I love Tea Sandwiches

So, not everything that I blog about on this site will be a recipe from Nana's Drawer. The food I make is still made in her kitchen and I use many of her bowls, utensils, and all of her ancient appliances. So, I guess you could say that this post fits what Nana's Drawer is all about, it just didn't come directly from there!

My sister is having a BABY! Yes, another beautiful little girl will be born in the next few months and I am one proud Auntie. So, naturally, I wanted to throw a baby shower fit for a Queen...or Princess. I thought a Tea would be perfect. This party took many months of planning. I have to admit I was nervous to throw a tea. I am not exactly "proper" and I don't know that I have the best manners around. I definitely am nothing like Martha Stewart or Bree Hodge from Desperate Housewives, so what business do I have throwing a Tea? I just went along with it...doing like I do with most things...knowing that with good food, good people, and a good setting, that it would HAVE to be a perfect day... and that it was.

I made Tea Sandwiches...


I had this vision of super soft bread with tastey fillings cut into perfectly triangled pieces. Much like I have seen on movies and TV shows, and have only had once at a tea. I swore up and down as I was planning the menu that I would never do a tea again. Making 4 different fillings, buying different bread, etc....was just overwhelming. But after it was all said and done, I promise I WILL do a tea again! I got these recipes off of www.epicurious.com. Of course, I tweaked them, because I don't like following directions (recipes). So, bare with me. I promise you that all of them are delicious:)

Goat Cheese and Watercress Tea Sandwich

1 large log of soft goat cheese softened(Chevre), ~11oz. log
handful chopped fresh watercress
handful chopped roasted pecans
8 slices cinnamon raisin bread
few tablespoons softened butter

Combine softened goat cheese & watercress. Season with salt & pepper.

Spread on both sides of bread. Put slices of bread together, trim off crusts, and cut into triangles. Place pecans on plate, spread softened butter along edges of sandwiches and dip in pecans. Garnish plate with some extra watercress.



Smoked Salmon Tea Sandwiches

1 pkg. Smoked Salmon (~6oz)
1 pkg. cream cheese softened
1 spoonful capers
juice of 1 fresh lemon
1 Tbsp. fresh dill (or more to taste)
salt & pepper
~8 pieces of your favorite bread. I used the Tomato Basil bread from http://www.panerabread.com
few slices of red onion

Combine cream cheese, capers, lemon juice, & dill in mixer and combine until smooth.
season with salt & pepper.

Spread mixture on bread, add smoked salmon & red onions. Cut off crusts and cut into triangles.

Cucumber-Mint Tea Sandwiches

1 pkg. cream cheese softened
handful chopped fresh mint
1 cucumber, sliced thin
8 slices of your favorite bread. I used Country Miche from http://www.panerabread.com

Combine creamcheese and mint in mixer until smooth. Spread on bread, top with cucumbers. Remove crusts, and wah-la... a super refreshing bite!

Lemon-Tarragon Chicken Sandwich

~4 chicken breasts (boiled in water ~ 12 minutes until cooked through)
~ 2 Tbsp. fresh tarragon
~ 1/2 cup chopped celery
~ 1/2 cup mayonnaise
juice of 1 lemon
salt & pepper
~8 slices of bread ( I used Rye from http://www.panerabread.com)
Endive lettuce

Cube chicken, and combine with the rest of the ingredients. Spread chicken mixture on bread, add endive lettuce, cut off crusts.

Along with Tea Sandwiches, I served Chocolate Covered Strawberries, Raspberry Scones from a local organic bakery. www.elizabethandesserts.com . My Aunt made a delicious Green Salad with Fennel & Goat Cheese, which I really need to get the recipe for. We also had fruit salad, and yet another DELICIOUS cake made by my Mother.

Oh ya... and we had TEA!