Foodie Fridays: Hot Apple Pie Cider

Years ago my husband and I went to a Christmas crafts fair (either in Colorado or Georgia, I can't remember which state now) where hot apple pie cider was served, spiced and topped with whipped cream.  It was delicious!  I have created my own version based on that drink, and it is really the only way I like to drink hot cider.  You could use cider that is sold already spiced, but I prefer to add my own as I do not care for cloves and this way I can leave them out.  That is why I also recommend apple pie spice blend rather than pumpkin pie spice, because the former does not contain cloves.  However, use whatever you prefer and/or have on hand (I think the cider at the crafts fair just had cinnamon, and it was quite good that way).

I like to use my very large Christmas Snoopy mug as I do not like the whipped cream overflowing the top, but if you like to see the cream floating above the mug then go for it!  I also just use canned whipped cream, but you can go all out and whip your own cream, or even use steamed milk instead, although it won't taste as rich and creamy.  Of course you can increase the recipe to make as many mugs as you like, and you can also heat the cider on the stove rather than in the microwave.  This is my favorite hot holiday beverage, and I hope you like it too!

Hot Apple Pie Cider

1 C. (or more) apple cider
apple pie spice to taste
dollop of whipped cream

Pour the cider into a microwave-safe mug and heat on HIGH for about 2 minutes.  Sprinkle as much apple pie spice on top of the cider as you like.  Top with whipped cream and sprinkle more spice over the cream.  Start sipping and enjoy!  Serves 1.

Foodie Fridays: Sparkling Cider, and a Couple of Quick and Easy Snacks for Spooky Season

Fall is my favorite season, and every year I buy a small jug of apple cider because I consider it to be a quintessential fall beverage.  Unfortunately, even though I love the idea of cider, I usually end up never  drinking it and giving it my husband instead (I have the same problem with hot chocolate in the winter - love the idea of it for the season but almost never drink it).  I rarely drink anything other than water or tea (hot or cold), so I find it hard to get out of my rut and have something different.

This year, however, I finally found a way to enjoy an occasional cider beverage.  We had such a prolonged warm season this year that the thought of hot cider was not appealing, so I decided to try it cold.  Since cider is so sweet I wanted to dilute it to reduce the sweetness, so I bought a bottle of sparkling mineral water.  What a delicious treat it turned out to be!  I am one of those oddballs who does not care for ice in drinks, but adding ice would make this an even colder drink, perfect for the far-too-hot autumn days we have been having until recently.  I also do not care for spiced cider, but for those who do it would be an interesting variation on the theme.  This beverage is so simple that a recipe is not really needed, but I will include one anyway since that is what I do in these posts!

Sparkling Cider

1 C. sparkling mineral water (I used this brand)
1/2 C. apple cider (plain or spiced, your choice)

If desired, add some ice to a tall glass.  Pour the mineral water into the glass first, then add the cider.  Stir if you feel the need, start sipping, and enjoy!  Serves 1.

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I never include more than one recipe in each of these posts, but decided to make an exception here to suggest a couple of quick and easy sweet and salty snack mixes to serve with your glass of Sparkling Cider.  The drink and snacks would be perfect for a family spooky movie night, either along with or instead of the ubiquitous bowl of popcorn (I wonder if combining the two snack mixes with the popcorn in one big bowl would be a good combination?).  If you are a football fan, I think these snack mixes would also be great to serve while watching a game, and the cider drink could work for anyone wishing to avoid alcoholic beverages.

Snack Mix #1 (on left in image above) - combine a bag of Snyder's Honey Mustard & Onion Pretzel Pieces with a 16-oz. jar of honey-roasted peanuts (any brand)

Snack Mix #2 (on right in image above) - combine a bag of Great Value Peanut Butter Flavored Trail Mix with a bag of Great Value Roasted & Salted Pecans

I rarely indulge in after dinner snacking, but for spooky season I think I could make an exception to the rule! 👽👻🎃💀👿

This 'n That Thursdays: An Advent Tea Tin

One of the Christmas gifts I  received was this Harney & Sons Nutcracker Blend Tea Tin ($16.95 for 30 sachets).  I enjoy the flavor of the tea sachets in the tin, but I just love the cute design of the tin itself.  I plan to keep this tin after the tea is gone, and I know exactly how I will be using it.  Advent calendars with little gift slots for each of the 24 days before Christmas seem to be very popular right now.  I have been looking for one that includes a tea bag for each day, but I only like black or white tea and all of the advent tea calendars that I have found include green, rooibos, and/or herbal teas in the collection.  You can also find empty advent calendars to fill yourself, but the nicest ones are expensive and they tend to be rather large, which means yet another decorative item that has to be stored somewhere until next Christmas.

When I got this cute nutcracker tin, it occurred to me that I could use it as a sort of advent calendar.  It has plenty of room for 24 tea bags, and since I drink tea at least once every day I always have plenty of tea bags on hand.  If I start now saving one or two foil-wrapped tea bags from every box I open, it will not take me long to collect 24 of them.  I tend to switch the types and flavors of tea I drink throughout the year, so I am pretty sure I can have 24 different types of black tea by the time we reach the month of December.  Best of all, this compact tea tin is much easier to store than a bulky advent calendar, and I can reuse it year after year.  I am really looking forward to putting this advent tea tin together as the year progresses, and can't wait to start using it when December 1st finally arrives!

Wish List Wednesdays: Recent Purchases for Autumn

Image from Mercari

After returning home from a train trip back east for two weeks to visit family for Labor Day, I am so ready to welcome autumn.  We had a particularly hot and dry summer this year, but have finally gotten some rain and cooler temperatures with the onset of fall, and I could not be happier.  Since we are still unpacking boxes after moving all of our numerous belongings from Georgia to New Mexico, I rarely give myself permission to shop for anything other than essentials.  However, I decided that I would indulge just this once to celebrate my favorite season, so let's take a look at what I found.

At the top of the page is an image of the Peanuts Autumn Is Calling mug that I found at TJMaxx for only $6.99.  I love Snoopy, of course, but also the colorful leaves on the exterior and the orange handle and interior.  Best of all, there is even an image of a fall leaf at the bottom of the interior!

Image from Poshmark

I also found this DW Home Log Campfire candle at TJMaxx for $12.99:

While I am not crazy about the scent (it is okay but not my favorite), I could not resist the cute embroidered top with an autumnal mushroom design.  Luckily this top fits on other candles I already own with scents that I really enjoy, so I can easily reuse it.

I really did not need new kitchen towels, but I could not pass up the cute autumn dogs pattern on this Casaba Home Kitchen Towel Set (2 patterned towels and one orange towel) for just $9.99, also from TJMaxx.

I am hoping that purchasing these towels with give me the push I need to sort through my kitchen towels and finally get rid of some of the older ones that have been kept around for far too long!

My last autumnal TJMaxx find was a couple of packages of Simply Wize Gluten Free Pumpkin Gnocchi for just $3.99 each.  While I am not on a gluten-free diet, I do like pumpkin gnocchi, which I have actually made from scratch before, so I am looking forward to trying these, perhaps with a simple garlic and sage butter sauce.  This is apparently an Australian brand, so I was lucky to find it for such a reasonable price in the United States.  Luckily food purchases are only temporary additions to our home, so I don't need to feel guilty about bringing them into the house. 😊

I found the Republic of Tea Pumpkin Spice Black Tea Bags for $7.99 at our local Sprouts Farmers Market.  Of the various pumpkin spice-flavored teas I have tried, this version is the one I prefer.

My next purchase was quite the splurge, but I really wanted to try the Fall Tamales from Williams Sonoma ($99.95 for a dozen tamales).  The pumpkin mole flavor sounds delicious and I can't wait to try these with the surprisingly tasty Roasted Tomato and Chipotle Salsa Roja from Walmart.

Update: These tamales were okay but a bit dry and bland.  In my opinion they need the addition of cheese to reduce the dryness and some Hatch or other tasty chilies to add more kick.  I still have half of the order left, and plan to try them with a generous amount of cheesy enchilada dip to see if that enhances the flavor.

And speaking of Walmart, I also picked up a package of Oreo Pumpkin Spice Cookies there (available online for $4.58).  I do not usually buy packaged cookies, but I have never tried this flavor before and I do usually let myself try something new once, even if it is not the healthiest choice.  I hope I like them!

Update: Meh - I was not impressed.  These Oreos did not taste like either pumpkin or spice - all I could taste was sugar.  You would be better off getting the Halloween Oreos with the chocolate cookies and bright orange filling because at least then you can taste the chocolate.

I always seem to end up buying new sweaters every autumn, and this year is no exception.  I purchased two St. John's Bay Womens V Neck Pullover Sweaters from JCPenney (one in Rustic Brick and one in Deep Bronze, two very autumnal colors) for a very reasonable $16.49 each.  If you are looking for a good quality inexpensive lightweight mostly cotton sweater I highly recommend these (they also come with a crew neck but I prefer the V neck).

Okay, one last purchase I made for fall is the Galison Autumn in the Neighborhood 1,000 Piece Puzzle ($17.99 on Amazon).  I love 1,000 piece puzzles, and the little dog reminds me of our dog Madison, so I will truly enjoy working on this one!

As you can see, I really stocked up on seasonal goodies for fall this year.  I also added to my book collection in anticipation of more time for reading once gardening season is over and the weather turns chilly, so I have a future post planned with recommendations for spooky season reads.  Bring on the fall weather! 🍂🎃🍁

Wish List Wednesdays: Republic of Tea Sip and Be Merry Holiday Gift Tea

I recently received a catalog in the mail from The Republic of Tea which included a free teabag for a Christmas black tea called Sip and Be Merry - smart marketing, because as soon as I tried it I decided I had to get a tin!  The Sip and Be Merry Holiday Gift Tea ($12.95 for 50) is a tasty black tea flavored with sweet blackberry leaves, natural caramel and vanilla flavors, and cardamom seeds.  It really does taste like Christmas in a cup!  This is a limited edition seasonal tea, so if you are interested you should order soon.  Hot tea is my favorite cold weather beverage, and I love a good flavored tea that is inspired by holiday spices, so I am really looking forward to having this tea for the upcoming holidays!

Wish List Wednesdays: Coffee Shop of Horrors Gingerbread Man Tea

 

 

 I am always on the lookout for new tea flavors to try, especially those that suit the season.  I recently discovered a website called Coffee Shop of Horrors that offers coffee, tea, and hot cocoa with a rather spooky flair.  As soon as I saw the Gingerbread Man Tea ($11.99 for a 3-ounce bag) I knew I had to try it!  This loose-leaf black tea is flavored with orange peel and tiny gingerbread man pieces, which sounds delicious to a lover of sweet spices like myself.  Even though the artwork on the bag depicts a Christmas scene, that evil-looking gingerbread man seems much more appropriate for Halloween, don't you think?  There are a few more tea flavors that I would like to try in the future, and also the hot cocoa, which is out of stock at the moment.  Meanwhile, I am looking forward to brewing a mug full of "...tiny gingerbread men just waiting to be murdered by boiling...", to quote the descriptive blurb on the website!

This 'n That Thursdays: Tasty Treats That I Am Enjoying This Fall

From Cooking Melangery

Now that autumn has officially arrived, I thought I would share I few products I have been enjoying as the weather cools down.  Let's start off with a nice cup of tea:

When the weather gets chilly, I like to have a cup of hot tea in the afternoon or evening, but I prefer decaf tea later in the day.  Recently I discovered Harney & Sons Decaffeinated Vanilla Comoro Tea, which has a deliciously smooth and creamy vanilla flavor that tastes slightly sweet even though it contains no sweetener.  This tea has become my favorite decaf version, and I am sure I will be drinking it frequently all the way through winter!

I no longer add sweetener to my tea, but I do still like to add a splash of non-dairy creamer.  Unfortunately, my favorite unsweetened almond milk creamer seems to have been discontinued.  I do not care for coconut milk-based creamers, but I did find Califia Farms Unsweetened Oatmilk Creamer which is quite good.  It is creamier than the almond milk creamer I was using and has a slightly sweeter taste even though it is not sweetened and is surprisingly low in carbs.  I hope this product stays on the market forever!

If you read my blog, then you know that I have been making a lot of zucchini recipes lately, including zucchini bread.  Now that fall is here, seasonal hummus flavors have appeared in the grocery stores, including Boar's Head Pumpkin Pie Dessert Hummus.  This hummus is the perfect flavor for spreading on homemade zucchini bread, and is a healthier choice than butter or cream cheese.  I wonder how it would taste on pumpkin bread?  I will definitely have to give that a try when I am finally out of zucchini and can bake other types of quick breads!

I saw this Oui by Yoplait Apple Pie Yogurt in a local supermarket not long ago and decided I just had to give it a try.  I am glad I did, because it is quite tasty as well as relatively low-carb (I try to look for foods with less than 20 grams of carbs per serving).  This flavor is a limited edition one, so if you see it pick it up while you can. 

Even though the weather is getting cooler, we still occasionally get some very warm days.  While I do not eat ice cream very often, I discovered Mexican-style ice cream bars in here in Santa Fe and find them to be the perfect occasional warm weather treat.  My favorite flavor is Helados Mexico Butter Pecan Paletas but there are so many other flavors that I have not yet tried (I do know that the coconut flavor is also very good!).

I could not end this post without mentioning my very favorite tea flavor, which I have been enjoying ever since I first started drinking tea as an undergraduate in college.  Bigelow Cinnamon Stick Black Tea can always be found in my tea pantry, and the sweet warming spiciness of cinnamon is especially appropriate as an autumn flavor.  I have tried many cinnamon teas over the years, and I still consider the Bigelow's version to be the best by far.

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I hope you are as excited about the arrival of fall as I am, and that you too are finding new autumnal treats to enjoy!

Wish List Wednesdays: Fun Finds at Victorian Trading Company

I am becoming alarmed at the number of my favorite shopping sites that are either about to disappear or are struggling to stay in business.  The impending closure of Pier 1 is quite devastating, as they were my best-loved source of tableware (their website has announced July 25th as the last day for purchases, so check them out quickly).  Just a couple of days ago my preferred clothing site, Coldwater Creek, announced that they will be shutting down, possibly permanently, as well (everything is 70% off on their website now, with no returns or exchanges, and items are going quickly).  I do not even want to know which of my other favorite sites are in danger, but I am afraid I will be finding out sooner rather than later. 😢😢😢

I really feel the need to support as many of my favorite companies as I can, so I recently checked out the Victorian Trading Company and found a couple of items to purchase.  In case you are unfamiliar with this company, they offer unique and unusual wares with a more or less Victorian feel.  While I am not especially a fan of the Victorian look, this site has such a wide range of items that I often find things I cannot get anywhere else.  The Cat Library Puzzle ($19.95) shown above has sold out on many other websites, but is still available from the Victorian Trading Company, so I snatched it up.  I have a feeling that the Covid-19 pandemic will be around for a while, and I can never have too many jigsaw puzzles to keep me occupied while I shelter in place!

Autumn will be here before you know it, and as the weather cools down I will be enjoying more cups of tea.  The Elmwood Inn Bourbon Black Tea ($14.95) sounds like a wonderful fall flavor to savor on a cool day, doesn't it?  I love finding new tea flavors to try, and a touch of bourbon seems quite intriguing!

Check out the Victorian Trading Company site if you have a little time to browse and you too may find a few items that tickle your fancy.  Or pay a visit to other favorite shopping sites and lend them your support if possible.  This trend of business closures will most likely only get worse as the pandemic continues, so I intend to do what I can to try to help keep companies going.
               

This 'n That Thursdays: Black Teas I Have Been Enjoying This Winter

From The Healthy

I love a nice hot cup of tea on a cold day, and now that I live in New Mexico I am experiencing a lot more cold days than I did in Georgia!  This winter I have been drinking a lot of different teas, several of them new to me, so I thought I would mention a few of these new ones in today's blog post.

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Currently I am drinking this Two Leaves and a Bud Organic Assam Breakfast Tea every morning.  I love its hearty, slightly smoky flavor - it pairs well with light cream (I use an almond milk creamer).  I first had this tea at Cerrillos Station, a delightful artists' cooperative and mercantile store in the nearby town of, you guessed it, Cerrillos.  If you are ever in Santa Fe I highly recommend a side trip to this little town just to check out Cerrillos Station, which is full of unique and lovely original creations, a separate room full of second-hand treasures, a few shelves devoted to health and beauty products, and a small grocery section where the free coffee and tea station offers this wonderful tea as one of the options.

Cerrillos Station, exterior view

Cerrillos Station, interior view

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I bought a tin of Mrs. Patmore's Pudding Tea just before Christmas to enjoy over the holiday season.  The flavor is delicious and was perfect for Christmas, with a touch of sweetness despite no added sugar.  This tea is also enhanced by the addition of light cream, which makes it taste like a guilt-free dessert in a cup!

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I am not a fan of Earl Grey tea as I do not like bergamot, so I was not expecting to like Twinings Lady Grey Tea.  However, my husband bought a box of Twinings Black Tea Variety Pack which included their Lady Grey tea, and when I read the ingredients the flavorings were listed as mainly orange and lemon peel rather than the dreaded bergamot.  I decided to give it a try, and I was pleasantly surprised.  (There may be a bit of bergamot flavor in this tea, but it is not overwhelming for me as it is in Earl Grey tea.)  While I did not care for this tea in the morning, it is a great afternoon choice.  I prefer this one plain, without the addition of cream.

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If you are an avid tea drinker like me, you might want to give these options a try, especially on a cold winter day!
               

This 'n That Thursdays: New Food and Beverage Products I Am Loving Right Now

From CAPHCC

Every summer I seem to find new food and beverage products to try that are both tasty and relatively healthy.  Below is a list of the ones I discovered this year, and which are now regular inclusions in my weekly shopping cart:

From Mommyish

1) La Croix Cerise Limon Sparkling Water

I am obsessed with all the no-calorie flavored seltzer waters available right now, even though I am one of those people whose throats are irritated by carbonated beverages.  I will try any and every flavor (except blackberry cucumber, because EEEWWW!), but my favorite at the moment is La Croix Cerise Limon (Cherry Lime) Sparkling Water.  Seltzer water is so refreshing on a hot day, and the slight hint of flavor added to these zero-calorie, zero-sodium, zero-carbohydrate beverages adds just enough interest to keep me buying more!

From Bustle

2) Chobani Nut Butter Yogurts

As someone who must stay on a low-carbohydrate diet, I end up eating a lot of nut-based foods.  Fortunately, I love nuts!  Recently Chobani introduced a line of nut butter yogurts which are relatively low in carbohydrates, cholesterol, and sodium.  They are also quite tasty, and a healthier alternative to sugary fruit-flavored yogurts.  They have now become a regular addition to my diet, either plain or with an added handful of blueberries.

From Instacart

3) Chobani Madagascar Vanilla & Cinnamon Less Sugar Greek Yogurt

I like to buy vanilla yogurt in the 24-ounce size rather than as individual servings, and the best that I have found in terms of flavor as well as nutrition is Chobani Madagascar & Cinnamon Less Sugar Greek Yogurt.  It is so good you cannot even tell that it is low in sugar, and this flavor is the absolute best served my favorite way with a handful of blueberries.  It is so popular that our local Publix has trouble keeping it in stock, so do give it a try if you can find it in your own supermarket!

From BrickSeek

4) Almond Breeze Unsweetened Original Almondmilk Creamer

My cholesterol has recently started to creep up as I get older, so I am always looking for ways to reduce my consumption of products with too much saturated fat.  I love to drink my morning tea with half 'n half, but recently discovered Almond Breeze Unsweetened Original Almondmilk Creamer, which is just as delicious in tea but has no saturated fat.  At just 10 calories and one gram of fat per tablespoon, I can enjoy this creamer every morning without worrying about adding saturated fat to my diet.

From Califia Farms

5) Califia Farms Unsweetened Creamer

Another excellent alternative to half 'n half is Califia Farms Unsweetened Creamer, but only if you like the flavor of coconut.  This nondairy, low-sugar creamer has just a smidgen of saturated fat, but its rich and creamy flavor is just as satisfying as real half 'n half.  Save this creamer for unflavored hot beverages, as the coconut taste will overwhelm any added flavorings.

From Instacart

6) Pure Blends Avocado Oil Plant-Based Butter

I love butter, despite all of its saturated fat.  I usually stick to a butter and canola oil blend as a bread spread, but lately have decided that, with my cholesterol level beginning to rise, I need to eliminate even this source of saturated fat from my life so that I can still eat cheese, which is one food that I would have a very hard time giving up.  This year I discovered Pure Blends Avocado Oil Plant-Based Butter and decided to give it a try.  While butter substitutes will never be as satisfying as the real thing, this spread is not bad, although it does include a couple of ingredients (palm and palm kernel oils, monoglycerides) that are not nutritionally ideal.  I am just starting to explore the world of butter substitute spreads, so I may find one I like more, but for now I am switching to this avocado-oil spread.

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Have you found any new food or beverage products lately that you cannot live without now?
             

Foodie Fridays: Peanut Butter-Banana Smoothie

Summer is my least favorite season, but it is the best time for a smoothie, which makes the perfect cool and light breakfast or dessert.  My favorite version is a peanut butter-banana smoothie.  It is extremely easy to make, tastes delicious, and is relatively healthy as well.  I will never be able to get on board with the idea of a green smoothie (the thought of combining raw fruits and leafy greens in a beverage does not appeal to me), but a fruit and nut butter blend is a great way to combine some of my favorite flavors into an enjoyable beverage that is nutritious enough for a meal but decadent enough for a dessert.  Smoothies for breakfast is one of the few things I actually like about summer!

Peanut Butter-Banana Smoothie

2 T. peanut butter
1 small banana (or 1/2 large banana)
1 C. vanilla yogurt
1/4 C. milk (I used almond milk)
4 ice cubes

Combine all ingredients in a blender and whirl until smooth.  Pour into a tall glass to serve.  Serves 1.

Note: For interesting variations, try substituting almond butter for the peanut butter, and/or coconut yogurt for the vanilla yogurt.
             

Foodie Fridays: Apple Pie Smoothie

I topped my smoothie with a decadent dollop of whipped cream!

I modified a recipe I found online for an Apple Pie Smoothie, substituting apple butter for applesauce to use up a jar of the former that has been sitting in our pantry for a while.  Actually, we have several jars, because my husband loves apple butter and keeps buying more as he always thinks that we are out.  Even though we have discussed this several times, more jars of apple butter still keep accumulating in the pantry - but I digress. Anyway, this recipe is a delicious way to use up apple butter, and smoothies are an excellent warm weather breakfast, or even a dessert.  I think I will be making quite a few more of these smoothies in the near future since I have so much apple butter at my disposal!

Apple Pie Smoothie

4 ice cubes
1 ripe banana
1/2 C. unsweetened apple butter* or applesauce
1/2 C. vanilla or plain yogurt
1/2 C. apple juice
1 T. sugar (optional)
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
1/4 tsp. allspice

Put all ingredients into a blender.  Blend until smooth.  Pour into a glass and enjoy!  Serves 1.

*The apple butter I used contains no sugar, only apples and apple juice, but most commercial apple butters are heavily sweetened with sugar.  If you use the sugary sort, try reducing the amount of apple butter by half, using plain instead of vanilla yogurt, leaving out the sugar (which I did anyway), and/or even using water instead of apple juice to reduce the sweetness.   Or just use unsweetened applesauce as called for in the original recipe.  Unless of course you prefer a very sweet smoothie, in which case use all the sweet stuff you like!  Also, most apple butters contain some spices, so you may also want to adjust the seasonings accordingly.
             

This 'n That Thursdays: Tasty Black Teas I Have Been Enjoying Lately

From Bien Zenker das Haus

I have been trying quite a few new-to-me black teas lately, so I though I would share a few today, as well as my opinion of them.  I never add sweetener to my tea these days, only some light cream or sometimes almond milk, which allows the flavor of the tea itself to be more noticeable, so I am a lot more picky these days about choosing teas.  I also prefer tea in a mug rather than a tea cup, am rather lazy so usually use tea bags, and often forget about my steeping tea and let it brew too long, so these factors can also affect my opinions about tea!  Without further ado, let's get started on my tea-tasting journey:

1) Ahmad Tea Apricot Sunrise (or buy it on Amazon) - this medium-bodied tea has a lovely apricot flavor and is not at all bitter, making it perfect for morning or afternoon.  It may just be my new favorite!

2) Tea Forté English Breakfast Tea (or buy it on Amazon) - this is a full-bodied breakfast tea, hearty and strong without being bitter.  If you prefer unflavored black tea and need a caffeine jolt but are not a coffee drinker, try this one!

3) The Tea Nation Vanilla Almond Tea - a light-bodied tea with a very delicate flavor, which is perfect for an afternoon break.  Unfortunately I do not think this brand is available any longer, but The Republic of Tea carries a similar flavor (or buy it on Amazon), and I may give that one a try.

4) Basilur Darjeeling Tea (or buy larger units on Amazon) - Darjeeling is probably my favorite type of tea, but this offering from Basilur is different from most that I have tried.  It is much stronger, with more of a grassy than nutty flavor, and can be bitter if you let it steep too long.  I prefer this one in the morning, as it is a bit too strong as an afternoon tea for me.

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I have really been enjoying my tea for the last few days as winter weather made a chilly return to our part of the nation.  Even though warmer temperatures are in our forecast now, I am a committed tea drinker, and am always willing to try new black teas at any time of the year (as well as white tea, but never green or red/rooibos teas, as I am not a fan).  I will let you know about any new new tea finds!
               

This 'n That Thurdays: IndividualiTEA Photo Sharing Sweepstakes

If you are a tea lover like me, you may want to consider entering the IndividualiTEA Photo Sharing Sweepstakes for a chance to win $500 plus a year's supply of tea!  All you have to do is upload an image or video of your favorite tea - black, white, green, or oolong - with a short explanation of when, where, and how you enjoy your tea (you must have an active and non-private Twitter or Instagram account to enter).  You can read the official entry rules here.  Since I do not have either a Twitter or an Instagram account I sadly cannot enter the contest, but I can still upload tea images to my hear's content, and I may do so just to work on my photography skills.  The contest ends on January 31, 2019, so if you want to participate get started now!

One of my favorite ways to enjoy tea!

Wish List Wednesdays: Just Add Honey Tea Company Good Morning! Black Tea

Good Morning! Black Tea

2019 is off to an amazing start for us!  Our trip to New Mexico was successful beyond our wildest dreams (more on that in a later post), and upon our return we made some fantastic discoveries in Atlanta.  One of those discoveries was the Sweet Auburn Municipal Market, which we stumbled upon by accident.  I had never heard of it before but my husband had, and has always wanted to visit.  Started in 1918 as an open air market, the "Curb Market", as it is known to locals, is now indoors and consists of about 30 businesses, including the wonderful Just Add Honey Tea Company, which brings me to this post.  The shop specializes in blending their own unique teas.  They have black, green, white, and rooibos blends.  I prefer black teas, so I selected the Good Morning! black tea ($4.25 per ounce), which is a simple blend of black teas and cocoa nibs.  It is a robust blend with a strong flavor but only medium caffeine, so I find it perfect as a morning tea.  I just add a little light cream and am good to go!  Check out their online tea shop here, and give their teas a try - I already have my eye on a few more flavors that I want to purchase next!