Té para Dos o Más- Tea for Two or More

The dynamic duo of 5 Star Makeover, Natasha and Lazaro's August makeover is a Tea Party.

We leave Greece, where the Olympics originated and make our way to London as we count the medals our Olympians have brought back home.

This makeover brought back sweet memories of my childhood. I remember Daddy taking me on Sundays to the El San Juan Hotel in Isla Verde, Puerto Rico for tea and we would listen to a harpist or at times chamber music. I would be wearing a pretty dress, lace socks, patent leather shoes and that God-awful bow on my head. I hated that bow, but felt so special.

London has a very big Latino community and I came up with the idea of what Latinos would serve at their tea parties. Here is a small menu and a few recipes. Also, I have linked the other recipes for you.

Tea infused Sangria

Pastelillos de Carne, Cuba

Empanadas de Guayaba y Queso - Puerto Rico

ArepaReina Papiada, Venezuela

This is so easy to make. All you need is about a cup of shredded chicken (breast), one avocado chopped, 1 small diced onion, salt/pepper to taste and a few tablespoons of mayonnaise. Mix and serve with arepas. If you want a good arepa recipe visit Erica- My Colombian Kitchen who I consider to be the Arepa Queen.

Cherry, Honey, Rum Cake - Dominican Republic

Sandwiches de Miga, Argentina

Recipe:

Tea infused Sangria:

Two cups of chilled white tea, 15 mint leaves, crushed, 3 sprigs of thyme, 2 cups of Cava. Add your fruits (lemons, strawberries, mango, blueberries and kiwi were used) to tea and when you are ready to serve add the Cava and ice.

Pastelillos de Carne - Cuban Meat Pasties:

Ingredients:

1-1/2 lbs. chopped beef
1/4 cup sofrito
1 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon oregano
1 8 oz can tomato sauce
about 20 Spanish olives diced
1 envelope of Sazon Goya
4 sheets puff pastry
egg wash
simple syrup ( I used orange blossom honey)

Instructions:

In a frying pan, add the ground beef, cumin, oregano, sofrito and Sazon Goya, cook for about 10 minutes. Add tomato sauce and diced olives and cook for another 15 minutes or until the liquid is fully evaporated, but the meat is still moist.

Build your pastelillos:

Preheat your oven to 400 degrees. Brush pastry with egg wash. Once they are golden, remove from oven and brush again with simple syrup or honey and return to oven for another few minutes.

CHEERIO AND BUEN PROVECHO!