Tea

Okay, this sounds like something I can totally get behind. If you’ve never had the pleasure of meeting Boca Java coffee (or tea, for that matter), I promise you you’re missing out on something other-worldly. Every cup tastes like it’s straight from a high brow coffee house.

It’s Gourmet Coffee. Roasted-to-Order. Just for You!

Have you caught any of the great grilling shows on the Food Network? There have been some amazing recipes, techniques, and tips. From Bobby Flay to Paula Deen, from Tyler Florence to Emeril, and From Rachael Ray to Alton Brown - they’re masters of the grill as much as the kitchen.

One of the recipes on today’s shows (Paua’s Home Cooking) that caught my eye…or tongue, I guess…is for Lime Chicken and Shrimp Kabobs. How amazing does that sound? I see it in my near future. Rachael Ray, on one of her 30 Minute Meals is also making something that sounds like a winner: Roasted Asparagus Tips. YUM-O, indeed!

Robin Miller - a lesser-known Food TV personality, but as good as any of the super stars - is making several intriguing things on her afternoon show: One is a Quick Fix Avocado Salad and the other is Chai Tea Smoothies. I have an appointment with each.

Not to be out done by the ladies, Bobby Flay (on the Food Network BBQ special tonight) will feature delicious-sounding Green Chile Cheeseburgers. The Green Chile sauce on these guys sounds to die for. (Eat, THEN die for them.)

I’ve told you how much I love the Braun Tassimo Hot Beverage System. It helped to warm my winter afternoons and evenings up; with hot tea, hot chocolate, and coffee (lots and lots of coffee) I barely even knew it was winter. It’s also doing wonders for me even now that Winter has packed his bags and moved on.

I don’t really make much hot chocolate anymore. Frankly, after an afternoon in the yard, walking, or shopping, a hot drink right off the bat doesn’t appeal that much to me. What I’ve fallen in love with, though, is the amazing glass of sweet tea my Tassimo serves up…in mere minutes. When I’m thirsty, that “in mere minutes” thing’s a very big deal. I pop a tea pod into my Tassimo, then push the button. While my mug of hot tea’s brewing, I fill my glass with ice and grab a lemon wedge. Then, I take my heavenly-smelling mug of tea, stir in a spoonful of sugar (or Sweet ‘n Low when I’m being a good girl), pour it over my ice, squeeze my lemon into the mix, and off I go! A lot faster and fresher than the traditional method.

It makes a glass of Iced Tea like you’d be served in a Coffee House - yes, even Starbucks.

I usually use the Twining’s Earl Grey tea pods, but I also like the Green Tea ones a lot. Use the link above to take a look at all of the different varieties they have. And, my Northern friends…give Sweet Tea a chance - it’ll make you weak in the knees, there’s nothing quite like it. Sweet Tea and Summer were made for one another!
Joi

More Tea-Time Art Prints!

Tea time Art Print
15.75 in. x 19.75 in.
Buy at AllPosters.com

Tea Time Art Print
Bush, Brenda

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This set would be stunning paired near one another - the top one is 15.75 in x 19.75 in and the bottom one is 7″x 7″.

Tea-Time Art Print
Buy at AllPosters.com

I believe that the number 1 motive you should have when decorating your home should be to surround yourself with things that make you happy. If you have things that make you smile everywhere you look - a smile is always just a glance away!

In that vein, I use a lot of tea and coffee in our kitchen design. On the towels, wall art, dishes, etc. The art print above, as well as those below, are right up my motif allley! Click on each to take a closer look. They’re absolutely gorgeous.

Tea Time with Angel Art Print
Buy at AllPosters.com

Tea Time with Fuzzy Art Print
Leu, Michael

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Tea Time Art Print
Van de Bos, Ina

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Tea Time I

Art Print
Buy at AllPosters.com

How amazing is Tazo tea? I can answer that question with just one word: Starbucks!
Starbucks, the king of all that’s right in the world of Coffee and Tea brews and serves Tazo tea in their stores. My thinking is “If it’s fit for a king, it’s fit for me.”

My husband turned me on to this particular flavor of Tazo tea. Wild Sweet Orange is, honestly, as good as it gets. Sweetened with just a little honey, it’s not a drink as much as it is an experience - a wonderful, delicious experience.

Wild Sweet Orange is an Herbal Infusion, made of citrus herbs and orange essence. Even though this type of beverage is often described as an herbal tea, there is actually no tea in it at all. Instead it’s a blend of herbs and fruit peels, known as a tisane, that has been used for centuries to enhance health and well being. As a result, it contains no caffeine.

Tazo filterbag teas are individually packaged in single-serving flow-through filterbags and overwrapped to keep them as fresh as the day they were blended. Each box contains 24 tea bags.

To brew: bring freshly drawn cold water (preferably filtered) to a rapid boil and pour into cup over filter bag. Allow to steep for 5 minutes or so. Gently squeeze bag and remove. Like I said above, I like a little honey with mine but it isn’t necessary. Click the link (Tazo 48-pc. Tea Bags, Wild Sweet Orange ) to see the other flavors - after you’ve snatched up this particular one, of course!

*Tazo Teas are also amazing when served over ice. Since they’re a delicious alternative to sodas, it’d be a perfect way to cut out extra calories and sodium.

Gorgeousness! Looks like I’m not the only one feelin’ the Valentine’s Day love. The Paragon has one of the cutest coffee cups I’ve ever laid my eyes or lips on. The Warmhearted Cup and Saucer is a cup of love and would make a very sweet gift for someone you love muchly.

In this gold-trimmed porcelain set, beverages take on the shape of a heart. Coffee, tea, hot chocolate, apple cider, boiled custard….whatever your (or your loved one’s) favorite hot beverage is, it’ll be even better served up with love.

Boiled custard? Who in the world would drink warm boiled custard??? I really should have gotten more sleep last night.

Click the link below to take a closer look at the lovely cup and saucer.

Warmhearted Cup and Saucer

A few weeks ago my husband gave me an early Christmas present (love love love me hubby) - The Tassimo Coffee Maker Tea Brewer & Cocoa TA1400 by Braun
(pictured above).

This is the most amazing kitchen appliance I’ve probably ever seen. Granted, I’m prejudiced because it produces beverages of a caffienated nature - the very fuel I run on - but I would whole-heartedly recommend this amazing system to anyone and everyone. Trust me, if you have someone special on your Christmas list that you want to really (no, no I mean REALLY) impress, this is the route you need to take. Just be sure to grab one for yourself or you’ll be doing the self kick thing….an utterly ridiculous looking act that you really don’t want to be caught performing.

What makes The Tassimo Coffee Maker Tea Brewer & Cocoa TA1400 by Braun
so amazing? Okay, where do I even start?

1. Makes coffee, tea, hot chocolate, espresso, and even cappuccino and latte with real milk. You know all the incredible drinks you fork over big bucks for at Starbuck’s and other coffeehouses? You can now stay in the comfort of your own home or office and, with a little experimenting, produce the same things. This system will pay for itself within a year on diminished trips OUT for lattes, coffees, teas, etc.
Last night I added up how much I typically spend (okay, now it’s SPENT) at Starbuck’s - my trips would be about 6 times a week, and each trip would average $5.00. Sometimes I’d have one or two of my daughters with me and it’d be more, sometimes it’d just be me and it’d be closer to $4.00. Not only would my drink be one of the more pricier ones, I’m a tipper and never put anything less than $1.00 or $1.50 in the tip jar. Add, add, add, add…..mine has nearly paid for itself already!

2. It has something called a Patented T-DISC system with barcode technology that expertly adjusts to the optimal brewing time, temperature and amount of water for every drink for a perfect cup every time. Simply put, you get it just like you want it. You don’t have to worry about someone else getting your cup of coffee or tea the way you want it - in less than 3 minutes you can make it exactly how your taste buds specify.

3. Adjustable cup stand accommodates various cup sizes from a 3-oz. espresso cup to an 11-oz. travel mug.

4. Easy to clean-most of the moveable parts are dishwasher safe.

5. It’s incredibly fast. Because you brew one cup at a time, you can have your hot cup of Heaven in the time it would have taken you to just get dressed for a trip to your favorite coffehouse.

6. You feel like your kitchen is your own private coffeehouse. Except you don’t charge yourself anything and
I assume you don’t have a tip jar. (Man, my kitchen’s like Grand Central Station and I just got an idea…)

I’ve been playing and partying with this sexy machine for days before blogging about it - because I really, really like to be certain about something before I recommend it to anyone else. So, even though I was itching to post about it after my very first cup, I showed some restraint.

I’ve now tried out the different coffee pods that are sold for this machine, I’ve tried the milk pods (amazing cappucino action!), the hot chocolate pods, and the tea pods. The tea is out of this world when brewed, sweetened, then served with lemon over ice. When I first tasted it, I thought, “Now this is how tea’s supposed to taste: Southern!” Each are so delicious it’s amazing. Personally, I prefer my own homemade hot chocolate (more chocolaticious) - but not everyone is inclined to spend 10-15 minutes making hot chocolate. The hot chocolate pods do produce a great cup of cocoa, though….and faster than I do.

I’ve also heard that they’re making a Chai Tea pod available. Thank you, God.

If you’ve ever considered The Tassimo Coffee Maker Tea Brewer & Cocoa by Braun
, I encourage you to GO FOR IT! Click one of the links in this post and go read more about this amazing technological marvel.

Joi

May 19, 2007 UPDATE: I’m still daily using my Tassimo and loving it madly! I brew my morning coffee in my regular coffee maker, otherwise I’d wear a path out in my carpet from my desk to the kitchen. But, for that afternoon pick-me-up and for my evening cup of tea orcoffee, I use my Tassimo. As in every single day. Tassimo keeps coming out with new and exciting pods, too - so it’s not the same coffee over and over.

I TOTALLY and COMPLETELY recommend this system to everyone. You’ll love it!

“Tea is the ultimate mental and medical remedy and has the ability to make one’s life more full and complete” - The Famous Zen Priest Eisai

I subscribe to the Stash Tea Newsletter and received an announcement recently about a Pumpkin Spice Tea. Naturally, I had to launch onto the website to check it out. Afterwards, I started browsing around a little bit - reading their articles, etc. I found some tips that I thought were pretty cool, so I thought I’d be a good girl and share.

Below are some Tea Beauty Remedies, a few I’d heard of before - but most were new to me:

For Puffy & Fatigued Eyes:
Soak cotton pads in the cold tea brew and lay them on your eyes. Keep the pads on your lids for about 10 minutes. You can also refrigerate your used tea bags and lay them on your eyes.

For Tired Feet:
Soak your feet in the cold tea brew for about 15 minutes. This is a great way to treat your feet after a long day of standing, walking, or running. You can also try soaking your feet in a concentrated Peppermint Herbal tea brew for an aromatic soak. (My youngest daughter and I just got back from walking, so my feet think this one sounds like a little bit of Heaven right now.)

Facial Beauty:
Mix one teaspoon of fine cornmeal with cooled chamomile tea to form a gentle scrub. Let dry, then gently rub off. Not for sensitive skin.

Make an exfoliating paste using chamomile tea and powdered milk. Rub on skin, let dry, and then rub off before washing.

Hair Treatment:
In a small saucepan, warm (do not boil) 1/2 cup olive oil, 2 teaspoons fresh ground lavender, and the dry contents of 2 peppermint tea bags. Massage into scalp over damp hair. Cover hair with shower cap to keep heat in. Sit in the sun, if possible, for 20-25 minutes. Shampoo and rinse hair. Repeat this treatment once a month to nourish and strengthen hair.

Other tips:

Have a beautiful week!
Joi

The Photographic Art Print
above can be bought at AllPosters.com

I was on one of my favorite websites this morning checking things out - I had gotten an e-mail from them saying that they’d had some additions to the online catalog, so I had to see the new goodies.

The glasses, above, intrigue me - even on a Friday morning….. and it takes A LOT to hold my attention on a Friday.

They have won three international design awards, so I guess it’s no wonder they’ve caught my eye as well. They’re double-wall glasses by Bodum, and their claim to fame (what makes them all kinds of special) is the fact that they hold hot or cold beverages fashionably. They won’t crack under the pressure of a great hot tea. I can totally see myself sipping a Chai tea for all it’s worth from one of these beautiful glasses.

The website, Stash Tea.com, has countless teas and tea accessories. Unless you use the PDF version of their catalog, I’m not sure you’ll EVER find all they have to offer - looking around their site can be a little overwhelming.

The best thing to do is to request their catalog by mail. It’s as fun as leafing through an Avon brochure!

Have a delicious weekend!
Joi