Downton Abbey Tea Party

Question:

What do you do when one of your favorite TV shows is having its season finale, and you come from a family of complete nerds?

Answer:

You have a Downton Abbey Tea Party, of course.  

Now, when I first pitched this idea to my mother, I was sure she'd shoot me down.  After all, this combines two of her least favorite things: deviating from her normal schedule, and letting me loose in her kitchen.  Much to my surprise, she took to this shindig like a Doctor Who fan to a bowtie.  

Downton Abbey Afternoon Tea

_~ Menu_~

Classic English Scones

Served with clotted cream and homemade strawberry jam

Cucumber Finger Sandwiches

Traditional Shortbread Fantails

Chocolate Caramel Cake

All served with Twinings loose English Breakfast Tea

We had fun compiling recipes, remembering our teas at Edinborough Castle and Betty's Tea Room in York.  Mom tapped into her Scottish roots and tried to channel her Granny while making scones from a recipe found here.  I found the cucumber sandwich recipe here.  The shortbread fantails were from an old old cookbook I bake from sometimes, but similar recipes are easily found.  My super-domestic sister, Rinna, provided the homemade jam even though she could not attend herself. 

Chocolate Caramel Cake... delicious and beautiful and uuungnngnng... Just choose not to think about how much better went into this.  It's better that way, for all of us. 

The Chocolate Caramel Cake and scones were the most difficult to attempt, as the measurements used the metric system.  Mom about had a fit when she needed to use approximately 4/5ths of a cup of flour.  However, everything was a delicious success!

We used my grandmother's china and a hand embroidered tablecloth to make it extra swanky.  After setting the table in an obsessive manner that would have made Mr. Carson proud, we invited the menfolk in to the dining area.  Mom and I were briefly terrified that the light sandwiches, cake, and baked goods would not be enough to curb the appetites of J and my dad, but we were pleasantly surprised and all fully stuffed by our spread.   

I enjoy dressing up, and usually try not to pass up the opportunity for a silly outfit.  I tried my hardest to choose a Downton Day costume, but none came to light.  I have no large hats, no dour black maid's uniform, and no beaded gorgeous evening wear.  I eventually settled on my most ridiculous of headbands.

I ended up looking a bit like Pointless Rose, so that was good enough, I suppose.  Mom and I decided that Dad should not wear a tuxedo.  After all, this is not a barbeque.  

So, we tucked in to our tea party, then settled in for a glorious 90 minutes of bagpipes, drunken Mr. Molesleys, and feels.  So many feels...

Your Nerd on a Budget,
Mac