Sliced or Smooshed?

Perfectly sliced berries in a strawberry shortcake

Strawberry shortcake is one of my favorite treats!  Nothing says early summer to me like this indulgence.  However, there is great debate at our house regarding the best way to prepare it.

Me:  The shortcake is cakey...the strawberries are sliced or chunked, NOT smooshed.  The ensemble is assembled just before serving.

DH:  The shortcake is a pie-crust-like base, the berries are smooshed, and the ensemble soaks together overnight.

I know he loves me because he made this shortcake in the cake-sliced style.

How do you like your strawberry shortcake?

Braised Leeks

The DH's braised leeks

Leeks are a new crop for us.  They like long, mild growing seasons which we have plenty of around here.  We feasted on these leeks from our garden last week.  Wow, WOW - good!

The DH's (dear hubby's) Braised Leeks

• One bunch of leeks - outer edges removed, washed carefully to remove dirt between the leaves
• Trim off most, but not all, of the greenery (we are saving for later use)
• Slice in half, lengthwise
• Brown and soften in olive oil (we like using a cast iron skillet for this).  It's a good idea to add a little water, too, to assist the softening.
• Keeping in the cast iron skillet, cover with heavy cream.
• Place in a 400-degree oven for about 30 min, or until brown on top and the cream is thick.

YUMMY!

Practicing Joy and Winners!

I chose the title of this blog post deliberately...practicing joy.  Because sometimes we just have to make ourselves practice something that isn't coming easily.  It's not that I'm unhappy...it's just that I feel a little volatile in the moment.  I'll have a joyful day, hour, minute -- and then something happens and I'm swooped up in drama and I allow my joy to leave (sickies, work work work, being homesick, blah blaha,).  I'm working on this, and practicing joy is one way.

Recent things bringing me joy:

* These gorgeous lilacs!  The color, the texture, the fragrance.

* My biggest ever blog giveaway!  417 commenters, oh wow!  Congrats to the winners (see below).

* My husband - he moved us into our new home with very little help from me.

* That my family and friends in the Midwest are safe after the storms.

* My recent trip to CA.

* Sun and warmish temps. 

* US-grown strawberries with cream (eating only seasonal fruit these days, another joy - diving deeply into the seasons).

* It's a three-day weekend.

* My job, I have a good one even on the really Really REALLY tough days (like today).

* Riding my bike to work and looking at all the flowers.

* All the FLOWERS!  Wow - it's Eden around here!

Now to the winners of my blog giveaway!  It may take me a few days (I just moved = disaster in the house)...but I'll ship it next week for sure, just as soon as I unearth the goodies!

Tara at Sew Tara who said, "Yipee fabric!! I'm all about using small bits of fabric lately although I'm not sure what I'd do with charm packs, they seem to nice to cut up! Perhaps a lap quilt, been needing one of those for a while.  needing = wanting, let's be honest. :)"

AND

Angela from Cup of Tea who said, "I've been making pinwheels with charm packs lately, but I'm eyeing a recent Moda tutorial for cathedral window blocks that I think would be perfect for a charm pack!

My favorite thing about Spring? Tea! (Actually my favorite thing about every season :-)"

Spring Giveaway Day!

I'm happy to be participating in Sew, Mama, Sew!'s latest giveaway day.  Spring is so special, for so many reasons - even with the horrible allergies I've had. 

My giveaway will include two charm packs of fabric, and tea!  The giveaway is open through May 25th, and after that time I'll draw a random winner.  Good Luck!

To enter, tell me either what you might do with the charm packs or what you love about Spring.

-- Update -- Wow!  I've had such excellent response, I'll pick two winners!  Stay tuned!

Circle of Friends

Circle of Friends

I've been tracking moments of joy this year, and one thing's for sure...there are joyful moments each day when we stop to look for them.  There are also MOMENTS of joy, the kind that make you smile 30 years later.  Here's one of those, dancing with my "Circle of Friends". 

I have my employer to thank for bringing us together.  We four have seen each other through many work crisis moments and deeply profound life transitions.  This time it was to celebrate a wedding. The bride (second from left) was married on a ranch near Paso Robles, CA.  I will remember this joyful moment for the rest of my years!

Hyacinths to Feed Thy Soul

Woodland Hyacinth

If of thy mortal goods thou art bereft,

And from thy slender store two loaves alone to thee are left,

Sell one, and with the dole

Buy hyacinths to feed thy soul.

-- Saadi, Persian Poet

Upcoming Giveaways

Just a quick note about a couple of Giveaways...

Pop over to This Good Life and support her first blog giveaway.  It's tea-themed!  Through May 15th.

And mark your calendars for May 23rd!  I'll be participating in Sew, Mama, Sew's next Giveaway Day.

Happy Monday!

J-Tea in Eugene, OR

Josh Chamberlain, making a refreshing and like-no-other iced tea

On a fine, fine spring day last weekend I shared several cups of tea with Josh Chamberlain, proprietor of J-Tea.  Josh runs an online store as well as his tea bar in Eugene, OR.  I wish I were a little closer!  Josh's story is fascinating, and he's clearly in love with high-quality tea, particularly from Taiwan. 

Josh began his tea journey in earnest while working toward his MBA in Taiwan.  (Read more about that story here.)  Synchronicity played a role and provided local mentors and tea guides to inform and shape his tea education.

I enjoyed hearing Josh talk about the evolution of his business and his plans for the future.  In particular, I enjoyed a new release - a special iced tea.  It's made from a green oolong base then mixed with honey and lemon, served up super cold.  I'll leave the trade secrets to Josh, but add that I think he has a winner.

I found myself getting lost in the well-chosen tea wares and how the sunlight played against them. 

I had a big case of the wanties for one of these lovely jars.

The Eight Treasures - a new line of teas selling in local markets.  These teas offer a great range of flavor profiles, perfect for someone wanting to broaden his/her tea tasting experience.

J-Tea from the outside.  If you are in Eugene, it is a must-see!

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!