Fairest of the Fall

Whether you call her Mom, Mother, Momma, or Mum, an afternoon tea is the perfect way to celebrate that special person in your life. It can not only be a fun and elegant occasion but also offer a wonderfully relaxed celebration. Afternoon tea has come to be a sort of ritual that allows you to slow down and take your time. The pace is gentle and calm, allowing time for everyone to unwind. Because it’s also something we don’t all do every day, it can help spark conversation and provide a special sense of occasion. The host can prepare food in advance, and with plenty of options both savoury and sweet, it can easily provide something that all will enjoy. And because offerings are all beautifully laid out and displayed, there’s no getting up and down from the table, which leaves everyone free for the most important reason for gathering—spending time with Mom. With afternoon tea, there’s plenty of opportunity to visit and spend time together and enjoy delicious food; these six recipes will help you prepare an afternoon tea to nourish body and soul and to celebrate Mom in style.

Despite their small size, these dainty cheesecakes are bursting with bright lemon flavour. Substituting yogurt for often-used sour cream adds to the tangy taste, adds some protein, and helps cut down the fat content a bit, while the pistachios in the crust add a delicious flavour not usually found in a straight graham cracker crust. For best results, chill in the refrigerator for several hours and top with blueberries just before serving. Smooth as silk Keep ingredients for filling at room temperature for about an hour prior to assembling. This will help you avoid lumps and achieve a silky texture.

A touch of chocolate never goes amiss at an afternoon tea. These sweet delights are full of fibre and held together with creamy almond butter and studded with pistachios. Lightly scented with cardamom and cinnamon, they are sure to please. Make ahead These tasty tidbits don’t take a lot of time to make, but if you’re managing the details of getting all the dishes together for a tea, you can get these out of the way early, as they’ll keep in the fridge for up to 3 days. Bonus? They taste best when they’ve had some time to warm up to room temperature.

Scones with clotted cream and strawberry jam are a typical afternoon tea treat. Here, we’ve given the idea a savoury-sweet twist and some added protein with this riff on a Brazilian-style cheese bun. The airy centres, like those of a cream puff, are perfect for filling with fresh strawberries macerated in balsamic and maple syrup and finished with a touch of vanilla yogurt. The light, textured buns are made with tapioca starch, so they’re suitable for those looking for gluten- or grain-free options, but everyone will enjoy the thyme and Parmesan flavour that makes a savoury complement to the sweet filling. A tiny poke of the bun Piercing cheese buns with a pin when they come out of the oven helps them crisp up by letting steam escape. Use a clean meat thermometer or cake tester and pierce the bottom of each bun.