One of my all-time favorite bloggers is having a baby and today a group of us have come together to celebrate! My dear friend Ella of the gorgeous site Pure Ella is due to have a baby any day now, and I just hope that baby stays put until we have today's little celebration. You see, one of the great things about blogging is that I have had the opportunity to make some of the most amazing friends; but the down side is that we are all so far apart that we can't actually get together and celebrate moments like these. So, in true blogger fashion we are holding a virtual baby shower blog hop and you are all invited to join in the celebration.
Since Ella is gluten free and vegan we decided that we would all share a recipe that we would bring to Ella's real life shower if we could all be together in one place. I hope you enjoy this little blog tour today, and please hop over and send Ella lots of love and congratulations. She totally deserves it!
The first time I ever happened upon Ella's site I fell in love. Her beautiful images, drool worthy food, and well...her. Ella has this soft, gentle nature about her that enlightens my day. She shares beautiful food that is thoughtfully prepared, designs uplifting graphics that somehow always seem to resonate with what I need to hear, and is just genuinely nice. I love seeing Ella's daughter contribute to her posts by cutting out cookies, or stirring a bowl of batter. She even takes pictures for Ella sometimes which I find AMAZING and I just can't get enough of.
So, for Ella I decided to create a couple of gluten free, vegan, tea sandwiches. I am sure as a blogger I am supposed to call them canapés, but since I have had to explain to 5 people in the last week what a canapé is I have decide that 'tea sandwich' is a much better term. To be truthful, if you asked me if I wanted a canapé I would be like "Huh, cana what?"
These tea sandwiches are exactly what I would bring to Ella if I could attend her real life baby shower. One is more savory and one is on the sweeter side of things. The ingredients couldn't be simpler, and honestly if you have a spoon, a knife, and a little patience you can build these pretty easily too. Of course, you could just slap it all on a piece of bread, put a top on it and call it a day too!
Check out the other amazing recipes in our virtual baby shower by clicking on the links below:
Kris of 80 Twenty (Cilantro Jalapeno Hummus) // Emma of Coconut & Berries (Strawberry Orange Rosewater Smoothie)// Cara of Fork and Beans (Lemon Blackberry Cupcakes) // Sylvie of Gourmande In The Kitchen (Hibiscus, Strawberry, & Rhubarb Iced Tea) // Winnie of Healthy Green Kitchen (Vegan Vanilla Cupcakes ) // Ashley of My Heart Beets (Artichoke Hummus) // Jenny of Nourished Kitchen (Cultured Coconut Milk & Mango Popsicles) // Gina of So…Let’s Hang Out (Cucumber Mint Limeade) // Beth of Tasty Yummies (Sprouted Hummus Cucumber Cups) // Rika of Vegan Miam (Sweet Potato Dumplings in Ginger and Jasmine Syrup {Tang Yuan}) // Richa of Vegan Richa (Dark Chocolate Silk Pie) // Gabby of The Veggie Nook (Lemon Poppyseed Truffles) // Sherrie of With Food + Love (Blackberry + Mango Fruit Salad with Earl Grey Whipped Coconut Cream)
PrintLentil & Roasted Red Pepper Tea Sandwiches (Gluten Free & Vegan)
- Yield: 2 dozen 1x
Ingredients
- 1 cup cooked puy lentils
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
- kosher salt and freshly cracked pepper
- 1 jarred roasted red bell pepper
- ½ cup roasted red pepper hummus
- 6 slices of gluten free/vegan multigrain bread
Instructions
- In a small bowl combine the cooked lentils, olive oil, and red wine vinegar. Add salt and pepper to taste and toss to combine. (The lentils can be done a day ahead of time and kept in the refrigerator.)
- Dry the roasted red pepper well on paper towels so that no moisture is left. Slice the pepper into thin julienne strips about ⅛-inch thick and set aside.
- Heat the oven to 300°F and arrange the bread on baking sheets. Toast the bread in the oven for 5-7 minutes per side until slightly dried out and toasted. Cool on a wire rack.
- Spread each slice of bread with a thick layer of hummus then remove the crusts with a sharp knife. Cut each piece of bread in half diagonally creating 2 triangles, then cut each triangle in half again creating a total of 4 small triangles per slice of bread.
- Place the straight edge of the blade of a large kitchen knife directly in the middle of the triangle starting at the tip of the triangle creating a barrier "wall" with the knife. With the knife in place scoop 1 teaspoon of the lentils over half of the bread leaving the other side plain. When the lentils have been arranged and completely cover one half of the triangle remove the knife. Repeat this process with the remaining triangles of bread and lentils.
- Lay a thin julienne strip of pepper down the middle of each canape and trim any excess with kitchen shears.
- Serve immediately.
Notes
This recipe inspired by Martha Stewart.
Persian Cucumber, Black Pepper, & Chive Canapés (Gluten Free & Vegan)
- Yield: 2 dozen 1x
Ingredients
- 12 slices of gf/vegan classic white sandwich bread, toasted
- 1 Persian cucumber
- ¼-½ cup vegan cream cheese
- freshly cracked black pepper to taste
- 10-12 chives
Instructions
- Slice the cucumber into paper thin rounds on a mandoline and lay the slices flat between two pieces of paper towel. Let the cucumbers drain on the towels for 5-10 minutes so that all of their excess moisture has been absorbed into the towel.
- Spread each slice of bread with a thick layer of vegan cream cheese then use a round 2-inch diameter cookie cutter to cut 2 circles out of each piece of bread. Set aside.
- Working with one bread round at a time: take 2 cucumber rounds and use kitchen shears to slice one of the rounded edges off to create a straight edge. Lay the slices on the bread round so that the straight edge is almost in the center of the canapé . Repeat this process with the remaining bread rounds.
- Sprinkle the canapés with freshly cracked pepper on the sides with the cream cheese exposed then lay a chive directly down the enter of the canapé, clipping any overhang off with kitchen shears. Repeat the process with the remaining canapés.
Notes
If you are not on a vegan diet you can use regular cream cheese or even flavored cream cheese if you would like.
James Spencer says
Saying hi. Lovely vegan tea sandwich ideas. I'm currently writing a Vegan tea book of recipes for tea sandwiches, soups, salads.. etc. and pairings of tea. I have traveled all over the world and love high tea.. but despise the heavy sauces, creams, eggs.. I know so many people are opening to vegan tea... I plan to open a vegan tea room in about 1 year with a friend who bought a plantation house in the South.. Exciting. I hope to have this book completed by Fall. 2015. Feel free to send me an email.. We should keep in touch. Best wishes to all who enjoy the elegant ritual of tea. Thanks..
Sherrie | With Food + Love says
MEG - these little itty bittys are the cutest things I've ever seen. I want a whole tray of 'em!!
Thanks so much for putting this whole day together, it came out perfect and it was such a wonderful group of ladies sharing all the stuff that we do best. You are so thoughtful, kind, caring + creative lady. So glad I get to call you my friend.
So much love,
SHERRIE
Meg says
Awww Sherrie, you are the best! Thank you so much for being a part of it. It meant so much to Ella and me:)
Winnie says
These little sandwiches are the cutest!!!
Meg says
Thank you so much Winnie!
Sylvie | Gourmande in the Kitchen says
So artfully done, they are almost too pretty to eat!
Meg says
Thank you so much Sylvie! That means a lot coming from you:)
Richa {VeganRicha.com} says
How cute are these tea sandwiches! so delicate and fun. this shower is turning out to be fantastic! all the amazing food and meeting you!
Meg says
Thanks Richa!! I am still swooning over your chocolate pie:) It was so great to meet you too and I really hope we keep in touch. I just love your site!
Gabby @ the veggie nook says
Meg, these are sooo adorable I can't even get over it! As a gluten-free vegger, I would swoon over the presence of these at any event I would go to! I lack for patience but I think even I could handle this for the promise of something so pretty.
So happy to have connected with you over this potluck! I must admit I have been reading in the background for quite a while. But no more! Now you'll be receiving many comments from me, whether you like it or not 😉
Meg says
Awwww Gabby thank you! You are the sweetest, I love your blog. You feel free to comment away because I want to definitely keep in touch with each other. Those lemon poppyseed truffles have been in my head all morning now. I think I need to make them for myself...and eat the entire platter. 😉
Beth @ Tasty Yummies says
Seriously these are just so darn gorgeous I can't stand it. Little perfect bites, how could you even eat them? OK shoot, I totally could. I'd be that girl in the corner at the party eating them ALL.
Thanks for organizing this lady, such a wonderful group of talented ladies!!
xo
Meg says
Thank you so much Beth! I'll remake these if you remake you super cute sprouted hummus cucumber cups with the chive fascinators and we can share. Seriously, those little chive hats...I love them and want to cram them in my face. I must admit I had a definite lack of self-control after shooting these and ate almost the whole plate. Ha! I am normally the girl hanging at the food table at most events...I swear I can eat my weight in finger food. The cuter it is the more I eat. What is that?!
Thanks so much for being a part of Ella's shower and for all of your help Beth, it meant so much to me!
Emma says
Your presentation is immaculate! These are definitely too fancy to be called "sandwiches". They deserve the name canapés 🙂
I thought they were capers on the first one but I'm happy with lentils too.
Meg says
Thank you so much Emma! You are too kind. 🙂 I am so happy to have met you through the shower and hope that we can keep in touch! I bet that capers would have been really good too, I just love them.
ashley says
Meg, thank you for organizing such a wonderful shower!! I had so much fun taking part and celebrating Ella 🙂 <3 these gorgeous tea sandwiches and <3 your beautiful blog!
Meg says
Thank you so much for contributing Ashley! Seriously, this was the tastiest shower I think I have ever attended. Although...I didn't really get to eat all of the food I wish I had, because it was all insanely beautiful and made with so much love. xoxo
rika@vm says
It was awesome meeting you virtually, Meg, and thank you for taking the time to design the banner for all of us, I appreciate your hard work! I love that slab, I have it in several sizes and they are useful for little bites and party platters! These lentil & roasted red pepper tea sandwiches are adorable!
Meg says
Thank you so much Rika! It was awesome to meet you too. Let's definitely stay in touch:)
Gina @ So Let's Hang Out says
Well aren't these a little piece of geometric heaven! LOVE them. Thanks so much for putting this together. I am so happy to be celebrating Ella with all of you talented lovelies! xox
Meg says
Thanks Gina! I bet one of your mocktails would pair nicely with these sammies;) I am so glad you joined in the celebration, thank you so much for your beautiful post.
Cara says
Don't ever send me texts asking if your recipes look okay ever again especially when they are these tea sand...eer, canapés! 😉 Stunning! Absolutely creative and just plain ol' gorgeous, missy! I will take a plate full please...
Meg says
I adore you Cara! Thank you. You know how it is, I get all self-doubty and then I have to get an opinion or two. Those cupcakes you made by the way are so stinking cute! I love how the blackberry filling just spills out of them.
cheri says
Hi Meg, these are the most beautiful little sandwiches I have ever seen. You are very creative that is for sure. What a great friend you are.
Meg says
Thank you so much Cheri! Ella is such a beautiful person both inside and out she deserved really pretty sandwiches;)
Pure Ella says
Oh Meg!!!!
You are the sweetest, kindest and most thoughtful person I know that I can call my friend 😉
Thank YOU so much for showering me with so much LOVE!
This event today is all thanks to you and I can't believe the sweetness and dedications!
You're just the best!!
Of course, I love the canapes or the tea sandwiches served with all this love!!!
I only wish I could really bite into them right now and give you a BIG hug!!! 😉
I am so lucky to know you... I appreciate this so much!
Thank YOU!
♥ ella
Meg says
Ella, you are so very welcome! You are so loved and we are all excited for you and your family. Enjoy your special day today, I only wish I could hug you in person...oh and make multiple trips to the buffet to fill your plate with scrumptious food!
Kris says
Meg, these are SO beautiful! You are always so creative and inspiring and these sandwiches are nothing short of brilliant. Shower-worthy, indeed! I'd like to invite you to my baby shower when the time comes. 🙂
Meg says
Awww, Kris!! Thank you so much you just totally made my day and of course I will come to your baby shower when it happens. I will make you your own Kris inspired tea sandwiches;)