Crowd-Pleasing Tea Sandwiches
Make these darling tea sandwiches at your next shower or ladies luncheon.
Choose your favorite fillings, and prepare up to a day ahead. Plan on 1⁄4 cup filling for each whole sandwich.
Freeze bread slices until firm. (This makes it easier to trim and cut the sandwiches.)
Trim crusts from bread with a long serrated knife after sandwiches are filled; cut each sandwich into 4 triangles.
Make sandwiches up to 4 hours ahead. Place in an airtight container, cover loosely with wax paper and a damp paper towel, cover, and refrigerate.
Ham Salad
Process 1 lb. chopped baked ham, in batches, in a food processor until coarsely ground, stopping to scrape down sides as needed. Place ground ham in a bowl, and stir in 3 hard-cooked eggs, peeled and grated; 2⁄3 cup mayonnaise; and 1⁄2 cup finely chopped sweet-hot pickled okra. Add salt and pepper to taste. Spread on: rye bread slices. Makes: about 3 cups
Curried Shrimp
Stir together 2 1⁄2 cups finely chopped peeled and deveined, cooked shrimp (about 1 lb. of any size); 1⁄2 cup finely diced celery; 1⁄2 cup toasted sweetened flaked coconut; 1 1⁄2 (8-oz.) packages cream cheese, softened; 3 Tbsp. minced green onions; 1 Tbsp. freshly grated ginger; 1 1⁄2 tsp. curry powder; 1⁄4 tsp. salt; and 1⁄4 tsp. ground red pepper until well blended. Spread on: white bread. Makes: about 3 cups
Variation Curried Chicken:
Substitute 2 1⁄2 cups finely chopped cooked chicken for shrimp. Prepare recipe as directed. Spread on: raisin bread
Cucumber and Strawberry
Stir together 1 (8-oz.) package cream cheese, softened; 1⁄2 cup peeled, seeded, and finely chopped cucumber; 1⁄3 cup mayonnaise; 1⁄4 cup minced red onion; 3 Tbsp. finely chopped fresh basil; 1⁄2 tsp. freshly ground pepper; and 1⁄4 tsp. salt. Spread on: white bread; sandwich with diced fresh strawberries. Makes: about 2 cups
Goat Cheese and Pecan
Stir together 4 oz. each softened cream cheese and goat cheese, 1 cup (4 oz.) shredded white Cheddar cheese, 1⁄2 cup finely chopped toasted pecans, and 2 Tbsp. chopped fresh cilantro. spread on: whole wheat bread slices. Spread a thin layer of red pepper jelly on an equal number of whole wheat bread slices; sandwich cream cheese mixture slices with pepper jelly slices. Makes: about 2 cups
Orange and Cranberry
Stir together 1 (8-oz.) package cream cheese, softened; 2⁄3 cup sweetened dried cranberries; 1⁄3 cup orange marmalade; and 1⁄2 cup chopped toasted pecans. Spread on: pumpernickel bread; sandwich with thinly sliced smoked turkey and fresh arugula. Makes: about 2 cups
Egg Salad
Stir together 8 hard-cooked eggs, peeled and grated; 2⁄3 cup mayonnaise; 1⁄2 cup finely diced celery; 1⁄4 cup finely chopped chives; 2 Tbsp. minced red onion; 1 Tbsp. chopped fresh tarragon; 1 tsp. freshly ground pepper; and 1⁄2 tsp. seasoned salt. Spread on: whole grain bread slices. Spread mayonnaise on an equal number of whole grain bread slices. Sandwich egg salad slices and mayonnaise slices with fresh watercress. Makes: about 3 cups
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