Wagashi

Photo by Mitra

Kanten, cherry blossom floating in agar agar

So many times I have mentioned feeling really fortunate here in Portland because of the interesting and active network of tea people and tea events.  Well, here I go again!  The opportunities keep expanding.  Here's my most recent adventure - to a wagashi tasting at a newly-opened tea bar, the Jasmine Pearl. 

Wagashi is a traditional type of Japanese sweet.  It's served before the tea in the Japanese Tea Ceremony.  (It's also used at other occasions.)  These sweets are prized for their visual appeal and texture, along with taste.  (Read more here.)

Not only did I get to taste these gems, but I also got to chat with the confections maker!  Please meet the owners of the tea room, Heather Agosta and Chuck Bauman, (left and center) and the wagashi maker Gena Renaud.

Tea room owners and wagashi maker

From left to right, sea glass, kanten (from agar agar), mochi with toasted soy flakes, and baked manju.

Sweets enjoyed with a beautiful cup of whisked matcha.

Sea glass.  To the touch, it feels solid and hard, but a surprise awaits your first bite!

Photo by Mitra

Mochi, a pounded rice flour confection.  This was dusted with toasted soy flakes.

A lovely texture, soft and mildly chewy.

Photo by Mitra

Look at how lovely the cherry blossom floats in this see-through half moon.  The cherry blossom is pickled, so it's a pleasant contrast to the sweet gelatin.

Photo by Mitra

A sunny, spring afternoon with tea-loving friends, what could be better?

To those of you who will be doing the Royal Wedding festivities with tea parties, etc....enjoy!  I'm skipping out for other plans, but will look forward to reading your blog. Cheers!

New Spring Dress

My new spring dress

My friend CO Tea Lover gave me this great pattern for Christmas, and encouraged me to up my sewing game.  With the promise of a sew-along, I agreed to give this a try even tho I thought this pattern was a step up from my routine.  I think maybe that was the point.  ;-)

CO Tea Lover helped me cut out the pattern and fit check it to my body.  We agreed a trial run might be a good idea, and I found some inexpensive fabric at JoAnn's.  Delightfully, it turned out to be wearable!  :-)  I'm really happy with the new dress.  I look forward to making another version.

Yesterday was one of those heavenly spring days - sunny, warm and meant for spending time outside.  Here I am, sipping blood orange mimosas (more on that in a future post) with a friend at her yard sale.

Photo by Mitra

The dress pattern, called The Torii Tunic, is by Serendipity Studio.  I found the pattern to be easy to understand and unfussy to sew. I was a bit perplexed when I noticed that the front and back of the sleeves did not match - one was wider than the other. This required a phone consultation from CO Tea Lover, who explained it's a normal method to help the sleeves hang properly.  The rest of the sewing flowed smoothly, despite many new techniques such as neckline and waist contrast and facings.  I would definitely try another pattern from Serendipity Studio.

Do you have any spring projects in the works?  What are you sewing?  Crafting?  Writing?  Thinking about creating?  I've got one more big one in the works...we're moving!  Only about 1/4 mile away, but it's still a lot of work! 

Yay for spring!

Earth Day and Tea

Happy Earth Day!  (And happy birthday to Esme!)

Photo taken by Voyager I, 1977

Today, as we sip our tea, let's think about its impact on the earth (and the people who pick and process the leaf).  Tea is not currently grown in any substantial volume in the US.  Simply by purchasing and consuming tea, we are responsible for understanding how that choice impacts our ecosystem.  Tea is flown a long way to get to us (lots of carbon emissions), yet we pay very little for it.  I ask myself - is the price too cheap?  Are we truly paying for the real cost of the production, including the impact to the environment?  I try to buy tea from reputable sources that use sustainable practices and treat tea workers fairly.  This means I pay more for tea.  Yet it's still a very affordable luxury.   

Do you know where your tea comes from?  About the farming practices used to produce it?  About the farm's relationship with the people that tend the leaf?  It can be a fun way to dive more deeply into the world of tea.

My New Tiered Tray

Sweetcakes has done it again with her master crafting and creativity.  She made for me this lovely tiered tray.  I'm dreaming up reasons to throw a tea party, just to show this off. 

A Working Girl's Tea Party

Marilyn has published a book!  I'm so thrilled for her.  It's called Tea Party in your Cupboard, and it encourages us to make a tea party today - with what we have at home! Seize and savor the moment. 

Inspired by this, along with conversations from a road trip to Chicago a few years ago, I decided to finally put into action a tea party in which nothing - NOTHING - was homemade.  I used the toaster oven to heat something, and that's it.  So thanks to Trader Joe's (where I got it all*), the DH and I had a lovely tea supper in front of the fire. 

My overarching thought is that sometimes we just don't have time to cook.   I work long hours (too long!), and my available free time is much protected.  It shouldn't mean I can't have a tea party,  even if I don't have time to cook.  To some, this may be heresy, and I missed making the treats myself.  But if it comes down to no tea party or a helped-along tea party, I'll take the latter. 

*All = All the food.  I used my own teas, which are (in my tea snob opinion) better than those at TJ's.

Trader Joe's, that fun food capital of the US, made this quite easy!  Don't have a TJ's near you?  Just look in your grocer's freezer aisle and think creatively.  Make use of bakeries and deli aisles, too!

First course: Crackers, cheese and kumquats, followed by spinach spanikopita (frozen - I used the toaster oven to bake)

Second course: Crumpets and plum jam

Finale: French macaroons and pistachio toffee

Pink Cherry Puffs

It's like a fairy tale around here right now...with all the pink cherry blossom! I've had a little fun in PhotoShop Elements.

Saturday Morning Scenes

What's your Saturday morning look like? Tell me about its colors, textures, visuals. What story does it tell?  What's the central feature? 

Here's mine...the central feature is the lovely northern light.

A favorite mug and a paper-covered egg

The bottom of my slipper.  I wore out my favorite down booties!

The  DH patched them for me.  

On the balcony

Cup of Brown Joy (Chap Hop)

Not to be missed!  (Thanks for the link, Roxyred!)

Thinking of Japan

I spent a lovely hour recently drinking matcha thin tea in a serene tea room among friends and tea enthusiasts.  Our host, M (in the light kimono above), prepared our tea with beauty, precision and grace.  Her teacher (on the right), of the Sweet Persimmon blog, provided us with context and guidance on how to be a guest.  I felt very welcome and at ease, despite my novice participation. 

Enjoying a bowl of tea was educational and centering for me, yet I never lost sight of the reason we were gathered -- to honor and offer our thoughts and prayers for the people in Japan, and to make a donation to a non-profit agency helping with the recovery.   

One kind word can warm three winter months.

Japanese Proverb

Berkeley Imperial Tea Court

I have long been a fan of the Imperial Tea Court.  I remember my first visit to the original tea room in San Fran's Chinatown.  The front window was full of clay teapots, and I stood in awe!  It's there I had my first pu-erh.  It's from Imperial Tea Court that I drank my first Bai Hao Oolong and fell in love.  I've enjoyed ITC's Tea of the Month club (thanks Mom!).  ITC has played a key role in my tea appreciation and education.

I had the chance to visit the Berkeley tea room this past weekend.  It was fun to introduce my friend to the gaiwan style of brewing, and to share several cups of tea.

The entrance is lovely, and a sign of beautiful things to come

The peaceful courtyard

Inside the tea room - it was packed!  A much-loved place!

We had the Superior Four Season Spring Oolong, lightly sweet with the aroma of spring flowers

And butter cookies with tea leaves in them.  Delicious.

An additional highlight for me was meeting Roy Fong, the owner of Imperial Tea Court and a shining light (pioneer, educator, ambassador) in the American tea industry

Savories

Savories - finger sandwiches and other small tasty nibbles - are my favorite tea party course.  Here are three that I made for a tea gathering earlier this month.  Also, alert for those who thrive on last minute deadlines!  You have a couple of days left to enter your original finger sandwich recipe into the contest on About.com. 

Roasted potatoes medallions with walnuts and blue cheese
Elmwood Inn recipe

Olive cheese balls
Elmwood Inn recipe

Rosemary (from the garden) and butter - for cucumber sandwiches
My favorite sandwich, so simple!

I had the joy recently to attend a special tea event at McCormick & Schmick's, sponsored by the Tao of Tea.  These two organizations partnered to produce a FABULOUS tea menu, where tea was used in each course.  Oh, fun fun fun!  Yum, yum, yum!

Moroccan Mint Mojito

Jade Cloud Noodles

Chicken smoked over tea leaves and red rice cooked in oolong

Lapsang Souchong cream sauce

Chai Ice Cream

Compliments to the chef!

38 Brave Things I Did This Year

Bday cake by the DH
(Camellia Japonica blossom on top and apple blossoms in background)

38 Brave Things I Did This Year

1. Took a new job
2. Said goodbye
3. Moved far away
4. Sold the car
5. Had my hair cut short
6. And then shorter
7. Learned to use public transportation
8. Rode my bike to work
9. Rode my bike 50 miles in the rain
10. Ran 2 hours by myself
11. Went to the doctor
12. Tried new sewing patterns
13. Met new friends and stayed in touch with others
14. Learned a new dance
15. Began learning wuwo
16. Said no
17. Planned a trip to China
18. Reviewed my priorities
19. Did one thing
20. Did no thing
21. Read widely
22. Wrote down my heart break
23. Wrote down my joys
24. Looked at myself naked
25. Made yeast bread
26. Broke bread with strangers
27. Took a nap
28. Tried again
29. Went out without an umbrella
30. Asked for advice
31. Accepted that I could fail
32. Admitted I was afraid
33. Listened deeply
34. Told the truth
35. Asked myself what I really wanted
36. Dreamed without editing
37. Took myself seriously
38. Didn't take myself so seriously

Hints of Green

Happy St. Patrick's Day!  I love this cup and saucer, because they hint at green.  The rim, the foot of the teacup, and inside the cup.  

Around here, green is the background!  White fruit trees are in bloom, the azaleas are starting to pop, daffodils and crocus have been ablaze for a few weeks, pink camellias are fully dressed.  Green is not subtle here and colors are becoming giddy.

But this teacup reminds me that even in deep winter, when green is not so prevalent...it exists.

"Beneath the pavement, earth remembers."  Somebody smart said that.

Hope you're celebrating in green today! 

Guinness Soda Bread Scones

In honor of St. Patty's, the DH and I worked up this recipe for Guinness Soda Bread scones. I think these work really well with whole wheat flour. In fact, I can't see that white flour would stand up very well against the Guinness. The least amount of whole wheat I'd do is half.

Guinness Soda Bread Scones
Makes 8 large wedges

2 cups whole wheat flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup golden raisins


1 Tbsp honey
4 Tbsp cold butter in small pieces
1/4 cup buttermilk
Up to 1/2 cup Guinness

Preheat oven to 400.  I baked these on a stone.

Combine dry ingredients (flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt).  Cut in butter until coarse.  Add raisins.

Add honey, buttermilk and 1/4 cup of Guinness.  Mix until a soft dough forms, adding more Guinness as needed.

Pat into a circle, about 1/2 " thick.  Cut into 8 wedges (you might need to very lightly dust the top surface to do this, if your dough is on the wet side.)  Bake ~15-20 minutes, depending on how wet the dough is.  Mine was pretty wet (more Guinness)...so I went for 20 until the center of the circle was springy to the touch and not wet. 

Next time I will also soak the raisins in a bit of Guinness!  I loved the flavor, which is amazing because I am not a beer fan, especially of Guinness!

Spring Around the House

These pussy willows were glorious in their bud form, silvery and downy.  And now that they've popped, I can't help but shoot them against the dark pink wall.

The soft focus is nice, tho an accident.  I was trying to shoot in a medium-light condition, hand held on 400 ISO.  Blurry.  But I like the result.

Found these daffodils in the small field next to us.  Did someone throw out a pot of them?

The symbology here is that I'm planning a tea trip to Asia!

Two types of plum branches.  I love the pink, burgundy, white and green contrasts.

Microwave Lemon Curd

Alternate title:  The microwave redeems itself

The microwave and I have not been companions for awhile.  We lived without one for the past 6 years (it's a long story, put it down to my paranoia).  But when we moved into this place, it came with a microwave.  I use it, occasionally and cautiously.  I have, however, found one use that causes the microwave to go up a step in its usefulness:  lemon curd!

I had this lovely, tho odd shaped, Meyer lemon and I wanted to try out this recipe.  Nancy runs a tearoom, and so I knew it had to be good.  Wow - was it!  And so simple, too.

Harrod's recipe for golden raisin scones and homemade Meyer lemon curd

 I'd like to try making other fruit curds in the microwave.  Please let me know if any of you have experience with that. 

And here's a cool connection!  Today is March 9, and Nancy originally posted this recipe on March 9 two years ago.  Serendipity!