yet elegant and treat yourself to something wonderful whether it is a new tea flavor, serving from an adorable teapot or just sipping from a new tea cup with family and friends or all by yourself when you finally get some down time.

Photo Courtesy of my daughter Elyse who loves to put an elegant creative spin on our tea parties!

Ingredients

• White Bread
• Wheat Bread
• Mini Croissants
• Slim Style Breads
• Egg Salad
• Seafood Salad
• Cream Cheese
• Garlic and Herb Soft Cheese
• Turkey Slices
• Mayonnaise
• Cucumbers
• Shredded Lettuce

Instructions

1. Preparation is key so I like to gather and/or prepare everything I need before I am ready to make the sandwiches. When using white, whole wheat or any type of loaf bread start out by cutting the crusts off of the bread. This will ensure every sandwich is soft and looks great too. Then I divide each slice into four pieces, cut at least 2 slices at a time together so you end up with matching sandwich tops and bottoms.
2. Spread your fillings liberally but no so much that the sandwich will fall apart when picked up! You can use some fancy and inexpensive toothpicks to hold sandwiches together after they are made and even a grape tomato, piece of cucumber or some fun garnish on the toothpick looks great.
3. Some of the sandwiches can be open face especially the garlic and herb cheese on a slim flatbread, it's always a favorite.
4. I love to add some shredded lettuce for a little extra crunch, plus it looks really nice when it's shredded instead of a chunk or solid leaf of lettuce which is definitely chewier. If using turkey slices I like to spread a little mayo on the bread first so that it doesn't taste too dry and the guest won't have to take it apart to put their own on it before enjoying.

Tea Sandwiches

Tea Sandwiches Light

Tea Sandwich Platter

Tea Sandwich Platter

Tea Cups

Tea cups and saucers really set an elegant table at any tea party or your late night snack. Tea cups are generally more dainty than a traditional mug with a wider drinking area and smaller handle - perfect for proper etiquette, oh and don't forget it's not proper to have your pinky finger in the air, in fact in many circles it is considered rather rude!

Since tea cups are dainty many people pour their cream or milk into the cup first to protect the delicate cup from the hot tea. Avoid clinking your teaspoon against the cup so you don't make any rude noises and it protects your tea cup as well, gently swishing is recommended by tea experts.

Mostly I find the beautiful tea cups, matching saucers and even sets that include the matching tea pot are just so much fun and gorgeous.

Tea With Honey

Cindy Loves Tea With Honey

The recipe for success is adding honey to your tea instead of sugar to sweeten your cup. Did you know that tea is not only delicious, soothing and comforting but it is also healthy, healthy good for you too. It is said to contain anti-cancer perks, essential oils and minerals and even Vitamins like E and even some of the B complex. It's supposed to help protect the body from disease. Black and Green teas are know for their heart healthy and cancer preventative perks but more tea groups like White tea are becoming popular for their antioxidants called flavonoids. Anti-oxidants help the body get rid of unstable cells and molecules and that has to be a good thing.

Anti-oxidants help inhibit bacteria growth making it beneficial to the health of your teeth and gums, some research says it can be good for bone density as well. Honey offers antiseptic, anti-oxidant and cleansing properties that people swear by to help them ward off colds and viruses.

Tea and honey is one of the best loved remedies to help you get through a cold and sore throat for it's soothing properties and warm comforting touch.

With all those wonderful benefits you derive from tea, how could it get any better you ask. Well add some honey and sweeten the impact of two natural, delicious products working together in harmony for you.

Consider adding honey to your tea for healthy energy or just because you love the taste! My daughter Cindy who took this photo to share for our Tea Party never drinks tea without her honey.

Coffee, Tea Or, No Thanks!

Coffee Tea or No Thanks!

Some coffee lovers would never have a cup of tea, and tea drinkers I know will never trade a cup of tea for coffee. Then there are those who never drink either one! What will you drink at your own personal party, coffee - tea - or no thanks to either one?

Tea For Everyone

No matter what type of tea you like, whether you like to use tea bags, loose tea leaves with an infuser or even iced tea there are wonderful, inexpensive products you can easily buy and try for new flavors and drink recipes all year long

Tea Party Invitations

Tea Parties Matching Themes

If you love your tea in a bigger sturdier mug, or like a mug that is perfect for coffee and tea check out some of our very favorite tea mugs. Also available with matching tea pots, serving trays, plates and even linen napkins. Add in some personalized Tea Party invitations and you have a coordinated theme for your parties too.

More designs and styles are available but I chose my favorite for this tea party.

Sugar or Cream With Tea?

Would you like some sugar or cream with your tea? Whether you are enjoying an afternoon tea consisting of your favorite Tea as the star accompanied by light sandwiches and snacks or high tea which is actually like a dinner tea with a heavier full mean or just an enjoyable cup of tea there are some tea party etiquette rules you can follow for your tea party.

Traditional etiquette says sugar is placed in the tea cup first, then the tea poured in and last, the cream. If you are having lemon in your tea also then it is sugar first, thinly sliced lemon, then the tea and never, ever add milk or cream if you are having lemon!

Any way you do it, parties big or small serve up your sugar and cream fun style for an always fun and elegant touch.

Tea Time!

Tea Party Mugs

Thank you for joining us at our Tea Party! Tea is the star and so are you and your guests. We hope your next tea party will be just as fun and elegant and delicious no matter what size your party is.

Enjoy. Drink Tea. Have Fun!

Egg Salad Bonus Recipe! - Click Any Photo For Hard Boiled Egg Recipe Success

Egg Salad and Hard Boiled Eggs

Egg Salad and Hard Boiled Eggs

RECIPE BONUS!

If you would love some fresh egg salad on your tea sandwiches stop by our Hard Boiled Egg Magic lens to read our secret to Egg Success at: Hard Boiled Egg Magic Recipe For Success

Have you thrown a great tea party or attended one? We would love for you to share your delicious tea recipes and tea party ideas with us.

Salad Sandwich Delight

Lettuce Salad Sandwich – Why Not

Lunch time is rolling around and you just can’t decide whether to have a salad or a sandwich or both. Then you have decide what you want on your sandwich, or maybe your refrigerator is just not stocked with anything that interesting. A salad might be yummy, but you just don’t feel like cutting up all the ingredients and you only have salad in the house. Then you have to decide on dressing. Forget it if your in a hurry – salads can take forever to eat which is great when you have the time for a nice leisurely lunch.

And that’s why my granddaughter Kaitlyn and I invented my magic lettuce salad sandwich. It’s a sandwich, it’s a salad. It’s not fattening if you don’t want it to be and it is magically filling. Quick and easy. Great for lunch. Great for really anytime of the day you feel like something well, not a sandwich and not a salad but really it’s both. I like mine open faced, but you can decide how you like it.

Like all of my home made up recipes, it’s quick, super easy to prepare and even easier to clean up afterwards. And of course not many ingredients – you can fix it like I do or adjust it to your own creative salad sandwich delicious idea.

All of the photos were hungrily taken by me….just before I ate the whole thing!

Basic Salad Ingredients

Lettuce Salad Sandwich

Basic Salad Ingredients

Salad ingredients just don’t get any easier to prepare when you used pre-packaged shredded lettuce. Not that I have anything against a head of lettuce which can definitely be used instead if that’s what you keep in your fridge and prefer, but by the time I decide if I want to pull the lettuce out and cut it up, well I might just decide to reach for a piece of cake or something I don’t really want to give in to so I keep shredded lettuce around all the time.

It’s even a great idea if you prefer to buy fresh heads of lettuce to shred up a container full ahead of time and keep it ready to go for sandwiches just like these.

Shredded lettuce, a bowl or container to pour it in to. Oh, and a spoon or fork to mix it up with. All we are going to add is, mayonnaise.

Lettuce Salad Sandwich

Recipe For Salad Sandwich

I love to share and pass on easy recipes that I call Home Made Up. Here are the ingredients and a simple summary of how to put together a lettuce salad sandwich in no time at all. Step by Step photos and directions are included below.

Trust me it doesn’t get any easier, and I promise it’s good and good for you. Nutritionally, it has healthy produce, lettuce is always a keeper no matter what your fitness or weight loss program is, healthy fats in mayo and olive oil that helps keep you satisfied and fuller longer and fiber healthy carbs low in calories. We are talking about each sandwich weighing in at about 150 calories a piece. That’s a great lunch even if you pair it with soup or a small bag of chips.

It’s a great snack anytime and way better than the bag of chips or ice cream I know you were thinking about!

• Cook time: 5 min
• Ready in: 5 min
• Yields: Individual or Family Style

Ingredients

• Shredded Lettuce
• Mayonnaise
• Flat Bread or Slim Bread or Bread Of Your Choice
• Seasonings Like Salt and Pepper To Taste

Instructions

1. Shred some lettuce or open a bag of pre shredded lettuce. Add as much as you need into a bowl. Add a dollop of mayonnaise to your liking and mix it up. Add salt and pepper to taste.
2. Toast a slim bread or flat bread or bread of your choice and beautifully arrange your salad mix on top. I like my sandwich open faced, but you can try yours both ways.

Dollop The Mayo

Lettuce Salad Sandwich

Mayonnaise With Olive Oil, Light Mayo or Your Favorite Mayonnaise

That’s it, all I add to my lettuce is a dollop of mayonnaise. How much is a dollop? Hmmm, that’s typical of my cooking and recipes. There’s no exact measure of a dollop except how much you want. If you like a lot of mayo, add a big tablespoon full to start, if you aren’t too sure or don’t really like lots of it at a time, think smaller to start, you can always add more!

My favorite mayo is one with olive oil, even better there are light versions and brands with Extra Virgin Olive Oil, olive oil is healthy for you and check their nutritional labels some have only 50 calories per tablespoon which is probably way plenty. Kraft and Hellman’s both have a light and regular style mayo with olive oil and I think they are both great. So even if you have a heaping dollop, still not so bad considering the calories from the lettuce is well, super minimal as all you bunnies out there know.

You can even add in a pinch of salt, or a smidgen of pepper or both if you like to add some seasoning.

Salad Mix Ready To Go

Lettuce Salad Sandwich

Sandwich Thins Flat Bread Fundamentals

Sandwich Thins are my favorite base bread for this recipe. You can definitely use your favorite bread or rolls or bagels but I love that they range about 100 calories each, toast up perfectly in my toaster and hold the lettuce and mayo combination just right without soaking through. They aren’t very expensive and readily available at your local grocery store. You can buy them in bulk from many of the Club Warehouses or even on Amazon, some to eat now and freeze some for later.

Lettuce Salad Sandwich Flat Breads

I love my flat bread base toasted to get the fun warm crunch of the bread in contrast with the cool smoothness of the salad but you choose your favorite.

While you are mixing up your lettuce and mayo and letting it sit for a moment so the deliciousness of the mayo and seasonings combines just right, pop your flat bread base into the toaster. When you take them out of the pack it looks like one thin bread, see the top one on the plate but they come apart easily to form two sides to your sandwich. Looks thin, but they really pack a filling punch maybe because they have some healthy fiber in them (don’t worry you can’t tell they are healthy because they taste really good).

Toast them lightly or toast them crispy, I like mine a little on the crispy side so I get that nice even crunch every time I take a bite.

Salad Sandwich Ready To Eat

Lettuce Salad Sandwich Light Easy and Delicious

Salad Sandwich Platter

So that’s it. Your simple, easy lettuce salad sandwich is ready to eat. But if you are wondering, how good could this really taste, I understand. Who would want just lettuce mixed with mayo on a toasted flat bread anyway. Trust me, it’s yummy!

It’s a great healthy choice and although I am not a vegetarian – what a great vegetarian sandwich recipe this is. I love proteins and meat and could probably eat bacon every meal but, since I am not really going to do that, this is a terrific option.

It’s perfect for lunch, even if you are packing it to take to work. Just have your salad in one container and the bread (which doesn’t have to be toasted if you don’t have a toaster at work) and enjoy the ease of a cool, healthy and seriously, I think it’s filling, lunch. It will give you more time to shop, or read or run errands!

Vegetarians or just salad lovers can always add in some shredded carrot or cut up cucumber for a nifty change but I really like it just the way it is.