I left my house shortly after 8:00 a.m. this morning to drive 44 miles south of where I live to do a surprise tea party for my aunt's 86th birthday. The guests were scheduled to arrive at 12:30 p.m. and my aunt at 12:45 p.m.
A traveling tea party!
Fall tablescapes. I recently attended a tea where the centerpieces were floral arrangements made in tea tins, so I 'borrowed' the idea using Harney tea tins. The pedestal it's sitting on is a candlestick and dessert plate glued together. So easy, but impressive looking. There were four tables set up in the dining area, and one in the kitchen.
The teapot cake was made by a friend of my cousin's. I have never tried making one before, but I'd like to sometime.
The Birthday Girl!
The first course was cranberry/white chocolate chip scones with strawberry jam, and an apple taffy salad in a Phyllo cup. I was at a tea recently where the chef demonstrated how to make the Phyllo cups, and I knew immediately I wanted to make them for my aunt's tea. The tea I served was Harney & Sons Cranberry Autumn.
The second course was pumpkin soup with a cinnamon teapot crouton and a chicken salad croissant.
Dessert was mini angel food bundt cakes with lemon filling and lemon glaze garnished with blueberries and mint [that I grew for the first time this year]. My cousin had small cake boxes so the ladies could take a slice of the teapot cake home. The cake was cherry nut and very good.
My aunt and me. She's holding the teapot gift that I gave her.
Tea party guests.
It was a long day from start to finish, but everything turned out great, and it was such a special day for my aunt. My car can wait until morning to be unpacked. I'm off to bed now! Tomorrow I'm going to another tea party, but I'll be a guest at that one, and will blog about it when I get home.
