birdnests and teacups: "Love and scandal are the best sweeteners of tea."

i love love love throwing tea parties...for adults and children alike. LOVE it! it's the perfect excuse to break out my cake plates and pearls, invite over my friends, insist they wear frocks, drink tea (or champagne) and spend our afternoon gossiping and being girls.

my childhood neighbor and friend Brook recently asked me to give her my cucumber tea sando recipe.

Ok brookie...here you go, this is for you, as requested:

Tea Party Cucumber and herb aioli sandwiches:

it's really pretty easy...sometimes i make my own aioli but you can just use mayo...whatevs, add dried or fresh oregano, basil, thyme, marjoram (the herb) paprika (just a smidge) salt, pepper...and sometimes i add super finely diced onion, but not always.

Tea Party for 10 people:

aioli:

*1 & 1/2 c. mayo

*2 sprigs thyme

*2 full leafy stems basil

*4 sprigs marjoram

*1 tsp sweet paprika

*salt and pepper to taste

*1tbs. finely diced red onion

*3 to 5 large peeled cucumbers finely sliced (i find that very fine slices work much better and don't fall out of the sandwiches. i use my mandolin with a fine setting...works like a charm. that thing has paid for itself many times over...taste it...and when in doubt add MORE herbs.

*2 loaves white bread (the ONLY time it's acceptable to eat the stuff=)) i like to use a buttermilk or other soft white...i like the flavor of potato bread but the texture is too....sticky. or something...it just doesn't work.

Now simply assemble: i like to cut off the crusts and then cut into squares...i've found that cutting on the diagonal makes too much of a mess.

i also usually do some sandwiches of turkey with the same aioli and a little good mustard or cheese for variety...i personally LOVE tomatoes so i do some with wheat bread the same aioli and tomatoes with whole basil leaves instead of lettuce...which is also good with the cucumber ones as well.

TEA:

i like to use a blend: jasmine, earl grey, chamomile and something fruity...make your tea and chill ahead of time. i rarely serve hot tea at tea parties...especially as they are most fun in the summer in a garden.

Simple syrup is a MUST: (boil 1 part water and 1 part sugar in a pan until thick...doesn't take long, i usually add a lemon or orange extract to the syrup to make it a flavor) i put the syrup in small creamers and then let people sweeten their tea to taste.

garnish tea with mint and berries.

ENJOY!!