Does anyone "do" Sunday afternoon tea any more?
After my experience yesterday, I think it's worth reviving.
I invited people around as a sort of farewell - I'm about to leave on a long journey.
It was going to be a civilised affair with about six people, but it grew somehow, so that in the end there were twenty. What saved it was that we asked people to come between 3 and 7 o'clock and that's exactly what happened.
Those stuck in traffic on the A4, some who were visiting family and others who were moving house, simply came a little later, so that there were no more than twelve people at any one time.
For anyone who thinks there is not enough room to entertain a bigger-than-first-thought number, the best parties, I find, are always a bit squashed, and it did turn into a bit of a party, with ages ranging from 6 weeks to 65 years, much talk and great hilarity.
The menu planning started the week before (this is called writing a list). The shopping two days before, while the first cake I baked on Saturday.
Dutch Apple Cake was baked for me by a new friend from, surprise, surprise: Holland in about 1985. It's a great recipe I have now made countless times and can vary by using different fruit, such as fresh plums or pears.
Prune and Almond Tart is one of easiest and delicious things to serve as a pudding or sliced with a cup of tea or coffee. Add a splodge of Armagnac and it becomes even more sublime. Yes, and it serves one well at breakfast too.
The homemade scones were a great success and scone stories were told for some time. It was the men who wanted to know the recipe. What was the secret? Where were the best scones we ever tasted? Could our Gran make them? Or was it just a myth that all grannies could churn out the perfect batch?
Are scones becoming one of those things like chutneys, where more men than women do the cooking? Interesting to hear stories about going out for Devonshire Teas and being disappointed with flat, dry little rocks, with jam and cream being served in sachets. There really is no need for this, and they are so quick to make, even without a food processor or electric mixer.
I made sandwiches and tiny savoury pastry triangles too, but the recipes I have added are for what I've already mentioned.
I know I could have served bubbles or a sweet wine, but the food and the company was just perfect as it was.
Go on, invite somebody around for a cuppa and a scone, a coffee and some cake.
It's great fun and an easy way to entertain.
What a little angel, someone commented.
Uh huh! Wait while I adjust my halo...