Food & Party Planning Ideas
Mother's Day - It's Time for Tea
Give Your Mother's Day Celebration New Life with an Old Tradition
Every woman can remember being a little girl - putting on her "dress up clothes," gathering her favorite dolls and teddy bears and heading out to the patio for afternoon tea. Basking in the springtime sun, she would sip imaginary tea with her pinky out and exchange pleasantries with Raggedy Ann and Paddington Bear.
This Mother's Day, set Raggedy Ann and Paddington Bear aside and sit down for a special time with your daughter. An elegant tea party is a great way for mothers and daughters to reclaim the simple pleasures of youth.
"As girls, we play 'tea party' to act like ladies," says Nancy Siler consumer affairs director of Wilton Enterprises. "As ladies, however a tea party is a wonderful way to slow things down and realize the 'lady' within ourselves."
There is something ceremonial about the serving of tea that makes it a great escape for working mothers, daughters and grandmothers alike.
"The tea party has a long, grand tradition," says Siler. "Many churches, community centers and women's groups still host afternoon teas. At home, formal dress can be optional, but bringing out the guest tea set and dessert plates adds a touch of ritual to make this event truly special."
The tea chosen is essential to setting the mood. With so many flavors and types of tea to choose from, it isn't easy. Siler recommends serving a choice of two: a traditional tea such as Earl Grey, and a decaffeinated herbal tea like a Lemon Blossom. Also, don't forget the milk, sugar, honey and lemon to suit people's tastes.
It is nice to keep the menu traditional serving scones, light sandwiches and dessert. Since most people view tea parties' finger sandwiches as a simple prelude to the real star of the show – dessert – Siler recommends pulling out all the stops for a grand finale.
Mothers and daughters will get their just dessert with Wilton's Elegant Lemon Coconut Cake, a luscious lemon-flavored cake with coconut icing, topped with yellow and purple icing pansies. This dessert is not only mouth watering, but also visually stunning.
"The relationship between a mother and daughter is unique. They are not only family, but also friends," says Siler. "What better way to celebrate this relationship than with a delicious dessert that is topped with pansies, the symbolic flower of friendship."
