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Afternoon Tea
bar of soap
16-06-2016
I'm a great fan of afternoon tea - so very British.

I'm planning on inviting family and friends sometime this summer (just hope we pick the right weekend weatherwise) and wherever possible I'd like to bake in advance and store, refrigerate or freeze.

Sandwiches must be fresh on the day but I don't fancy baking at the last minute; so can anyone tell me the best way of storing the following and how long they'll last.

Meringues
Scones
Viennese whirls
Macarons

More suggestions would be appreciated - particularly those that can be made in advance.

As an addendum I recently had a local afternoon tea with sandwiches that included beetroot, cream cheese and baby spinach - delicious. Another experience was banana, cream cheese and honey - mmm - again any suggestions.
Gogfumble
17-06-2016
You can freeze scones just fine. I'm sure macarons (unfilled) can be too. Probably the same with the biscuits for Viennese whirls. Not sure about meringues.
testcard
20-06-2016
Meringues tend to absorb moisture, turning them soggy. Make them on a dry day when humidity is low. Once they're cold, store them in an airtight container.
barbeler
20-06-2016
I've never heard of macarons. Are they like macaroons?
dgi_m
20-06-2016
Originally Posted by barbeler:
“I've never heard of macarons. Are they like macaroons?”

Really?

Quote:
“The sandwich-like French macaron is more of a meringue cookie, getting its light, airy texture from egg whites. The coconut macaroon, on the other hand, is a hearty lump of confectionery made of shredded coconut and condensed milk.”

WombatDeath
21-06-2016
I'd never heard of macarons until I watched GBBO. They're all over the place now, but perhaps they always were and I just didn't notice them.
walterwhite
21-06-2016
Originally Posted by barbeler:
“I've never heard of macarons. Are they like macaroons?”

Were you trying to be clever with this post? If so it's backfired spectacularly.
barbeler
21-06-2016
Originally Posted by walterwhite:
“Were you trying to be clever with this post? If so it's backfired spectacularly.”

I had never, ever in my entire life heard of a macaron. Perhaps it's because I've never watched that bake-off programme. I have never seen them in shops, never seen them advertised and have never, ever heard anybody speak the word.

Satisfied?
testcard
21-06-2016
I'd never heard of them either until GBBO or MasterChef - can't remember which.
walterwhite
21-06-2016
Originally Posted by barbeler:
“I had never, ever in my entire life heard of a macaron. Perhaps it's because I've never watched that bake-off programme. I have never seen them in shops, never seen them advertised and have never, ever heard anybody speak the word.

Satisfied?”

You were trying to be clever then.

Fail.
barbeler
21-06-2016
Originally Posted by walterwhite:
“You were trying to be clever then.

Fail.”

I had never heard of macarons but I had heard of macaroons, so I assumed it was a spelling mistake. And your point is?
maddie_brundret
22-06-2016
Originally Posted by barbeler:
“I had never heard of macarons but I had heard of macaroons, so I assumed it was a spelling mistake.”

You have taken the words right out of my mouth.

As the sayings goes "Great minds think alike"
AaronWx
22-06-2016
Meringue, macarons and Viennese swirls will be fine baked a day or two before kept in an air tight container somewhere cool. Scones however I would absolutely bake on the day, they're not too time consuming anyway and a light fresh scone is worth it.
gemma-the-husky
27-06-2016
Not sure if everyone is being serious or light hearted about macarons.

macarons in M&S are small round biscuit/cakes with a dab or butter cream inside. not checked the recipe but maybe meringue mixed with almond flour, something like that.

I always though macaroons were larger chewy coconut things. Again not sure of the recipe.
Patti-Ann
29-06-2016
Originally Posted by barbeler:
“I had never, ever in my entire life heard of a macaron. Perhaps it's because I've never watched that bake-off programme. I have never seen them in shops, never seen them advertised and have never, ever heard anybody speak the word.

Satisfied?”

Neither have I, so at least you're not alone
Toby LaRhone
29-06-2016
Originally Posted by barbeler:
“I had never heard of macarons but I had heard of macaroons, so I assumed it was a spelling mistake. And your point is?”

Are they furry animals of low IQ?
Wolfsheadish
30-06-2016
For me, Dundee cake is a must with afternoon tea. You can make it weeks in advance, in fact it tastes better if you do.
LaVieEnRose
30-06-2016
I've only heard of macarons recently as well, despite spending about twenty years making frequent visits to Paris.
I don't doubt they were in the patisseries, but they have definitely become a Thing only recently here.
It is a fad.
Trudi Monk
01-07-2016
Originally Posted by bar of soap:
“I'm a great fan of afternoon tea - so very British.

I'm planning on inviting family and friends sometime this summer (just hope we pick the right weekend weatherwise) and wherever possible I'd like to bake in advance and store, refrigerate or freeze.

Sandwiches must be fresh on the day but I don't fancy baking at the last minute; so can anyone tell me the best way of storing the following and how long they'll last.

Meringues
Scones
Viennese whirls
Macarons

More suggestions would be appreciated - particularly those that can be made in advance.

As an addendum I recently had a local afternoon tea with sandwiches that included beetroot, cream cheese and baby spinach - delicious. Another experience was banana, cream cheese and honey - mmm - again any suggestions.”

I would recommend making as much in advance as possible. I did afternoon tea for my two aged aunts, my aged Dad, my sister, her husband, her son, my cousin, my husband,oh and myself. I made everything from scratch, sandwiches, two cakes, scones and a pizza for my nephew(which admittedly I only heated up) on the day of, starting at about 8 o'clock in the morning.
By the time I served them all, replenished endless cups of tea and coffee and heated up the pizza it was getting on for 6 o'clock when I sat down with a cuppa to socialise.They all promptly buggered off home! Never again.🍰
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