Hello!

When I was a little girl, afternoon tea meant those wonderful occasions when Mom would get out her Brown Betty teapot, let me choose one of the vintage china teacups from her collection and we would sit down and spend some time together.

Mom showed me how to warm the teapot and pour the just boiled water carefully over the teabags. Then we would add just a bit of milk to the china teacups so that the tea didn't cause them to crack. After stirring in just a sprinkle of sugar, we would carefully sip our tea and talk about anything and everything, including the stories behind the teacups we had chosen.

Sometimes we would make cookies to go along with our tea, enjoying them still warm from the oven. Our teas were simple but special, and we both treasured that time together, just the two of us.

The first time I enjoyed afternoon tea in England I was surprised by how much there was to it - lots of finger sandwiches followed by scones with jam and cream and then cakes and pastries. You can find out more about the tradition of afternoon tea in my post Everything You Need To Know About Afternoon Tea.

But as much as I love those splendiferous afternoon teas, I will always treasure the uncomplicated ones I had with my Mom. Afternoon tea can be as simple or as lavish as you want it to be, all that matters is that you take the time to pause and enjoy it.

And never let the idea of 'getting it right' be a barrier. Yes, there are traditions, but there are no rules. (And please don't let anyone tell you that there are!) Those simple afternoon teas with Mom were every bit as special in their own way as some of the very fancy, formal afternoon teas I've had the pleasure of enjoying.

Read on for some of my favourite afternoon tea recipes. But first, a peak behind the scenes!

Behind the Scenes

I am travelling with my husband Guy, who has meetings this side of the pond. We are sneaking in a bit of R&R on the weekends as well as going on a little holiday at the end of the trip. Last weekend Guy treated me to a stay at the beautiful Fairmont Scottsdale Princess in Arizona.

We had a wonderful time relaxing and enjoying the sunshine. Plus, I had the chance to meet the lovely Patricia of the Arizona-based blog Grab a Plate !

Patricia and I have known each other for well over a decade through our blogs but this was the first time we have ever met in real life. It was such a pleasure to spend some time with her.

Favourite Recipes For Afternoon Tea

Whether you make one of these recipes to serve on its own for a relaxed little afternoon pause or combine them as part of a more formal afternoon tea, I hope you will love them as much as my family and I do. And don't keep these treats just for company - I often enjoy a little break all on my own. It's very restorative!

Cheese Scones A delicious alternative to plain or fruit scones, these treats are served with butter. Cheese scones are also delicious as a side with soup or stew. Recipe here

Gluten-Free Coffee and Walnut Cake This easy to make and decorate loaf cake is perfect for any occasion. It keeps really well too, so it's perfect to have on hand. Get the recipe

Oatmeal Coconut Cookies This easy to make slice and bake recipe can be kept in the fridge or freezer, ready to bake at a moment’s notice. Click here for the recipe

Lemon Poppyseed Pound Cake This flavourful loaf cake is a real classic, but it's super easy to make and keeps well too. Get the recipe

For more recipes and inspiration check out my post Afternoon Tea Recipes and Ideas (one of the top 5 posts on the website this month!) as well as my Easter Afternoon Tea post with lots of deliciously different recipes for any spring celebration - including Mother's Day.

Links marked with an asterix (*) are affiliate links - As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

This week I'm...

enjoying Arizona - and looking forward to heading to California on Friday.

Reading - Somewhere, A Boy and A Bear: The Remarkable Life of A.A. Milne and the Legacy of Winnie the Pooh* by Gyles Brandreth

Watching - the second part of Bridgerton Series 4 (being released on Thursday)

Listening to - The Everything Cookbooks Podcast Episode 156: Writing History Through Recipes with Jessica B. Harris

Recommending - The Anker Solo Magnetic Power Bank Wireless Portable Charger*. It's really handy for those days when I use my iPhone for so much filming and content creation that it needs a little boost. The power bank is compact and light, so perfect for travel.

​Amazon Essentials 4-Piece Packing Cubes Travel Set* - We bought 3 of these sets back in 2018 and they are still in regular use. (I tried some 'fancier' packing cubes about a year ago, but they haven't lasted nearly as well!)

That's all for now. I'm off for a walk in the Arizona sunshine. I'll be back next week with more recipes (including some easy meals for busy days), ideas and inspiration. Have a wonderful rest of the week!

Thank you so much again for being a subscriber. Remember you can reply to this email with any questions, comments, suggestions or just to say hi. I love to hear from you.

Warmly,

April x

April J Harris | Helping you make the most of life at home and away

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