Have you caught the Downton Abbey fever? We did, hosting our own tea party while we participated in a fun virtual event with World Market. We hosted a lavish spread that had our guests exclaiming how much they enjoyed the tea and asking how soon we could do it again. I prepared two tables, a fancy once for the ladies and a less fancy (but still tasty) table for the “dudes.”
I began by setting the table with a tablecloth that I covered with a fancy lace version I inherited from my husband’s grandmother. I received a collection of Downton Abbey mugs and used them at each place setting, adding a napkin artistically arranged in each one for color. Once the table was arranged, I prepared a scrumptious feast for the guests, including my daughter who has Celiac disease and must eat gluten free. A quick trip to World Market provided me with Sticky Fingers Gluten Free Scone Mix, and a tour of their food section helped me find traditional English cookies; Walker’s Shortbread and Cadbury Assorted Fingers Chocolate Cookie Wreath. I arranged them on white plates and placed the plates on silver chargers. Adding some Seashell candies and cute little gift wrapped chocolates created a festive sideboard before it was raided by the “dudes.”
On the main table, I added our scones along with Lemon Curd, marmalade and clotted cream. We didn’t have time to make clotted cream the traditional way, so we used this simple recipe for “mock clotted cream.”
Recipe for Mock Clotted Cream
1 cup heavy cream
1/3 cup sour cream
1 tablespoon powdered sugar
In a large bowl, beat the heavy cream with a mixer until stiff peaks form. Add the sour cream and powdered sugar and mix by hand just until combined. Store in the fridge until ready to use.
While I served hot tea with sugar or honey, I was afraid some of my guests might not want tea so I added some Peppermint Hot Cocoa to the table. Almost everyone tried both the tea and the cocoa and exclaimed how much they enjoyed both. Because I planned the tea around dinner time, I wanted to add something besides “just sweets.” I prepared chicken salad sandwiches on toasted gluten free bread and placed slices of smoked gouda in the middle of the tray. It added a balance to the amount of sweets I served and helped turn our tea into a light meal. The finishing touch was our Gluten Free Double Chocolate Peanut Butter bread we prepared. No one left the table hungry! When the guests left I provided each of them with a Downton Abbey mug and tote bag to take home. Everyone, even the teenage “dudes” who attended, thought it was a success.
What a delightful idea. I haven’t watched Downtown Abbey in quite a while but I know my daughter’s would enjoy the english tea bit. 🙂
I love your teapot. Very nice.
You created such a nice and cozy environment. Tea party is always great along with all the yummy goodies, relaxing and quiet atmosphere.
Looks like such a fun party. I sure would love those cadbury fingers!
I may be the only person alive that has not watched this show, but I am interested…. I love a good tea party! Your’s looks like it was a lot of fun.. and oh my gosh, those goodies! They look divine!
Not a fan of the show but those cookies and chocolate treats look delicious.
Tea party is always fun and relaxing for everyone! And will surely try your Mock Clotted Cream.
I love tea. Wish there was a great place who offered it close to me. Maybe World Market should create something like that in the corner of their stores!
You just did such a fabulous job of bringing that theme in there. I want to come to your next tea party, please!
I have only watched fleeting moments of the series, and I do know where it’s going. I love your teatime. Makes me want to buy a teaset and play with my cousin!
How fun, and everything looks great! I don’t know Downtown Abbey (I’ve heard of it!) but I would love to take a trip to England. 🙂
Ive never seen downtown abby but I have had those chocolates and they are wow!
Oh that looks fun! And YUMMY!
This sounds like great fun! I wish I’d been invited to this amazing spread! Gouda and cookies and candies! I would have had to roll home! 🙂
You look like you had a great party!
Aww.. tea parties are always fun and lovely – not to mention the food are all great too!
That looks like so much fun and the snacks look delicious. I have never seen Downton Abbey but I have heard many great things about it. Might have to give it a try.
I haven’t seen Downton Abbey but one of my friends suggested it to me the other day. I need to check it out.
Oh, you’re speaking my language. Tea cookies like that are my weakness!
My friends would love to have a Downton Abbey Tea party. I love tea party treats, fancy and delicious. I will have to check out some of the tea service sets next time I am in World Market.
This is so very cool! We are huge Downton Abbey fans, and it would be fun to do something like this with my MIL, Ashley, and SIL.
I would have loved to attend this tea party. The treats that you served looked delicious and it is a great way to spend time with the family too.
Tea Party? Reminds me of living in Nata. The real question I need to ask is…Did you hold your pinky up when you sipped your tea? I fun around but tea is a very serious thing for me. My tea drinking is steeped in ritual and if just one thing is out of place it is ruined for me…..and that is why I usually drink tea when nobody else is home because they make fun of how fussy I am about my tea. Funny but true story. During the Anglo Boer War in South Africa the British were most upset with the Boers and declared them barbarians after one skirmish. Their crime? They attacked the British while they were on their tea break. And yes the British finished their tea before returning fire. They took being civilized very serious those Brits.
oh my gosh what a fun idea!! how cool is this ??? lucky girls!!
What a perfect party for Downton Abbey fans!
I love that this is totally an excuse to have a real tea party! It looks beautiful.
It looks like a fun time. Very elegant.
COOL! This looks so fun! And this show is on our MUST WATCH list!
This is so adorable makes me want to have a tea party now. I have heard so much about this show as well. Everything looks so lovely.
My heart skipped a beat when I saw the title of this post! Downton Abbey is my very second favorite BBC show (after Sherlock of course! ). Having a Downton Abbey tea party is such a wonderful idea!
What a fun party idea!! We still need to watch this show. Those cookies and treats look super YUMMY!
I have to admit. I am a sucker for tea. My heritage is English, so we grew up with tea and little tea sandwiches. I need to do that more often with my daughters!
This looks so elegant!! I wish I could be invited to a tea party like that!
I think you have an amazing spread here! When I was little I would have loved to have a tea party with yummy snacks!
I love Downton Abbey! We are catching up on season 3 right now. Only a few weeks until the new season!
Thank you for the info about the Cadbury’s fingers, I wanted to know where to find them here and now I do. Sounds like your tea party was a success
LOL! Love it! I want to have a tea party now. I’ve never seem then show, but the buzz is good!
I love the idea of an adult tea party! I’ve had those seashells before and they are really good, great set up
That must have been so much fun, I have never been to a tea party before. I might have to plan one.
We love World Market for tea party supplies. They are the best, especially with the Republic Teas.
This looks like so much fun and looks beautiful too.
I love it! It looks like you had a nice get together. I just hosted a ladies tea for the American Heart Association and had scones too! The cookies you served look delicious! 🙂
I love tea! I have not let myself watch Downton Abbey yet. I am afraid I will get hooked and want to watch the entire series in one sitting.
I love tea parties and this looks very authentic. I think it would be fun to have all the ladies in my family come over for afternoon tea.
Sounds like a fun party idea for the ladies!
What a great idea– how fun! Looks like you all had a great time!
That looks like such a great time. I love Downton Abbey!
I love Downton Abbey! I would love to win that trip. I am counting the days until the new season begins.
I might be the only person who hasn’t seen Downton Abbey.
Wow..I must be missing out!
This is my kind of party. I must have been British in a different life. LOL
While I have never seen the show, I would love to come to your tea party! It looks so fancy and fun! I’m sure everyone had a splendid time!
I agree with you in the table setting creates the mood for a great tea party. I loved your table setting and I’m not in the mood to have one myself.
What a fun party!!! I absolutely love all the tasty treats you can find at World Market! I just love that place!
Sounds like you had a nice tea party with some delicious goodies!! I haven’t seen Downtown Abbey before, but heard about it!
my friends and I are huge fans of the show, and having our own tea party would be so much fun, looks like yours was.
I have never watched Downton Abbey but these tea party looks like fun! I LOVE those Belgian shells, they are my absolute favourite!
Oh my goodness, this looks like so much fun! What a unique idea for a girly get-together. Totally love it! Looks tasty too!
Oh what fun… I have never seen the show, but this tea party sounds like fun
That would be so much fun. I love Downton Abbey!
I have never heard of clotted cream. Looks like fun!
Gorgeous spread! I love the chargers!
Awww looked like you guys had a wonderful Tea party…look at all those goodies you dished up.. Love it.. I’m a tea lover so totally appreciate this and I can’t wait to watch the next Season of Downton Abbey… WHOOT..thanks for sharing
That would be so fun to have a Downton Abbey tea party. I’m so mad about the end of last season, though…I need to get over that before the new one starts.
This is such a fun idea. It would be a great girls night in along with a Downton Abbey marathon.
How fun! I keep hearing about this show, but have yet to actually sit down and watch it.
We love having tea parties here! Looks like it was fun (and the chocolate looks delicious!)
Looks like fun! I’ve never seen downtown abbey, but I’m on board with a tea party anytime!
I would love to be a guest at your tea party, looks fabulous! What gorgeous tableware, too. Downton Abbey is such a great show, I enjoy watching. What a great idea to have a Downton Abbey tea party!
A tea party and oh so elegant-just as it should be! I have had several of the items-including Walkers–delicious!! I think I might add in a plate of cucumber tea sandwiches (1/4 bread?) to get some veggies in there as well. You really made that tea party look very traditional!!
I have heard of clotted cream but never knew what was in it, your mock recipe looks great. I would love to have or go to a tea.
That fancy pedestal is awesome! Great idea.
Downton Abbey tea party?! Brilliant. This is such a super fun idea, I definitely want to do it with my friends.