[clm1982]

Hi Ladies

I will be hosting a High Tea early in the new year and i need to come up with a menu that isnt too difficult/time consuming. Its at 2pm so im thinking just desserts rather than sandwiches.

So far ive come up with:

Scones w/Jam and Cream
Little Lemon Cheesecakes
Mini Cupcakes - Few different flavours
Macarons
Caramel Tarts

Id like about 8 different varieties if possible not sure what else i can add. Anyone got any nice petit four ideas? All need to be able to be eaten in a mouthful or 2

[Becstarinator]

Little sandwiches

Mini Quiches

Short bread

[*LucyE*]

High tea usually involves something savoury too. It does help with all the other sweet foods. If you want 8 choices, I'd have at least 2 of them as savoury options.

I like to make mini quiches/frittatas (usually vegetarian) and some finger/ribbon sandwiches. Definitely cucumber sandwiches as one option and I whip my butter for that extra touch of luxe. I get requests for my chicken and mayo sandwiches and will usually either make a roast beef and horseraddish, smoked salmon and dill or egg and cress sandwich as well.

And maybe another sweet addition to your list like a friand or chocolate brownie or madeleines. I personally don't think cupcakes are 'high tea-ish' but that's just my opinion.

Then you have something chocolate (brownies), something plain (scones), something citrus-y (cheesecake), something biscuit-y/dry (madeleines/shortbread), something rich (caramel tarts - add some fleur del sel flakes on top to jazz it up), something fanciful (macarons) and something savoury. Anything else is a bonus.

[clm1982]

Thankyou Lucy.

Can i have your chicken sandwich recipe?

[countrymel]

I ate some little curried eggs the other weekend - hadn't had them in years!

They do look pretty and are very yummy - I think they have retro chic points now too!

[Bunsen]

Mini eclairs or profiteroles filled with cream and topped with chocolate - you can bake them in advance and freeze, just pop them in oven to crisp up on the day then fill.

Pretty much any slice recipe can be cut into dainty little bites.

I think you need a few savoury things - its not high tea without smoked salmon sandwiches.

[niggles]

Cubes or balls of watermelon with a sliver of mint on top, served in a minature patty pan. Strawberries dipped in melted chocolate and served in a patty pan are also simple and well received. These are a bit lighter than a lot of sweet things too.

You also need cucumber and cream cheese finger sandwiches on white bread.

I also like finger sandwiches made with white bread one side and brown on the other. For the filling mash up tuna with whole egg mayonnaise and very finely sliced spring onion.

[cuddlebud]

Agree with having something savory - my faves are:

Nigella's potato cakes with smoked salmon (like a blini but much tastier and easier)
Chicken mayo sandwiches as well

For sweet
- what the pp suggested with choc dip strawberries, they always disappear
- gourmet travelers pistachio and white chocolate cigars.

[abbieblue]

We are using a caterer for our 10yr wedding anniversary party in a few months and she gave me the following list to select from:

Sweet:
Fruity Macaroon Trio
Traditional Scones with Jam & Cream
Classic Melting Moments
Honey Macadamia Tartlets
Chocolate Baby Cakes
Banana Baby Cakes
Vanilla Bean Panna-cotta

Savoury:
Petit Quiche Lorraine
Pumpkin & Fetta Arrancini Balls
Cucumber & Labna Finger Sandwiches
Corned Beef & Pickle Finger Sandwiches
Tomato & Basil Bruschetta
Smoked Salmon Crostini
Avocado Salsa Tartlets.

[Chelli]

Just to add, one thing I did for a high tea was to take some mini chocolate cups and pipe some chocolate mousse into them. They were the first things eaten!