Afternoon tea is such a lovely tradition, a chance to take time out from the bustle of everyday life and relax with good company and a delicate sweet or savoury treat. Whether you’re planning a grand high tea for a special occasion or a cuppa with friends or family, here are my favourite sweet and savoury afternoon tea recipes.
Mushroom & Cheese Pies Like this recipe? You’ll love my online British cooking class! Thanks to chef Simon Sandall who rattled off this suggestion on the spur of the moment when we were making beef Wellington together and wondering what to do with leftover mushroom duxelles and pastry off-cuts. You could always make the duxelles […]
Lotus Paste Shortbread Biscuits Like this recipe? You’ll love my online Asian home cooking class inspired by Cheong Liew! Cheong Liew tells me that these lotus paste shortbead biscuits are typically served with jasmine tea at the end of a Chinese banquet and, while golden lotus seed paste (lin yoong) is traditional, they can be […]
Persian Halva Like this recipe? You’ll love my online Persian cooking class! Halva, meaning ‘sweet’ in Arabic, is popular throughout the Middle East and Indian subcontinent. Unlike the tahini version often seen, Persian halva is made from a flour and butter dough, flavoured with two of Persia’s most popular ingredients: saffron and rose water. It’s […]
Leche Frita Like this recipe? You’ll love my online Spanish cooking class! Leche frita is many Spaniards favourite dessert and popular throughout the country. In the Basque region it’s called tostadas de crema and, as both names suggest, it is fried milk. The milk is formed into a thick custard that is set in the […]
PolvorónesAndalusian Shortbread Like this recipe? You’ll love my online Spanish cooking class! These Spanish shortbreads hail from the southern region of Andalusia and are particularly popular at Christmas time. The name comes from the Spanish word polvo, meaning powder or dust, referring to their crumbly texture – the dough is the crumbliest I’ve ever worked […]
Date Scones Like this recipe? You’ll love my online Australian cooking class inspired by Matt Moran! Date scones are an Aussie classic, perfect as a sweet treat any time. Mine are inspired by Matt Moran’s date scone recipe in Australian Food, which is in turn inspired by the scones his Nan Valda used to make. […]
Herb Scones Like this recipe? You’ll love my online Australian cooking class inspired by Matt Moran! I love herb scones alongside a bowl of soup, but they also make a great savoury addition to afternoon tea. Use just one herb or a mixture of any fresh herbs you like: parsley, chervil, dill, chives, tarragon or […]
Cheese Scones Like this recipe? You’ll love my online British cooking class! Given scones’ British heritage, I like to use a good crumbly English cheddar in my cheese scones; most of it mixed into the dough and a little saved to sprinkle on top. I use buttermilk for an added tang, but regular milk is […]
Pumpkin Scones Like pumpkin scones? You’ll love my online Australian cooking class inspired by Matt Moran! Pumpkin scones are perhaps the most Australian scone of all, made famous by the late Lady Flo Bjelke-Petersen, wife of a Queensland Premier. Use leftover roast pumpkin if you have some (you’ll need about 1 cup mashed), in which […]
Spungata (Ligurian Apricot Tart) Join one of my food & wine tours to Italy to discover more Italian regional specialties! This delicious fruit tart, called spungata in Liguria and spongata in neighbouring Emilia-Romagna, is similar to what other Italian regions call crostata. In Liguria spungata are often given as a gift when visiting friends and […]
