Baby Shower Tea Party

This recipe for savory eclair shells kicks eclairs out of the dessert category. With a little cayenne pepper and garlic powder, this recipe transforms the eclair from sweet to spicy. You won't want to fill this one with egg cream. Instead, make a savory filling of goat cheese whipped with cucumbers, celery, and dill, and serve the eclairs alongside your finger sandwiches to wow guests. Replace the traditional chocolate frosting with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil. Read More

Take it from the Queen--a proper tea party requires a proper invitation. Let your invitations be formal but fun. Make them yourself on heavy, cream-colored cardstock with pastel accents. Use your best calligraphy and write them by hand. Feel free to add in a few ribbons or baby-themed stickers to complete the effect. Make sure to give guests ample time to respond and let them know to wear their tea party attire. Also mention gift registry information. Read More

For the perfect tea party menu, stick with tradition. But don't be afraid to innovate! The ideas below, from the Pencil Asparagus and Prosciutto Sandwiches, to the Cucumber Wrapped Smoked Salmon and Cream Cheese Rolls, are a great place to start from. Keep your options small and dainty, so that they can be eaten with only fingers and napkins. You may want to include Devonshire or clotted cream and scones as well. For desserts, create a few platters of assorted finger goodies, like tiny brownies, miniature cupcakes, or jam cookies. Read More

Many pregnant women don't consume caffeine, but that's not a problem at a tea party, thanks to all of the wonderful naturally decaffeinated tea options out there. Of course, you can find almost every caffeinated tea in an artifically decaffeinated version as well, but it may be more exciting to explore a variety of naturally decaffeinated herbal teas, which also offer health benefits. High-antioxidant Rooibos tea from South Africa is one such naturally caffeine-free option. There are new varieties of herbal tea on the market every day--try flavors like almond, ginger, cranberry apple, peach, mint, or lemon for an all-natural afternoon pick-me-up. Read More

A modern variation on the classic finger sandwich, this recipe requires a bit of prep time but it's definitely worth it. The combination of asparagus and prosciutto is surprisingly full-bodied for a delicate sandwich, and the addition of the Boursin makes it even more satisfying. Just remember to boil the asparagus in advance, so that you can allow enough time for it to cool before assembling the sandwiches. You can also make a variation on this recipe by subbing out the prosciutto for a different cured meat, like prosciutto cotto, mortadella, coppa, or bresaola. Read More

Your guests will be impressed by the pretty presentation of these spiral rolls of green cucumber and pink smoked salmon. They'll be even more impressed when they bite into them! The crunchiness of the cucumber...the smokiness of the salmon...plus the cream cheese to balance it all out will delight them. In this dish you will cut the cucumbers lengthwise into strips, then cut the salmon to match the size, and roll the two pieces together. Try using a dill or veggie-flavored cream cheese to shake it up a bit. Read More

These herb & cheese diamonds add an extraordinarily elegant touch to your finger foods. Simple and fun to make, the diamonds will look great on a circular silver platter, arranged in a circle. They are essentially tiny pieces of toast spread with soft sweet cheese and savory herbs, then topped with a cherry tomato for garnish. You can even play around with the flavors and substitute different herbs or different cheese combinations for a different experience if you wish! Read More

These intricate and crafty cupcakes will ensure a fabulous finish to your baby shower tea party! Don't be intimidated if they seem difficult to make--just keep in mind the following tips to make it easier for you. First of all, you will need a teacup for each guest, and it will make your life easier if all of the teacups are the same size, since each one will get a cupcake of the same size. Next, make sure that your cupcakes tins are the right size for your teacups: the finished baked cupcake should fit snugly inside the the teacup. Finally, if you are familiar with fondant, use it to achieve the look in the photo. But if fondant fills you with fear, no problem--just spread a pretty buttercream frosting on the cupcakes and top with a storebought baby item, be it a tiny toy from the dollar store or an edible creation from the bakery aisle. Read More