I’d been dying to throw a tea party. The last one I planned had 2 stuffed dogs, a teddy bear, and an American Girl Doll in attendance. There was the tiniest of tea sets filled with water, and those chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry wafer cookies on the menu. It was a spectacular event.

18 or so years later things have changed a bit…

The guest list included my amazing Houstonian friends and the menu had stacked tea, or finger, sandwiches and three fun alcoholic tea beverages. A little bit older, a lot a bit bolder. These sandwiches stemmed from a long list of ideas on the FoodNetwork.com. So many finger sandwiches are very sweet and dainty sounding, but I was serving them for dinner with many ravenous boys around so I needed to amp up the volume. My interpretations include something for everyone with vegetarian and carnivorous options, while bringing out some bold new flavor combos. The drinks are the Texas Tea, the Southern Peach Tea, and the Summer Green Tea. One with whiskey, one with gin, and one with vodka; all of which can be served non-alcoholic too! I served them all in large glass pitchers with the boozy suggestions to the side – in tea cups, nonetheless.

Hope you get inspired and have as much fun as we did!

Amped Up Finger Sandwiches:

Prosciutto + Mozzarella + Fig Jam + French Bread

Smoked Salmon + Cream Cheese + Chives + White Bread

Honey Ham + Brie + Apple + Mayo + French Bread

Chicken + Pesto + Tomato + French Bread

Egg Salad + Lettuce + White Bread

Bacon + Honey + Peanut Butter + Golden Rasins + White Bread

 

Boozy Teas:

Texas Tea

(Makes 1 pitcher of tea)

5 cups Boiling Water
5 Black Tea Bags
1/3 cup Honey
1/4 cup Brown Sugar
8-10 Mint Leaves
1 cup Soda Water
1 Lime cut into slices for garnish
2 cups Whiskey or Bourbon

Take your boiling water and add in the brown sugar and honey, along with the tea bags. Stir until all of the sugar has dissolved and the tea had steeped for about 6 minutes. Remove the tea bags and add the mint. Cool completely. Remove the mint and store in the refrigerator until guests arrive. When ready to serve, add the soda water and whiskey. Garnish each glass with a lime slice!

Southern Peach Tea

(Makes 1 Pitcher of tea)

2 cups Peach Vodka
3 cups Lemonade
2 cups Black Tea (prepared and cooled)
Mint and lemon slices for garnish

Combine all ingredients into a pitcher and serve with mint and a lemon slice as a garnish!

Summer Green Tea

 (Makes 1 Pitcher of tea)

2 cups Gin
4 cups Boiling Water
5 Green Tea Bags
10 Mint Leaves
1/3 cup Lemon Juice
1/3 cup Lime Juice

Steep your green tea bags in the boiling water for 10 minutes. Cool tea completely. Mix all ingredients into a pitcher and serve with a lemon or lime slice and mint as garnish!