Tea for Two
Brew a pot of tea and invite your kindred spirit to spend a lovely afternoon nibbling on delicious treats with a spring tea for two!
Is there any problem a good gossip and a cup of tea can’t solve? Highly unlikely, if you ask me! And yet we don’t indulge in low tea nearly often enough, so with the weather warming and the sun shinning invite your girlfriend over for a fun tea for two and enjoy a few laughs and some delicious treats.
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Hosting a Tea for Two
To host your tea party first brew a good pot of tea with loose leaf tea. I’m obsessed with Capital Teas’ blends, and lately I’ve been drinking Chesapeake Sunrise – a black and green tea fusion with hints of citrus and jackfruit flavors. Black teas are probably the most popular in North America; they are full-bodied, strong, and offer a caffeine boost. Most black teas are grown in China, India, and Sri-Lanka. Another great choice for afternoon tea is a white tea, especially if you are concerned about caffeine. White teas have a delicate, slightly sweet flavor and are made from new tea buds.
Next prepare some delicious sweet treats to nibble on with your cuppa. One of my favorite simple desserts to whip up are lemon curd tarts. You only need 4 ingredients to make the filling: lemon, egg yolk, sugar, and butter. For the pastry cups, I buy frozen fillo dough cups and then top each tart with a drop of whipped cream. To make the curd check out this recipe.
Another delicious treat to fix for your tea for two are mini-biscuits. You can make these sweet or savory depending on the filling. Here I simply did butter and homemade jam, but for a savory treat try pimento cheese or a thin slice of country ham…or both! Yum! See my grandmother’s biscuit recipe at the end of this post!
Finally, set a pretty table with a vase of fresh flowers, a tiered stand, beautiful tea cups, and cheery linens. On our little patio table, I laid down two fun yellow gingham placemats and filled a vase with pink roses, carnations, and mint sprigs. For a sweet napkin idea use vintage handkerchiefs like these two floral embroidered ones. Don’t forget to provide sugar or honey (depending on the type of tea and personal taste), a tea strainer, and teaspoons for stirring.
For etiquette tips on paying a call in the South read this!
My Grandmother’s Biscuit Recipe
Makes 8 – 14 Biscuits, depending on size
Ingredients
1/4 Cup Shortening
2 Cups Self-Rising Flour – White Lily Flour
2/3 Cup to 1 Cup Buttermilk
To Make
Pre-heat oven to 500 degrees. Measure flour into large bowl and cut in shortening, mixing with fingers until crumbly. Pour in buttermilk, stirring with hands until dough is moist. Lightly sprinkle flour over a flat surface and some over dough. Knead dough 3 or 4 times and then pat out. Roll dough out to 1/2 inch thickness with a rolling pin.
Cut out biscuits with cutter to desired size; don’t twist cutter to release, instead pull straight up, so that you don’t seal the edges. Gather scraps and re-roll dough. Repeat until there is no dough left or just enough scraps to make a baker’s biscuit.
Tip: lightly flour the rolling pin and biscuit cutter to prevent dough from sticking.
Place biscuits evenly on a baking sheet and bake in oven for 10 to 12 minutes until golden brown.
Happy spring & I hope you have a lovely tea for two!
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