July: A Picnic Tea

This outdoor tea party for a sultry summer day begs to be set under a big shade tree, hopefully in view of a slow-moving river. Packing the picnic baskets is half the fun, using assorted tins, Mason jars, and cute thermoses to keep everything in perfect shape during the journey to the picnic setting. A vintage cooler is much prettier than the modern plastic kind. If you have a less-than-lovely cooler, just toss a pretty throw over it after unpacking. Don’t forget cheerful cloth napkins and bright pillows. Always pack plenty of water and other non-alcoholic beverages when entertaining in the heat of the day. Though the usual etiquette of the more formal indoor tea party is relaxed during outdoor excursions, keep in mind that everyone will enjoy the party more if good manners are used. Leaving the picnic spot just as you found it shows respect for the next visitors as well as the natural world. Without a beautiful place in which to gather, there can be no great picnics.

Menu

Beverages:
Iced Southern Sweet Tea
Minted Lemonade
Sparkling Water
White Peach Coolers

Savories: 
Cold Fried Chicken Drumettes, 
Lobster Subs or Banh Mi Sandwiches (from a Vietnamese sandwich shop) 
Deviled Eggs
Curried Carrot Raisin Salad
Garden Bean Bundles
Pete’s Coleslaw Cups (omit if choosing Banh Mi as they have slaw-like veggies right on the sandwich.)

Breads and Scones:
Cream Scones with Blueberry Variation

Sweets: 
Apricot and Plum Jam Bars
Brownies
Vanilla Bean Sugar Cookies
Blackberry Slab Pie

Haiku:
 
In the hot wind, a
Yellow butterfly flutters

Onto a turtle.

Menu

Beverages:
Iced Southern Sweet Tea
Minted Lemonade
Sparkling Water
White Peach Coolers

Savories: 
Cold Fried Chicken Drumettes, 
Lobster Subs or Banh Mi Sandwiches (from a Vietnamese sandwich shop) 
Deviled Eggs
Curried Carrot Raisin Salad
Garden Bean Bundles
Pete’s Coleslaw Cups (omit if choosing Banh Mi as they have slaw-like veggies right on the sandwich.)

Breads and Scones:
Cream Scones with Blueberry Variation

Sweets: 
Apricot and Plum Jam Bars
Brownies
Vanilla Bean Sugar Cookies
Blackberry Slab Pie

Recipes Included:

Cold Fried Chicken Drumettes
In our opinion, there simply couldn’t be any picnic without fried chicken. For our picnic tea, we’ve shrunk the size of the chicken portion while maximizing the flavor. Using only the meaty portion of the chicken wing, the “drumette,” we coat our chicken with a spicy dredge mixture featuring the added zing of grated Asiago cheese. Note the dredged chicken air-dries for ten minutes before frying; this ensures an extra crisp crust which adheres beautifully. The recipe is easily doubled or tripled. A lidded, square glass refrigerator-style container is preferred for transporting the drumettes in style. If you don’t happen to have the collectable Depression-era glass boxes, American glass companies are making these charming boxes again. They can be purchased wherever Pyrex or Anchor Hocking is sold.

Lobster Subs
This is no ordinary picnic. This is a picnic tea, and your guests will be stunned to discover that you have packed lobster sandwiches in your picnic basket. And these are not just sandwiches. These are subs, otherwise known as submarine sandwiches, to describe the shape of the freshly baked rolls in which the lobster chunks will be nestled. Depending on your location, there are a variety of other names for this heavenly creation and the bread on which it is served. In New England these are called Lobster Rolls, and elsewhere they may be called hoagies. Whatever you call them, make the lobster filling on the morning of your picnic, and refrigerate it. Just before you leave for the picnic, fill the rolls with lobster, wrap them in parchment or waxed paper and tie them with string.

Deviled Eggs
Deviled Eggs are one of the greatest snacks of all time. Although they are a simple food item, they need to be made with patience and meticulous care and eaten as soon after being assembled as possible. The “shelf life” for Deviled Eggs may be very short, but in our experience, they never last long enough at any gathering to worry about leftovers. Deviled Eggs have always been a favorite picnic food.

Curried Carrot Raisin Salad
This retro-favorite is as tasty now as it was decades ago when grandmas used to serve this healthy salad in brightly colored Fiesta Ware bowls. Now that we think of it, if you still have a set of Fiesta Ware bowls, why not use one of yours to transport this very pretty salad to the picnic? Stretch plastic wrap over the top and pack the bowl carefully in your picnic basket. In addition to being flavorful, attractive and loaded with nutrients, this salad is also very easy to make. Your biggest challenge will be shredding the carrots, which you can do with a hand held shredder, or use the shredder attachment on a food processor.

Garden Bean Bundles
Like a napkin ring around a napkin, we serve summer-favorites pickled green beans inside a sturdy, hollowed out Roma tomato ring. Shop for tomatoes which, when hollowed out, will accommodate 5 or six green beans. A feathery dill frond garnishes our green bean bundles. Edible flowers such as nasturtium would also make a lovely garnish, adding to the fanciful presentation.

Pete’s Coleslaw
Our readers should not be surprised to discover that Kathleen’s brother Peter is also an excellent cook. And he has an innate affinity for the fresh fruits, vegetables and fish that are readily available from the farms, orchards and fishing boats surrounding his home town of Watsonville, California. Pete’s portable coleslaw combines the best that summer has to offer.

Cream Scones with Blueberries
Cream Scones with fresh blueberries baked inside will make a charming addition to your July Picnic Tea. If possible, bake them just before leaving for the picnic site. To keep the Scones as warm as possible in the picnic basket, wrap them in a kitchen towel, and bring along a pretty platter to serve them. A jar of Lemon Curd would be the perfect partner for these summery Blueberry Scones. 

Honey Butter
To make the honey butter, place ½ cup honey and ½ cup very soft butter in a small mixing bowl and beat with a wooden spoon until well combined. Transfer the honey butter to a decorative bowl and serve with warm sliced Sally Lunn bread.

Apricot and Plum Jam Bars
These luscious bars feature two of the best fruits of summer, apricots and plums. We’re hoping you have some jars of home made apricot jam and plum jam in your pantry. If not, buy jars of good quality jam at the grocery store to whip up these easy and really good bars. You will end up with two different flavors of jam bars in the same pan. These bars will also travel well to your picnic. Pack them between layers of waxed paper or parchment in an attractive cookie box with a tightly fitting lid. Make sure to pack several of each flavor.

Brownies
These moist, fudgy, triple chocolate Brownies are everything a Brownie should be—chewy, intense and decadent. The thick layer of Fudge Icing on top elevates these childhood treats to new grown-up culinary heights.

Vanilla Bean Sugar Cookies
This recipe, developed by Kathleen’s friend Suzi, makes about two to three dozen three-inch cookies. The iced cookies can be stored in a single layer in airtight containers for up to four days. Note that you will need to buy some pure vanilla bean paste to achieve the intense vanilla bean flavor of these classic cookies. You will also need cookie cutters. If you have a good assortment, choose cookie cutters in summery themes such as flowers, leaves or birds. For your picnic tea, you might prefer to serve these cookies without the icing, maybe just sprinkled with sparkling sugar crystals, and packed in a pretty cookie tin.

Blackberry Slab Pie
Slab pies recommend themselves to the hostess with their rustic charm and natural ability to feed a large group. We have none other than Martha Stewart to thank for bringing this old-fashioned church supper staple back to the spotlight, where it rightfully belongs. Here we make it with summer blackberries, but it also shines if made with apples, peaches, or blueberries. Just limit the fruit to 6 cups, to keep the slices neat for eating out of hand.

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THE TEA BOOK
The Road Back to Civilization
A Brief History of Tea
  Philosophy of Tea
     Harmony
     Humility
     Respect
     Creativity

Guidelines for the Host/Hostess

  Gathering and Greeting
  Sharing Stories
  Sharing Food
  Sending the Guests Home

Guidelines for the Guest

  Respect your Hostess/Host
  Bring a Gift if You Wish
  Practice Humility
  Monitor Your Conversation
  Arrive With a Grateful Attitude
  Help if Help is Needed
  Do Not Criticize
  Leave Gracefully
  Send a Thank you Note

A Checklist for Planning a Tea Party
Teas of the World and How to Make Tea

  A Sampling of Teas
  Herbal Teas and Tisanes
  How to Make Tea
  Making Iced Tea
  Tea Concentrate
  Brewing Tea for a Crowd

Tea Utensils and Accessories

  Tea Kettle
  Tea Pot
  Tea Cozy
  Teacups
  Plates
  Silverware
  Teacart
  Tea Strainer
  Tea Infuser
  Three-Tiered Server
  Cream Pitcher and Sugar   Bowl
  Cake Pedestal
  Trifle Bowl
  Jam Pots
  Serving Dishes, Platters, and Trays
  Silver Tea Set or Silver Tray
  Linens
  Kitchen Equipment for Food Preparation

Tea Menu Basics

  Sandwiches and Savories
  Savory Spreads and Dips
  Scones and Tea Breads

About Lemons

  Afternoon Tea and the Four Seasons

     A Spring Tea
     An Outdoor Summer Tea
     A Winter Afternoon Tea
     An Autumn Afternoon Tea

A Calendar of Tea Parties

  January:A Japanese New Year’s Tea
  February:Valentine’s Day Tea
  March:A St. Patrick’s Day Irish Tea
  April:An Easter Tea
May:Mother’s day Tea
  June:A Wedding Reception Tea

Lemon Yogurt Wedding Cake

  July:A Picnic Tea
  AUGUST:A FAMILY REUNION TEA

A North American Family Reunion Tea
  An Eastern Mediterranean Family Reunion Tea
  A Kosher Family Reunion Tea
  A Scandinavian Family Reunion Tea

  September:An Ozark Farm Harvest Tea
  October:A Tea to Honor   Our Ancestors(Dia de los Muertos)
  November:A Post Thanksgiving Tea
  December: A Christmas Tea

  In Defense of Fruitcake:Fruitcakes and Candied Fruit

A World of Tea Parties

  A Chinese Dim Sum Tea
  A Portuguese Tea
  A Classic British Afternoon Tea
  An Indian Chai Party
  A California Tea
  A Hawaiian Tea
  An Italian Tea
  An American Southern Tea
  A Russian Tea
A French Afternoon Tea
  A Kosher Teawith  Traditional Jewish Foods

Afternoon Tea for Special Occasions

An Afternoon Tea for Children
  A Tea for Our Elders
  A Honey Bee Tea in the Garden
  An Urban Tea on the Go
  Tea for One
  Afternoon Tea For a Large Group
  A Vegan Tea
  A Rose Tea