Which 'Which? : Tea Sandwiches for a Mother's Day Soiree

 

If I’m completely honest, the main reason for my love of afternoon tea is the pomp and circumstance.  I enjoy the china, the dresses, the linen napkins – even the fantastically over-sized hats.  But I’d be remiss if I didn’t say that the food is a close runner up.  Tea, finger sandwiches, fruit and pastries go a long way toward healing ones soul (and because they’re so little, they barely have any calories, right? RIGHT?!) 

This Mother’s Day in addition to the delicate sweets I’ll be procuring from a local bakery (Hey, I can’t do it all), I’ll also be serving four of my favorite types of finger sandwiches. Below are the recipes, along with links to several other delicious selections.  

Ham & Apricot Tea Sandwich

Ham and Apricot Triangles

½ lb. Pepper crusted deli ham, thinly sliced

6 slices of soft white bread

¼ c. apricot preserves

¼ c. ricotta cheese

Oak Leaf Lettuce (or any other curly variety)

Yield: 6 finger sandwiches

Cut off crusts of bread, forming rectangles or squares.  Spread a thin layer of ricotta cheese over one slice.  Fold several pieces of thinly sliced ham onto the cheese, making sure to reach the edges.  Layer lettuce over the ham.  Spread apricot preserves on a second piece of bread, and fold over onto the lettuce.  Cut sandwich on a diagonal (insert a toothpick if needed to hold sandwich together).  Repeat with remaining ingredients.  

Avocado & Tomato Tea Sandwich

Avocado & Tomato

3 pieces of pumpernickel bread, thinly sliced

3 Tbsp. cream cheese

2 ripe avocados

1 ripe tomato

2 tsp. lemon juice

¼ tsp. red pepper flakes

Salt & Pepper to taste

Watercress for garnish

Yield: 6 Finger Sandwiches

In a bowl, combine avocado, lemon juice, red pepper flakes, and salt and pepper.  Mash well.  Thinly slice tomato.  On a piece of bread, layer cream cheese, avocado mixture and tomato. Slice on the diagonal and garnish with a piece of watercress.

Cucumber & Dill

6 slices of pumpernickel bread, thinly sliced, cut into small squares

1 cucumber, thinly sliced

½ c. cream cheese

 1 Tbsp. garlic salt

2 tsp. dried thyme

2 tsp. dried parsley

2 tsp. dried rosemary

1 tsp. dried onion

1 Tbsp. dill

Yield: 6 Finger Sandwiches

In a bowl, whip cream cheese, garlic salt, thyme, parsley, rosemary, and onion.  Layer on a pumpernickel square.  Arrange cucumber slices over herbed cheese, and sprinkle with dill.

Egg Salad

6 pieces of white bread

Oak Leaf Lettuce (or any other curly variety; bean sprouts would also be very good!) 

EG's Egg Salad Recipe

 Yield: 6 Finger Sandwiches

Prepare a triple-decker sandwich by layering: bread, lettuce, egg salad, bread, egg salad, lettuce, bread.  Slice each finished sandwich into three small finger sandwiches. Secure with a carrot shaving and a toothpick.

Additional Delicious Recipes that I'm looking forward to trying!

Salmon Tea Sandwiches  from Natashaskitchen.com (they look heavenly!)
Chicken Salad Tea Sandwiches from epicurious.com (I will add some chopped grapes or apples when I try this!)