In collaboration with Portmeirion Group & Spode Blue Italian.
This week (14th to 20th August 2017) is Afternoon Tea Week, the annual celebration of one of the nation’s favourite traditions. Whether enjoyed in a 5-star hotel or as a home baked treat, the British love the combination of savoury and sweet treats served at an afternoon tea, accompanied, of course, by some of the 165 million cups of tea drunk each day in the UK.
I’m delighted to share with you that this year, for the first time ever (I must be officially a grown up now?), I have served my afternoon tea in a gorgeous matching handcrafted tea set. I am now the proud new owner of a Spode Blue Italian tea pot and matching tea cups and saucers as well as side plates, a two tier cake stand, a cream jug and wine glasses: everything needed, in my humble opinion, to show off the perfect Afternoon Tea.
The beautiful blue and white Spode Blue Italian collection was launched in 1816 and has been in production ever since. Now considered an iconic English design, this stunning collection features a finely detailed 18th century Imari Oriental border encompassing a scene inspired by the Italian countryside. Watch the video below to see how the pottery is made in their factory in Stoke-on-Trent, England.
Did you know that 22 pairs of hands make each piece of Spode Blue Italian? Each item is truly a handcrafted work of art, don’t you think?
For Afternoon Tea Week I thought I’d share three simple sandwich recipes; three of our family favourites: egg and cress, smoked Shetland salmon with cream cheese and a cheese and pickle sandwich. The perfect variety (I think) to go with the traditional scones with jam and cream and a selection of other sweet treats, displayed, perfectly, in my new Spode Blue Italian set.
When it comes to scones, are you a ‘cream on top of the jam’ person or a ‘jam always has to go on top of the cream’ person? AfternoonTea.co.uk recently conducted a large survey to find out.
They found that 58% of people prefer to put the jam before the cream on their scones, with 42% preferring cream first.
The rivalry between Cornwall and Devon over cream teas has been going on for decades. The Cornish way is to serve jam on the bottom, with the Devonians placing the cream on first. You’ll see, to settle any potential disagreements at our Afternoon Tea Party, I did it both ways to please everyone.
Oh, and don’t forget the Prosecco!
Portmeirion Group have very kindly sent me a second Spode Blue Italian two-tier cake stand worth £44 for me to gift to one of my UK readers. To enter, simply fill in the Rafflecopter form below!
What do you like to have served with your Afternoon Tea? Are you a jam on top or cream on top person? Let me know in the comments!
A Trio of Sandwiches for Afternoon Tea
Ingredients
for the egg and cress sandwiches
- 2 large free-range eggs hardboiled and cooled
- 2 tbsp Hellman's mayonnaise
- 0.5 tsp pickle juice
- 1 pinch celery seed
- sea salt to taste
- freshly ground black pepper to taste
- 2 slices white bread
- 2 slices brown bread
- butter to spread
for the smoked Shetland salmon with cream cheese and chives sandwiches
- 100 grams cream cheese
- 1 tsp fresh chives snipped
- 0.25 tsp lemon zest
- 100 grams smoked Shetland salmon
- 2 slices white bread
- 2 slices brown bread
for the cheese and pickle sandwiches
- 100 grams mature cheddar cheese
- 15 grams small chunk Branston pickle
- 2 slices white bread
- 2 slices brown bread
- butter to spread
Instructions
- To prepare the egg and cress sandwiches, mash the cooled boiled eggs with a fork until they reach an even consistency. Stir in the mayonnaise, pickle juice and celery seed. Season to taste. Gently fold in the cress.
- Butter your bread slices and divide the egg mixture between the two sandwiches. Cut off the crusts and slice the sandwiches into two triangles or three fingers.
- To prepare the smoked salmon sandwiches, spread 1/4 of the cream cheese on each of the four slices of bread. Sprinkle the cream cheese on one side of the sandwich with the snipped chives and lemon zest.
- Arrange half the smoked Shetland salmon on each sandwich and assemble. Cut off the crusts and slice into triangles or fingers.
- For the cheese and pickle sandwiches, finely grate the cheddar cheese and stir in the pickle to bind. Butter each slice of bread, divide the cheese mixture between them and assemble. Cut off the crusts and slice into triangles or fingers.
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OTHER AFTERNOON TEA RECIPES YOU MIGHT LIKE
Choux Buns with Coffee Custard Filling
Courgette Almond Polenta Cake (GF)
Blackberry and Apple Cake
Emmer Scones
Afternoon Tea Cake
Tunnock’s Teacake Rocky Road
Mini Lemon Drizzle Pound Cakes
Cape Breton Fruit Scones
Spiced Apple Cake
A Selection of Cupcakes for Afternoon Tea
Lime Cupcakes with Lime Buttercream Frosting
Ooey Gooey Gluten Free Brownies
Strawberry Shortcakes with Balsamic & Black Pepper Syrup
You might also like this Cold Brew Iced Tea from Oh How Civilised.
SHOP THIS POST
Spode Blue Italian 2-tier Cake Stand
Spode Blue Italian Teapot
Spode Blue Italian Teacups & Saucers
Spode Blue Italian 6-inch Plates
Spode Blue Italian Wine Glasses
Spode Blue Italian Cream Jug
3 for 2 All Loose Tea from Twinings Use the code AFTERNOONTEA until 31 August
GIVEAWAY
This giveaway is open to UK entries only. Entrants must be age 18 or over. The winner will need to respond within 30 days of being contacted; failure to do this may result in another winner being selected.
The prize is offered and provided by Portmeirion Group. The prize is to win a Spode Blue Italian 2-tier Cake Stand worth £44. There is no cash alternative and the prize is not transferable.
There is no entry fee and no purchase is necessary to enter this giveaway.
The promoter (Elizabeth’s Kitchen Diary) reserves the right to cancel or amend the giveaway and these terms and conditions without notice.
Entry into our giveaways will be deemed as acceptance of these terms and conditions.
If you need some help using Rafflecopter, here’s a quick clip to show you how. Rafflecopter will pick the winner at random from all the entries received. I will be verifying entries. Any automated entries or those who have claimed they have made the mandatory blog post comment and really haven’t will be disqualified. It’s mandatory! Please make sure your comment is eight words or longer or Google views it as spam and this negatively affects my spam score. All entries with comments fewer than the mandatory 8 words will be disqualified and deleted.
Closing date is midnight (that’s 00:00 hours, 12 am on Sunday night/Monday morning) on Monday 28 August 2017 (GMT). The winner will be announced afterwards.
Elizabeth’s Kitchen Diary was gifted all of the above Spode Blue Italian products. All thoughts and opinions expressed are our own. Thank you for supporting the brands who make it possible for me to do what I love: mess up my kitchen and share recipe stories.
Mum of three, daydream adventurer, OU Life Sciences graduate, occasional crafter, ex-pat Canadian & quite possibly Britain's most northerly food blogger.
Barbara Crook says
For me it has to be smoked salmon and cream cheese on rye bread, and beef with horseradish on brown, followed by scones and chocolate cakes
Tracey Susan Anderson says
Salmon and cucumber sandwiches aswell as fruit scones with jam and clotted cream are a must 🙂 x
Joanne Blunt says
I like egg and cress sandwiches, scones with jam and clotted cream, and mini cakes
karen says
I have a very sweet tooth so I love to have scones with cream and jam , a piece of chocolate cake and a piece of Victoria sponge cake!
Rachel B says
i’m not a huge fan of sandwiches but i love cakes. I like the diddy little scones with cream and jam 🙂
Kelly Simpson says
Egg sandwiches followed by a scone with jam and a selection of mini cakes like victoria sponge and chocolate fudge. Mmmm yummy!
Sam Parkes says
Sandwiches, scones with jam and clotted cream with a pot of English tea
Liza Park says
I like to have Cucumber sandwiches, ( no crust ) mini white chocolate eclairs,scones with jam and cream, mini victoria sponge cake and a pot of coffee asi can’t drink tea x
Eva Trelfa says
My ideal afternoon tea compiles of a good quality english breakfast tea with freshly baked scones,butter, jam and clotted cream. a perfect treat!
ANNE BAXTER says
As long as the sizes are all small – finger bite size, I’ll eat anything.
Anna Brown says
There’s got to be scones with jam and clotted cream with afternoon tea
Caroline Bourne says
A nice mug of hot chocolate with cream and marshmallows on top!
Victoria Buchanan says
I’m a savoury fan so I prefer the afternoon teas to be mostly sandwiches, mini savoury pastries etc. Gotta have the top tier of scones though!
Hayley Todd says
For me the perfect afternoon tea would be finger sandwiches filled with grated cheese + caremelised onion chutney on granary bread, scones with clotted cream and jam, a selection of delicious cakes, including miniature Victoria Sponges, miniature Devil’s Food Cake, a selection of various cupcakes and some slices of Fruit Cake.
Lea Mavin says
A good mixture of sandwiches followed by scones with jam and cream, then a small selection of minature cakes like battenburg and Victoria sponge to nibble at while finishing off a large pot of tea.
Miss Tracy Hanson says
OOOH yum, with afternoon tea I like salmon, and also egg sandwiches. Then either a scone or a cream cake. Making me hungry now.
Sarah says
Scones with the cream on last. And cucumber sandwiches with the crusts cut off. And pink lemonade! mmmmmm
Jayne Townson says
An egg and cress sandwich followed by a mini chocolate cake and a cup of tea. Thanks for this lovely giveaway.
Pamela Gossage says
I always have ham sandwiches cut into triangles and scones with jam and cakes
Irene Hodgson says
Mum egg and cress sandwich, mini scones ,victoria sandwich and a lovely pot of tea
Christine Monk says
Assorted dainty sandwiches, salmon and cucumber, egg and cress, beef and horseradish. To follow; scones, I love scones or maybe a fat rascal!
Emma Hussain says
Some lightly filled sandwiches and little cakes
Sarah Russell says
I love lots of different little cakes and some nice sandwiches and of course a Great brew! x
Emma Topp says
I would be very traditional and go for cucumber sandwiches and scones with jam and cream.
Kristy L Brown says
I love a nice selection of finger sandwiches and a juicy fruit scone
Lin Martin says
Love smoked salmon and cream cheese sandwiches and with scones and jam.
Dale Dow says
you can’t have an afternoon tea without some scones! Although other cakes can be tempting too!
Katie says
Ham and cream cheese sandwiches, mini sausage rolls, scones with jam and cream and mini sponge cakes with strawberries and washed down with English breakfast tea
Simone Griffin says
This is very traditional, but I have to have sandwiches and a plain scone with plenty of jam and clotted cream – yummy x
Carol Thomas says
My perfect afternoon tea, would be salmon & goats cheese sandwiches and freshly made scones, butter, jam and clotted cream, finished off with earl grey tea
Katy Malkin says
Houmous salad sandwiches on brown, flapjacks and camomile tea
Rebecca roberts says
I like sandwiches with mine yum great giveaway
Rich Tyler says
Salmon sandwiches, always adds the posh factor!
amy bondoc says
cheese egg and spinach sandwiches, cheesey rolls, victoria sponge, tea ofcourse and cocktail sausages
S Mayat says
Plenty of sweet treats!
Rebecca Alderson says
Afternoon tea has to include ham and cucumber sandwiches and scones with jam and clotted cream!
Sue Johnson says
Earl grey tea and carrot cake with lots of frosting. Yummy
Karen Barrett says
Buttery scones with lashings of clotted cram and strawberry jam.
izzy smith says
I like scones with jam and lots and cream. I also like the finger sandwiches. yummy !
Rachael Marsden says
Def cream cheese and cucumber sandwiches but also a lot of sweet treats as I have a really sweet tooth
tracy baines says
tuna mayo sandwiches, mini sausage rolls and a nice cream cake would be great
sofie says
The obligatory cucumber sandwich and good scones
ADEINNE TONNER says
With my afternoon tea of course i need a pot of tea, ham sandwiches and some yummy cakes too
Sarah Fielding says
Definitely cheese and onion sandwiches!
Laura Nice says
You can’t beat Scones with jam and a glass of fizz but its just tea for me while I’m pregnant!