What’s In My Cup: Nutty & Spice

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#whatsinmycup, Christmas, holiday, tea, what's in my cup

“Nutty” and “Spice” – 2 words that I would use to describe me. You might pick other words and we’re all ok if you keep those to yourself. 🙂

In 2 weeks, I’ll be snuggling in, in my parents’ home…or helping with the last minute preparations that make us all a little nutty. So this morning I’m savouring a warm, cozy cup of Nutty & Spice tea from David’s to help me embrace the holidays…before I embark on another round of errands with the other nuts on the roads and in malls.

This tea is a low-caffeine, oolong tea & fruit/nut blend of roasted almonds, pistachios, walnuts, apples, cranberries, pineapple, and papaya. And for the spices: cardamom, cinnamon, ginger, roasted chicory root, and rose blossom leaves.

Reviews suggested it can be very strong and not to steep it too long or add too much at once. I heeded that advice and I agree. I found the first hot cup was heady and quite pleasant. It wasn’t overly sweet and the roasted nuts and chicory root provided an intoxicating depth of flavour which complimented that traditional spice one would expect in a holiday drink. I got heat without suffering!

The second cup had a much weaker colour, so not being one to waste tea leaves, I popped the infuser in the top of my teapot (with plain black tea waiting to be reheated later in the day).  I was pleasantly surprised with the results as the black tea buoyed up any weakness and I savoured an entire pot of slightly sweet and richly spiced tea.  Mixing black tea with other teas, whether plain or flavoured, can provide you with varied flavour profiles without the expense of buying lots of flavours, so don’t be afraid to experiment.

Life is nutty; anything can happen. – Paul Shaffer

Happy Monday!

What’s In My Cup: Peanut Butter Cup

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#whatsinmycup, beach, chocolate, food, holiday, peanut butter, summer, tea, what's in my cup

Man cannot live by bread alone; he must have peanut butter. – James A. Garfield

Peanut butter cup tea is inspired by the sweet, rich (and might I add), deeply satisfying delight. Whether as a sweet after a meal, an afternoon snack, or just because, this tasty tea infusion hits the spot. It is a blend of apple, cocoa bits, almonds, chocolate chips, and safflower.

What? No peanuts? That’s right.

As you can see, the colour is a pale yellow, which surprised me a bit. I was expecting a darker colour. The flavour, however, had the toasted nut flavour I was expecting. I would have liked the chocolate to be more prominent (being a natural choc-o-holic), and like chocolate pb cups from the store, I thought it was missing some salt.

Still, with only 5 calories per cup, it’s a guilt-free treat so I can wear my bikini without anyone calling Greenpeace to roll me back in the water…when it’s warm enough to wear a bikini, that is!

Now, if someone would just make an O Henry tea!

Summer afternoon—summer afternoon; to me those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language. – Henry James

Happy Monday!

Happy Victoria Day

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#whatsinmycup, holiday, tea, what's in my cup

It’s a holiday and Canada thanks Queen Victoria for it. I’ll be back next week to share a cuppa with you, but for now…

Victoria Sponge Cake

Happy Monday!

Traditional Irish Barmbrack

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#whatsinmycup, food, holiday, tea

Since we were celebrating St. Patrick’s Day this weekend, and having Irish roots…and an Irish husband, I thought I should try a new recipe: Traditional Irish Barmbrack.

Elaine Lemm, chef and restauranteur in the U.K., described it as moreish cake, meaning you want more…but I have never desired fruit brick in my life. Ever.  Let alone more fruit brick. Ever.

Barmbrack, sometimes called brack, is a yeasted loaf of bread with currants, raisins and/or candied peel. It originates from the Gaelic bairín breac, meaning speckled loaf.  Traditionally it is eaten on St. Patrick’s Day and Halloween, but may be enjoyed on other occasions, and always served with tea and salted butter. Ireland continues to be the largest tea consumer per capita in the world, and cups of tea punctuate both daily routine and social occasions.

It’s delicious with a cup of tea!

Life is like a cup of tea, it’s all in how you make it – Irish Proverb

Happy Monday!

 

 

 

Christmas Tea

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#whatsinmycup, Christmas, holiday, tea

On Christmas Day, at half past three
Brew yourself a cup of tea
I’ll think of you
You think of me
Sitting beside a Christmas Tree.

Merry Christmas!

That’s a Wrap!

Tags

Christmas, family, holiday

Gift wrapping isn’t a chore – it’s a challenge.

As kids, my brother and I would try to mess with each other. Sometimes we would wrap a little box, and put it inside a bigger box, then wrap it and so on! To distract the receiver from guessing the contents, (or to make a gift sound broken), we’d toss in a penny or two (back in the good old days when we had pennies). Or we would meticulously tape odd-shaped bits of cardboard to our gift before wrapping to change the appearance. We recycled boxes and gift wrap before recycling became a normal part of life. We often fought over who got the funny pages because getting The Far Side cartoon first was the best part of besting the other. Old maps were cool too! So much for holiday spirit!

Our grandparents always used half a roll of tape on every seam and Hubby has carried on that tradition. Big Guy has found other creative ways – like a tea towel held together with elastic bands…or duct tape!

At least he isn’t recycling fast food wrappers just yet.

Last year, my brother introduced Little Guy to a new technique…

And that, my friends, is a wrap!

Merry Christmas!

Souvenirs

Tags

family, holiday, memories

“How do we cherish these moments?”

A profound question from the mouth of a 10 year old, as we stood in the field under a canopy of stars. The dark sky was so clear we could see the milky way, something hidden from us under the glare of city lights, even in the country spaces near our home. Little Guy’s arms were wrapped around my waist, his eyes transfixed above us.

“They’re so beautiful, I feel like crying. Seriously, Mom, how do we cherish these moments?”, he asked a second time.

Sometimes moments just happen. Sometimes they are made.

Friday night we made a “moment”. Big Guy had lit a fire, the first in 5 years. I was anxious to tuck Little Guy in bed because school starts in a few short days. I want him well rested for it. As I kissed his forehead, it struck me – this is a moment. Big Guy would be leaving in the morning; we would be leaving on Monday. We don’t know that we’ll have another night like this one. So I told Little Guy to get dressed – bedtime could wait.

Here’s to the twilight, here’s to the memories
These are my souvenirs, my mental pictures of everything
Here’s to the late nights, here’s to the firelight
these are my souvenirs…

Here’s to your bright eyes, shining like fireflies
These are my souvenirs
The memory of a lifetime, my souvenirs

We roasted marshmallows. We gazed at the stars. We watched the flames in silence.

***

Sometimes “moments” happen, and we don’t realize they are “moments” until much later…

The last (and only) time I shared a fire here was 5 years ago. Big Guy wasn’t here, but my grandparents were, and we roasted marshmallows and hot dogs, just like countless times before. I had no idea it would be our last.

I close my eyes and go back in time
I can see you’re smiling, you’re so alive
we were so young, we had no fear
we were so young, we had no idea
that life was just happening

How do we cherish these moments?

Let them happen. Live in the moment. Make a mental picture. Reflect. Don’t rush.
Keep them as a souvenir.

***

Quotes from “My Souvenirs” by Switchfoot, Vice Verses, 2011. Written by Jon Foreman, Tim Foreman • Copyright © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc

Summer Bucket List

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family, food, holiday, humour, nature, photography, summer

It’s the final Friday of Summer…

I planned to put together a Summer Bucket List at the beginning of July, but it never went from a mental list to a written list. Until now… Even if I didn’t get to everything on my list, I am choosing to believe there is still time…next month or next year… Who knows? The possibilities are endless!

In no particular order, bolded ones completed:

1. Pick strawberries with Little Guy.
2. Ride with the car windows down and the music blasting.
3. Go on a tree walk.
4. Watch the rain.
5. Sing along with “Good Morning Vietnam” soundtrack.
6. Play games. (Lose and get thrown in the pool)
7. Walk by the river.
8. Do goofy things.
   

   Bonus: Embarrassing Little Guy

9. Tiger tail ice cream.
10. Play mini golf.
11. Go to a movie – not an afternoon matinee.
12. Romantic dinner with Hubby.
13. Ride a roller coaster.
    

    Kiddy Coasters count, right?!

14. Watch the Fireworks.
15. Climb a tree.

16.Watch the sun set.
17. Shopping with Mom.
18.Photograph a farmer in the field.
19. Read a book by the pool.

21.Go to the library.
22. Stop and smell the flowers.
23. Hang Little Guy’s artwork.

24. Capture a rainbow.
24. Eat a Beaver tail!

Killaloe Sunrise: sugar, cinnamon & lemon. Yum!

25. Buy a bikini. (wear it in public…)
26. Game of Thrones Season 5 marathon with family.
27. Eat on a patio.

Is it just me or are these nachos talking?

28. Buy a new bra.
29. Eat a treat from the local bakery.

Tasted even better than they looked!

30. Go on a hike…explore!
31. Travel someplace new.
32. Enjoy a slushie a hot day!

Cream Soda

33. Chase a butterfly. Or 2.
34. Feed the ducks.
35. Marshmallows over a campfire.
36. “Coffee” with girlsfriends.
37. Try something new.

I am liking THIS!

38. DQ Blizzard on the final long weekend. (I can check this off in a couple of hours!)
39.Spend as much time with family as possible!
Hug them. Kiss them. Laugh often. Love much.

“Summers had a logic all their own and they always brought something out in me. Summer was supposed to be about freedom and youth and no school and possibilities and adventure and exploration. Summer was a book of hope. That’s why I loved and hated summers. Because they made me want to believe.”
―Benjamin Alire Sáenz, Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe

Happy Weekend!

Back From Holidays

Tags

holiday, humour

I met someone in the grocery store today and she told me I looked like I needed a vacation. I told her I was just returning from a week off. She looked at me like she wasn’t sure how to respond, whether to believe me, laugh with me, or cry on my behalf.

I understand that I’m not tanned and glowing like I’ve been out in the sun. That’s because I wasn’t out in the sun. I’m pasty-white with dark circles under my eyes but that’s because it was cool enough, I wore jeans and a hoodie most of the week. One night, I even sat shivering in the rain with an umbrella, a book and a hot cup of tea so I could watch Little Guy swim.

And my trip across the border wasn’t exactly to a “hot spot” nor could it be classified as a tourist destination, but it was less about where I went and more about who I was with (my parents and Little Guy), and what we did.

I still:

• Went to another country, and it took less than 2 hours;
• Slept in a hotel, in a soft bed with puffy pillows;
• Went sightseeing and took interesting photos of architecture, including a lighthouse;
• Toured a museum (a small science museum with simple hands-on exhibits. No crowds so lots of time to explore. Little Guy’s favourite display was the “olden days” rotary dial telephone. Boy! Do I feel old?);
• Read a light-hearted novel at a patio table beside a pool;
• Went shopping;
• Smiled and greeted a great looking guy (he let himself into our room the first night and was rather shocked to see us there);
• Curled up in my soft bed and gorged on potato chips and HGTV;
• Stayed up all night (ok, my parents’ snoring kept me up all night – gave me lots of time to write blog posts, in my head). Sometimes I got to sleep in;
• Went swimming once all week…in my clothes. Bathing suits are over-rated;
• Ate well (and didn’t cook one bite). French toast for supper one night, peach crepes another. Yum!

Sure, I’d love to stroll down a cobbled laneway in Rome, or enjoy an evening cruise on the Thames River in London. I’d love to have returned from my holiday with a golden tan and looking 10 years younger. But I had a great time with my family. Now…I’m back from holidays!

All By Myself…

Tags

family, holiday, humour

“All by myself, don’t want to be”…wait a minute. Yes! Yes, I do! For a few days at least.

Hubby and Little Guy went to visit Hubby’s parents out of town, which meant I got the house for two nights…to myself! The last (and only) time I had the house to myself for a few days was the Christmas we got hit with a huge ice storm. I was fortunate to never lose power, so I surfed the internet, played Portal, and gorged on Downton Abbey.

I now have a greater understanding of the appeal of being home “alone” rather than travelling to visit in-laws (not that either of us have anything to complain about – they are lovely people)…

1. You can eat what you want and when you want. I had beans and weiners smothered in cheese for supper one night. Pizza the next! And chips. And cereal…lots of cereal.

2. You can do what you want, when you want. I played minecraft and Halo…and watched a chick flick or two! I could yell at the t.v. and no one rolled their eyes or pointed out that “they can’t hear you”.

3. You can dress anyway you want – or not get dressed at all. You don’t have to brush your hair or teeth, or take a shower (although I’d recommend it). I enjoyed padding around the house in a t-shirt. For the record, I showered too.

4. You can go to bed when you want (although I still had to get up for work in the morning) or sleep as late as you want. No one woke me at 6 a.m. to tell me they were still awake at 9:30 p.m. the night before!

5. You can sing out loud. No one is concerned if you’re a little pitchy! If you get lonely, you can just talk to yourself and no one can tell you you’re crazy (unless your imaginary friend chimes in)!

The jobs that needed to get done, got done. The guinea pigs, dishes, and clothes were cleaned. The floors were swept. And all evidence of my affair were buried (Henry! O Henry!). I loved every minute of it!

Today I’m back to packing lunches and running out the door to get to camp and work on time. Hubby is back to work too! One more week to go, and I’ll be on holidays and it will Hubby’s turn to sing “All By Myself”.

Happy Monday!