A Hauntingly Delightful Afternoon Tea

The spiders are out in full force since afternoon tea during the month of October includes two very festive spooky tea time events.

The tables anticipate the arrival of witches, Halloween goblins, and other festively dressed guests. Susanna cleverly coordinates the menu to suit the theme. Tiny black coffins filled with chocolate treats and jelly pumpkins were presented as favors this year.

Once everyone had a pot of properly brewed tea, the first course was served. It featured a savory helping of fresh tasty Entrails. This slaw had everything from apples to craisins, celery to peppers and onions, sunflower seeds and grated carrots, all mixed with a base of red and green cabbage and tossed with a creamy sweet dressing.

The sandwich course included: It's Toasty and it's Cheesy Parmesan Pumpkin, Bare Bones Skull 'n Turkey with parsley & shallot mayonnaise, Pumpkin Butter & Goat Cheese on Pumpkin Bread, Anyone missing an Egg Salad Eyeball?, RIP Pimiento Cheese Coffin on Pumpernickel, and a Magikal Green Eyed Monster. 

The scones included Casper the Friendly Ghost, and the Bermuda Triangle Cinnamon Chip Scone. They were served with sweet cream and raspberry preserves. A serving of sliced granny smith apples with Caramel Apple Dip completed this course.

And for dessert, Have you ever seen a Purple People Eater? 'Tis said they have Gingerbread for Brains. and a Wickedly good Frosted Pumpkin Cookie with a ghost added for good measure.

We certainly encourage everyone to stroll the haunted gardens if they dare, as you never know what you might find out there.

    HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Happy Halloween!

 

Several Halloween Teas took place in Sweet Remembrances this spooky season. This trio joined us yesterday for one of our hauntingly delightful teas. Earlier in the month we also welcomed members of the Mid-Atlantic Tea Business Association for their quarterly meeting.

 A welcoming reception greeted members as they arrived. Miniature Broccoli Quiche, Traditional English Cream Scones with sweet cream and jelly, and fresh fruit with a caramel cream dip, were offered alongside a variety of hot teas. A program on Trends in Tea presented by Mike Raab of Tea-for-All followed the morning reception. President Karen Donnelly of Greenhalgh Tea greets members before the session begins. Members from MD-NJ-PA joined us for our in person gathering while members from AZ-NH-WA joined via zoom.

Following the program and a visit to The Rosemary House, our Halloween themed tea was served. The first course featured our "Boo-berry salad" with romaine lettuce, fresh 'boo'berries, croutons, and a homemade lemon dressing.

The spooky assortment of sandwiches included a RIP Pimiento Cheese Coffin, the Bermuda Triangle Chicken Salad Sandwich, The Great Pumpkin cucumber sandwich, a Toasty Ghosty, and Egg Salad and Green Olive Cyclops Eye, and a Ghoulish filled Parmesan Tomato Rosemary Muffin.

The scone course featured a Pumpkin Scone with Sweet Cream and Orange Marmalade served with Orange slices and Wickedly Beastly Green Grapes.

The dessert medley held Matcha Ogre Eyes, the Wicked Witch of the West Finger, Candy Corn Cookie, and a Spicy Pumpkin Nut Roll Critter. A petite jellied pumpkin completed the plate. All served atop a jack-o-lantern napkin.

Wishing everyone a Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween Afternoon Tea - 2021

The last two Sunday afternoons in October are dedicated to our annual hauntingly delightful Halloween Teas. The scene is set with a backdrop of ghouls and goblins in the garden, and a few themed decorations in the tea room. The tables are set with spider webs and bats flying from the centerpieces. Pumpkin decorated cookies smile at our guests as they are seated. The first course includes a Creamy Cabbage, Apple and Entrails Slaw. Sure to delight with a crisp crunch of entrails.

The sandwich plate included Warm and Cheesy Pumpkin Tartlet, Eye of Newt and Toe of Frog Savory Phyllo Cup, Roasted Red Pepper Hummus & Olive Eyeball, Day of the Dead Chicken Salad and RIP Pimiento Cheese Pumpernickel Casket.

Oven fresh scones featured a triangular Pumpkin Pecan Scone, a Ghost of a Scone (the traditional English Cream Scone) served with Sweet Cream and Orange Marmalade. Sliced bananas, fresh strawberries and boo-berries with a Brown Sugar Cream rounded out the plate with a jelly pumpkin for a touch of whimsy

Dessert, served on a pumpkin napkin included our spicy Pumpkin Nut Roll and Matcha Ogre Eyes. 

Our guests are encouraged to stroll the haunted gardens, if they dare!

Pumpkin Spice Shortbread Bats

We've been celebrating Halloween during teatime this month. A quick and easy teatime treat are these Pumpkin Spice Shortbread Bats. They feature Pumpkin Pie Spice (available at The Rosemary House) which adds a lovely spicy dimension to the cookies, which perfectly pairs with Harney and Sons Hot Cinnamon Spice tea or a plain black tea such as Queen Catherine (both available at the herb and spice gift shop). Quick and easy to make, you'll be sitting down to tea and brown bats in no time!

 

Pumpkin Spice Shortbread

1/2 c. butter (no substitutions)

1/4 c. brown sugar

 1 c. plus 2 T. flour

1 tsp. pumpkin pie spice

Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Cream butter and sugar using an electric mixer. Gradually stir in flour. When blended, turn out onto a lightly floured surface and knead till smooth, about 3 minutes. I like to use a rolling pin that flattens the dough into a perfect 3/8-inch thickness before cutting out the cookies with various cookie cutters. Place cookies 1 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheet, prick with a fork, and bake for 25 minutes, just until bottoms are beginning to brown. Yields about 20 (2- to 3-inch) cookies. 

This recipe was originally shared by Angela McRae on her Tea With Friends blog. She has graciously permitted us to share her recipe here. If you want to see her original post (Angela made fall leaves), follow this Tea With Friends link. Thank you, Angela!

The tea room has been decorated all month with a Halloween theme. These are a few of our 'going batty' decor. The gardens are haunted as well. If you're in the area, stop and stroll the gardens, if you dare!

Halloween Tea - 2020

 Our annual Halloween Teas, held twice during October, feature special touches throughout the menu. Creepy Crawly Coleslaw was the first course served after our guests received their pots of tea. If you look closely at the photo, you'll see tiny edible bats adorned the salad plate. They complement the black paper bats that are flying above the centerpiece.

A variety of sandwiches were served after the salad. Here you'll find The Great Pumpkin Cheese Sandwich with a touch of parsley garnish, the ever popular Toasty Ghosty with parmesan cheese, the Sweet and Savory Spooktacular Bat has a cheddar cheese filling with strawberry jam on the pumpernickel bread, Queen Adelaide's Coffin with a ham and chicken salad filling, and in the center, a Witches Eye made with our popular French Style Cheese Spread, radishes, and an olive eyeball.

The next course includes A Ghost of an English Cream Scone alongside a Pumpkin Pecan Scone. Sweet Cream and Cranberry Orange Curd plus fresh orange slices and a jellied candy pumpkin complete the plate.

For the Dessert course; 
Be prepared for a Zombie invasion (or chocolate cupcake, chocolate frosting and chocolate sprinkles, with a Zombie hand), Witches Finger (if you dare) (a green chocolate covered pretzel with an almond fingernail), and Never look directly into the Ogre's Eye (a matcha flavored cookie with chocolate ganache and candy eyeball). 

                               May your Halloween be creepy and super spooktacular!                                                                                    

Seasonal Tea Cozies

This 'tent' style tea cozy nestles directly over top of your tea pot and will keep the tea warm while you enjoy your favorite brew. We have a wide variety of seasonal tea cozies available in the shop or by mail. This grouping of three cozies, and the mighty oak leaf with acorns below are for a smaller teapot.

It's not too early to think about your Halloween table decor. Designed for a larger teapot, these colorful cozies are sure to add a touch of whimsy to your table and delight all!

Looking for a cozy that will carry you through the fall season, this one surely fills the bill! Soft muted colors with fall flowers and leaves, it will fit over a large 4 - 6 cup teapot.

Thinking of something special for your Thanksgiving table, this large cozy is simply perfect! Or the pumpkins below might be just what you need! Contact Susanna at therosemaryhouse@aol.com or stop in the shop to pick out a favorite. 

Happy Halloween Afternoon Tea!

Our annual Halloween teas were held these last two Sundays in October. The tea room, decorated for the season, sets the scene while the menu is centered around the theme.

First course, once tea is served, featured a seasonal Broccoli and Cauliflower Salad with fun things added like raisins, bacon, red onion, and cheddar cheese pieces all tossed with a creamy dressing.

 The sandwich plate included a Full Moon Chicken Salad Sandwich. Although difficult to see in the photo, there is a little silver bat flying over the moon. The Pumpernickel RIP Coffin has roast beef with a water chestnut/onion filling. There is a Parmesan Cheese Toasted Ghost (the favorite sandwich, I'm told). Cyclops Eye was a cream cheese based sandwich with lots of almonds for crunch, and sliced olive for the eye. A Pimiento Cheese Black Calico Cat rounded out the sandwiches.









The scones featured a Traditional English Cream Scone in the shape of a ghost. The triangular scone is a Curried Pumpkin and Ginger Scone with small pieces of crystallized ginger along with curry and turmeric as added flavors. Toppings included Sweet Cream and Cinnamon Honey butter. A sweet jellied pumpkin and fresh orange slices graced the plate.

A trio of petite desserts included a Lemony Curd Ghost, Gingerbread Brains, and a Oreo Truffle Mummy.

It's always fun when our guests dress for this event! 


HAPPY HALLOWEEN!