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Dorina Lazo Gilmore-Young

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Traveling the World from the Comfort of Home: An English Tea party, if you please!

My sister used to be a flight attendant and lived in Staines, London – just one Tube stop from the Heathrow airport. She still talks about the delectable desserts and tea. Think: cream puffs, “biscuits,” scones and all the clotted cream your arteries could handle. Yes, please!

England is part of the United Kingdom and shares borders with Wales and Scotland. The weather in England is similar to the Seattle area, which is ironically where Caron lives now. Rain boots and umbrellas are part of normal fashion. She also learned to wear bright-colored lipstick like the international women who tried to create contrast to the gray skies and drab weather.

My sister describes high tea at Harrod’s, an up-up-upscale English department store. Harrod’s has been serving customers for more than 150 years. They have an entire floor of the finest confectionary from masterful chocolatiers.

For our “trip” to England, we staged our own fancy tea party. The girls and I made cucumber tea sandwiches, chocolate chip scones with lemon curd, mini vanilla cupcakes, and chicken salad wontons.

We invited Grandma Chris to join us along with all of Zayla’s American Girl dolls. One of our Christmas traditions is having a tea party at the American Girl Doll store in Los Angeles with the ladies from Shawn’s family. Because of the pandemic, we had to skip it this year but this tea party rivaled all the tasty goodness.

I got out my Grandma Cora’s rose china and made two pots of tea – a Samurai Chai Mate my friend gifted me and a Mixed Berry & Ginger tea. (Extend your pinkies, girls!) Of course, my daughters, who have been raised on chai, drained that entire pot. And I had to promptly make another.

Outside of the food, my favorite part was sitting around the table telling stories with my mother-in-law and three daughters laughing and telling stories for hours. We so rarely have that kind of unscripted and unhurried time. It was a true gift. These are the days to savor around the table. Sometimes we belly laugh. Sometimes the tears flow. Sometimes the girls ask me to tell stories about their daddy in heaven. Sometimes we talk about the state of our world and what it looks like to be Christ’s ambassadors in it.

I’m realizing that every day I have the opportunity to influence others with the love, grace, and mercy that Christ modeled. And it begins with these three young ladies He gifted to me. Shawn and I want to raise world changers. And it begins right here at the table.

For dinner we made Shepherd’s Pie, which is one of my mom’s specialty comfort meals. My girls beg for this meal. There are a lot of steps, but it’s worth the extra time. It’s made with mashed potatoes, vegetables, and beef that warms your insides when you eat it. My sister says this is something more commonly served in pubs.

We rounded out our “trip” to England watching Mary Poppins Returns, The Great British Baking Show, and Enola Holmes. A perfect holiday!

(Scroll down for my ideas to incorporate into your “travels.”)

Shepherd’s Pie

8 oz. fresh green beans, cut and trimmed

2 T. olive oil

½ medium onion chopped fine

1 diced red bell pepper

8 oz. fresh mushrooms, sliced

8 oz. mixed frozen vegetables

1 lb. ground beef, browned and drained

2 eggs, slightly beaten                                                            

1 tsp. salt

½ tsp. crushed garlic

1 can cream of mushroom soup (no msg)                             

2 tsp. beef bullion dissolved in ¾ c. water

3-4 cups hot mashed potatoes, made with 5 or 6 large potatoes, 4 T.butter and ½ c. milk

1 tsp. paprika

¾ c. shredded 4 Mexican cheeses or cheddar

1 can of corn (non-GMO) 15 oz.

Directions:

1. Steam green beans until just tender.

2. Meanwhile, sauté onions in 1 T. oil until beginning to look transparent. 

3. Add bell peppers and mushrooms, sautéing for 2 minutes longer, adding oil as needed. 

4. Next add frozen vegetables, cooking for 1 to 2 minutes, and finally green beans when steamed. 

5. Save all vegetables in covered baking dish. 

6. Combine cooked ground beef with eggs, salt and garlic and heat in melted butter in large skillet. 

7. Stir bullion and water with cream of mushroom soup over low heat in a separate small sauce pan just to a simmer, adding liquid mixture to the meat.

8. Now stir in the vegetables, heating for 1 to 2 minutes. 

9. Pour into a large baking dish. 

10. Top with a thick border of mashed potatoes, cheese, and a sprinkling of paprika.  

11. Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes or until lightly browned on top and cheese is melted. 

Ideas from our “trip” to England:

  1. Stage an English tea party or pub meal.

Tea party faire:

–Petite Chocolate Chip Scones

–Lemon curd

–Cucumber and Cream Cheese Tea Sandwiches

–Other fun tea party recipes…

2. Watch the one of the many British inspired movies and shows. A few of our favorites include:

–Enola Holmes

–Mary Poppins Returns

–Paddington Bear

–Pride & Prejudice

–The Great British Baking Company

3. Read a book together. A few of our favorites include:

–The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett

–The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis

–The House at Pooh Corner by A.A. Milne

*We would love to hear from you. Which ideas did you try? What other ideas did you incorporate in your exploration of England? Leave us a comment.

My family has developed a new membership experience for families and individuals who long to travel the world, but might not have the budget for it. We have curated a robust monthly exploration of books, recipes, music, dances, games, and video recommendations for you to learn about countries and cultures you might not be able to visit in today’s circumstances. Global Glory Chasers was created in partnership with Dr. Lucretia Berry, founder of Brownicity. Global Glory Chasers will be a monthly membership program housed in the Brownicity learning community for learners of all ages.

Join the monthly membership program to travel the world from the comfort of your home! 

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January 6, 2021 Categories: General, RecipesTagged: world travel

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Valerie Yadao says

    January 10, 2021 at 5:24 pm

    Thanks for sharing Dorina! Love it!

    Reply
  2. Amy LeTourneur says

    January 15, 2021 at 6:46 am

    Such a FUN idea! Thanks for sharing. 🙂

    Reply
    • Dorina says

      January 25, 2021 at 3:40 pm

      Yay! It’s never too late to start making memories!

      Reply
  3. Jennifer F. Riales says

    January 15, 2021 at 7:39 am

    I’ve always wanted to travel to England and experience their tea time! Thanks for sharing!

    Reply

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Meet Dorina

Aloha, friend! If you love stories, you are in the right place. I write about grief, glory, running, food, and more. I hope these words inspire you to chase after God’s glory in your life today!

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Recent Posts

  • Life’s storms reveal our roots April 24, 2023
  • Mind the Gap: How God meets us when we are not enough April 24, 2023
  • An unexpected adoption: You are loved as God’s daughter February 15, 2023
  • Top 10 Books I Read in 2022 January 29, 2023
  • We Can Bear Witness to the Glory of God in Each Other December 21, 2022

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Before Footer

After my husband soared to Heaven eight years ago, my three daughters and I found ourselves on an intense grief journey. I never imagined being a widow at age 37 when my girls were just 2, 5, and 8 years old. Despite the heaviness of grief, I knew God was near. And I longed for my daughters to experience His comforting presence too. That’s how we started chasing God’s glory together.

We started with a nightly rhythm of watching the sunset together. We would step out onto our back patio or pull over on the side of the road and pause to watch the colors waltzing across the sky.

Initially, my girls asked, “Mama, why do we watch the sunset? It happens every night.” But soon they discovered that every sunset was unique. Little by little, this rhythm became something we looked forward to. There was something calming and comforting for the girls and me as we watched God paint the sky each night. Our Creator God, the Master Artist, met us in the brush strokes of sparkling gold and emerald green. The girls would point out the ribbons of ruby red and deep amethyst sashaying across the sapphire blue sky. We would smile and delight at the jewel-toned colors. We felt like it was a kiss from their daddy in Heaven.

My daughters are teenagers now, but they still love to chase sunsets and tell me about the ways God showed up in their days. They text me photos or pull me out to the balcony to watch His glory chasing across the sky.

I have learned we can plant seeds of hope and faith in our kids when we go glory hunting together.

Read the full article on @herviewfromhome here: https://herviewfromhome.com/widow-at-37-gods-grace/

#chasingGodsglory #sunsetchaser #glorychasers @waterbrookmultnomahkids #sunset #parenting #gloryhunter

View

Jun 7

Open
After my husband soared to Heaven eight years ago, my three daughters and I found ourselves on an intense grief journey. I never imagined being a widow at age 37 when my girls were just 2, 5, and 8 years old. Despite the heaviness of grief, I knew God was near. And I longed for my daughters to experience His comforting presence too. That’s how we started chasing God’s glory together.
We started with a nightly rhythm of watching the sunset together. We would step out onto our back patio or pull over on the side of the road and pause to watch the colors waltzing across the sky.
Initially, my girls asked, “Mama, why do we watch the sunset? It happens every night.” But soon they discovered that every sunset was unique. Little by little, this rhythm became something we looked forward to. There was something calming and comforting for the girls and me as we watched God paint the sky each night. Our Creator God, the Master Artist, met us in the brush strokes of sparkling gold and emerald green. The girls would point out the ribbons of ruby red and deep amethyst sashaying across the sapphire blue sky. We would smile and delight at the jewel-toned colors. We felt like it was a kiss from their daddy in Heaven. 
My daughters are teenagers now, but they still love to chase sunsets and tell me about the ways God showed up in their days. They text me photos or pull me out to the balcony to watch His glory chasing across the sky.
I have learned we can plant seeds of hope and faith in our kids when we go glory hunting together.
Read the full article on @herviewfromhome here: https://herviewfromhome.com/widow-at-37-gods-grace/
#chasingGodsglory #sunsetchaser #glorychasers @waterbrookmultnomahkids #sunset #parenting #gloryhunter
104 13

☀️ We cherished a day of celebrating our Giada’s 8th grade promotion in Disneyland yesterday! Her sisters rallied and saved money for their tickets. Instead of a party we took a family trip to the happiest place on earth! 😃 It was a surprisingly cool, overcast day!

In the younger days, I spent more time taking them to the bathroom and making sure everyone had a buddy for roses. Now I’m enjoying Disneyland with older kids who plan the trip, strategize which rides to go on and when. We ate some yummy treats, laughed a lot, played games in line, and made it to most of our faves!

@shawnyoungruns has definitely influenced our fam with his love for all things Disney! I am not sad about it. As for me, I’m in it for the Disney-themed food! 🥨 🍍 🍹 🍔 🍦My new fave is this pineapple churro with Cheema cheese dipping sauce. Woweee!

🏰 Are you a Disney fan? What’s your favorite park, ride, food, or show?!

#globalglorychasers #disneyland #disneyfoodie

View

Jun 7

Open
☀️ We cherished a day of celebrating our Giada’s 8th grade promotion in Disneyland yesterday! Her sisters rallied and saved money for their tickets. Instead of a party we took a family trip to the happiest place on earth! 😃 It was a surprisingly cool, overcast day! 
In the younger days, I spent more time taking them to the bathroom and making sure everyone had a buddy for roses. Now I’m enjoying Disneyland with older kids who plan the trip, strategize which rides to go on and when. We ate some yummy treats, laughed a lot, played games in line, and made it to most of our faves! 
@shawnyoungruns has definitely influenced our fam with his love for all things Disney! I am not sad about it. As for me, I’m in it for the Disney-themed food! 🥨 🍍 🍹 🍔 🍦My new fave is this pineapple churro with Cheema cheese dipping sauce. Woweee! 
🏰 Are you a Disney fan? What’s your favorite park, ride, food, or show?! 
#globalglorychasers #disneyland #disneyfoodie
88 4

Last night the six of us went to see the show SIX and to cheer on my talented childhood friend Valerie Maze who was the conductor/keyboardist. This was my birthday/Mother’s Day gift from my hubby, and it was so special!

What a phenomenal and engaging way to learn about history and the stories of the six wives of Henry VIII! The music, the lights, the voices, the dancing made for a truly unique and memorable show! The Pantages Theater in Los Angeles is also one of my favorites!

And the biggest treat of all was hanging out with @valerie.maze afterwards. We haven’t been together in YEARS! And this was the first time she met my Shawn and Meilani! #sixshow #broadwaymusical #globalglorychasers

View

Jun 4

Open
Last night the six of us went to see the show SIX and to cheer on my talented childhood friend Valerie Maze who was the conductor/keyboardist. This was my birthday/Mother’s Day gift from my hubby, and it was so special! 
What a phenomenal and engaging way to learn about history and the stories of the six wives of Henry VIII! The music, the lights, the voices, the dancing made for a truly unique and memorable show! The Pantages Theater in Los Angeles is also one of my favorites! 
And the biggest treat of all was hanging out with @valerie.maze afterwards. We haven’t been together in YEARS! And this was the first time she met my Shawn and Meilani! #sixshow #broadwaymusical #globalglorychasers
38 6

Hey friend, do you know about my weekly Glorygram? Every Saturday I gently drop this gift in your inbox, which includes an encouraging essay about chasing God`s glory, a monthly book giveaway, recommendations, recipes, and more.

Consider this like sitting down at my table for some homemade lumpia and a tall glass of mango lemonade. My heart is to share in community about what God is teaching us. You can hop over to DorinaGlorygram.Substack.com and read this week`s edition. Be sure to Subscribe while you`re there so you don`t miss a thing.

In this week`s Glorygram, I`m sharing a story about the power of asking questions and five sisters who asked a question that changed history. Don`t miss it!

#glory #encouragingwords #substack #glorychasers #hesed2023 #biblereading #bibleteacher #leadership #powerfulquestions

View

Jun 3

Open
Hey friend, do you know about my weekly Glorygram? Every Saturday I gently drop this gift in your inbox, which includes an encouraging essay about chasing God's glory, a monthly book giveaway, recommendations, recipes, and more.
Consider this like sitting down at my table for some homemade lumpia and a tall glass of mango lemonade. My heart is to share in community about what God is teaching us. You can hop over to DorinaGlorygram.Substack.com and read this week's edition. Be sure to Subscribe while you're there so you don't miss a thing.
In this week's Glorygram, I'm sharing a story about the power of asking questions and five sisters who asked a question that changed history. Don't miss it!
#glory #encouragingwords #substack #glorychasers #hesed2023 #biblereading #bibleteacher #leadership #powerfulquestions
24 7

Join me for a stroll through the next psalm of ascent. Psalm 128 is a wisdom psalm that walks us through what it looks like to enjoy the blessings of the Lord. If we have the fear of the Lord and choose to walk with Him, we get to step into this abundance!

-What does walking with Him look like for you in this season?

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Jun 2

Open
Join me for a stroll through the next psalm of ascent. Psalm 128 is a wisdom psalm that walks us through what it looks like to enjoy the blessings of the Lord. If we have the fear of the Lord and choose to walk with Him, we get to step into this abundance!
-What does walking with Him look like for you in this season?
22 2
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