Country Tea Parties

by Maggie Stuckey, Carolyn Bucha (Illustrator)

From intimate get-togethers to large social events, tea is the perfect excuse for delightful parties of all kinds. Whether you’re looking for traditional menus of teas and delicate accoutrements or you want to host a unique party filled with unforgettable personal touches, Country Tea Parties teems with creative, eminently doable ideas to fit any occasion. Fill your house with fragrant rose petals and invite some friends over to cozy up around a fresh warm pot. 

Genres: Cookbooks, Tea, Nonfiction, Womens

64 pages, Hardcover

First published January 9, 1996

About the author

Here's my idea of a perfect weekend:

>> Fri nite, sit with a pile of my favorite cookbooks and plan menu for tomorrow night's dinner party.

>> Saturday. In the morning, grocery shopping. Set the table for 7; debate over which dishes to use (OK, I admit it: I have way too many dish sets. I'm a yard-sale junkie.) Out to the garden for flowers (few) and fresh herbs (thyme, rosemary, and garlic chives). Spend most of the day cooking and humming. Run to the farmers' market for last-minute extras; find lovely flowers. Indulge in a serene cup of tea. Debate music: Schumann or Nina Simone? Friends are here! We eat, drink, talk and laugh for hours. Guests offer to help clean up; I decline, with thanks.
>> Sunday. Patsy Cline on the stereo. At my leisure, clean up from last night. No one believes me, but I actually prefer to do this myself the next day; it's a bit like enjoying the party all over again. Make a lunch from the leftovers. Stretch out in my reading chair with a John Sandford mystery, or maybe Robert Crais, or maybe William Kent Krueger, or maybe ...

You figured it out: This weekend daydream hold clues to my background and my life. I love gardening, and I love cooking, and I love writing about both of them. To add a few specific biographical details: I grew up mostly in South Carolina (which is where I learned to love vegetable gardens), finished high school and college in Raleigh NC, and now live in Portland Oregon, where I cultivate a kitchen garden on my tiny patio and spend happy hours developing new dishes from the produce.

Reviews

[Sandra Noel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is such a cute book and perfect for people who like to host themed tea parties. There is a different theme for each month of the year; from January's Twelfth Night, Mother's Day in May, Bridal Shower in June, Children's Tea in October to December's Holiday Open House. There are ideas, menus and, of course, recipes.

The recipes are classics that have stood the test of time. Cheese Puffs, Cucumber Sandwiches, Scotch Eggs, Scones, Banbury Tarts, Cornish Pasties, Sausage Rolls and so many more fill the pages. Cornish Pasties are a favorite of my daughters, and the Scotch Eggs went over very well. Scones are always a big hit.

You're sure to find something for your next tea party in the pages of this delightful book. Give it a try...I'm sure you won't be sorry!

I received a copy of this book from Storey Publishing for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Patricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are a few tea "basics," such as how to brew tea and how to make tea sandwiches and scones. The bulk of the book, however, offers a themed tea for each month of the year. There's a Twelfth Night Tea in January, a Valentine Tea in February, a Bridal Shower Tea in June, just to name a few. For each month's tea, there is a 4-page spread, which provides menu suggestions and easy, minimal-fuss recipes. The illustrations accompanying each month's tea are beautiful.

After a re-read of this charming book, I am inspired to host a tea party in the near future.

[Elona · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent recipes!

[fyc · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is full of sample tea party menus, great recipes, & suggestions for a theme centered get-together. I was most impressed with the recipes!

[Fran · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is full of sample tea party menus, great recipes, & suggestions for a theme centered get-together. I was most impressed with the recipes!