I'm not a fan of the saying "America is THE greatest country in the world" period, end of discussion. Sure, America is good, we have freedoms and opportunities not available in other counties, but I've always felt to say our way of doing things is THE best, is more than a little close-minded. More importantly it limits us from exploring different and may I say, better, ways of doing things.
Without getting too political, case in point - TEA TIME. The UK definitely trumps America when it comes to tea time, and in my opinion us bbq eatin', fire-work watchin', over workin' Americans could learn a thing or two about tea time.
Case in point II - the royal family, and more specifically the royal baby. To say I am I fan would be a massive understatement. I adore Kate - I think she is the epitome of class yet so down-to-earth and relatable. Days before the future king was born I knew we had to celebrate in some small way. And what better way than through the greatest British invention of all time (aside from the industrial revolution of course): Tea time.
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| My mason jar obsession continues with these little gems I made. |
My first experience with tea time was on a Princess cruise with my family years ago. It was everyday at 3:00pm complete with finger sandwiches, pastries, scones, devonshire cream, jam and of course tea. And let me tell you, I was hooked after one bite! I fell in love with everything about it - dressing up, eating bite sized treats, sipping warm tea, listening to a live violinist play in the background. It transported me to a time of elegance and tradition. I developed an instant appreciation for the sophistication yet simplicity of taking a break to gather together for tea.
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| Sparing my rings from the dough bath. |
I made Chocolate Coconut Almond Scones from
Joy The Baker and Sweet Raspberry Almond Scones from
Bakingdom. I made an americanized devonshire cream served with raspberry jam. We made egg salad and goat cheese cucumber finger sandwiches and chocolate covered strawberries. It was delish.
I scoured my apartment for tea-appropriate decor without spending too much money. I mixed and matched some fine china with everyday plates, and explored Pinterest for decorating ideas and recipes. My friend Lisal joined us and the best part is she is expecting a little princess of her own.
It was a tea party to remember. We ate scones for breakfast the next morning, celebrated the royal family, and wished we were Brits!
