Christmas Teatime

 Saturday five tea friends came for afternoon tea.

There was indeed candle light and flowers,

but also there was tea and nibbles.

With the savories we sipped Yunnan Gold from Floating Leaves

and with the sweets there was Shangri-La White from Miro Tea.

The Yunnan Gold was from China.

The Shangri-La White was from Nepal.

Both teas were delicious.

We started with goat cheese and pickled beet with crackers.

Then for the savories there was:

Chicken Curry sandwiches

Cranberry with goat cheese in puff pastry stars.

Smoked salmon with cucumber and herbed goat cheese sandwiches

Toast stars with warmed cream cheese and peppers

 This plate was all gluten free with some slight revisions from the main menu.

Scones with lemon curd and apricot jam were served,

but coming straight from the oven to the table I forgot to take a picture.

The sweets were:

Dundee cake (thanks Tasha Tudor for the recipe) with dried cherries

Mince tarts

Mint cookies with chocolate ganache (recipe from Teatime Magazine)

Dates with pecans tucked inside (a nod to my mom who made them

each year for her friends)

Hallie's ginger star cookies (gluten free and purchased from

the Sims family at Tea Embassy)

There was a bit of a star theme going on here.

This time of year stars twinkle in my mind and on the Christmas tree.

If I am up during the night I love watching for the stars overhead.

There is just something so special about stars.

The glitter and sparkle enchants me.

But as Christmas approaches it also reminds me of the star

that led the way to the manger.

May you be blessed with twinkling stars overhead,

a sip of a good cup of tea,

flickering candlelight,

flowers,

but most of all being surrounded by those you love.