Do not think that your tea party will be limited to sitting at a table
drinking your tea and nibbling, however. It's important to have everyone
join in a rousing rendition of
"I'm A Little Tea Pot"
before beginning. While
everyone is partaking of their tea and treats, you can quietly read a
Beatrix Potter
story. One of my favorites is
Mrs. Tiggy Winkle,
a whimsical tale that will widen the eyes of little ones and bring
smiles to all present.
Preparing for Tea
I have a set of old china that I bought for $9.00 at an antique shop
years ago. Some pieces are missing, but it's pretty and perfect for tea
parties. You can also use coffee cups or pretty paper cups and plates.
Children will have fun no matter what you serve the tea in! You will
need a package of paper doilies, to place on your serving plates, and
napkins. If you have clean cloth doilies and napkins this would be a
wonderful touch to your party, but either is fine.
Tea Pots come in all prices and sizes. If you don't have a ceramic
tea pot you can pick one up at a thrift store, garage sale or antique
shop. Again, it's not the price or the pattern that is important. I have
a beautiful white tea pot that has a small chip in it and I purchased it
for less than $5.00. Every time I get it out I feel I have been
transported to a gentler time. This is the feeling your tea party should
have!
Make sure all your cups, saucers and the tea pot have been washed and
dried. Either place them on a tray of some type to bring to the table or
place them in the middle of the table before you begin. Before brewing
your tea, as in the recipe below, pour hot water into your pot and the
cups to warm them and then pour it out.
Vanilla Milk Tea
ingredients:
1 cup milk
2 tsp. vanilla extract
4 tsp. black tea (or 4 tea bags)
1 quart boiling water
Pour the milk into a saucepan, add the vanilla, and bring to a
simmer, stirring often. Remove the pan from the heat and let it stand
until the milk is cool. Place the tea leaves in the teapot and add the
boiling water. Cover with a towel and steep 5 minutes. Pour about 1/4
cup of the cooled milk into the teacups. Stir and strain the tea into
the cups. Makes 4-5 servings.
This recipe is from the Gibson House Volunteer's Cookbook, in
Toronto. I purchased it over 11 years ago on my honeymoon.
Coconut Cookies
Ingredients:
1 cup butter
1 cup sugar
1 egg, unbeaten
1 cup coconut
2 cups flour
1 tsp. baking powder
Cream butter and sugar together. Add egg, then coconut. Sift in flour
with baking powder. Break off pieces the size of a walnut on greased
pan. Flatten with fork. Bake in moderate (350) oven until a light golden
brown.
~From my Mother's Cookbook-Jean Harding~
Lemony Tea Bread
Ingredients:
3/4 cup milk
1 tablespoon finely shredded lemon peel or lemon balm
1 tablespoon fresh thyme, or 1 tsp. dried thyme
2 cups flour
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/3 cup butter
1/2 cup sugar
2 eggs
2 tablespoons shredded lemon peel
2/3 cup sifted powdered sugar
1 tablespoon lemon juice
In a small sauce pan, heat milk, lemon balm or peel, and thyme until
just warm. Remove from heat; cool. Stir together flour, baking powder,
and 1/4 tsp. salt. Set aside. In a large mixing bowl, beat butter and
sugar until well combined. Add eggs, one at a time, beating until
fluffy. Alternately add the herbed milk and the flour to batter, beating
on low speed until just combined. Fold in lemon peel. Turn into greased
and floured 9x5x3 loaf pan. Bake in a 350 degree oven 45-50 minutes or
until golden. Cool 10 minutes; remove from pan. Combine powdered sugar
and just enough lemon juice to make a drizzle. Spoon over bread. Slice
and serve on a pretty paper doily lined plate.
I'm A Little Teapot
(music copyright 1939 Kelman Music)
I'm a little teapot short and stout;
(stick your tummy out and pretend you are very short)
Here is my handle
(place your hand on your hip, so your arm is a handle)
And here is my spout.
(Bend your other arm and hand like a spout)
When I get all steamed up,
then I shout:
Just tip me over and pour me out!
(Bend over and pretend you are pouring out your tea!)
Beatrix Potter Books
You should have no trouble finding Beatrix Potter Books at the
library. I have found many of our collection at thrift stores. However,
Amazon has a wonderful selection of Beatrix Potter items in stock that
can be ordered online:
(click on the title to see descriptions and information)
The Great Big Treasury of Beatrix Potter
Beatrix Potter:The Complete Tales
The Tale of Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle
Final Thoughts
Tea Parties are not just for girls! Even if you have small boys, or
both boys and girls, a tea party is a special activity that will become
a treasured memory. Our children are bombarded daily with negative
messages. They seem to be growing up faster all the time and their
childhood innocence only lasts for so long. Activities such as tea
parties, reading, family game nights and craft time will stay with them
forever as gentle memories that will carry them through difficult times
in their lives. Plan your tea party today, and enjoy an afternoon of
magic and whimsy with your children!
About the Author
Brenda Hyde is a wife, mom to three, a freelance writer and editor of
Old Fashioned Living. She holds frequent tea parties with her kids,
often inviting teddy bears and stuffed bunnies, as well as grandma.
Source:
http://www.seedsofknowledge.com/whimsy.html
