The Lazy Makoti’s Tea Party Treats

It’s August!!!

Happy womens month to all the JC ladies. What I love the most about this month is how it’s a month of transition. The weather is slowly changing from cold to warm ?…for me this means..TEA PARTY in the garden! Everyone can get dressed up in their fav dresses (because it’s a little warmer now) and have tea (because its still cold enough). And what a fitting way to celebrate Womens day with the girls, I’ve already received 4 invites to different tea party situations hence I thought I should share a tea party/brunch menu for those keen on hosting your own! Ps DON’T forget the bubbly!!!

Cucumber sandwiches

• 1 cream cheese tub (250g), softened
• 1/3 cup mayonnaise
• 1 medium cucumber, peeled, seeded, and finely chopped
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic salt
• 20 sandwich bread slices

1. Process cream cheese and mayonnaise in a blender or food processor until smooth, stopping once to scrape down sides.
2. Combine cream cheese mixture, cucumber and garlic salt
3. Spread cucumber mixture evenly onto white bread slices, and top with other slice. cut crusts from bread, discarding crusts, and cut sandwiches into quarters. Store cucumber sandwiches in an airtight container for up to 1 hour before serving.

Mini tarts

• Refrigerated pie crust
• 1 Granny Smith apple, peeled, cored, finely chopped
• 1/2 cup raisins
• 1/2 cup golden raisins
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon allspice
• 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1 large egg, lightly beaten

1. Working with refrigerated pie crust, use a 2-inch cookie cutter to cut out 8 circles, reserving scraps. Gather scraps; roll out. Use the edge of a round cookie cutter to form small leaves. Score down center of leaves with a sharp knife to make decorative veins.
2. Preheat oven to 375°F. Coat 8 cups of a nonstick 12-cup muffin tin with cooking spray. Line cups with a circle of pastry, pressing dough into corners.
3. Make filling: Mix apple, all raisins, sugar, butter, lemon juice, cinnamon, allspice and nutmeg in a bowl. Spoon evenly into pastry-lined muffin cups. Cover each with 1 or 2 pastry leaves. Lightly brush leaves and pastry edges with egg. Bake until golden brown, 40 to 45 minutes. Cool slightly in pan on a wire rack, then gently lift out tarts, transfer to rack and let cool completely.

Cinammon chocolate shortbread

• 1 1/2 cup slivered almonds
• 1/3 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 2 eggs, room temperature
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 3/4 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 cup whole wheat pastry flour
• 1/2 cup dark chocolate chips, melted

1. Preheat oven to 180 degrees. Place almonds on an ungreased baking sheet, toast until golden brown (about 8 minutes).
2. Remove from oven and tray, set aside to cool. Once almonds have cooled, grind in a food processor or with a rolling pin.
3. Combine the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, salt, ground almonds and flour in a large mixing bowl. In a separate bowl, using a hand mixer, beat the butter until creamy, then add the sugar.
4. Beat until creamy. Add eggs one at a time. Add vanilla. Add dry ingredients to the creamed mixture, beat only until combined.
5. Divide the dough into two balls. Once at a time, form into a log that is 2 inches wide and about 12 inches long. Cut each log into 1 1/2 inch strips. Place on ungreased baking sheet and bake for 8-10 minutes.

The cookies should not be golden brown; remove them from the oven just before they start to brown on top. Melt chocolate in a double boiler. Dip the end of each cookie in the chocolate and place on wax paper to set.

Fruit kebabs

This you can have fun with! The aim is to make it as colourful as possible…so go wild..

• Pineapples
• Strawberry
• Grapes
• Pawpaw
• Mango
• Kiwi

By The Lazy Makoti