Tea for Two or More for Me...

Mad Hatter: Would you like a little more tea?

Alice: Well, I haven't had any yet, so I can't very well take more.

March Hare: Ah, you mean you can't very well take less.

Mad Hatter: Yes. You can always take more than nothing.

Alice in Wonderland. Walt Disney, 1951

I am in love with Tea. I love the ritual of making tea, I love the feeling I get sipping tea in my jammies with a book on a cool night or getting dressed up for tea with my friends. I like High Tea and boots and jeans at 6 am tea.  I like trying new teas, but, am partial to plain old English or Irish breakfast tea. I used to take my tea with milk and that was it. However, after a trip to Egypt I began to take my tea with sugar as all of my Egyptian friends take theirs. Since that particular trip, I have embraced a little sweetness in my tea (hot tea only, iced tea still has to be unsweetened in my book). One of my morning rituals is to make a tea latte, think coffee latte but with tea. I love the creamy foam on the top and the rush of warm sweet brewed tea underneath. Of course, tea is better with scones and jam and the good news is that scones are incredibly easy to make and make your tea experience complete. Today, I am sharing with you three simple recipes to make your own personal tea time just right.  Oh and just in case it's your un-birthday, a very merry un-birthday to you!

Honey Vanilla Tea Latte

Ingredients:

6-oz double-strength tea ( I use 2 bags of English Breakfast)
1/4 tsp vanilla extract
3 tbsp honey (2 for the tea and 1 to drizzle)
4-oz milk, Steamed and Frothed.

Directions:

• In a large glass or tea cup, combine tea, vanilla and honey
• Stir well. 
• Add in steamed milk and top with frothed milk.
• Drizzle with honey to finish.

Traditional English Scones

Ingredients:

3 Cups of Flour

1/2 cup white sugar

5 tsp baking powder

1 tbs Vanilla Extract

1/2 tsp salt

3/4 cup of butter, room temperature.

1 egg

1 cup milk

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Lightly grease a baking sheet or use a silicone liner.
• In a large bowl, combine all dry ingredients ( flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt). Cut in butter, using a fork or your fingers. The mix should look crumbly when you're done.  Add the egg and milk  into flour mixture and stir until moistened.
• Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface, and knead very briefly. 
• Using your hand or a spoon, place 8 small mounds of the dough on your baking sheet.
• Bake 15 minutes in the preheated oven, or until golden brown.

Quick and Easy Strawberry Jam

Ingredients:

16 oz strawberries,hulled and quartered

3/4 cup of sugar

2 tbs lemon juice

Directions:

• In a medium sauce pan, mix strawberries, sugar, and lemon juice.
• Consistently stir over medium heat until the sugar is dissolved.
• Increase your heat to med-high and bring mixture to a boil, stirring frequently. Allow your jam to boil for about 10-15 minutes. Your strawberries should be breaking down, but there should still be some with some form to give your jam texture. 
• Transfer your jam to a clean jar or container and allow to cool. Seal container and store in your refrigerator up to 10 days or freeze.

A Berry Good Dessert...

Have I told you how much I love my family? Well, if you were unaware I love them beyond distraction. Our family is loud, full of energy and passionate about life and I like it like that. When my niece Riley was little, she too was a bundle of endless energy. When I would come to visit we would make cupcakes together. We started cooking together when Riley was about 3 and those memories are some of my favorites. My perfect little strawberry blond niece would get so excited when I would let her crack the eggs, pour the milk and run the stand mixer. Riley continues to be a kitchen superstar and helps her Mom cook on a regular basis. This recipe was made by Andrea and Riley. Riley said that is was "amazing", "yummy", "fun" and "awesome".  That is a pretty good endorsement! 

Riley working her kitchen magic on the whipped cream.

Riley's Berry Delicious Strawberry Mousse

Ingredients:

• 1 pint fresh strawberries, rinsed, hulled, and cut in quartered.
• 1 large package or 2 small packages sugar-free strawberry flavored gelatin or Jello
• ¼ cup white sugar
• 1 ½ cups heavy whipping cream, whipped just beyond soft peaks
• whipped topping, for garnish (we used strawberry cool whip)
• whole fresh strawberries, for garnish

Directions:

• In a large bowl, use a fork or potato masher to crush the strawberries. Drain the juice into a bowl and set aside.
•  Add enough water to the reserved strawberry juice to make 1 ½ cups liquid in total.
•  Place the strawberry juice and water mixture on the stove top in a medium saucepan. Bring the liquid to a boil and remove from the heat. 
• Add your strawberry flavored gelatin or jello to your sauce pan. Stir until gelatin is completely dissolved. Cool your mixture in the refrigerator about 5 to 10 minutes. Do not allow it to jell. When gelatin mixture is cool, add crushed strawberries and sugar. 
• Next you will gently fold your whipped cream into strawberry mixture.
•  Pour mixture into individual serving glasses. Chill until mousse is set. Place a dollop of your favorite whipped topping on top, along with a fresh strawberry. Serve immediately, or cover with plastic wrap and chill until ready to serve. Enjoy!