A Summer Warmer - Apple, Brandy & Cinnamon Streusel Cake

Today, after a much needed walk around the entire outskirts of 2 villages here in Cambridgeshire with the pup, I had a niggling thought. In fact, I had many thoughts whilst excitedly exploring the beautiful countryside and having a nosy at one of my favourite windmills whilst trying to keep myself upright at the top of a couple of hills...

How bloody cold is it right now?!

And it's JUNE!

 Our summer is here and with great British tradition it is wetter, windier and a million miles colder than our spring ever was. 

In fact, one of my wonderment's was if the hosepipe ban is still in force?!... I truly don't know the answer to that one haha. 

Only 2 weeks ago I was sat on Royston Heath enjoying a lovely picnic with my bestest friends and their little boy and getting toasty warm in the sunshine with some great conversation and much needed Vitamin D. Yet today it's been black, grey and shades of the two combined all day, with gale force winds, whilst now sat on my sofa typing away, my toes are blue with cold sat by the window. 

This week, with the Jubilee celebrations having been in full swing, we were greeted as a nation with lashings of rain & wind and the poor Queen looked so cold and uncomfortable on her Royal Boat on the Thames that I felt slightly guilty laying on my sofa, drying off under a blanket in my beer-fuelled snoozy state watching her shiver after my fun visit to a local Jubilee street party. 

I now have a weekend of relaxation ahead of me, with various visits for company, so a cake is needed to entertain my loved ones. 

Not just any cake, though... 

A Summer Warmer ; ) 

A warm cake, straight from the oven, not a beautifully formed layer cake, but a substantial and warming sweet sponge with a crunchy almond topping to comfort us on this freezing cold June weekend, which could be mistaken for an Autumnal weekend in October currently. 

So, I have decided to adapt my favourite winter warming cake, which is usually the stunning Almond & Cranberry Streusel Cake, with sweet bursts in your mouth from the fresh Cranberries used in this seasonal recipe, it's a gorgeous cake to make for an indulgent afternoon tea for your friends. 

You can find the recipe and inspiration for this Streusel Cake here, should you fancy making your very own Summer Warmer if you feel a little chilly and in need of a "Pick Me Up" 

Today, I filled this cake with juicy Pink Lady apples (Peeled, Cored and roughly diced into large cubes) mixed with a couple of generous teaspoons of Cinnamon as well as Sultanas soaked in Brandy. 

I soaked them in a generous glug of the good stuff and left them to soak it all in for a couple of hours prior to making the cake. I also used some luxury ingredients in the form of Duck Eggs for a really light cake batter, it's made a very fluffy mix this time around and smells amazing. 


If you would prefer to go alcohol free, not that it adds too much booze to it, but I can suggest you using a few tablespoons of Apple Juice for flavour, or simply a little boiling water to coat them and soak them instead. The soaking simply stops the fruit from going crispy within your cake : ) 

Served warm from the oven, leaving it for a good 15 minutes if you can bear to wait so as not to burn your tongue, with a huge dollop of vanilla ice cream, it's the perfect antidote to a freezing British summers' day. 

Have a lovely weekend, filled with warming cake and a good strong cuppa

x

How To Host A Jubilee Tea Party

Have you heard?... It's the Jubilee Bank Holiday, just in case you missed out on the hype hehe. 

I am feeling more patriotic today than I thought I would and with this feeling of love towards Her Majesty and her 60 years on the throne, I am honoring this blog post to our beloved Queen and the upcoming celebrations. 

It's the perfect time, along with the gorgeous weather, to host a Jubilee Tea Party and what better way of throwing one than to enjoy it with a few friends or family members, perhaps even just for yourself if you fancy bit of pampering and need an excuse to do so (Pffft, like you ever need an excuse to indulge from time to time?!)

Sometimes only a mini tea party on my sofa is the only way to end a tough weekend of relaxing!

So, first things first, finding your venue. Start with home, depending on how big scale you want to go, although I find the smaller, intimate tea parties much more fun sometimes. use your lounge or dining room and decorate with bunting and pretty table cloths. Perhaps even venture into the garden and safely light with pretty candles and flowers picked freshly from that rose garden in the corner? Place flowers in milk jugs or small teapots for a nice little touch to the afternoon tea table. 

Or why not venture out to a large stately park and picnic with a basket and picnic rug? An Al Fresco Tea Party can be very relaxing, especially with a relaxing game of rounders or a walk afterwards to stretch your legs and burn off a scone or two : ) 

The Tea is important. Loose leaf tea will be the only option in opinion. Try a traditional blend, such as an English Breakfast or an Earl Grey for a fragrant cuppa. Or give something a bit more interesting a go, such as a Pink Ceylon from Kandula Tea or even a Rhubarb & Custard from Teabox Online if you are feeling a bit more playful. Both are winners with guests at my own afternoon tea events. 

You must remember to warm your teapot with hot water, empty it then brew your tea, this little trick just helps to keep your teapot warmer for a little longer. And don't tap that teacup with your spoon as you stir in your milk or sugar, it's very rude and Her Royal Highness would not approve. 

Quietly does it. 

If you are anything like me, then you are sweet enough and don't need sugar in your tea... However, if you do take sugar, check out these gorgeous shaped sugar cubes from John Lewis. They come in cute little hearts, buttons, houses, flowers amongst other designs. They are a fantastic talking point for your table and beautiful to just look at. You can even add them to cupcakes as decorations instead. 

Fresh linen is a must, colourful tablecloths, napkins and tea cosy's to keep your brew warm. Cath Kidston are fantastic for a cute tea cosy, or why not be adventurous and attempt to knit your own?

Don't forget the finger sandwiches. Dainty, crustless and perfectly filled sandwiches are the most important savoury option to your afternoon tea. If you are wanting great suggestions for your perfectly formed finger sandwiches, I can highly rate a traditional Coronation Chicken, a good Cheddar Cheese & Tomato Relish and even a good quality Ham & Garlic Jam sandwich for all those looking for something a little more unusual. Not forgetting the classic Cucumber Sandwich, of which you can find my recipes for two different variations here. 

Little flags made with colourful paper and cocktail sticks are easy to make an effective, so if you are feeling creative, give it a go. 

Cake, of course, is the ultimate afternoon tea treat. Scones, fruit being my favourite, paired with a homemade Peach & Amaretto Jam and dollop of Clotted Cream is a course that cannot be ignored, followed by some delicate Vanilla Creme Patisserie Tartlets or if you prefer, a large layer cake filled with a fluffy whipped cream & topped with fresh fruit. I have been playing this weekend with my twist on a classic victoria sponge and have decided to go with fresh raspberries folded into the sponge mix before baking, and decorating the top with the fruit shaped into the Union Jack design. It's effective and summery, get creating your own version of this simple idea to wow your afternoon tea guests. 

If you are feeling ready to get your arts and crafts bag out again (Yes, I do have a naff arts and crafts bag in my lounge that comes out for such activities ; ) then you can make your own cake bunting using coloured card, shaped into triangles, strung onto a length of nylon and attach to 2 bamboo skewers to hang over your cakey creations. It's such an easy task, yet it looks fantastic hanging over a Mocha Layer Cake or another dish that needs a little more colour to it. Why not even use the same idea to hang mini Union Jack paper chains over your dish?.....

Mis-matching china is the only way to enjoy your well deserved sit down after all that baking. You can collect it from charity shops car boot sales, although I find everybody in Cambridge has the same idea lately. So try further afield... I have personally found that the people of Shropshire have not yet cottoned onto this vintage craze... so get yourself down to Ludlow or surrounding areas for some real steals when it comes to their charity shops or antiques!... I even found myself a superb working gramophone there for a fraction of the price it would have been back in Cambridge, so it's worth looking around. 

Remember, if you feel unglamorous whilst attempting to be the perfect host or hostess, this is perfectly normal. See my latest blog post on the messy side to hosting an afternoon tea party... apparently it happens to most hosts, so you won't be alone if something goes wrong. But, most likely, if it does, you will be laughing about it afterwards, dont take it too seriously, just have lots of fun. 

And if you can, try and rope one of the kids or a partner into the washing up in exchange for all of your glorious baking and hosting skills... they surely can't argue for such a Royal exchange ; ) 

If they DO argue, then leave it until the next day, it's always easier that way. 

If you would like to read more about The Queen and Afternoon Tea, you can read my joint article with the fabulous William Hanson in the June edition of Vintage Life Magazine (You can subscribe online or buy from your local WH Smith : )  

William and I will be co-hosting The Etiquette of Afternoon Tea workshop together in September, with a few spaces left, so do book if you fancy learning some good manners to add to your helping of afternoon tea - More information here. 

William has also written a stupidly amusing article for the Huffington Post on how to host a Jubilee Garden Tea Party, should you decide to go al fresco with your celebrations. Enjoy!

Happy Bank Holiday Weekend

Miss Sue Flay 

x

A Tea Tasting Tea Party (With Kandula Tea)

Last weekend at The Secluded Tea Party we welcomed a real first in the form of a very grown up and interesting tea tasting workshop with the lovely Jane & Gail of Kandula Tea, a local independent tea supplier here in Cambridgeshire.

These lovely ladies greeted my 14 fabulous afternoon tea guests with their friendly and fun approach to tea tasting, offering the option to purchase their favourite loose leaf tea blends by providing them with a scoring sheet as we glided through the afternoon. This was such a great idea so that guests could remember afterwards all the tasting which teas exactly they enjoyed the most, such a simple idea, but I would have never have thought to do it myself. These ladies thought of everything, including their very own John Lewis Tea Pots and strainers to allow me to focus more on the edible elements. 

Drinking from mis-matching china teacups, guests enjoyed blends such as their Green, Ivory & a Pink Ceylon (of which is said to be best enjoyed naked with your better half whilst eating edible flowers, but we didn't put this one to the test!) , some Black Teas including English Breakfast, Ebony Chai (Which went perfectly with a homemade dark melt in the mouth truffle ; ) and a gorgeous Earl Grey which got most guests talking and realising that the shop bought tea bags don't quite cut it. 

In fact, the Kandula ladies had some shop bought tea bags at the table for the guests to rip open and learn exactly just what was inside those cheap impostors. Most of us had no idea just how cunning these large tea companies can be, even learning a very intriguing little secret about a very well known brand that we just couldn't spread around, but you would be very surprised if you didn't know! It was very informal, but we learnt a lot and got to sample lots of new tea blends that most of us would never have considered prior to this event. 

The health benefits of tea are also of great interest to me, learning that both of these lovely ladies drink Peppermint Leaf tea before bed, which is a natural relaxant and doesn't stimulate you as a cup of normal tea or a coffee would before you need your 8 hours beauty sleep. Noted for the future ; ) 

The afternoon tea treats were matched to the tea selection that the ladies had pre-organised with myself, including a new twist on a classic in the form of Cucumber & Cream Cheese Penny Sandwiches, Warm Cheese & Paprika Scones with a Chive Butter and a new addition to the table in the form of Carrot Jam, of which my Jam lady has designed from a recent burst of inspiration. Needless to say it worked perfectly and my guests loved it. Hurrah : )

The sweet dishes included Raspberry Meringues with a Lemon Curd swirled Clotted Cream, American Mocha Jubilee Cake (With my ode to the upcoming celebrations, Chocolate Crowns which melted in the heat, but I think I managed to capture a photo of two before they collapsed haha) and British Strawberry & Vanilla Creme Patisserie Tartlets which were the perfect mixture of sweets to enjoy with our Pink Ceylon Tea. 

Whilst, the best was save until last, the Midnight Truffles, rolled in caramel and chocolate curls. These were the perfect petit four to melt on our tongues whilst sipping the Ebony Chai Tea. I am such a convert with this simple little dish and tea combination, that I will be offering this to a sophisticated group of hens at the next event I host to allow them to try this for themselves. 

My guests got on like a house on fire, as always, it's such a great feeling to see Tea & Cake bringing strangers together on a gorgeous summer day, I wasn't really needed to make introductions, everyone chatted between themselves, made new contacts and had a giggle, which was the exact reason I started offering these afternoon tea events. 

Our venue was one of my favourite secret Cambridgeshire locations and in fact some of our guests left their cars after the event and took a walk in the gorgeous woodland walks through the village to burn off some cake, of which I am chuffed to bits to see, as this village is stunning and the perfect location to host an afternoon tea party. 

I can't thank Jane & Gail enough for their expertise and friendly tea tasting experience, it was so much fun and I can't rate them and their award wining teas enough. And no, they haven't paid me to say that, I truly believe in what they offer and I love them both as a supportive supplier to The Secluded Tea Party. Get yourself on their website now and purchase some Pink Ceylon if NOTHING else!... Honestly, even local spas and deli's are now selling this blend, it's so different and yet so refreshing, you have to try it, if just once. 

You can visit their website at www.kandulatea.com

Until next time... 

Toodle Pip 

x

How To Make The Perfect Cucumber Sandwich

I don’t know about you, but sometimes you can really just crave a simple sandwich...

If I am home alone, I won’t usually make myself lunch (naughty I know!) as it always seems like so much effort just for me, so if I get hungry for something easy, I do usually crave a good old Cucumber Sandwich. Not some soggy cream cheese filled sandwich that has so much moisture in it that by the time you come to eat it, it’s all limp and watery... there is nothing worse than a soggy cucumber sandwich!

For an easy weekend treat, I want to share with you my favourite variations of this British classic, the sandwich that may not have been one of Lord Sandwiches favourite fillings, but he helped to create it regardless : )

The Cucumber Sandwich.

For me, the plain white square loaf is best... sorry to say it, some will shout at me for this, but the cheaper the better for this particular indulgence so as not to distract from the flavours of your filling.

But, if you want to rebel, go for brown, or even wholemeal if you prefer... you crazy cat!

For soft/cream cheese in a sandwich, I tend to prefer full fat, only because it’s a thicker consistency than low fat and holds its own within the sandwich. Low fat tends to ooze much easier, and isn’t as civilised for this finger sandwich.

The key to a good cut of cute & addictive finger sandwiches is a good sharp knife, to ensure that no oozing or flattening occurs whilst slicing these beauties.

I would also say, no need to faff with your cucumber, I don’t peel mine... I actually quite like a bite to my cucumber sandwich. Some peel it and scoop out the seeds, but I find this reduces your slice by approx. 50% so I don’t tend to bother when it’s just me. Just wash your cucumber and then pat it dry with a piece of kitchen towel to dry it again before slicing into rounds of approx 2mm in thickness. This can sometimes be a science in itself and I like to play mini challenges with myself to try and get them all the same thickness... GEEK!

Here, I share my two favourite combinations for you to sit down and enjoy with a good strong cup of tea, each recipe below being made for 1 person, just little old you.

However, if you want to make it for more people, just multiply it accordingly.

LITTLE OL' CUCUMBER

2 Slices white bread

Approx. 6 slices of cucumber rounds

Knob of slightly salted butter or margarine

Pepper to season

Butter 1 side of each slice of bread, and slice your freshly washed & Dried Cucumber into the requisite number of slices.

Sprinkle some pepper onto one side of the sandwich so that it sticks nicely to the butter and isn’t going to shake off anywhere. Then place your cucumber slices on the slice, just inside the crusts so that you keep it all in when you cut.

Carefully place the other slice on top and give it a little press to crush it all together nicely.

Slice all 4 crusts off and throw them into the garden for the birds. Waste not want not.  

With a good, sharp knife,  cut into 4 neat little squares and get munching.

CUCUMBER & MINT TRIPLE DECKERS

3 Slices white bread

Approx. 12 slices of cucumber rounds

2 Tbsp of soft/cream cheese  

Handful of fresh mint, chopped finely

Handful of fresh chives, chopped finely

Pepper to season

Place all 3 slices of bread on top of each other so they are aligned perfectly and de-crust them - put aside.

In a small bowl combine the soft/cream cheese, chopped mint & chives and season with pepper to your liking.

Delicately spread a generous amount of this mix onto 1 side of each slice of de-crusted bread, and slice your freshly washed & Dried Cucumber into the requisite number of slices, as above.

On the first bread slice, place approx. 6 cucumber rounds to cover, as instructed above and place the next slice of bread, soft/cream cheesed side UP.

Layer with the remaining cucumber, then place the last slice of bread, soft/cream cheese side DOWN.

With a good, sharp knife,  cut into 3 rectangular Double Decker finger sandwiches, being careful as you go so as not to squeeze the filling.

Enjoy a fresh taste with the herbs giving the cucumber a perfect lift.

And forget the garnishes & finishing touches for a pretty picture, Just get your bum on the sofa or at the kitchen table with a cuppa and enjoy some well deserved “Me Time”... I just hope this inspires : ) 

Perhaps you make your cucumber sandwich differently? Do share with a comment below to inspire. 

Miss Sue Flay

x

PS - Don't like Cucumber? Then why not check out my Perfect Egg & Cress
Finger Sandwiches instead - Here.