What’s In My Cup: Sweet Tart

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#whatsinmycup, food, photography, tea, what's in my cup

The sweet lazy days of summer may be passing into recent memory, but there are still some sweet Fall days ahead: warm sun, crisp air, and the landscape draped in red, orange and yellow!

But I”m a “hanger-on-er”! While everyone else is pumpkin-this and chai-that, I want to hang on to part of summer a little longer, while starting to embrace Fall. It’s all about balance – like wearing flip-flops with jeans.

David’s Sweet Tart tea promised a balance from tart and sweet with a “classic red  cherry aroma”. It is a fruit infusion, which means it is caffeine free. It’s made from apples, raisins, carrots, hibiscus blossoms and buds, rose blossoms, beetroot, and sour cherries. It also contains candy sugar hearts, very much like the flamingos in the Flamingo Fresca tea. 

Did you know…

Sweet Tarts were invented by Jeff Sousa in 1962 using the basic recipe in pixy stix and lik-m-aid (loved these as a kid). Parents wanted a candy that was less messy.

This tea was so enticing, I couldn’t wait to get home to try it. The aroma was an intoxicating cherry and the rich, deep red was beguiling. Unfortunately, that’s where the romance ended. I found this tea sickly sweet, reminiscent of Kool-Aid, which I also loved as a kid! However, I concede that it might make a fantastic iced tea or even an iced tea pop.

For someone with a strong sweet tooth, this may be just perfect! It could be that I’m already sweet enough!

I love a girl with a good sense of humour, who is confident but who has a sweetness to her – that melts my heart. – Gerard Butler

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!

What’s In My Cup: Cherry Lucuma

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#whatsinmycup, food, photography, tea, what's in my cup

A week at the cottage is the cherry on top of what was supposed to be a delicious summer. And while some of my plans change unexpectedly, I was determined to relax in the sunshine whenever and however I could!

I started the first night with Cherry Lucuma tea. It’s one of many teas being “retired” by David’s tea. This kosher tea is oolong based and boasts ingredients like apple, pineapple, hibiscus, beetroot, morello cherries, and lucuma.  I had to look that last one up!

Lucuma is a Peruvian fruit that resembles an avocado. It’s golden flesh is purported to taste like caramel, sweet potato or maple, making it a sweet addition in baked goods. It is low on the glycemic index, making it a good option as a natural sweetener for diabetics. Lucoma also contains beta carotene, iron, zinc, vitamin B3, calcium, and protein. It may also help support heart and digestive issues, as well as soothe inflammation.

This tea had a sweet and earthly flavour, as well as a rich rosy colour from the beetroot. Beets and cherries are rich in a number of vitamins and antioxidant. Both beetroot and hibiscus aid in lowering blood pressure. But the predominant flavour, as I had hoped, was juicy, ripe cherries. It wasn’t overly sweet, nor did it possess an artificial tinge, so it was refreshing and deeply satisfying.

Sitting on the dock with this tea, was definitely the cherry on the top of what I hope is an amazing and restful week.

 Here’s the mini cherry on top of the regular cherry on top of the sundae of awesomeness that is my life. -Barney Stinson, How I Met Your Mother

Happy Monday!

What’s in My Cup: Laughter & Lemonade

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#whatsinmycup, desserts, summer, tea, what's in my cup

Hot tea? Always! Iced Tea? Sure thing! Ice pop? Right on!

I recently shopped for Christmas  gifts with David’s Tea…and I bought an early “Christmas present” for me. (psst…it was on sale!) I have memories of making kool-aid pop in the plastic molds of the ’70s…and memories of madly licking those purple pops on the back porch steps, while it trickled down my arms and chin. I’m sure my mother is having laundry flashbacks right about now… Good times!

These molds are really easy to use. Made from silicone, the cover pops right off and the mold can be manipulated to release the frozen treat, without fuss. Flat on the top, the molds stack easily in the freezer, which is a bonus if your freezer is an orderly mess like mine.

“I want to have a good body, but not as much as I want dessert – Jason Love

Who says you can’t have both? So I made my ice pops with iced tea, or course.

I started with Laughter and Lemonade Iced tea from Steeped Tea. It’s green tea-based, and includes mango, pineapple, apple, orange and papaya pieces, as well as sunflower, hibiscus, marigold, and  cornflower blossoms.

While it has a grassy note from the green tea, the combination of fruit and flower is well-balanced, making this a surprisingly refreshing icy treat…that melts just as fast as when I was a kid! But I’m better equipped to stay ahead of the dribbles…and it’s not purple!

Here comes the sun, and I say, it’s all right. —The Beatles

Happy Monday!

What’s in my Cup: Caribbean Crush

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#whatsinmycup, food, photography, summer, tea, what's in my cup

Just because I messed up my first week of summer vacation, didn’t mean that I couldn’t still enjoy summer. Instead of palm trees and sandy beaches, I relaxed on the back porch with a tropical caffeine-free, herbal tea from David’s Tea – Caribbean Crush.

‘Cause a little bit of summer is what the whole year is about. – Author Unknown

This German fruit infusion is comprised of apple, pineapple, papaya, hibiscus, and cranberry.  The rosy hue reminded me of my pink apple jelly. It was sweet and delicate, a fruity punch with a gentle flavour of strawberry or peach, which is odd because it doesn’t contain either fruit. I really liked that it wasn’t sickly sweet or it didn’t have an acidic aftertaste. I find that a number of fruit infusions can have an artificial flavour aftertaste to them, or they are so sickly sweet they remind me of hot kool-aid. I don’t want hot kool-aid even on a cold, cold day! This tea can be served hot or cold.

This package of tea came as a sample in a large online order from David’s Tea. I started my Christmas shopping early, which disgusts me as much as it does you. This is one tea  I will happily pick up on another occasion.

How did it get so late so soon? Its night before its afternoon. December is here before its June. My goodness how the time has flewn. How did it get so late so soon?
– Dr. Seuss

Happy Monday!

Tea with Maud

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#whatsinmycup, family, maud lewis, photography, tea, what's in my cup

Have you ever planned to try a new recipe? Spent the day savouring the aromas and the texture of that dish? And then you open the fridge and realize you’re missing ingredients?. What’s a girl to do?

That’s kind of how I felt about my vacation last week.

I had planned and savoured, and then found out I made a big boo-boo with my dates. I had to head home the day after I arrived. So I did what any cook would do…I did the best with what I had. I kidnapped my Mom for 4 days, and we made plans. And of course, those plans included tea.

On day 1, we spent the evening reading on the back porch, with a pot of tea.

On day 2, we went shopping at a mall we’ve never explored. The trip ended at David’s tea, with Blueberry muffin iced tea. It was a beautiful balance of black tea and sweet  blueberries. I asked Mom to pick something for her birthday, so that evening we sampled her Pink Lemonade tea. It’s a retiring rooibos tea of tangy lemon and a delicate whisper of hibiscus, perfect for sipping with a great movie, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society.

Day 3 – Mom missed the Maud Lewis exhibit when she was on the East coast last Summer, but she was in luck. A nearby art gallery had a display of her work and it was worth the trip! Maud Lewis was a tiny, spunky woman, who felt compelled to paint. She  painted on anything she could get her hands on because they were so poor, including wood, glass, and metal bakeware. She lived in rural Nova Scotia in a tiny house with her husband, and achieved national recognition in the mid-60s. Her tiny home is on display in the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia in Halifax.

Maud Lewis’ Kitties

Day 4 – We spent the morning watching a movie based on Maud’s life, but not without a box of tissue and a pot of pear blossom tea. You wouldn’t expect me to visit David’s tea during a sale and not purchasing something too? This caffeine-free and retiring tea has a delicate flavour of pear combined with the tartness of papaya and pineapple.

As long as I’ve got a brush in front of me, I’m alright. -Maud Lewis

That afternoon, Dad “stole” Mom and took her home again.  I wasn’t ready for the holiday to end, so I spent the remaining afternoon on the back porch, savouring another pot of pear tea, with Maud.

What’s in you cup today?

To Short Mondays

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#whatsinmycup, lemon, tea, tea cups, what's in my cup

Last night, at 9 o’clock, I had big plans for the week. I had traveled through heavy rain and heavy traffic to spend a week with Little Guy at my parents’. We were going to shop, and eat ice cream, and lounge around the pool. We talked about going on a Ghost Walk tour one evening, and playing board games as the shadows grew long.

We were going to keep this pot hot and drink our fill. But…

…last night around 9:30, I discovered that Little’s Guy’s Leadership-in-Training Camp started in the morning.

What a short vacation!

He had already spent 2 weeks with my parents, camping, travelling, playing games, and lounging around the pool. Now I’m really looking forward to time at the cottage we rented.

So today, we’re packing my Mom up with us and heading back to the city, where we are making plans to play games, go shopping, and yes, keep the tea pot filled.

May your tea be strong and your Monday be short.

What’s in my Cup: Raspberry Riot

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#whatsinmycup, summer, tea, tea cups, what's in my cup

Some days you eat salad and go to the gym; some days you eat cupcakes and refuse to wear pants. It’s called balance.

Tart and tangy. Correctly balanced, it’s delightful. And so it is with Raspberry Riot Lemon Mate tea. Tart lemon and tangy raspberry are a heavenly summer pairing in this fruity green yerba mate and lemongrass blend. Hibiscus flowers, rose buds and rose hip peels provide a subtle perfume and a rich rosy colour. A perfect way to add zest to a lazy summer afternoon. Pants are optional.

Home is a place where pants are optional, bras don’t exist, and the wifi works.

Happy Monday!

What’s In My Cup: Flamingo Fresca

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#whatsinmycup, tea, what's in my cup

I love summer.

I love the promise of adventure and rest. I love the lighter schedules and I don’t miss the constant deadlines. I love the gardens and most of God’s little creatures. And I love not freezing every waking moment! 

I also love the kitchy pink flamingos and the bright colour in David’s Flamingo Fresca tea. This white tea boasts a tart, fruity flavour of strawberries, pineapple and passion fruit. It also contains apple, carrot, orange peel, hibiscus and marigold blossoms, beetroot juice, and lemongrass.

Be like a flamingo. Stay balanced. Stand by your flock. Always be fabulous!

I drink hot tea year-round, and while I adored the fruity flavour, as a hot tea, it reminded me of warm fruit punch. It would, however, be a fabulous iced tea. And since it’s summer, bring on the chink of ice in a glass!

Cheers!

What’s In My Cup: Jumpy Monkey

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#whatsinmycup, bucket list, music, tea, technology, what's in my cup

This morning, my boys and I are feeling it! We attended a rock concert Saturday night to see our favourite band, Skillet. Little Guy also did a lot of roller coasters, including three plunges down the new Yukon Striker, the world’s longest, tallest and fastest dive coaster. (No thanks!)

Our throats are raw, our bodies are sore, and I feel just like I did after I ran in Mud Hero.

It was totally worth it!

So this morning I reached for an “energy boosting” – David’s Jumpy Monkey! It’s an Argentinian maté (yerba and green) that includes freshly roasted peaberry coffee beans, almonds, white chocolate, olive leaf, Brazil and Kenya green coffee, and chicory.

Did you know coffee is a fruit?  Fruit have flesh that normally protects seeds. In a coffee bean, there are 2 seeds compressed together, giving it flat sides.  Peaberries are a genetic mutation with only one seed which means the bean isn’t flat but rather round, like a pea. They cannot be forced to grow this way, so they have to be sorted. This of course, increases the costs to produce. Arguments about whether the quality or flavour warrants a greater cost, is both subjective and highly contentious.

All I know is that Jumpy Monkey is both sweet and nutty, and hopefully will help me get in gear, because it’s Monday, and I have to get back to reality. Still, I got to scratch this off my bucket list!

Light it up, light it up, now I’m burning
Feel the rush, feel the rush of adrenaline
We are young, we are strong, we will rise
‘Cause I’m back, back, back from the dead tonight – Skillet

Well…maybe after more tea! Rock on!