A Christmas Tea

Are you planning your Christmas Tea? Here are some tasty recipes to try and some Victorian Parlour Games that you might like to use to break the ice!

Recipes

Wonderful Scones

3 cups all-purpose flour
3 tablespoons sugar 1 tablespoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup chilled, unsalted butter, cut into 1/4-inch pieces
1 cup raisins
3 eggs,divided
1 cup plus 1 tablespoon milk, divided

Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. Spray a large baking sheet with vegetable-oil cooking spray. In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. With a pastry blender or two knives, cut butter into flour mixture until particles are the size of small peas; stir in raisins. In a medium bowl, beat 2 eggs lightly with 1 cup milk. Add to flour mixture; stir just until mixed.

On a lightly floured surface, knead dough gently. Pat or roll out the dough into a circle 1/2-inch thick. Using a lightly greased and floured 3-inch biscuit cutter, cut into rounds, cutting close together to generate as few scraps as possible. Dip cutter into flour as often as necessary to keep dough from sticking. Push scraps of dough together so that edges join; firmly pinch edges with fingertips to make a partial seal. Pat this remaining dough to 1/2-inch thick; continue to cut 3-inch rounds. Space 1-inch apart onto prepared baking sheet. NOTE: When making scones, work the dough quickly and do not over mix.

In a small bowl, combine 1 egg and 1 tablespoon milk; brush onto scones. Bake 15 to 18 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from oven and serve warm.

Yields 12 to 14 scones.

“Heavenshire" Cream

Heavenly is the best word to describe the smooth texture of our version of Devonshire cream.

Makes 12-14 servings.

1 cup whipping cream1
8 oz. package cream cheese, softened
½ cup powdered sugar
1 8 oz. carton dairy sour cream

In medium mixing bowl, beat whipping cream until stiff peaks form. In separate bowl, beat cream cheese until smooth. Add powdered sugar and sour cream. Beat until smooth and fluffy. Fold in whipped cream. Refrigerate until serving time.

Cranberry Scones

1½ cups flour
¼ cup sugar
3 teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons butter
1 egg
¼ cup cream
¼ cup milk
¼ cup dried sweetened cranberries

Preheat oven to 350 F.
Combine flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Stir. Cut butter into flour mixture until crumbly.

In another bowl, mix egg, cream and milk. Add flour mixture. Mix together until a smooth dough is formed. Gently stir in cranberries.

Divide dough in half. On a lightly floured work surface, roll out each half to a 5-inch diameter circle. Brush tops with cream and sprinkle lightly with sugar. Cut each circle into four wedges. Place wedges one inch apart on a greased baking sheet. Bake 20 minutes or until golden brown.
Makes 8 scones.

Cinnamon Cider Tea

A sweet, spicy beverage for a Christmas Tea or evening gathering.

4-6 servings

3 cinnamon flavored tea bags
2 cups boiling water
3 Tablespoons brown sugar
2 cups apple cider (warm)

Steep teabags in boiling water for four minutes. Dissolve sugar in hot tea. Add apple cider and serve.

Victorian Parlour Games

Lookabout

The host shows everyone a little knick-knack in the room. All the guests are to leave while the host hides it. When they return, everyone is to look for the item until they spot it. They are then to sit down. The last one to find it loses (or has to be "it"). It makes it a bit more difficult if guests continue to mill for a few seconds before they sit down.

Forfeits


One person is chosen to leave the room. All the other guests must "forfeit" a special item that belongs to them. All of these items are placed in the center of the room and then the "auctioneer" is brought back in. He/she picks up an item and tries to describe it as one would an item about to be sold. In order not to forfeit the item, the owner must "fess-up" and do something amusing/embarrassing to win back the item (sing, dance, do an imitation, recitation, tell a clean joke, etc.)


The Name Game


Provide each guest with 10 small pieces of paper, and a pen or pencil. Ask them to write down the names of 10 famous people, leaders, movie stars, authors, sports figures, politicians, artists, inventors, scientists, etc. Encourage them not to make it too easy! Fold the papers, and put them into a hat, bowl, or basket. Seat guests in a large circle. Each round is limited to 30 seconds, so have a watch with a second hand available. Player One pulls out a name, and tries to get the person beside him/her to guess the name by giving clues, but never actually saying the name or what it starts with. Gestures are also no allowed. After the name is guessed, the clue giver can continue pulling names out of the hat until their time is up. The guesser gets to keep their pieces of paper, and the clue giver gets credit also. The bowl is the passed to the next person and the clue giver now becomes the guesser and there is a new clue giver. The bowl proceeds around the circle until everyone has guessed and everyone has given clues. The one with the most guesses correct wins.
Example: Name - Abraham Lincoln Clues: He lived in a log cabin. He was president during the Civil War. His wife's name was Mary Todd. He wore a stove pipe hat and had a beard. He was assasinated by John Wilkes Booth.

Be sure to stop by my shop to browse for your Christmas Tea Time Necessi-Teas!