A LITTLE CHRISTMAS TEA

 Today I had a few ladies over for

an Afternoon Tea.  I took advantage

of the baking knowing I could have

some extra sweets to share with others

this week.  This post will not be

exactly as I had planned because

of a little problem.  This has happened

before too - I forgot to take the photos.

Yesterday I made my sweets which included

Sugar Cookies cut like little teapots,

 (those have now already been eaten)

Cherry Bars and little

 lemon tarts.

I cut the Cherry Bar recipe in half

because the recipe served way

to many.

Here is the recipe for the shells which I

did go ahead and make the full recipe

so I could freeze a lot for later. 

 This was the lemon tart filling I made but you

could also just purchase a can of pie filling.

Lemon Tart Filling Recipe:

5 large eggs, 1 egg yolk, 1 cup sugar, 1 cup

fresh lemon juice, 1/2 cup butter

Wisk together the eggs, sugar .  Heat lemon juice over medium in a small saucepan.  

In another larger pan, melt butter and slowly add lemon juice mixing well and then  

add egg mixture stirring until it thickens.

Once thick, cool and refrigerate until

ready to use.  

I served 3 savories: Chicken Salad

on mini Croissants, Deviled Eggs and

Sausage Pinwheels

I also made Orange Currant Scones and

we had both iced and hot tea.  The hot tea

came a little later in the meal.

Orange Currant Scones:

2 cups flour, 1 1/2 Tb baking powder, 

1/3 cup sugar, 1/2 tsp salt, grated peel of 

1 orange, 5 Tb butter, 5 Tb shortening,

1/2 cup buttermilk and more for

brushing, 1/3 cup currants

425 degrees for 15 min or less convection

I cover my baking sheet with parchment

paper. I love using parchment paper.  Combine first 4 ingredient by hand, add orange peel.  Flake in butter and shortening.  Add buttermilk, mix fold in currant roll dough and cut out scones with small 2" cutter, brush with milk and bake

15 min Yield:12

The plates and other transferware were washed and ready to put back away.

I had every intention of sharing my

table with you......but.

We won't be ready for Christmas to be

over Saturday.  I think we may enjoy

it all for a while.  

Some snow would have made things

really festive but that doesn't usually

happen in Missouri until January

or February.