Tea Sandwiches for Holiday Parties

If, like many people, you are hosting a holiday party or attending a potluck-style holiday gathering this winter, you might consider preparing tea sandwiches as an appetizer or snack. Although some tea sandwiches (like cucumber tea sandwiches) are better for summertime, others have more wintery flavors. Here are a few of my favorite finger sandwich recipes for the holiday season:

• Smoked Salmon Tea Sandwiches With Horseradish (pictured above)
• Smoked Salmon & Herbed Butter Finger Sandwiches Recipe
• Sweet & Savory Ham Finger Sandwiches Recipe

Do you have a preferred wintertime tea sandwich? Share your favorites with other About.com readers in the comments below!

Photo (c) Marko Goodwin
Do you tweet? Follow About Coffee/Tea on Twitter.
Are you on Facebook? "Like" About Coffee/Tea.
Interested in learning more about tea? Sign up for the free, easy Tea 101 e-course.

View the original article here

Cucumber & Mint Tea Sandwiches Recipe

Cucumber finger sandwiches are a classic afternoon tea recipe. In this summery and simple cucumber tea sandwich recipe, fresh mint provides a cooling flavor.

Prep Time: 15?minutes

Total Time: 15?minutes

Yield: 36 finger sandwiches

Ingredients:

• 1 loaf white bread (such as buttermilk bread)
• 1 thinly sliced English cucumber (peeling is optional)
• The leaves from 2 large sprigs fresh mint (chopped or whole)
• Softened butter
• (Optional) lemon juice, to taste
• (Optional) salt and pepper, to taste

Preparation:

1. For every two slices of bread, spread both slices evenly and thinly with butter.
2. Cover one side of the sandwich with sliced cucumber in one to two layers.
3. Add a thin layer of fresh mint.
4. Season with lemon juice, salt and/or pepper.
5. Put the slices together, cut off the crusts and slice the sandwich diagonally two times to create four triangle finger sandwiches.

View the original article here

Cucumber Tea Sandwiches

A full afternoon tea just wouldn't be complete without at least one great tea sandwich recipe. Cucumber tea sandwiches are a classic type of English tea sandwich. Explore variations on cukes-and-bread with these cucumber tea sandwich recipes, including recipes for cucumber-mint finger sandwiches, cucumber-dill tea sandwiches and more.

Classic Cucumber Tea Sandwiches Recipe

Lindsey Goodwin

These classic cucumber tea sandwiches are a very traditional afternoon tea treat. The recipe can be made with herbed butter or regular butter. The English cucumber soaked in white wine vinegar gives them a lightly tart flavor.

Cucumber & Mint Tea Sandwiches Recipe

Lindsey Goodwin

Fresh mint gives these easy cucumber tea sandwiches a more summery flavor. Try them with Moroccan Mint green tea or with an iced spearmint or peppermint infusion.

Cucumber & Tarragon Butter Tea Sandwiches Recipe

Fresh tarragon and chervil give this cucumber tea sandwich recipe more dimension and complexity. While most cucumber finger sandwiches are made with white bread, this recipe calls for whole wheat bread.

Salmon & Cucumber Tea Sandwiches Recipe

This recipe puts two popular finger sandwich ingredients (salmon and cucumber) between two slices of bread. Although this recipe is for salmon and cucumber sandwiches, you can easily modify it to make finger sandwiches by using white bread, using less sandwich filling, removing the bread's crusts and cutting each full-size sandwich into four small triangles.

Cucumber & Cream Cheese Tea Sandwiches Recipe

Lindsey Goodwin

Kids adore this simple cucumber finger sandwich recipe. It can be prepared in advance and chilled overnight for later consumption, making it a great kids' party finger sandwich recipe. If you like this recipe, be sure to try this Cucumber & Cream Cheese Tea Sandwich Recipe from About.com Entertaining.

Recipe for Cucumber-Dill Tea Sandwiches with Creme Fraiche

These delightful open-faced finger sandwiches from Gourmet Girl are made with fresh dill, creme fraiche, white pepper and garlic powder.

Healthy Cucumber-Dill Tea Sandwiches Recipe

This cucumber-dill tea sandwich recipe from Organic Authority features fresh dill, seedless Japanese cucumbers, dry mustard and whole wheat bread.

Olive-Cucumber Tea Sandwich Recipe

Stuffed olives and Worcestershire sauce set this open-faced cucumber tea sandwich recipe apart from your more classic, English-style cucumber tea sandwiches.

Cuke-With-a-Kick Finger Sandwiches Recipe

Red horseradish root is the secret ingredient in this spicy cucumber-dill finger sandwich recipe from The Food Network.

Veggie Cream Cheese Tea Sandwich Recipe

Lindsey Goodwin

This versatile tea sandwich recipe can be prepared will all kinds of vegetables -- cucumbers, bell peppers, onions, watercress, carrots, you name it! A high ratio of English cucumbers to other vegetables gives the veggie cream cheese a lighter flavor.

This recipe is immensely popular with kids!

View the original article here

Traditional English Tea Sandwiches

Tea sandwiches allow for a lot of creativity, but if you want traditional English tea sandwiches, these recipes will set you on the right path. From classic English cucumber tea sandwiches to traditional smoked salmon finger sandwiches and savory-sweet ham finger sandwiches, these are must-try English tea sandwich recipes for afternoon tea.

Cucumber Tea Sandwiches Recipe

Lindsey Goodwin

For a truly traditional English cucumber sandwich, make this recipe with English cucumbers, plain butter (not herbed butter) and white bread. Another traditional English cucumber tea sandwich can be made by preparing cucumber-mint tea sandwiches as open-faced round sandwiches spread with mint herbed butter and topped with fresh mint.

Smoked Salmon Finger Sandwich Recipe

Lindsey Goodwin

Traditionally, smoked salmon finger sandwiches are served open faced with dill and creme fraiche on pumpernickel bread. You can modify the smoked salmon tea sandwich recipe above to make it more traditional by serving it open faced and replacing the mayo with creme fraiche. Other variations on traditional smoked salmon finger sandwiches include salmon and herbed butter tea sandwiches (for a more traditional flavor, prepare the herbed butter with fresh dill), smoked salmon and cream cheese tea sandwiches and salmon and caper finger sandwiches.

Although pumpernickel is very traditional, you can also use whole wheat bread or other types of bread if you'd prefer.

Egg Salad Tea Sandwiches Recipe

Lindsey Goodwin

Chopped eggs and egg salad are common fillers for English tea sandwiches. The watercress-egg salad recipe linked above is similar to a type of egg salad sandwich served at Harrods in London (where it is also known as an "egg and cress" tea sandwich), but there are many other variations on egg salad sandwiches (or "creamed egg sandwiches" as they are sometimes called in England) you can try, such as dill egg salad finger sandwiches, egg salad tea sandwiches with chive butter on whole wheat bread, and paprika egg salad tea sandwiches.

Roast Beef / Ham Tea Sandwich Recipes

Sliced ham and roast beef are often paired with apricot jam or chutney and served on a hearty bread (such as rye or pumpernickel) or a sturdy bread (such as a sliced baguette). Ingredients like mustard, horseradish or watercress can provide a savory-sweet balance for these types of tea sandwiches.

View the original article here

Cucumber & Cream Cheese Tea Sandwiches Recipe

This easy cucumber and cream cheese finger sandwich recipe is ideal for kids' tea parties, but it can also be prepared with spices for a more "adult" flavor.

Prep Time: 15?minutes

Total Time: 15?minutes

Yield: 36 finger sandwiches

Ingredients:

• 1 loaf white bread (such as buttermilk bread)
• About 1/2 cup cream cheese (about 1/3 of a 12-ounce container of cream cheese)
• 1 thinly sliced English cucumber
• lemon juice, to taste
• salt and pepper, to taste
• (Optional) dried parsley or chopped fresh chives, to taste

Preparation:

1. For every two slices of bread, spread both slices evenly with cream cheese.
2. Cover one side of the sandwich with sliced cucumber.
3. Season with lemon juice and spices/herbs.
4. Put the slices together, cut off the crusts and slice the sandwich diagonally two times to create four triangle finger sandwiches.

View the original article here

Afternoon Tea Sandwiches

From smoked salmon to sliced cucumber, these?tea sandwich recipes?are some of the most popular types of finger sandwiches served at?afternoon tea?parties.

Cucumber Tea Sandwiches Recipes

Lindsey Goodwin

In this collection of cucumber tea sandwich recipes, you'll find recipes for cucumber-mint finger sandwiches, herbed butter-cucumber tea sandwiches, salmon and cucumber sandwiches and more.

Egg Salad Tea Sandwiches Recipe

Lindsey Goodwin

The watercress-egg salad recipe linked above is similar to a type of egg salad sandwich served at Harrods in London (where it is also known as an "egg and cress" tea sandwich). There are many other variations on egg salad sandwiches (or "creamed egg sandwiches" as they are sometimes called in England), such as dill egg salad finger sandwiches (pictured here) and healthy egg salad tea sandwiches.

Smoked Salmon Finger Sandwich Recipe

Lindsey Goodwin

The smoked salmon tea sandich recipe above is made with dill and horseradish. Other variations include?salmon and herbed butter tea sandwiches?(pictured here), smoked salmon and cream cheese tea sandwiches and salmon and caper finger sandwiches.

Although pumpernickel is very traditional for smoked salmon finger sandwiches, you can also use whole wheat bread or other types of bread if you'd prefer.

Chicken Salad Finger Sandwich Recipe

Chicken salad tea sandwich recipes, such as the sesame chicken tea sandwich recipe linked above, are a very popular type of finger sandwich in America. You can modify most chicken salad sandwich recipes to make them into delicious chicken salad tea sandwiches.

Roast Beef / Ham Tea Sandwich Recipes

Sliced ham and roast beef are often paired with apricot jam or chutney and served on a hearty bread (such as rye or pumpernickel) or a sturdy bread (such as a sliced baguette). Ingredients like mustard, horseradish or watercress can provide a savory-sweet balance for these types of tea sandwiches.

View the original article here