My Tea Planner
  • Home
  • About/Blog
    • Who We Are
    • Our Credentials
    • Tea Travels - Rose's Blog
    • Cakes and Tea - Kathleen's Blog
    • Contact Us
  • The Tea Book
    • The Road Back to Civilization
    • A Brief History of Tea
    • Philosophy of Tea >
      • Harmony
      • Humility
      • Respect
      • Creativity
    • Guidelines for the Host/Hostess >
      • Gathering and Greeting
      • Sharing Stories
      • Sharing Food
      • Sending the Guests Home
    • Guidelines for the Guest >
      • Respect Your Hostess/Host
      • Bring a Gift if You Wish
      • Practice Humility
      • Monitor Your Conversation
      • Arrive with a Grateful Attitude
      • Help if Help is Needed
      • Do Not Criticize
      • Leave Gracefully
      • Send a Thank You Note
    • A Checklist for Planning a Tea Party
    • Teas of the World and How to Make Tea >
      • A Sampling of Teas
      • Herbal Teas and Tisanes
      • How to Make Tea
      • Making Iced Tea
      • Tea Concentrate
      • Brewing Tea for a Crowd
    • Tea Utensils and Accessories >
      • Tea Kettle
      • Tea Pot
      • Tea Cozy
      • Teacups
      • Plates
      • Silverware
      • Teacart
      • Tea Strainer
      • Tea Infuser
      • Three-Tiered Server
      • Cream Pitcher and Sugar Bowl
      • Cake Pedestal
      • Trifle Bowl
      • Jam Pots
      • Serving Dishes, Platters, and Trays
      • Silver Tea Set or Silver Tray
      • Linens
      • Kitchen Equipment for Food Preparation
    • Tea Menu Basics >
      • Sandwiches and Savories
      • Savory Spreads and Dips
      • Scones and Tea Breads >
        • About Lemons
    • Afternoon Tea and the Four Seasons >
      • A Spring Tea
      • An Outdoor Summer Tea
      • An Autumn Afternoon Tea
      • A Winter Afternoon Tea
    • A Calendar of Tea Parties >
      • January: A Japanese New Year’s Tea
      • February: A Valentine’s Day Tea
      • March: A St. Patrick’s Day Irish Tea
      • April: An Easter Tea
      • May: A Mother’s Day Tea
      • June: A Wedding Reception Tea >
        • Lemon Yogurt Wedding Cake
      • July: A Picnic Tea
      • August: A Family Reunion Tea >
        • A North American Family Reunion Tea
        • An Eastern Mediterranean Family Reunion Tea
        • A Kosher Family Reunion Tea
        • A Scandinavian Family Reunion Tea
      • September: An Ozark Farm Harvest Tea
      • October: A Tea to Honor Our Ancestors (Dia de los Muertos)
      • November: A Post Thanksgiving Tea
      • December: A Christmas Tea >
        • In Defense of Fruitcake: Fruitcakes and Candied Fruit
    • A World of Tea Parties >
      • A Chinese Dim Sum Tea
      • A Portuguese Tea
      • A Classic British Afternoon Tea
      • An Indian Chai Party
      • A California Tea
      • A Hawaiian Tea
      • An Italian Tea
      • An American Southern Tea
      • A Russian Tea
      • A French Afternoon Tea
      • A Kosher Tea with Tradional Jewish Foods
    • Afternoon Tea for Special Occasions >
      • An Afternoon Tea for Children
      • A Tea for Our Elders
      • A Honey Bee Tea in the Garden
      • An Urban Tea on the Go
      • Tea for One
      • Afternoon Tea for a Large Group
      • A Vegan Tea
      • A Rose Tea
  • Purchase Recipes
  • Resources
    • Bibliography and Resources
    • Menu and Recipe Index
    • Commercial Food Products
    • Glossary

Cakes and Tea

Kathleen's Blog

March 2019 - Celebrating Super Scone Sunday

3/1/2019

2 Comments

 
Picture
​Astrid Huala & Polly Malan starting off Super Scone Sunday with a toast. Cheers!
​

​Not everyone likes football. Shocking, I know. Full disclosure: I don’t like football, and I especially don’t like the super bowl. If one can stay out of sports bars and many private homes where the television is tuned to football, one can avoid it. For many years, I hit the beach or Big Sur where that Sunday finds these popular spots almost devoid of people. I recommend it highly. But it is winter, and I am not as young as I once was and baby, it’s cold out there!
​
This year, I had an idea that I would band together with likeminded people to create a civilized alternative to the bowl. I would enlist them for Super Scone Sunday*: a tea party with no television in sight, just delicious scones and spreads, hot tea, interesting conversation, in a beautiful spot.

Three girlfriends signed on to help. I borrowed my friend Polly’s crew of fun, tea-loving friends as guests. Polly’s dear friend, Astrid, provided the light- and art-filled family-owned cottage in which to hold the tea. My girl, Regina, offered to help with the nuts and bolts of party production. Without these generous key figures, I would have been literally out in the cold, experiencing solitude, which can be fun, but not as much fun as drinking tea with your people.

As I’ve mentioned before, I have opened up my party giving to a more cooperative model. It’s more sustainable and ultimately more satisfying if everyone who wants to contribute can bring their creativity to the event. Being a guest is a contribution, too, like musicians needing an audience. With apologies to Hillary, “It takes a village” to make a wonderful tea party.

I have also learned to leave room for spontaneous magic. Certain things must be coordinated for success and there is no replacement for proper planning, but you can’t plan synchronicity, happy accidents, or kismet. Guests brought beautiful, complementary cookies and small pastries, nothing duplicated. Astrid had previously made beautiful spring arrangements that could not have been more appropriate. I brought a vintage tablecloth in shades of blue which went perfectly with the napkins and blue china that we found in the cottage. The mismatched champagne glasses we found included charming saucer-style champagne glasses as well as more practical flutes. Lovely!

I decided to make three flavors of scones and three spreads and let the gals bring the sweets. I chose parmesan-chive, currant orange, and toasted pecan maple as my scone flavors. I made lemon curd, balsamic onion jam, and chutney for chutney cheese spread to accompany the scones. I freestyled two basic scone recipes into these varieties. Scone dough is pretty forgiving of additions and hacks. When adding wet ingredients, such as fresh berries or cheese, just remember that the dough may be stickier, but resist the urge to add too much additional flour, as that can make the scones less tender and flaky. This website, Myteaplanner.com, offers two basic free scone recipes which can be found here: Free Basic Butter Scone recipe Cream Scone recipe The chutney cheese spread recipe is here: December, 2016 blog with chutney and chutney cheese recipes
​

The chutney cheese spread turned out to be the hit of the party. Spread on the parmesan-chive scone, it delivered savory but not too spicy flavor. I enjoy making my own chutney, so I generally have some on hand. It lasts in the fridge for a long time and water-bath cans beautifully for longer storage. But purchased chutneys can indeed be used successfully. Major Grey’s chutney is the traditional used in British cooking with Crosse and Blackwell the most recognized brand. Closer to home, Stonewall Kitchen makes a good version and is widely available.

When I was done with my spreads (they all can be made ahead) and the scones were cut and safely waiting in the freezer for baking, I could not resist making at least one sweet; I just couldn’t! Shortbread is arguably the most iconic tea time cookie as well as my personal favorite. Nothing is better than perfectly plain shortbread with a cup of hot tea. That said, the baker in me had to mess with the recipe. I added a teaspoon or so of Penzey's ground ginger and a knob of peeled, grated fresh ginger to the dough and baked a minute or two longer. If your ground ginger is a bit elderly or not the best quality, perhaps add a bit more and then promise yourself you’ll get fresher spices anon.
I encourage you to take every and any holiday or happening and make it your own. We needn’t be stuck with things how other people want them; we have the power to transform and enhance our experience while creating something beautiful for others: afternoon tea to the rescue. Go, Team Scone!

Picture
​Polly showing the way to the sweets and savories at the tea table.
​

Picture
​I’m so glad charming saucer-style champagne glasses are back in vogue: I missed them. A guest sips her champagne near the table of tea treats; is it Regina Morris?
​

Picture
​Astrid’s early spring bouquet, hyacinth bulb, and tea cups on the low tea table.
​

Picture
​My 1920’s “tipping” teapot’s debut after a trip to the silversmith to repair a leak: money well-spent.
​
Picture
​The teapot and me in the cottage kitchen for a refill.
​
Picture
​Scone dough, clockwise from top left: Parmesan-chive, currant orange, toasted pecan maple
​
Picture
Each ball of dough is patted into three disks to be cut into tea-sized scone triangles, six per disk, making 18 per batch. The bench scraper is the favorite tool for quickly dividing the disk with quick, bold chops.

​* I’d like to give a shout out to Sweet Remembrances Tea Room in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania for the great name, Super Scone Sunday. I haven’t been there personally, but if in the area, I would most definitely stop in for tea. Anyone who comes up with such a grand title, has to put on a fab tea, eh? Here is a link: Sweet Remembrances Tearoom

​If anyone does go there for tea, do drop us a comment.

​
2 Comments

    Author

    Some random thoughts from Kathleen...

    Archives

    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

    Contact Us
home
free recipes
purchase recipes
Address : 51-349 Kamehameha Highway, Kaaawa, HI 96730

Telephone :  408-379-5200


Copyright © 2015 by Epilogics
  • Home
  • About/Blog
    • Who We Are
    • Our Credentials
    • Tea Travels - Rose's Blog
    • Cakes and Tea - Kathleen's Blog
    • Contact Us
  • The Tea Book
    • The Road Back to Civilization
    • A Brief History of Tea
    • Philosophy of Tea >
      • Harmony
      • Humility
      • Respect
      • Creativity
    • Guidelines for the Host/Hostess >
      • Gathering and Greeting
      • Sharing Stories
      • Sharing Food
      • Sending the Guests Home
    • Guidelines for the Guest >
      • Respect Your Hostess/Host
      • Bring a Gift if You Wish
      • Practice Humility
      • Monitor Your Conversation
      • Arrive with a Grateful Attitude
      • Help if Help is Needed
      • Do Not Criticize
      • Leave Gracefully
      • Send a Thank You Note
    • A Checklist for Planning a Tea Party
    • Teas of the World and How to Make Tea >
      • A Sampling of Teas
      • Herbal Teas and Tisanes
      • How to Make Tea
      • Making Iced Tea
      • Tea Concentrate
      • Brewing Tea for a Crowd
    • Tea Utensils and Accessories >
      • Tea Kettle
      • Tea Pot
      • Tea Cozy
      • Teacups
      • Plates
      • Silverware
      • Teacart
      • Tea Strainer
      • Tea Infuser
      • Three-Tiered Server
      • Cream Pitcher and Sugar Bowl
      • Cake Pedestal
      • Trifle Bowl
      • Jam Pots
      • Serving Dishes, Platters, and Trays
      • Silver Tea Set or Silver Tray
      • Linens
      • Kitchen Equipment for Food Preparation
    • Tea Menu Basics >
      • Sandwiches and Savories
      • Savory Spreads and Dips
      • Scones and Tea Breads >
        • About Lemons
    • Afternoon Tea and the Four Seasons >
      • A Spring Tea
      • An Outdoor Summer Tea
      • An Autumn Afternoon Tea
      • A Winter Afternoon Tea
    • A Calendar of Tea Parties >
      • January: A Japanese New Year’s Tea
      • February: A Valentine’s Day Tea
      • March: A St. Patrick’s Day Irish Tea
      • April: An Easter Tea
      • May: A Mother’s Day Tea
      • June: A Wedding Reception Tea >
        • Lemon Yogurt Wedding Cake
      • July: A Picnic Tea
      • August: A Family Reunion Tea >
        • A North American Family Reunion Tea
        • An Eastern Mediterranean Family Reunion Tea
        • A Kosher Family Reunion Tea
        • A Scandinavian Family Reunion Tea
      • September: An Ozark Farm Harvest Tea
      • October: A Tea to Honor Our Ancestors (Dia de los Muertos)
      • November: A Post Thanksgiving Tea
      • December: A Christmas Tea >
        • In Defense of Fruitcake: Fruitcakes and Candied Fruit
    • A World of Tea Parties >
      • A Chinese Dim Sum Tea
      • A Portuguese Tea
      • A Classic British Afternoon Tea
      • An Indian Chai Party
      • A California Tea
      • A Hawaiian Tea
      • An Italian Tea
      • An American Southern Tea
      • A Russian Tea
      • A French Afternoon Tea
      • A Kosher Tea with Tradional Jewish Foods
    • Afternoon Tea for Special Occasions >
      • An Afternoon Tea for Children
      • A Tea for Our Elders
      • A Honey Bee Tea in the Garden
      • An Urban Tea on the Go
      • Tea for One
      • Afternoon Tea for a Large Group
      • A Vegan Tea
      • A Rose Tea
  • Purchase Recipes
  • Resources
    • Bibliography and Resources
    • Menu and Recipe Index
    • Commercial Food Products
    • Glossary