Tea Party Preparations (Part 2 )

I approached the tea party like I was planning a military coup. Lists, lots of lists. Shopping, cooking, packing.

The packing station:

The Recipes: 

Thawing peas while thinly slicing English cucumbers. I place them on parchment paper, sprinkle with salt and layer over night. In the morning - dry on paper towels, top and bottom and put on crustless bread and butter.

I have not made Pea Salad in such a long time that I had to look up a recipe. This is not my mom's recipe because she added water chestnuts, but this was fabulous! I plan to make it often! 

Peas, bacon, red onion, cheese, butter and sugar. So good. And so cute in a tiny bowl. I made a sample. 

To prove my OCD craziness, here are the heart shaped cookies cooling while I check the bottoms for two dozen with perfect browning. 

The Carrot Cake Sandwiches. This is a recipe from Tea Time magazine that I have been making for years. Cream cheese, powdered sugar, grated carrots and raisin bread. 

I make them a day ahead and wrap in plastic wrap to put in the frig. Before serving I cut them into strips with my electric carving knife (that I use to take crusts off the cucumber sandwiches, too). 

Adding a thick layer of grated carrots. 

Ready to be wrapped. These are always a crowd favorite.

How is the list coming?

Baked, frosted and sugared cupcakes. I added the fruit right before serving. 

I used a new recipe for mini cheesecakes and they were a total failure. Luckily we had way too many other desserts. 

Closeup of the substitute iced tea glasses. 

Now a set of eleven. 

Perfect temperature for an outdoor tea party! This was on my way home. 

And that concludes the Summer Tea Party Series.