Bridal Tea

A place setting, which every guest got to take home with them! Tea cup, saucer, and all!!...more on that later

This post is a little long, but filled with pictures and recipes! My sister in law is getting married in two weeks, and it was time for another bridal shower. We (me, Mary, Chae & Tiffany) planned something that is very Lauren. A tea party. She loves her tea! We wanted it to be beautiful, different and special...and it was all of those. We love you Lauren and are so happy for you!!! Here's a sneak peak into the planning (which is also pretty much all I've been doing all week:-).

Tea bag cookies. And a person. And a smiley face. Courtesy of extra dough and creative children:-)

I saw this idea on Pinterest, but the blog was entirely in another language, so I had to figure it out myself! I traced a tea bag from my cupboard, and rolled and cut the dough with a knife to shape each one.

SUGAR COOKIE RECIPE - that will not expand or loose shape while baking

3 C flour
1 1/2 t baking powder
1 C unsalted butter
1 C white sugar
1 egg
1 t vanilla extract or desired flavour (perhaps almond)
1/2 t salt

Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy.  Add egg and vanilla, mix well. Mis dry ingredients and add a little at a time to the butter mixture. Mix until flour is completely incorporated and the dough comes together. Chill for 1 to 2 hours. Roll to desired thickness and cut into shapes. Bake on ungreased baking sheet at 350 for 8 to 10 min. or until just beginning to brown at the edges.

Then I dipped them in chocolate (semi-sweet choc. chips with a bit of oil added), and made little toppers and added string. Edible tea bags, and CUTE as can be!

Junior Mints, knock off

PEPPERMINT PATTIES RECIPE

3 1/2 C icing sugar (which is powdered or confectioners sugar)
4oz cream cheese, softened
1/4 t peppermint extract (I added more than this, maybe *almost* double?, it didn't seem minty enough to me)
semi sweet chocolate chips

Using a mixer, gradually add the sugar to the cream cheese, until well incorporated. Add extract and combine well. Roll dough into little balls on wax paper, and use your finger to indent and squash each ball. Cover and refrigerate for a few hours.

When mints have firmed, melt chocolate chips in a ziploc bag in the microwave for about 1 min at 1/2 (50%) power. Cut tiny corner off the bag at the bottom, use as a piping bag, and fill the mints with chocolate. Refrigerate until serving in an airtight container.

These are cute, and so delicious. Many people commented that they tasted like Junior Mints, without having been told that is what they were supposed to be like. Success.

A little honey pot for each guest. "It was sweet of you to join us".

Menus, describing the teas available

We got special loose teas from a tea shoppe and they were marvelous. My favourite was Ka Tea. As my description in the menu reads "This tea was specially formulated of pomegranate and blueberry, and celebrates the lavish affair that made royal history. This caffeinated black tea was served to guests at the royal wedding of William and Kate" I should write menu's, I know;-)

Making Ombre cakes - vanilla cake, dyed 4 shades of purple

Ombre cakes, done. I cut them out with a cookie cutter that was about 2 to 2.5 inches I think. Only slightly larger than the bottom of a cupcake. They were gorgeous and delicious. I made my typical buttercream icing.

Making sugar cubes - a bit of a picture tutorial. These add a little beauty and special touch to parties

Buy "snowflakes" at the store in the baking aisle. They look like flowers to me. Mix about 1 spoonful of icing sugar with a few drops of water to make a "glue"

Stick each flower to the tops of the sugar cubes

When you're done with that, add 1 drop of green food dye to the icing sugar "glue"

Use a toothpick to drag a drop of the green "glue" on either side of the flower, forming the leaves

Let dry, and you're all done! Super cute!

CHANTILLY CREAM RECIPE - a dip for strawberries


16 oz sour cream
1/2 t (approx) vanilla extract
4 T (or a little more to taste) brown sugar. 


Mix at least 24 hours before serving, so flavours can blend.

The set up! It was absolutely STUNNING.

Chae shopped at second hand stores for nice tea cups and saucers. Each guest was given one to use, and to take home with them! Also in the tea cup was Dove chocolates, sugar cubes, tea, and a little pot of honey. A perfect little package to make every one feel special!

Pretty!

The table

RASPBERRY SCONES with ORANGE GLAZE - I got many comments that these were the best scones they'd ever tasted, and I think I agree. The recipe came from my friend, Lauren. Check it out - they are amazing, and now a must serve at every tea party!!

We also served veggies & dip, cucumber sandwiches (made with white bread, no crusts, and philly cream cheese - the spreadable chive and onion flavour. Yum), cream puffs, and maybe a few other little things I can't remember at the moment. I was baking up a storm all week!

Tea, ready to serve!

The bride to be!

It was a wonderful day, and we (the planners, decorators, helpers, bakers etc) had a ball throwing this party!