Thursday, January 10, 2013

Everything Stops for Tea: Afternoon Tea Hearts and Jack Buchanan





"Everything Stops for Tea" (1935)



In the 1920s and 30s, Scottish-born Jack Buchanan starred in productions in the West End and on Broadway. He was known for "the seemingly lazy but most accomplished grace with which he sang, danced, flirted and joked his way through musical shows.... The tall figure, the elegant gestures, the friendly drawling voice, the general air of having a good time."1 Buchanan also had many successful records, like the "Everything Stops for Tea" from 1935, "And Her Mother Came Too" (1922), "A Cup of Coffee, a Sandwich and You" recorded with Gertrude Lawrence, and "Who" with Binnie Hale. Many of Jack Buchanan's records are in the public domain and you can download them here, here and here.



Enjoy an Afternoon Tea Heart and these Jack Buchanan songs when you stop everything for tea!


"And Her Mother Came Too" (1922)


"A Cup of Coffee, a Sandwich and You" with Gertrude Lawrence (1925)


"Goodnight Vienna" (1932)


"Living in Clover" (1932)


"Who" with Binnie Hale (1932)


"I Think I Can" (1934)

Afternoon Tea Hearts

4 ounces all-butter puff pastry, thawed according to package directions
1/4 cup orange marmalade (not a very bitter variety is best)
1 tablespoon very soft salted butter
1/2 orange
powdered sugar

Preheat oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a baking sheet with parchment or Silpat. Set aside.

On a lightly floured surface, roll the puff pastry out to 1/4" thickness. Using a heart-shaped cookie cutter that's about 2 1/2" across at its widest point, cut out four pastry hearts and place them on the baking sheet. Refrigerate until oven comes up to temperature.

Bake the pastry hearts for 15 minutes, or until a dark golden brown. Cool completely on a wire rack then split and fill with marmalade (1 tablespoon per heart).

To make the icing, mix the butter with a little bit of juice from the orange and then stir in enough powdered sugar to make an icing that is thick but pourable (you won't be able to spread icing out on puff pastry). Make adjustments by adding sugar or more orange juice, if needed. Dollop the icing on top of the pastries and top with grated orange zest.

Serves 4 (but can be easily doubled, tripled, etc.)

Adapted from Secrets of the Jam Cupboard (1932)2


Download and print

Notes
1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Buchanan
2.


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6 comments:

  1. I LOVE Jack Buchanan especially in THE BAND WAGON. In my book he steals the movie right from under the nose of Fred Astaire and everyone else. He is spectacular! There's one scene in the movie that I could watch over and over and over again: where Jack convinces a guy to do what he didn't want to do - the guy winds up insisting that what he didn't want to do must be done or else. It is SO FUNNY and so Buchanan. Perfection.

    Thanks for the links, Lauren. I had no idea Buchanan had recordings. And of course, I love afternoon tea and all the goodies that go with it.

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  2. Aw so sweet! I might get a heart shaped cutter and make these on Valentine's Day...

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  3. Your photograph of the tea hearts is so pretty. Enjoyed the recordings, too!

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  4. These look delicious! I love afternoon tea treats and will have to try these. :)

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  5. That Jam cookbook looks wonderful. Heart shaped makes everything special and these are no exception.

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