When A Tea Sandwich Is A Love Letter
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Violets, those demure little purple specs that pepper lawns and gardens this time of year, have a far more interesting cultural history than one might guess at first glance…
Perhaps most noteworthy, violets are a symbol of sapphic love - that is love between two feminine-presenting people, and it dates all the way back to the days of Sappho herself. Sappho was a Greek poet during the time period of c. 630- c. 570. She lived on the island of Lesbos, which is where we get the word “lesbian.” Why? Sappho wrote prolifically and poetically about the romantic love between women. Alas, only fragments of her works remain, but they are a part of gay culture even to this day.
“14.
Many crowns of violets,
roses and crocuses
…together you set before more
and many scented wreaths
made from blossoms
around your soft throat…
…with pure, sweet oil
…you anointed me,
and on a soft, gentle bed…
you quenched your desire…
…no holy site…
we left uncovered,
no grove…”
Violets seemed to be a particular favorite of hers, which is why this color and flower started to become associated with the queer community, long past her days writing on Lesbos.
Her legacy endured. In the mid 20th century, women-loving-women started giving violets to the women they were wooing in her honor. Subtle pins or trinkets were a way to say “I love you in a sapphic way” when gifted from one woman to another. Wearing them was an ever-so-subtle signal of one’s true passions. Violets were the communicators of far more than just a little spring beauty, if you knew the meaning behind their symbolism.
If you forget me, think
of our gifts to Aphrodite
and all the loveliness that we shared
all the violet tiaras
braided rosebuds, dill and
crocus twined around your young neck
No matter your sexual orientation, I hope you too can get lost in the beautiful prose and flowery imagery of Sappho’s writing, and consider the beautiful sentiment of a little spring blossom carrying so much significance to this day. If you are a WLW, use this recipe for a romantic picnic for your partner (or really impress someone on a first date!) If you are not a WLW, make this recipe because it is bright and flavorful and beautiful, a wonderful snack for a spring picnic amongst the wild violets. It doesn’t need to mean more than that; you get to decide.
Wild Cress Tea Sandwiches:
These dainty old-fashioned tea sandwiches get their kick from wild watercress, which can be found growing in shallow water in many different climates! Make sure to forage it from a clean location (I gather mine where it grows quite happily beneath a natural spring.) Wash it well, then roll it up in a soft clean dish towel in the fridge to keep the leaves fresh and crispy. I think you’ll love the beautiful decoration on top of these sandwiches - no buttercream required. If you wanted to infuse these with a little extra violet magic, you could add washed fresh violets to the sandwiches along with the watercress!
Ingredients:
White bread
8 oz goat cheese, at room temperature
1 c. mayonnaise
1 cucumber
¼ c. finely chopped shallots
2 tsp. Lemon juice
1 Tbs. chopped green onions
Salt and pepper to taste
Fresh watercress
Ebony carrot powder (optional, for decoration)
Pinch of turmeric
Directions:
Peel and slice the cucumber into thin slices. Sprinkle with salt and place on a paper towel in the fridge.
Finely chop the shallots and mix them with the lemon juice. Set aside.
In the bowl of a stand mixer, whip together the goat cheese and mayo until soft and silky. Reserve 1 c. of this mixture.
Add the shallots with lemon juice and green onions to the remaining goat cheese mixture. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
Set out two slices of bread. Spread a thin layer of the shallot goat cheese mixture on each, then top with clean watercress leaves. Take out the cucumbers and dab away excess moisture with a paper towel, then lay a thin layer on one of the bread slices. Put together to make a sandwich, then cut to shape using a knife or a circle cutter. Repeat this process to make as many sandwiches as you have ingredients for.
Place the sandwiches into an airtight container in the fridge while you prepare the decorations.
Add all but about 1 Tbs. of the reserved goat cheese mixture back to the (cleaned and dried) bowl of the stand mixer. Add 1 tsp. Ebony carrot powder (and whatever else to get a nice purple. Scoop out ⅔ of the mixture and place in a line on a piece of plastic wrap. Roll up to form a log. Add a little more carrot powder to the remaining purple mixture and blend until smooth. Make a log the same length with it.
Place a petal piping tip into the end of a piping bag, then cut the ends of each log of colored goat cheese. Place them into the piping bag, with the darker color on the side that corresponds with the wider part of the tip. As you pipe, you should get a shaded combination of both beautiful shades.
Take the sandwiches out of the fridge and carefully pipe a violet on top of each one. Mix a little turmeric into the remaining Tbs. of goat cheese mixture and use it to pipe little centers to each violet. Garnish the top with a pea shoot or herb leaf, if desired.
Serve immediately or store in an airtight container in the fridge overnight.
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Join me for a little winter night magic as we bake this cake full of rich seasonal flavors and black cocoa!