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Cut it up, make a cuppa, take a break & meditate….
September 8, 2012 | 
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My new all time favorite quote…and I made it up myself after a particularly harrowing week….
When life hands you a lemon, cut it up, make tea, take a break and meditate!
So, you probably guessed that my day/week/month was less than auspicious . I’m sure you’ve had those days, weeks, months….hopefully not years…when “it” goes from bad to worse.
When no matter how much or how hard or how long you’ve prayed, “things” just aren’t working out. That proverbial lemon drops from the sky, misses your skull, but lands in YOUR lap …uninvited, unwanted, and uncompromising.
Now, a whole lemon is only useful for decoration or zesting.
And if not consumed, deterioration ensues.
My solution: Cut it up…make a cuppa tea….take a break….and meditate.
A sliced lemon bursting with tartness suggests possibilities.
A problem carved up, divided, chopped and diced reveals solutions.
Tea is my respite in life. The ritual of boiling water, placing whole tea leaves in an infuser, steeping and then sipping the brew is my hiatus from chaos. In suspending reality for moments, the impossible is diluted, the possible clarified and I remind myself there are better days ahead!
Have a tea-lightful day….and remember…cut that lemon up, make a cuppa, take a break and meditate!
Kate
I had to share this adorable video…..Maddie Grace Sings Lemon Drop
Posted in Blogs, Infusions, Uncategorized | 
Tags: bad days, cuppa tea, hard times, Lemon Drop song, lemons, make the best of it, meditate, take a break | 
4 Comments »
My Chai-Tea Smoothie…2 Ways…
If you love tea like I do, you’re always on the prowl for fun ways to enjoy tea! I like to experiment with blends of teas and fruits..dried fruits, tea in recipes and tea in beverages!
Smoothies~the homemade or handcrafted variety are especially adaptable and can be HEALTHY too!
I tried one made with Chai tea recently. Light and refreshing…and of course, I immediately thought of other ingredients to test with this tea in making a smoothie. Let me know if you’ve found some great tea smoothie combinations!
My Chai-Tea Smoothie…the “skinny” version:
My Chai-Tea Smoothie…the “not so skinny” version:
Recipe for My Chai-Tea Smoothie:
1 cup Chai tea~~ steeped and chilled
1/2 cup milk~~my favorite is Almond Vanilla milk
but you could choose another kind or use what you have on hand…
1/2 cup Greek yogurt…I like to use Vanilla or plain
1 ripe banana…fresh or frozen
Optional…Whipped Cream….
Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. Light and refreshing..and you get to have your tea too!!
Happy Infusions,
Kate
Posted in Blogs, Infusions, Recipes, Tea Recipes, Tea Recipes | Tags: Chai tea, Chai tea smoothie, smoothie, tea beverages, tea recipes, tea smoothie | 2 Comments »
Sunday Morning Scones….
This morning, I just needed scones with my tea. I tweaked our Traditional Scone recipe
and came up with these Blueberry-Sour Cream Scones…so perfect with my Assam tea…outside on the patio…
a perfect Sunday Morning!
Blueberry-Sour Cream Scones with tea on the patio
Posted in Blogs, Infusions, Recipes, Tea Recipes, Tea Recipes | Tags: scones, Sunday Morning, tea, tea outside | No Comments »
3 Iced Tea Recipes to Celebrate National Iced Tea Month in June !
In the summer, at our house, there were always two pitchers of iced tea in our refrigerator. One of them, my mother referred to as ” Your Father’s Tea” (meaning sweet tea–southern style) and the other was, regular plain iced tea, no sugar. These were the two choices available. My mother made the iced tea from tea bags, although our neighbors used that very modern, “Instant Tea”. ( You can taste the difference).
Growing up in the ’60′s, I started making sun tea in the summertime, and have continued the practice. Now, however, warnings about bacteria that can grow in sun tea may cause me to consider it a “Steep Risk” http://www.snopes.com/food/prepare/suntea.asp.
If any of us got sick from sun tea, I didn’t know it. I probably blamed some other “germ” or even
decided that a small child must have shared his illness.
The popularity and availability of a wide variety of flavored black and green teas has greatly increased my iced tea choices. (See list below for teas that are excellent iced). Magnificent Mango, quite popular in our tea room, competed with Arctic Raspberry and Shanghai Lime (photo) as favorites for iced teas. My iced tea choices are not limited to tea bags, instant tea, sweetened or unsweetened. …..I can celebrate incredible abundance !
Oregon Street Tea Company‘s Great Iced Tea Recipe:
For 2 quarts (1/2 gallon)
* In a 6 cup teapot, place an infuser filled with 12 teaspoons of tea.
* Fill the teapot with water heated to 195 degrees.
* Brew 5 minutes.
* In a 2 quart container fill 1/2 with ice.
* Pour tea over ice.
* Add cold water if needed to make 1/2 gallon of great iced tea !
The following teas make excellent iced teas and can be purchased from the Tea Booth UPSTAIRS at the Oregon Street Antique Mall….
Black Flavored Teas:
Arctic Raspberry
Cranberry Breeze or Cranberry Orange
Lemon Lift
Magnificent Mango
Peach Apricot
Wild Cherry Blast
Green Flavored tea:
Strawberry Fields Forever
Shanghai Lime
The Very Popular “Arnold Palmer” http://www.arnoldpalmertee.com/news.asp
Fill a glass with ice and add:
1/2 lemonade
1/2 black tea (brewed)
1/2 Lemon slice to decorate the rim of the glass
Very Refreshing !
Hawaiian Iced Tea
Make 2 quarts of Oregon Street Tea Company’s Great Iced Tea
Add:
1 can (16 oz) pineapple juice
1/2 cup simple syrup (recipe follows)
Refrigerate until chilled.
Garnish with fresh pineapple spears and serve
Simple Syrup: ( You can also purchase this)
1 cup white sugar
1 cup water
Combine sugar and water in saucepan. Bring to a boil, stirring until sugar has dissolved. Cool.
Happy Iced Infusions !
Kate
Posted in About Tea, Blogs, frontpage, Infusions, Recipes, Tea Recipes, Tea Recipes | Tags: arnold palmer tea, hawaiian tea, Iced tea, June, National Iced Tea Month, simple syrup, sun tea, unique iced tea recipes | No Comments »
Storytelling….
“Storytelling reveals meaning without committing the error of defining it.”
― Hannah Arendt
Hayley on Mac
10 By 10
Ten Social Graces Every Child Needs To Know By Age Ten
Teaching…. and reinforcing…. again and again…. a few polite behaviors not only ensures your children will be desired company for their friends, but gives them great confidence in meeting new social situations with confidence.
The 10 by 10 list is very basic and easy to remember…only ten behaviors to keep up with in your busy life. You’ll add other manners as they grow, but if these ten are practiced and embedded life will be sweeter!
1. Please: Use please when asking for something, or asking someone to pass an item at the dinner table.
2. Thank You: Use thank you when receiving something…a gift, an invitation or a compliment. Be sure to thank your friend and your friend’s parents when you leave a party or after a sleep-over.
3. Excuse Me: When you bump into, or step on someone’s foot, when you walk between two people having a conversation or when you have to interrupt adults who are talking.
4. Ask Permission: To do something, or to use someone else’s property.
5. Hello and Nice to meet you: When introduced to someone say hello and respond if they ask how you are. It’s always polite to ask how they are also.
6. Ask if you can help: Practice asking if you can help at home; set the table, take out the trash or help carry in groceries. When you are visiting a friend, it’s always nice to lend a helping hand.
7. Eat and chew properly: Use your fork, knife and spoon correctly. Put your napkin in your lap. Elbows off the table. Chew with your mouth closed and don’t try to talk while you have food in your mouth.
8. Watch your words: Be kind. Don’t make fun of or tease others and don’t make comments about how a person looks. If you have a question, ask your parent privately. Compliment others.
9. Knock on closed doors: If a door is closed, knock first and wait to be invited in. Don’t open the door and walk in.
10. Give your seat to an older adult: If there are no seats left and you are on a couch or chair or on the bus or at a party and an older adult comes into the room, offer your chair to the adult. You might also go find a chair and bring it for the older adult.
Click on the link, download and print the *10 By 10 * list as a reminder!
Posted in Blogs, Etiquette, frontpage | Tags: 10 social graces, age 10, children, etiquette for children, manners for kids, please and thank you | 2 Comments »
TAKE 1
It’s Friday…time for some fun!! You don’t need a “stiff upper lip” to drink tea….
Take 1
Steven Colbert gets a lesson in drinking tea….click on the link below….
Posted in About Tea, Etiquette | Tags: drinking tea, fun Friday, steven colbert, stiff upper lip | No Comments »
“As Grandpa Says” by Nick Harrison
Harvest House Publishers sent me a copy of Nick Harrison’s book, “As Grandpa Says,” for review and recommendation. I can unequivocally say this is a delightful book. I was struck by his honesty and his sense of adventure! (He’s a grandpa who wants a skateboard….)
From the first page to the last, you are welcomed and invited to share in the fullness of wisdom garnered by Nick Harrison who clearly adores his role as father and grandpa. Honesty and encouragement percolate through the pages of this delightful book. The combination of quotes, stories and scripture are like “a cord of three strands” connecting and reinforcing the anecdote.
The delicious artwork of Audrey Jeanne Roberts creates a perception of peace and contentment on each page.
A book to be read and reflected upon, to be shared and enjoyed, and to encourage remembering your own “grandpa” stories, this is a perfect gift for a beloved man in your life.
So pour a cup of tea and….Happy Reading!
Kathryn
Saving Your Pennies For Tea….
We were quite blessed recently. Our unique…sweet…little…one of a kind…teapot bank…was featured in a blog….
Saving Your Pennies For Tea….
When we were kids, many of us had little “banks” (often shaped like little pigs) that we would put our coins in (mostly pennies). When enough had gathered up, we would take those coins to the local store for a sweet treat. Now, as an adult and tea lover, I save my pennies for tea.
Read the rest of the story at the…. English Tea Store Blog
Posted in About Tea, Blogs, Infusions | Tags: coin bank, English Tea Store Blog, new tea product, saving, tea, tea savings, teapot bank | No Comments »
Cranberry-Meyer Lemon Scones….a favorite for a rainy day….
A huge bin filled with smooth skinned Meyer Lemons triggered a drooling response. Wiping my mouth, and stuffing a plastic bag with yellow fruit, I dreamed of our Oregon St. Tea Company signature Cranberry-Meyer Lemon Scones.
Rushing in the door, I plopped the groceries down….put away all items requiring refrigeration….washed the lemons and proceeded to stir up a batch of scones.
Add a little clotted cream…(which I found in our local market!)……
…a cup of tea…..
…..and enjoy those delicious scones….
Cranberry-Meyer Lemon Scones (an Oregon Street Tea Room Signature Recipe)
3 cups Self Rising Flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon baking soda
½ cup sugar
½ cup butter
Zest of 1 small Meyer lemon
½ cup dried cranberries
1 cup buttermilk
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Combine dry ingredients. Cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse cornmeal.
Add zest of Meyer lemon.
Add cranberries.
Mix in ¾ cup buttermilk, adding more if necessary to form dough. Do not over mix.
Turn onto floured work space and knead until easy to handle. (About 4-5 turns)
Pat gently to 1 inch thick.
Cut with small biscuit cutter.
Transfer to parchment lined baking sheet. (Vegetable oil spray works great too)
Brush with egg wash (1 egg combined with 1 tablespoon milk)
Bake 8-10 minutes or until lightly golden.
Glaze with powdered sugar thinned to glazing consistency with Meyer lemon juice.
Posted in Blogs, Infusions, Recipes | Tags: clotted cream, cranberry, Meyer lemons, scones, tea | 6 Comments »
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