Take the hard work out of planning a Mother's Day afternoon tea with this full menu, step-by-step cooking schedule, and consolidated grocery list. You'll even have time to relax before your guests arrive!
Pimento Cheese (10 minutes, plus time for cream cheese to soften)
Lemon Chive Cream Cheese Spread (5 minutes, plus time for cream cheese to soften)To maximize efficiency, make the Pimento Cheese on the same day so you only have to soften your cream cheese once!
Mini Tartlet Shells (from recipe for Mini Lemon Meringue Pies). Store in a sealed plastic bag at room temperature. Save extra egg white(s) in a sealed container in the refrigerator for the meringue.
Set the table and make sure decorations are in order. Set a three-tiered plate stand on the table, without the plates, where you'd like it to go. Make sure bathroom is clean and there is enough toilet paper.
Set a sugar bowl and honey bowl on the table with spoons for serving.
Spoon half the lemon curd, jam, and clotted cream into small bowls with tiny spoons. Fill creamer with half and half or cream. Cover and refrigerate.
Day of Tea: 3 hours before
Set out pimento cheese and lemon chive cream cheese spread to soften for 30 minutes to 1 hour.
Put bread for Lemon Tarragon Chicken Salad Tea Sandwiches in the freezer for 30 minutes.
Make meringue for Mini Lemon Meringue Pies. Keep in the refrigerator until ready to assemble pies.
Using the other half of the lemon curd, assemble Mini Lemon Meringue Pies, and fill the other half of the tartlet shells with pimento cheese.Set Pimento Cheese Tarts aside. Broil Mini Lemon Meringue Pies for 4 minutes or until meringue is golden brown on top.
Arrange Mini Lemon Meringue Pies and Chocolate Covered Coconut and Nut Butter Truffles on a plate. Cover and refrigerate.
Remove bread from freezer. Spread half the pieces with 1/2 cup of chicken salad each and top with the other half of the bread. Trim off crusts and cut each sandwich into 3 fingers, 4 triangles, or 4 squares.
Remove Smoked Salmon and Asparagus Pinwheels from refrigerator and cut each roll into four pieces.
Arrange Smoked Salmon and Asparagus Pinwheels and Chicken Salad Tea Sandwiches on plate, leaving room for Pimento Cheese Tartlets. Cover and refrigerate.
Day of Tea: 1 hour before
Take a deep breath and pat yourself on the back! You've got everything under control and ready to go. Take this opportunity to relax, freshen up, walk the house, and double check that everything is in order.
Day of Tea: 10 minutes before
Put kettle on to boil.
Turn oven to broil and toast pimento cheese tartlets for 4 minutes or until melty. Add tartlets to sandwich plate.
Arrange scones on a plate. Set sandwich plate, sweets plate, and scones plate on a three tiered plate stand.
Take curd, jam, and clotted cream out of refrigerator and set on table with little spoons or knives. Put creamer of milk or half and half on table.
Welcome your guests and enjoy the fruits of your labor!