A Tea Time Recipe

Traditional Cucumber Tea Sandwiches

INGREDIENTS

• 4 pieces of bread (your choice)
• Cream cheese (softened)
• 1 Cucumber

PREPARATION 

1. Remove the crust from all pieces of bread. This is a good task for little ones 5+ who can use a butter knife. 
2. Spread cream cheese on 2 of the pieces of bread.
3. Peel cucumber (kid job if you have a safe peeler). Slice cucumber thinly and lay slices on top of bread with cream cheese. 
4. Top with remaining bread slice and cut each sandwich into quarters. 

Fun fact about cucumber sandwiches: During the victorian era, authors would typically include a detail like the eating of cucumber sandwiches to let readers know the character was upper class. For an example, just take a look at Oscar Wilde's use of them in Scene 1 of The Importance of Being Earnest. 

Algernon: Please don’t touch the cucumber sandwiches.  They are ordered specially for Aunt Augusta.  [Takes one and eats it.]

Jack: Well, you have been eating them all the time.

Algernon:  That is quite a different matter.  She is my aunt. (Wilde 2224)

Throughout the entire scene with Jack, Algy is sitting there eating cucumber sandwiches.  He ends up eating all of them. So when Aunt Augusta finally arrives and inquires after the cucumber sandwiches Algy had promised her, Algernon and his servant, Lane, pretend that there had never been any in the first place.

Algernon: [picking up empty plate in horror]   Good heavens!  Lane!  Why are there no cucumber sandwiches?  I ordered them specially.

Lane: [gravely]  There were no cucumbers in the market this morning, sir.  I went down twice.

Algernon: No cucumbers!

Lane: No, sir.  Not even for ready money.

Algernon: That will do, Lane, thank you.

Lane: Thank you, sir.

Algernon:  I am greatly distressed, Aunt Augusta, about there being no cucumbers, not even for ready money. (2228)

Good gracious! No cucumbers  you say?!?

Now grab your fanciest hat, dust off the tea set and see who can do the better British accent for an afternoon of tea with your little one. If you're in need of additional inspiration, visit our Pinterest page for more Tea Time Recipes!

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