Hosting A Red Hat Christmas Tea: Part 2 The Menu

It is easy to plan a themed menu for the Red Hat Christmas Tea. If you have vintage tiered trays use them because they really look beautiful but use what you have if you don’t. You can place plates on top of an overturned stemmed glass if you want to add height variations to your table. Be careful though, they are not very sturdy!

Use clusters of purple and red grapes for garnish. You can frost them by dipping in egg white and then dipping in sugar crystals.

Red Hat ladies are confident enough to try new and unusual combinations. Keep the sandwiches small and innovative. Suggestions are:

Turkey, cream cheese and orange marmalade on cranberry bread

Ham, sauteed apples(use a touch of brown sugar and butter when you saute), and cheddar on whole wheat

Chicken salad made with pecans, dried cranberries, and mandarin oranges on croissants

Sauteed onions and swiss cheese on rye

The possibilities are endless!

Ginger Scones or white chocolate & apricot scones are festive and delicious..and unusual. Serve with lemon or orange curd, and some whipped cream or clotted cream if you can find it.

Of course several varieties of Christmas Cookies are a must! Besides those, consider small eclairs or cream puffs, small tarts with raspberry preserves, and Earl Grey Truffles to round things out.

Now….on to the tea choices.