An Autumn Afternoon Tea

Autumn, a kinsman,

One who shares old stories from childhood,
Just back from a long journey alone,
Stands at the door in the morning,
Smelling of spices and hot tea.
We gather him in our arms,
Feel the energy in him
As our fingers grasp his shoulders.
We look into his earthy eyes,
Smile straight at him,
Glance over his old clean clothes,
Gold and russet plaids
He wore last year and the year before.
“Where have you been, you old rascal?”
Our voice overflows with laughter
And the old dialect of home.

After a long, hot summer, a slight chill in the air is a welcome relief. Nature puts on a flame-hued show, with colorful leaves available right outside. Iconic fall favorites, apples, pumpkins, and nuts, serve as decorations as well as featured flavors. At their best are fennel, grapes, and persimmons, earning a place on our autumn menu. Now is the time for ginger and spice, strong teas and hot beverages, for indulging friends with a hearty and warming tea party.

Menu

Beverages: 
Lapsang Souchong Tea
Cardamon Cinnamon Herb Tea
Warm Spiced Cider

Savories:
Miniature Corned Beef on Rye
Warm Cheddar Scallion Rounds 
Smoked Chicken, Fennel and Grape Salad in Petite Pastry Puffs

Scones and Breads:
Maple Pecan Scones
Persimmon Bread with Ginger Butter

Sweets:
Apple Butter Bars
Pumpkin Cream Tartlets
Cinnamon Icebox Cookies

Included Recipes:

Miniature Corned Beef on Rye
If you are fortunate enough to have leftover corned beef in your refrigerator, you can make these simple but very flavorful sandwiches. Some people like a little mustard or prepared horseradish with corned beef. You can decide what would be best for your tea sandwiches. Why not make a few of them just plain with butter and salt and pepper and some others with mustard, horseradish or both.

Cheddar Scallion Rounds
This is one of those recipes that you will want to learn by heart and make frequently when the weather turns brisk. These hot, cheesy toasts are equally perfect for an intimate Tea Party, an impromptu late-night gathering or to accompany a hearty soup. Any and all leftover bits of cheese can be used up here, as long as the main ingredient is sharp cheddar or even Swiss. Swap out the mayonnaise for softened butter, form into a ball, roll in chopped nuts, and you have a fine cheese ball. And any leftover cheese ball can be brought to room temperature, beaten with a wooden spoon until spreadable, and you have nutty cheese rounds!

Smoked Chicken, Fennel and Grape Salad in Petite Pastry Puffs  This imaginative combination is one of the stars of our Autumn Afternoon Tea. This tasty variation of Chicken Salad includes grapes and fennel instead of the usual chopped celery. Look for the smallest grapes you can find. Ask at the farmer’s market if they have any champagne grapes.

You can make life easy for yourself by buying a smoked chicken at a deli or grocery store, cooling it in the refrigerator and assembling the other ingredients when you are ready to make the puff pastry salads.

Maple Pecan Scones
To herald autumn’s arrival, swap out your usual scones for the warm flavors of toasted pecan and maple. Maple sugar is wonderful to use if you have it, but using Grade B maple syrup will bring deep maple flavor to your scones. Go ahead and add maple extract to accentuate the maple even more.

Persimmon Bread with Ginger Butter
Persimmon Bread is a sweet and spicy reminder that autumn has arrived. Serve this moist quick bread, flavored with honey and ripe persimmon pulp, thinly sliced with Ginger Butter.

Apple Butter Bars
This is one of the most versatile recipes ever. It makes a large amount, ingredients can be interchanged, and these bars freeze beautifully. And best of all, they are really, really tasty. Use raspberry jam for spring, plum or blackberry for summer, apple butter for fall and any jam in the pantry all winter long. This recipe can be mixed by hand, in an electric mixer or in a food processor with great success. This enduring favorite is perfect for picnics, car trips, bake sales, and if cut into small squares, for Afternoon Tea!

Pumpkin Cream Tartlets
A cross between a pumpkin cheese cake and pie, these little pastries are baked in muffin pans. This is the perfect time to show off pretty autumn muffin papers. If they are not greaseproof, bake in plain foil or regular muffin papers, then drop the baked tarts into the decorative ones, creating a ruffled effect: pretty! These little tarts would look beautiful on the bottom of a two-tiered server with Cinnamon Icebox Cookies on the top.

Cinnamon Icebox Cookies
Here is a handy slice-and-bake cookie dough that can be made ahead and stored in the fridge until ready to bake. The cinnamon flavor can be made delicate or strong depending on whether you use the cinnamon oil or not.

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THE TEA BOOK
The Road Back to Civilization
A Brief History of Tea
  Philosophy of Tea
     Harmony
     Humility
     Respect
     Creativity

Guidelines for the Host/Hostess

  Gathering and Greeting
  Sharing Stories
  Sharing Food
  Sending the Guests Home

Guidelines for the Guest

  Respect your Hostess/Host
  Bring a Gift if You Wish
  Practice Humility
  Monitor Your Conversation
  Arrive With a Grateful Attitude
  Help if Help is Needed
  Do Not Criticize
  Leave Gracefully
  Send a Thank you Note

A Checklist for Planning a Tea Party
Teas of the World and How to Make Tea

  A Sampling of Teas
  Herbal Teas and Tisanes
  How to Make Tea
  Making Iced Tea
  Tea Concentrate
  Brewing Tea for a Crowd

Tea Utensils and Accessories

  Tea Kettle
  Tea Pot
  Tea Cozy
  Teacups
  Plates
  Silverware
  Teacart
  Tea Strainer
  Tea Infuser
  Three-Tiered Server
  Cream Pitcher and Sugar   Bowl
  Cake Pedestal
  Trifle Bowl
  Jam Pots
  Serving Dishes, Platters, and Trays
  Silver Tea Set or Silver Tray
  Linens
  Kitchen Equipment for Food Preparation

Tea Menu Basics

  Sandwiches and Savories
  Savory Spreads and Dips
  Scones and Tea Breads

About Lemons

  Afternoon Tea and the Four Seasons

     A Spring Tea
     An Outdoor Summer Tea
     A Winter Afternoon Tea
     An Autumn Afternoon Tea

A Calendar of Tea Parties

  January:A Japanese New Year’s Tea
  February:Valentine’s Day Tea
  March:A St. Patrick’s Day Irish Tea
  April:An Easter Tea
  May:Mother’s day Tea
  June:A Wedding Reception Tea

Lemon Yogurt Wedding Cake

  July:A Picnic Tea
  AUGUST:A FAMILY REUNION TEA

A North American Family Reunion Tea
  An Eastern Mediterranean Family Reunion Tea
  A Kosher Family Reunion Tea
  A Scandinavian Family Reunion Tea

  September:An Ozark Farm Harvest Tea
  October:A Tea to Honor   Our Ancestors(Dia de los Muertos)
  November:A Post Thanksgiving Tea
  December: A Christmas Tea

  In Defense of Fruitcake:Fruitcakes and Candied Fruit

A World of Tea Parties

  A Chinese Dim Sum Tea
  A Portuguese Tea
  A Classic British Afternoon Tea
  An Indian Chai Party
  A California Tea
  A Hawaiian Tea
  An Italian Tea
  An American Southern Tea
  A Russian Tea
  A French Afternoon Tea
  A Kosher Teawith  Traditional Jewish Foods

Afternoon Tea for Special Occasions

  An Afternoon Tea for  Children
  A Tea for Our Elders
  A Honey Bee Tea in the Garden
  An Urban Tea on the Go
  Tea for One
  Afternoon Tea For a Large Group
  A Vegan Tea
  A Rose Tea