Think tea parties are just for kids? Think again! Moms everywhere are hosting afternoon tea parties full of fun and friendship.

To help you plan the menu for your next get-together, Tracy Stern, author of “Tea Party” and owner of SALONTEA, shared some recipes that are sure to delight!

Apple, Goat Cheese, and Lavender Tea Sandwiches

• 1 apple, peeled, cored and thinly sliced
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 8 slices whole wheat or pumpernickel bread
• One 6-ounce log fresh goat cheese, chilled, cut into 8 thin slices lengthwise
• 4 teaspoons edible Lavender flower

Directions

Toss the apples slices with the lemon juice to keep them from turning brown. Trim the crusts from the bread and cut 2 rectangles (approximately 1 1/2 inches by 3 inches) from each slice of bread.

Make sandwiches by layering 1 bread rectangle, 1 slice of goat cheese, 2 slices of apple, and a sprinkling of lavender flowers. Trim any excess cheese, and top with another bread rectangle.  Press together gently and serve immediately.

Vanilla Tea-Infused Sugar Cookies

• 2 Sticks of unsalted butter, softened
• 2/3 cup sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 Teaspoon ground decaffeinated black tea leaves
• 1/2 Teaspoon salt

Directions

With an electric mixer, beat together the butter and sugar until smith and fluffy. Beat in the egg. Add the vanilla. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, tea leave, and salt. Add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture and mix until just combined. Wrap the dough in plastic and chill for at least 4 hours or overnight. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough to about 1/4 inch think. Using a teapot-shaped cookie cutter (or an other favorite shape), cut out the cookies and transfer them to an ungreased baking sheet. Bake for 8-10minutes, until just turning golden. Remove from the oven and cook on a wire rack. Serve cookies warm with tea, or let them cool separately before frosting and decorating them.

And for after the kids go to bed………

Sake and Ginger Tea Cocktail

Brew the ginger tea ahead of time and chill it.

Mix:

• 1 cup chilled sake
• 2 cups chilled vodka
• 1 cup chilled ginger tea
• Ice
• Candied ginger (in small pieces), for garnish