What better way to celebrate mom, than by making her feel like royalty with a modern high tea? Not only is this a thoughtful gift she’ll love it can also be a fun and educational activity for the whole family.
Grab your apron, wash your hands and follow these simple steps and recipes to make this Mother’s Day the best one yet.
Involve kids in cooking
Cooking together can be an educational bonding activity for young children. From colours and counting to spelling and reading – the kitchen is a classroom in disguise. As a chef and father, Butterball spokesperson, Shahir Massoud, recommends the following tips for making the most out of cooking with kids:
- Chop up ingredients in advance to keep things safe
- Encourage kids to support with simple tasks like mixing, measuring and counting units of ingredients
- Ask children what colour certain ingredients are or what letter they begin with to support their development at a young age
Decorate the table
High tea is all about great food, good company and a beautiful table setting. Short on décor? Don’t worry! Here are some fun DIY projects you can do with children to help decorate:
- Ultra-easy placemats: Ask kids to make placemats using paper, crayons and other craft items you have around the house. To make this Mother’s Day extra special, have them draw pictures of their favourite family memories.
- DIY flower garland: Ask kids to cut flower shapes out of construction paper. Punch holes in the tops of each flower and string them together using ribbon or twine.
- A gift that rocks: Have your kids collect rocks from the backyard and paint them with fun designs and beautiful messages. Once dry, put a designed rock on each placemat as a little gift that will help bring back memories for years to come.
- Deserts as décor: Every high tea party needs some sweets. Have kids decorate cupcakes or sugar cookies to add some colour to your spread.
- Stick out centrepiece: Send your kids on a scavenger hunt for loose sticks or small branches. Paint each branch the colour of your choice. Once dry, place the colourful branches in a vase for a fun and fresh centrepiece.
Modernize traditional sandwich recipes
As the quintessential food for high tea parties, finger sandwiches are a must-have! Spice up your favourite sandwich recipes with a modern twist by adding new seasonings, like tarragon and sea salt, and healthy proteins like Butterball Applewood Smoked Turkey Bacon. By incorporating contemporary ingredients, you’ll transform your high tea to a modern experience and expand your children’s pallets.
Check out these easy recipes for some inspiration!
Tarragon Egg Salad Sandwiches
- 6 eggs, boiled and peeled
- 1 shallot, minced
- 1/2 bunch tarragon, finely diced
- 1/2 bunch chives, finely sliced
- 1 stalk celery, finely sliced
- 2 green onions, finely sliced
- 2 Tbsp. mayo
- 1 Tbsp. lemon juice
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 4 slices bread, crust cut off
- 4 slices turkey bacon, grilled
- Mix all ingredients, then spread onto crustless bread slices. Top with grilled turkey bacon, then another slice of bread. Cut into small triangles or squares and serve.
Slow Roasted Tomato and Mozzarella
- 10 Roma tomatoes, sliced
- 1 cup mozzarella, sliced
- 4 slices turkey bacon, grilled
- 4 slices bread, crust removed
- Preheat oven to 250 °F. Place tomatoes on a parchment-lined tray, drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with a generous pinch of salt. Place in oven for 2 – 2 1/2 hours until dehydrated and flavours are intensified. Allow to cool completely.
- Build sandwiches by placing some tomatoes on the bread, then topping with thin mozzarella slices. Finish with bacon and another piece of bread. Cut into triangles and serve.
Cucumber, Cream Cheese, and Sea Salt
- 1 cucumber, finely sliced
- 1 ¼ cup cream cheese, softened
- Sea salt, to taste
- 4 slices turkey bacon, grilled
- 4 slices bread, crust removed
- Spread some cream cheese onto the bread. Top with cucumber slices and sea salt to taste. Add turkey bacon, then another piece of bread and cut into quarters.
There you have it, the ultimate modern high tea to celebrate Mother’s Day.
Enjoy!