Tea sandwiches are fun finger foods that can make your party a hit. Depending on the occasion and the expectations of your guests, you can serve either traditional sandwiches or updated ones. Just remember it's important to prepare them ahead of time because, while easy to make, they take time.

Traditional

1. Allow 4 to 5 sandwich pieces per person. Choose thinly sliced, best quality sandwich bread. Pepperidge Farm thin white or thin wheat is widely available in supermarkets. Also look for melba style rye bread by Arnolds.

2. Seal your bread by putting on a very thin coating of unsalted butter or cream cheese.

3. Remove the crusts after the sandwiches have been filled.

4. Cut each tea sandwich into halves or thirds for serving.

5. If the sandwiches are made in advance, keep them fresh by covering with a sheet of wax paper.

and then lay a damp kitchen towel over that.

Updated Sandwiches

Today's tea sandwiches can be heartier and more sharply flavored. Breads can include cracked wheat, oatmeal, whole wheat, dark pumpernickel. Open faced scones make a nice bread, too. Fillings can include curried chicken with walnuts, shrimp with dill vinaigrette, avocado with sprouts and walnuts, Stilton cheese crumbled over pear slices, radishes, and cucumbers.

There are many great ways to improve mayonnaise, butter and cream cheese that are easy to achieve. For example, add to homemade (or quality ready-made) mayonnaise, Dijion mustard, chopped chives, and lemon or orange zest. Add mashed fruit or preserves and chopped nuts to butter and cream cheese. Use your own taste and imagination.

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