Anne here, and today I'm throwing a special afternoon tea party because tomorrow is the 12th anniversary of the word wench blog. Mary Jo will be heading up a group blog on Wednesday, explaining how the blog started, and each of us will talk about what the word wenches means to us, so today is just about eating, drinking and being merry.
So I'm getting out the good china cups and setting out the food, just as I did when I was a kid and Mum would have people over for afternoon tea.
You will note I say afternoon tea, not "high tea." These days hotels offer "High Tea" — serving several tiers of dainty cakes and elegant little sandwiches with the crusts cut off, all at a hefty price. They call it ""high tea" I suppose because they think "high" sounds posh, but in fact it's the opposite.
High tea in the UK was traditionally the evening meal for working people, substantial rather than dainty, and served at the normal dinner table. It was often something hot, like pies or pasties or eggs, or cold cuts and cheese, served with plenty of bread and butter (crusts included) and a big pot of good strong tea.
So, back to afternoon tea. When I was a kid living in the country, we often had these gatherings, and it was my job (as the youngest) to get out all Mum's good tea-cups, wash them (verrrrry carefully), match them to their appropriate plates and saucers and set them out on the sideboard. Later my task was to hand the food around. Matching them up for you today took me right back to my childhood.
Aussies are big on cakes and scones and things, and though I don't normally throw tea parties (except cyberly for wenches) afternoon tea — and morning tea, for that matter — is still a part of everyday life. For instance if you ever come to a romance readers or writers' conference in Australia or NZ you'll be well fed at morning and afternoon tea. It's taken for granted you'll expire without it. <g>
It's more common in the country, I suppose, because people have to travel to socialize, so cakes or scones make the trip worthwhile. I have an author friend who drives miles and gives library talks for free — she says she does it for the delicious home-made cakes they serve afterward.
So here, we are, at our little tea party to celebrate the 12th anniversary of the Word Wench blog. I've made a few things specially — little sandwiches, cucumber (of course) also meat, and tomato ones. It's the first time in years I've bought white sliced bread and I am in retrospective awe of anyone who can make tiny, tidy sandwiches. I obviously can't. Mine are a bit messy-looking, but they'll taste good. My friend Meredith makes the best chicken and avocado sandwiches — elegant and delicious.
Those little colorful triangles are what we call "fairy bread" here — it's just white sliced bread, buttered — real butter please— sprinkled with "hundreds and thousands." An absolute necessity for any party with children — or baby wenches.
Cream cakes are compulsory. No home-made Australian afternoon tea would be without at least one cream-filled sponge cake. I didn't make one — sorry — but I did buy these "fairy cakes" from the supermarket — and the cream is real. Fairy cakes because of their little "wings."
I've also made you some vol au vents —the sweet instead of the savory kind I usually make. So, sweet pastry instead of savory, served cold and filled with cream and a raspberry, instead of my usual hot creamy cheesy seafood mixture.
The brown and white-flecked squares behind them are lamingtons, another Australian speciality — cubes of cake dipped in chocolate icing and rolled in coconut. These ones also have jam and cream in the middle. Again the cream is real.
Sausage rolls are my favorites. They're easy to make — just sausage mince rolled in puff pastry, glazed with egg, then baked in a hot oven. Serve them with tomato sauce (ketchup) and if you're handing them around, make sure you stash one in a safe place for yourself or you'll miss out. Party pies are another favorite — little meat pies.
Hungry yet?
Fill your plate, dear wenchly readers. Choose from the food I've presented or add whatever else you might like to bring to share. And what will you have to drink — tea or coffee? Herbal tea, iced tea? Champagne? Or some of this bright red diet soda brought by one of the friends who came to help me eat all this?
Let us know what you're choosing to eat and drink, and whether you're bringing something delicious to add to the spread. And are you wearing anything special? A fabulous hat, for instance? A splendid tea-gown perhaps? And stay tuned for our anniversary post on Wednesday.