It is a great shame that we have, in a round about way, let our good old fashioned and traditional "fairy cakes" and "buns" to be so willingly replaced by it's much larger, louder and more showy cousin, the "cupcake". What on earth happened to tradition!? Besides the very obvious fact that this non native species is larger and has more calories than our more traditional offerings, which, let us face facts, is practically the same thing, but just smaller? We do hold on to so much tradition in the United Kingdom, yet we have so willingly accepted this non native species to gate crash our tea party and take the top spot, without so much as a muffled comment about our poor old buns. We have allowed this blousy, bouffant and frankly over the top creation, to take over and sweep our buns and fairy cakes out of the way. Television adverts are plentiful, showing you all the lovely icing toppings and ready made flowers and sprinkles to put on the top of your freshly baked "cupcakes", yet not a mention of buns or fairy cakes, anymore. I actually began to question whether I had actually got this wrong, and questioned myself. Did "buns" or "fairy cakes" ever exist, except in my own imagination? So I delved into Mothers recipe books of old. Out came the "Be Ro Home Recipes 40th Edition". And I opened it. I knew I had not imagined it. There they were, tucked in there on page 51, with Chocolate Buns, Fancies, and Butterfly Cakes. There it was, verified by the BeRo cookery and baking books of old. These little baking books date back to 1923, which is when the first book was printed, and has sold over 38 million copies since its launch. Cupcakes are lovely, do not get me wrong, but please let us not forget our just as scrumptious & dainty buns and fairy cakes. |
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Historically, there is a difference between the two!
Afternoon Tea was something the upper classes did in the afternoon, usually between the hours of 4 & 5pm, where the more well to do in society would dress formally and be served dainty sandwiches, cakes, pastries and scones. ( I have already covered "Afternoon Tea", in one of my earlier blogs, so I will not elaborate too much more upon this custom, in this post).. High Tea, however, was actually not part of a custom that the upper classes had. Historically, it started out as something that working class people had, between the hours of 5 & 7pm and consisted of a strong cup of tea followed by vegetable's, bread, cheese, potatoes and sometimes, meat. It was actually more of a meal than a snack, (which is what afternoon tea is, of course). Interestingly, in parts of the north of England and in Scotland, the practice of High Tea still exists to this day. Today though, we find that Afternoon Tea and High Tea have very much merged into a very similar thing in most food establishments, up and down the length and breadth of the UK. Having said that, there are indeed certainly a few food establishments that would frown very much upon anyone asking for High Tea on their premises! Lady Rose Bloomfield x As summer slowly approaches with the promise of nicer weather, it is a time when we can finally begin to fully enjoy sunny days in the garden once again, my thoughts turn to things like bunting filled garden parties, get togethers, with family and also friends and games on the lawn... Summer is the most fabulous time of the year, when you can dust off those garden games and begin planning! I still have all the bunting I used for a previous party, I also have several garden games that found themselves stored in the attic. I aslo still have all my fine bone china tea cups, saucers, side plates, various tea pots, sugar bowls, milk jugs and cake stands, so why not press them into service once again!? You could organise several afternoon tea/garden parties throughought the summer months and keep numbers down to an easily manageable amount, after all, it is nice to be able to chat to each person and spend some time with them, rather than briefly flitting from one person to the other all afternoon and afterward feeling like you didn't manage to have a chat with so-and-so, at all, which is always the problem with larger gatherings of people.
Whatever you decide to do, I am sure with a little planning, it will turn out to be a fabulous party. Remember to not take on so much that you spend the entire day in the kitchen, after all, this is a time to enjoy the company, food and of course, the tea! xx As the 14th of February approaches, I am sure that many people will be thinking of taking their beloved out somewhere special to celebrate?
It might actually be very nice, and make a refreshing change, to take your one and only out for Afternoon Tea? If you are very lucky, you may be able to still book a place for the 14th, but as we all know from past experience, it will be frightfully busy on the actual day its self. You could on the other hand, go the day before, as I am sure, many will do? Whatever you decide to do, have a simply super time. And Happy Valentines Day! x |
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