Blooming Great Tea Party

Thursday 27 September 2012
One of the many hats I juggle is that of a volunteer with Marie Curie Cancer Care.  I'm to be found in the North East Scotland fundraising office and also helping out and about with various events. One of Marie Curie's major annual campaigns is the Blooming Great Tea Party. Pop the kettle on, do some baking and raise money for a fantastic cause.  How could I refuse? Today I received a thank you letter and certificate from them for my own party prompting bloggage.  
£182.37 raised providing 9 additional hours of nursing care
The official tea party season is the whole of June and July which this year encompassed the Diamond Jubilee so I jumped on the bandwagon with a themed tea party on Jubilee day itself. This meant that lots of people had the day off work/school and could attend.  Over 50 did.  Thankfully many of them also offered to bring along homebakes so we had a fantastic royal spread.
I can only stake claim to baking a small fraction of the feast.  My kids made Marshmallow Top Hats with blue and white limited edition Jubilee M&M's, boy saw the Jubilee Jellies on Blue Peter and was determined to make them.  Both helped with Oreo Pops (double stuffed Oreos on lolly sticks dipped in white chocolate with red, white and blue sprinkles)  
Jubilee Jellies and Oreo Pops
My Norwegian friend A produced one of her amazing Apple Cakes (Eple Kake) and some fantastic Sjokolade Boller (chocolate buns).  Star Baker award had to go to L for her fantastic Union Jack cake and a special highly commended mention for K's cucumber sandwiches.
We didn't just drink tea...
My own contributions were muffins, scones, shortbread and pancakes. The pancake, shortbread and scone recipes are those of my maternal Grandmother who baked them daily when she ran a Bed and Breakfast - something that she did well into her 80's. They don't make them like Grandma Monearn any more.  I'll just share her shortbread recipe for now - its super easy to make.

GRANDMA MONEARN'S SHORTBREAD
12 oz plain flour
8 oz butter (room temp)
4 oz caster sugar
2 oz cornflour

Put everything in a food processor and blitz until it comes together.  Roll out on a floured surface and cut into shapes. Transfer on to a baking tray and prick with a fork.  Cook for 30 minutes at 150 degrees.  Cool on a wire rack and sprinkle with caster sugar.
Every tea party really does count and the Aberdeen Marie Curie team held one in our our office complex where we asked our neighbours to bring along empty tummies and full purses. A Vintage Tea Party donated crockery hire and Starbucks Union Square donated coffee.   
Thousands of Tea Parties were held up and down the country and so far the 2012 campaign has raised over £550,000 which will provide free high quality care and support to people with cancer and other terminal illnesses in their own homes.  Its not to early to register to hold your own Blooming Great Tea Party in 2013.  Who knew tea and cake could make such a big difference.

2 comments

  1. Thanks for sharing your short bread recipe. I wish I'd gone to one of these tea parties!

    ReplyDelete
  2. What a fantastic idea for a fundraising event! Well done you! :)

    ReplyDelete

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