Also known as Fondant Fancies or French Fancies, these fancy confections would be served at the end of dinner or with coffee and tea. All the women of Downton Abbey would want to offer this rather beautiful treat with their tea service.
We’ve all had a difficult time waiting for The Downton Abbey movie to release and are excited to throw a pre screening tea party the night before the national release and you’re invited! Additional information for the pre screening is included at the bottom of this post.
To keep ourselves occupied, we’ve been thumbing through this delectable cookbook and are looking forward to preparing a couple of these recipes for our guests here at The Secret Garden Tea Room and Gift Shop.
I feel a tea party coming on. More importantly though, I am jazzed that I’m able to share this second recipe with you with the permission of Adams Media and Simon and Schuster, of course.
This gorgeous expanded edition provide features recipes for more than 150 dishes inspired by the award-winning series.
Taking inspiration from both the show and the times — and featuring dozens of photos as well as historical insights — the cookbook will delight any Downton Abbey fan as well as home cooks with a taste for the way people (both upstairs and downstairs) ate in a bygone era. From cucumber sandwiches and berry scones for afternoon tea to dinner party fare of smoked salmon mousse and stuffed leg of lamb with almond fig sauce and hearty staff lunches featuring Yorkshire pudding and bubble and squeak, readers will become real life Mrs. Patmores as they turn out food fit for the Crawleys!
…and as an added bonus, everyone who attends the The Roaring Twenties Downton Abbey Afternoon Tea, receives a copy of this elegant and delicious cookbook! Yes, everyone!
2. For cake: In a large bowl, cream together butter, shortening, and sugar until light and fluffy. Then beat in vanilla extract.
3. In a separate bowl, mix together flour, baking powder, and salt. Add to creamed mixture alternately with milk. Be sure to beat well after each addition.
4. In a small bowl, beat egg whites until soft peaks form, then add to batter.
5. Pour mixture into a well-greased and lightly floured 9″ baking pan. Bake in preheated oven for 20 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before moving cake to wire rack to cool completely.
6. Cut a thin slice off each side of the cake, then cut cake into 1″ squares. Place squares a half inch apart on a large baking sheet.
7. For glaze: In a large bowl, combine confectioners’ sugar, water, and orange and almond extracts. Beat until well blended, then apply glaze evenly over tops and sides of cake squares. Let dry. Repeat if necessarily to thoroughly coat squares. Make sure glaze dries completely.
8. For fondant: In another large bowl, mix together corn syrup and shortening. Mix in salt and vanilla, then gradually mix in confectioners’ sugar and knead by hand until it forms a stiff dough. If dough is sticky, add more confectioners’ sugar until smooth.
9. Roll out dough on a clean surface that has been dusted with confectioners’ sugar. Roll dough until it is no thicker than ⅛” thick. Cut fondant to fit over cakes, and smooth fondant down over the sides of the cakes.
Etiquette Lessons There is a certain etiquette for eating a petit four depending on its size. Large petits fours that take more than two bites to eat should be eaten with a fork. Small petits fours of one or two bites are eaten with the fingers. Either way, it is polite to serve your petits fours in a paper wrapper to protect your guests’ fingers from the delicate frosting.
We cordially invite you to join us the evening of September 19th for an exclusive pre screening of The Downton Abbey movie.
The anticipation has been nearly unbearable as we’ve all waited for the release and our impatience finally took hold of us. Elizabeth has rented a theatre and is throwing a tea party! Sip tea and nibble on scones and shortbread, while being among the first watch the movie we’ve all been waiting for.
Bring your own tea cup!
Paper cups will of course be provided if you forget to bring your own.
Period dress is encouraged
The movie takes place in the year 1927. Dress as your favorite character, the series decade you like most or in roaring 20’s attire.
When
Thursday, September 19th at 7:00 p.m. Please arrive at 6:30 p.m.
Where
Cinemark in Federal Way
2201 South Commons, 320th & Hwy 99
Federal Way, Washington 98003
Tickets
The Downton Abbey Movie pre screen movie tickets are $35 per person.
To purchase tickets, please call The Secret Garden Tea Room & Gift Shop, 253.826.4479 and ask for the gift shop where we will be happy to take your order over the phone. Our hours are Wednesday through Sunday, 10am to 4pm. As theatre space is limited, we advise you purchase your seat(s) early.
Tickets will also be available for purchase at the Vintage Market at The Secret Garden Tea Room & Gift Shop in Sumner, Washington on August 17th and 18th. (address is below)
What’s included
Pre screen of The Downton Abbey Movie
Tea, scones and shortbread
Prize for best costume and 2 runners up
…and giveaways
We can’t wait to see you.
Due to theatre constraints, nibbles are provided by Panera Bread.
The Secret Garden Tea Room & Gift Shop
1711 Elm Street | Sumner, Washington 98390
253.826.4479
Our Mother’s Day Tea Weekend at The Secret Garden Tea Room and Gift Shop was a spectacular event and we would like to thank all of our guests who chose to spend their very special Saturday or Sunday with us.
Elizabeth’s exquisite menu for this special event began with this delectable Strawberry Basil Parfait. A delightful twist on the Strawberry Jello-O Pretzel Salad, Elizabeth added balsamic to cut the sweetness, basil for a touch of elegance and used glass cups to create individual starters for each guest.
We are delighted to share this recipe with you and invite you to please take a moment and view the entire menu and photographs below the recipe.
Preheat oven to 350˚.
Toss crushed pretzels with melted butter, add sugar and mix well. Spread on baking sheet and bake in preheated oven for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from oven and allow to cool completely.
Mix together cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Fold in Cool Whip.
Dissolve Jell-O in boiling water and set in refrigerator until slightly thickened, about 20 minutes. Fold in strawberries and basil.
Using individual glass cups, pipe in a small bit of cream cheese mixture in the bottom. Pour in Jell-O and chill until firm.
Before serving, pipe top with cream cheese mixture, sprinkle toasted pretzel topping and add a sprig of basil.
The Menu
Pot of Tea
Toasting Glass of Sparkling Wine or Cider (First Blush of Summer White Sangria or Fruit Tea Red Sangria)
Strawberry Basil Parfait
Flower Fairy Salad with Rhubarb Vinaigrette
Sorbet
Warm Scones with Devonshire Cream, Jam and Lemon Curd
Tiered Rack with Tea Sandwiches, Savories and Sweets
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Please join us here at The Secret Garden Tea Room and Gift Shop and celebrate Mom Saturday May 11th and Sunday May 12th.
This year’s Mother’s Day Tea is a five-course, garden themed event.
Reservations are only taken by phone, 253.826.4479 or in person.To reserve and purchase your table or for additional information, please call during business hours, Wednesday through Sunday, 10am to 5pm. All tickets for the weekend event are purchased in advanced.
Menu
Pot of Tea
Toasting Glass of Sparkling Wine or Cider
Strawberry Basil Parfait
Flower Fairy Salad ith Rhubarb Vinaigrette
Sorbet
Warm Scones with Devonshire Cream, Jam and Lemon Curd
Tiered Rack with Tea Sandwiches, Savories and Sweets
Warm Towel & Commemorative Photograph
Cost is $65 per person | Children’s version $50
Price includes tax and gratuity.
This tea is also available Gluten Free ($5 add) Vegetarian or Nut Free, with advanced notice.
Please visit our website’s special events tab for additional information.
Do you need gift ideas for Mom? Come shop with us!