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Retrograde

(10,136 posts)
Wed Apr 5, 2017, 11:33 PM Apr 2017

Suggestions for tea sandwiches?

I'm supposed to bring something savory for an afternoon tea this weekend. It has to be portable, keep for several hours at room temperature, require no on-site preparation, and be a finger food.

I've settled on tea sandwiches. In addition to the traditional cucumber and watercress, what else would you recommend? My husband is pushing for pimento cheese (he's from Alabama and pimento cheese is his suggestion for a lot of things (and he gets the leftovers)); egg salad may be too messy for a finger food.

So I appeal to the wisdom of DU: what would you suggest as fillings?

15 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Suggestions for tea sandwiches? (Original Post) Retrograde Apr 2017 OP
Radishes! LisaM Apr 2017 #1
Goat cheese spread Cracklin Charlie Apr 2017 #2
A fish pate? Lifelong Protester Apr 2017 #3
I always loved cream cheese and watercress Warpy Apr 2017 #4
Cream cheese with fresh chives and cucumber sandwiches... Raster Apr 2017 #5
My mother called it "rat trap cheese" because it was the cheapest Warpy Apr 2017 #9
We used to like sliced green olives with cream cheese when I was a kid Rhiannon12866 Apr 2017 #13
I would eat one of these nearly every work day. Yonnie3 Apr 2017 #15
I learnt in cooking school that real mayonnaise is acidic applegrove Apr 2017 #6
Cucumber is very good with cream cheese. madaboutharry Apr 2017 #7
Doesn't really work TlalocW Apr 2017 #8
chicken salad Kali Apr 2017 #10
Try this... 2naSalit Apr 2017 #11
An old fashioned tea sandwich HeiressofBickworth Apr 2017 #12
I love those black olive and pecan tea "fingers'. sinkingfeeling Apr 2017 #14

LisaM

(27,811 posts)
1. Radishes!
Wed Apr 5, 2017, 11:38 PM
Apr 2017

Slice them very, very thin, then salt them lightly. Put them on bread with a very thin layer of butter.

Cracklin Charlie

(12,904 posts)
2. Goat cheese spread
Wed Apr 5, 2017, 11:39 PM
Apr 2017

Roasted red pepper, roasted garlic, and roasted artichokes.

Smear garlic and goat cheese on some yummy sliced bread, top with peppers, artichokes, or both.

Hubs would like a bit of crispy prosciutto on his Sammie.

Warpy

(111,261 posts)
4. I always loved cream cheese and watercress
Wed Apr 5, 2017, 11:40 PM
Apr 2017

with and without paper thin slices of onion and/or cucumber. Traditionally made with butter, these sandwiches are better with cream cheese, IMO.

Here are 50 tea sandwiches. They're all easy. http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/articles/50-tea-sandwiches

Raster

(20,998 posts)
5. Cream cheese with fresh chives and cucumber sandwiches...
Wed Apr 5, 2017, 11:44 PM
Apr 2017

...And just about EVERYONE from the South would want pimento cheese.

Warpy

(111,261 posts)
9. My mother called it "rat trap cheese" because it was the cheapest
Thu Apr 6, 2017, 12:00 AM
Apr 2017

and the two of us could go through a loaf of super sour rye bread with that stuff in one sitting.

Rhiannon12866

(205,350 posts)
13. We used to like sliced green olives with cream cheese when I was a kid
Thu Apr 6, 2017, 05:24 AM
Apr 2017

More flavor than just pimentos - and olives can stand being left out.

Yonnie3

(17,441 posts)
15. I would eat one of these nearly every work day.
Thu Apr 6, 2017, 08:58 AM
Apr 2017

I was working in a lab and would stroll over to the outpatient (nearly free) clinics where the Pink Ladies (volunteers) Canteen sold these inexpensive sandwiches. I had never had such a combination before. I was hooked. That was many years ago. I had forgotten. Thanks.

applegrove

(118,655 posts)
6. I learnt in cooking school that real mayonnaise is acidic
Wed Apr 5, 2017, 11:45 PM
Apr 2017

so it fights off food born illness. I would press the cucumbers to squeeze out water so they don't get soggy. I like lobster myself but you have to thaw and drain the lobster from the can. You can mix it with drained and padded dry canned crab to extend the amount and save money. But people are allergic to seafood so you have to keep it really separate.

madaboutharry

(40,211 posts)
7. Cucumber is very good with cream cheese.
Wed Apr 5, 2017, 11:49 PM
Apr 2017

I have made cucumber and cream cheese sandwiches on pretzel bagels. I sprinkle a bit of chives over the cream cheese. You can cut them first into halves or even quarters. I know it sounds a bit unusual, but they are delicious. I use the European cucumbers that come wrapped in plastic wrap. They are narrower than American cucumbers and taste great.

Also Lettuce and tomato with Dijon mustard on rye bread is a nice little sandwich. Just make sure to dry the tomatoes really well.

2naSalit

(86,612 posts)
11. Try this...
Thu Apr 6, 2017, 12:18 AM
Apr 2017

My step-mother used to make these little tea sandwiches when I was really young. I recall they were made with:

Cream Cheese, one lbs
pineapple (crushed, drained/pressed) about 1/4 - 1/2 C.
a few pecans or walnuts
whip in a food processor and spread on a bread. Could be thinned out with some cucumebr slices added to the blend but it will be wetter.

She used to make a little crouton bread but I have substituted some little cocktail breads like the Rubeschlager breads in the past and they kept well. A light rye would be nice with that spread on it. Serve with sliced cucumbers and super thin carrot shavings or something with a light, wet taste on the side.

HeiressofBickworth

(2,682 posts)
12. An old fashioned tea sandwich
Thu Apr 6, 2017, 02:29 AM
Apr 2017

but always a favorite of mine:

The whitest, softest bread you can find -- a commercial loaf like wonderbread or whatever it is now
Spread a thin layer of softened butter on one side, carefully so you don't mash the fluffyness of the bread.
Spread a thin layer of Deviled Ham on the other. Don't know if you might remember this stuff but it's a fatty, salty, very flavorful spread that comes in a little can wrapped in paper. Used to be popular but probably not any more.
Put a leaf of butter lettuce on it, but you don't have to. Or you could put some tiny sprouts on it, but you don't have to.
Cut off the crusts, then cut the sandwich diagonally.
I've served them at card parties and tea parties. Must be ok because people eat them up.

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