Lucky Girl and Giveaway!

Thank you!

I am a very, very lucky girl! Yesterday, I won not one but TWO blog giveaways! This is really exciting and the gifters are so generous!

A special, heartfelt thanks to Marilyn at Delights of the Heart who shared this amazing fuzed glass trivet. And also to Lynn at Frivolitea for this very fun set of Crafty Girl note cards. Congratulations to both women, who are celebrating major blog milestones!

In truth, at first I felt guilty for winning two blog giveaways, and on the SAME day! But guilt is an an energy-sucking emotion. It's not productive nor where I want to spend my time. So instead, I focused on extending deep gratitude to these women, and thinking of how I could continue this theme of sharing. So I am hosting my very own blog giveaway! Between now and Saturday, leave a comment on my blog and I will enter your name in a drawing to win a sample of three fabulous teas! I will announce the winners on Sunday, Nov. 23rd. You will get to pick from several choices (including herbal, green, oolong and black).


By the way, I skipped my herbal infusion theme yesterday, but I'll get back to it on Thurs.

In gratitude,
Stephanie



*images from corbis.com

Grandma's Birthday

Happy 87th birthday, Grandma! My grandfather made the wooden jewelry box, above, for my grandmother on her 80th birthday. It is one of her most beloved possessions. Inside, the inscription says, "A labor of love."

Beauty in Lists

This gorgeous altered art journal is a gift from my very inspiring cousin (thanks, KAS!). At first, I just looked at it for inspiration, and then I finally got brave enough to write in it and fill it with dreams and plans for future creative projects.

I enjoy making lists. In my work life, lists guide me through my days and weeks. In my creative life, the lists aren't so much about what I must get done, but more about possibilities. I never expect these lists to be completely checked. Just writing them gives me a rush and a bit of confidence. If I can have the idea...I'm one step closer to actually trying it out.

I title the list "options" because that's what they are...and I include "All or None or Other" as a reminder to let go of my puritan rigidity!

Mixed-Media Tea Party

Wow - I am definitely inspired! Check out the Nov/Dec edition of cloth paper scissors for the results of the mixed-media tea party challenge! My favorite is rachel's teacups (think ta-tas). ;-)

Self Portrait 2

Yep, that's me first thing this morning. I'm doing chest-opener stretches on the exercise ball. My shoulders and chest are often tight from day-long computer work, so I do these stretches to counter. Maintaining flexibility truly is a crucial part of my body and soul. Notice my very cool teapot pajama bottoms and the oh-so-warm but not-so-sexy down-filled booties.

This activity was all about learning to use my tripod (thanks, Mom!) and the self-timer on the camera. And about seeing myself in truth, not posed, not made up, not trying to impress. This snapshot of myself is a view I've only been given through the camera lens; I've never seen myself in this pose before. I call this "offering of myself" because that's what I see.

Happy Friday!

Where Have Martha's Wrinkles Gone?

Inside this book (published in 1993) are a few photos of Martha, and I'm shocked! She has wrinkles! Somehow, in the last 5 years, she's lost them. ;-) I think it's probably the benefit of a great staff of graphic designers who airbrush her portraits. I'll give her the benefit of the doubt and not say she's had "work done."

I've enjoyed browsing through the book, especially the Afternoon Tea chapter. I tried the Apple Rosemary Tea Bread recipe. I must confess, it was so-so. I loved the Rosemary aroma and flavor, but it was a fussy recipe and the results were, in my opinion, average.

Compare that to the pumpkin bread the DH just made. Wow - that was fantastic! Especially considering that he made it extra-healthy. The recipe called for 3 cups of flour. He used 2 cups of whole wheat, 1/2 cup oatmeal and 1/2 cup flaxseed meal. Yummy, moist, heavenly and healthy!

Life Without TV

Living Simply Wednesdays

The DH (dear hubby) and I divorced our television six years ago. The honest truth is that I seldom miss it. I don't miss mainstream TV programming. And, in the spirit of full disclosure, we occasionally watch movies on the laptop and have the radio turned on much of the day.

People often ask me what I do with the time I don't spend watching TV, and it's a question that puzzles me. I'm puzzled because I never think "I'm not watching TV." I have many interests. The DH cooks from scratch. We go for walks, go to the library, read, Read, READ, work on projects, get more sleep. Time passes too quickly.

When I travel, I get caught up on the latest TV programs. Watching once every quarter is enough to keep me in the mainstream so that I'm not a total dweeb in social conversation. :-)

Life without TV, for me, is grand! I think my quality of life is better. Could you live without TV? What other convenience or entertainment items could you live without, for a better quality of life? Do you think I'm nuts? That's OK, too! Please tell me! ;-)

Sniffles Concoctions?

The season of sniffles is upon us. Do you have a home remedy (with tea or not) that soothes you? If so, please leave a comment and share your recipe with us!

I can remember my great-grandmother, a teetotaler, recommending a mix of honey, lemon and whiskey! What's your favorite cure?

I drink lots of ginger "tea" this time of year! I love the aroma, the spicy bite and the flavor! It warms me up. As you know, Ginger is also great for all sorts of cooking applications, and I'm a big fan of ginger beer (nonalcoholic). Ginger is good for an upset stomach.

We use the plant rhizome to make the ginger tea infusion. Peel, slice and boil. The spicier you want it, the longer it should infuse. Sometimes I allow the ginger to sit in the water overnight.

Ginger is native to India and China. It can be grown as a houseplant, or in warmer climates, outdoors. More growing info.

Do you have favorite ways to use ginger? One of my favorites it to make ginger-lemon-limeade. I replace the water with a ginger brew. I also like to punch up my chai with ginger water.

Web Roundup: Craft/Sewing blogs

Thought I'd share some of my favorite sewing and crafty blogs.

• Sew, Mama, Sew!
• Angry Chicken
• Craftstylish

What are your favorite craft/sewing blogs?

Arm Warmers

OK, I love, Love, LOVE these arm warmers! I made them yesterday using these steps and knee-high socks. (I didn't hem mine on the ends, as they are knit and won't unravel.)

Arm warmers are perfect for those 3/4 length sleeves that don't give quite enough coverage on a cool day. Or coat sleeves a wee bit short. Arm warmers fill the gap! Also very cute with the sweater vest look, as this crafty gal pointed out at Angry Chicken. And I wish I knew how to knit like Philigry!

If you're looking to buy, rather than make, check out the great ones here. I'm lusting over a couple of these!

Narcissism Flipped (Self Portrait Series)

Me, at work
We sometimes use video conferencing; it's been an adjustment to get comfortable with that!

Narcissism Flipped is my attempt at irony for this Friday theme. For the next few Fridays, I'll be posting self portraits. You probably know the story of Narcissus, and I am flipping that story. I'm trying to become more comfortable with my own image, just letting it be what it is without judging it. Not flattering or criticizing myself - just truly seeing myself. In photography, we see ourselves as others see us - not as we see ourselves in the mirror (flipped). Finally, flipped is a nod to photography's history, where images used to appear flipped through the viewfinder.

Lavender-Lemon Tea Cake

I served this tea cake at my East Frisian tea party. I chose this cake because I wanted something that would let the tea itself shine. This cake needed to play a supporting role, not the lead. I was pleased!

The recipe foundation came from here. I added a few tweaks to it, including the lemon part. So here is my version:

Cake:

1 cup granulated sugar

5 tablespoons butter, softened

1/2 tsp vanilla

1 large egg

1 large egg white

1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour (next time I will try whole wheat)

1 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

1 cup plain, fat-free yogurt

2 Tablesp finely chopped lavender leaves (fresh) or 1 Tablesp dried

Lemon zest (I used the zest from 2 lemons)

Glaze:

1/3 cup powdered sugar

1 to 2 tsp water

1/4 tsp (or more, to taste) lemon juice

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Beat sugar, butter and vanilla at medium speed until well-blended. Add egg and egg white, one at a time. Beat well after each addition.

In a separate bowl, sift flour and measure. Combine the flour with the baking powder, baking soda and salt. Stir well (and sift again). Add the flour mixture to the sugar mixture alternately with yogurt, beginning and ending with flour. Stir in lavender and lemon zest.

Pour the batter into an 8-inch loaf pan coated with cooking spray. Bake at 350 degrees for ~45-50 minutes, or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean.

To prepare the glaze (it's a thin glaze - not icing), combine powdered sugar, water and lemon juice. Adjust to the desired lemony flavor. Spread on the warm cake. Cool in pan on a wire rack approximately 20 minutes before removing from pan. To serve, slice and present on a pretty platter.

Walking Dates

My Wednesday them is Living Simply, and I want to write today about walking dates. The DH (dear hubby) and I take walking dates often. We simply go out for a long walk around town. We might wander through campus, through some pretty neighborhoods, or past my favorite ice cream stand. We typically have no route in mind - we just walk. It's a chance for us to talk or to be quiet with each other. It's typically free (except for the occasional ice cream indulgences) and good for our health. It's romantic. It's fun. It's one of my favorite ways to spend time with my life partner.

Walking helps me find my center. In fact, when I'm feeling angry or sad, or recovering from illness or a fuzzy head, a walk restores me.

Walking dates can also be time for yourself, alone. Some of my favorite walks have been solo adventures.

When was the last time you took a walking date, with yourself or another? What other simple dates do you enjoy?

If A Song Could Be President

I love, love, love the musical group Over the Rhine! One of my favorite songs is If a Song Could Be President. It's pretty, witty and appropriate for today! Give it a listen for free. Go to Over the Rhine and click the blue record player box. It's the last track.

In addition to the song above, there's a lot to like about this group. In particular, I'm in awe of the woman's voice.

I voted early, so I'm avoiding the long lines today. It's a historic moment for our country. I'm both excited and exhausted by this election season. When this is over, I hope we can all see that being American is neither red nor blue, neither left nor right.

If A Song Could Be President
If a song could be president

We’d hum on Election Day

The gospel choir would start to sway

And we’d all have a part to play

The first lady would free her hips

Pull a microphone to her lips

Break our hearts with Rhythm and Blues

Steve Earle would anchor the news

We’d vote for a melody

Pass it around on an MP3

All our best foreign policy

Would be built on harmony

If a song could be president

We’d fly a jukebox to the moon

All our founding fathers’ 45’s

Lightnin’ Hopkins and Patsy Cline

If a song could be president

We could all add another verse

Life would teach us to rehearse

Till we found a key change

Break out of this minor key

Half-truths and hypocrisy

We wouldn’t need an underachiever-in-chief

If a song could be president

We’d make Neil Young a Senator

Even though he came from Canada

Emmylou would be Ambassador

World leaders would listen to her

They would show us where our country went wrong

Strum their guitars on the White House lawn

John Prine would run the FBI

All the criminals would laugh and cry

If a song could be president

Mint

I've had a request to write about herbal teas, and I'm happy to oblige. Technically, anything without camellia sinensis (the tea plant) is not truly tea. I like to call these tea-free drinks herbal infusions (tho they may contain spices, roots, bark, etc.) or tisanes. I am planning to write about herbal infusions over the next several Mondays. I start my herbal infusions theme today by talking about the ubiquitous mint (mentha species).

Mint has been used for a variety of purposes for a very long time. The Greeks and Romans used mint in both drinking and bath waters. Mint has interesting roots in mythology, too.

"The species name Mentha is derived from Roman mythology. Minthe was a lovely young nymph who caught the eye of Pluto, the ruler of the underworld. When Pluto's wife Persephone found out about his love for the beautiful nymph, she was enraged. She changed Minthe into a lowly plant, to be trodden underfoot. Pluto couldn't reverse Persephone's curse, but he did soften the spell somewhat by making the smell that Minthe gave off all the sweeter when she was tread upon. The name Minthe has changed to Mentha and become the name of the herb, mint.

As for the origins of mint's reputation as the herb of hospitality, Greek mythology tells us the story. Two strangers were walking through a village. The villagers ignored them and offered neither food nor drink. Finally an old couple, Philemon and Baucis, offered them a meal. Before the four sat down for their meal, the couple rubbed the table with mint leaves to clean and freshen it. The strangers turned out to be the gods Zeus and Hermes in disguise. As a reward for the hospitality Philemon and Baucis had shown them, the gods turned the humble home into a temple. Mint thus became the symbol of hospitality."

-- http://www.herbsociety-stu.org/Mint.htm

Mint comes in many varieties. In my backyard, I have peppermint, spearmint, catnip (a mint variety) and chocolate mint. My favorite way to use mint is to pick fresh leaves and toss them into a teapot. I pour boiling water over them and steep to the desired mintiness.

When fall comes, it's easy to pick a few sprigs of mint and tie them together. I hang them in the kitchen so that I can grab a few of the dried leaves for a quick (and inexpensive) herbal infusion.

Mint is known for aiding in digestion. Try a few cups of mint tea when you have an upset stomach. In The Tea Deck, mint is listed as being good for nausea (especially due to motion sickness), headaches, and menstrual cramps.

In addition to the drink and food uses, mint also offers us its lovely lavender-colored flowers. I enjoy cutting these to bring inside. They grace me with their beauty and their minty aroma. Mint has a long blooming season. Cut it back to encourage even more blooms.

Mint is very easy to grow. In fact, it can be invasive, so either stay on top of it or plant in a container and don't allow it to escape! Where I live in the Midwest, mint dies back after a killer frost, but eagerly comes back in the spring. Around here, we give it very little attention - it takes care of itself.

Do you like mint? How do you like to use it?

First and third photos from wikipedia. Middle photo is mine.

October Tea II: East Frisian Tea Party

Enjoy these photos from my East Frisian tea today. I kept the menu simple, as I didn't want any of the food to compete with the tea. I wanted the focus of the menu to be all about this special tea. I served apple slices and cheese, and lavender-lemon tea bread. I will post that recipe later this week. For now, enjoy these photos and a little bit of Midwestern autumn! (Read more about East Frisian tea and how to make it here.)

Also, a special "Congratulations!" to my dear friend, AZ Tea Lover, who just became AZ Tea Lover, PhD. Yippee!

A Month of Blogging

Today starts NaBloPoMo (National Blog Posting Month), so I'll be blogging every day for the month of November. Wahoo! I'm looking forward to it! I participated last year, and this year I'm a bit wiser. I have a plan for some theme days. I believe these will make it easier on me; they'll act like guideposts and give me a focused topic. The themes are:

• Mondays - Herbal infusions
• Wednesdays - Living simply
• Fridays - Self portrait (aka Narcissism flipped)

In between, I'll be blogging about whatever my heart desires. :-)

I'm looking forward to hearing from you!

October Tea I: East Frisian Tea

My tea theme for October is East Frisian Tea. I recently had the honor to be served East Frisian tea and learn about this tea culture, then shortly after, to serve East Frisian tea to friends on a lovely fall day sitting on a deck in the woods. I am also hosting an East Frisian tea this weekend and will share photos.

East Frisia (Ostfriesen) is a region in the Northwest of Germany. East Frisia connects with the Netherlands.

Most of Germany is a coffee-drinking country, but in this particular region, tea is very popular! East Frisian tea is made from a strong black tea that is sweetened with rock candy and then topped off with real cream.

I had the great privilege of being schooled in this tea method recently from a friend whose sister lives in East Frisia. My friend served tea in delicate blue and white china. This tea is typically served in small cups, which reminded me of espresso cups, as did the tea itself - it is very strong!

To prepare the tea:

1 - Add the rock candy (called Kluntje) to the cup.

2 - Pour the tea. It should be strong and dark. Listen carefully - you will hear the rock candy popping.

3 - Add the cream in clouds, small drops around the edge of the cup. First it looks like this:

And then this:

4 - Look at the lovely design on the surface of the tea, take in the aroma, and savor the flavor.

The combination of rock candy, tea and cream allow for a layered drinking experience, especially if you don't stir the tea. (My friend indicates that East Frisians don't stir.) The first few sips allow the tea and cream to meld, and as you drink more, the sweetness enters.

As an aside, I'd like to point out that the use of cream in tea is unusual. Most tea experts prefer milk in tea, not cream. Cream is too overpowering for most teas. East Frisian tea is an exception! The tea is strong, almost concentrated. My friend said she steeped hers for 8-12 minutes and always keeps it hot on a tea warmer.

East Frisian tea is generally served with cookies or cake.

I am lucky because I have a special tin of tea that came from East Frisia. However, you can find East Frisian tea in the US. Try the Harney & Sons version. I have not tried it, but highly respect the H&S company.

I will share photos early next week from my East Frisian tea this Sunday. I'm very excited!

Winterizing Stephanie

It's been into the 20s at night around here, and frost is on the pumpkin. That means it's time to winterize Stephanie. The DH (dear hubbie) and I keep the house temperature between 65 - 68 degrees. The DH loves it at 65 (or lower) and I love it at 68 (or higher)! To compromize, from now until March, I wear layers. Sweaters and thermal underwear. I just purchased a new long underwear set, which I love.

I spend most of my work day in my little office. With the addition of a small space heater, which looks like an old radiator, I am cozy and warm. I keep the temp in here a smidge warmer than the rest of the house. Each of these things makes for marital peace, a lower heating bill, and less use of non-renewable energy.

How do you winterize yourself or your home? Any tips you can share for saving money and energy, while enjoying the cozy months? Of course, we can always wrap our hands around a warm mug of tea!

When the frost is on the punkin and the fodder's in the shock,
And you hear the kyouck and gobble of the struttin' turkey-cock,
And the clackin' of the guineys, and the cluckin' of the hens,
And the rooster's hallylooyer as he tiptoes on the fence;
O, it's then the time a feller is a-feelin' at his best,
With the risin' sun to greet him from a night of peaceful rest,
As he leaves the house, bareheaded, and goes out to feed the stock,
When the frost is on the punkin and the fodder's in the shock.

--First stanza of When the Frost is on the Punkin by James Whitcomb Riley

My First Mixed Media

Here is my first mixed media collage (aside from scrapbooking, which is also mixed media art!).

This was done as an experiment. I just wanted to get started. To be brave and use some of my new paint and art tools (like my brayer). It was a lot of fun, and the result turned out better than I expected. I quite like it! (This is a little reminder to me as I sit as my desk all day!)

I started by layering three pieces of scrapbook paper onto a piece of heavy cardstock. Then I used the brayer to layer in three colors of paint. (The blue is called "Victorian Blue" - isn't that great?) I found the vintage image at a royalty-free site (she's using tape to keep her shoulders back!) and typed up the words in a font that I liked. I used a pink pastel to blush up her cheeks and add the pink edging to the words.

Election Teas

Regardless of your political persuasion, you might find these teas from Pearl Fine Teas interesting!


Obama Blend - Drink for change. From the website: "Let me be absolutely clear, this organic African Red Bush Rooibos based tea is a mix of herbs with hints of Hawaiian fruit. It’s smooth, fresh and lacks bitterness. Environmentally friendly, unexpected, and a little left of center. Contributes to your overall well being and Health(care)."



McCain Blend - Extra Mavericky. From the website: "My friends, this robust classic Black Tea is bold, assertive, has a hint of smoke and is highly caffeinated. A great kick start to the day or a power boost in the afternoon. It’s fundamental difference is that it stands up to cream, sugar (and the Senate). You’ll either like it or you won’t."

Hot Chocolate with Agave Nectar

When I go for a run in the mornings these days, I'm wearing a stocking cap and gloves. The mornings and evenings are chilly! Midday still brings temps near the 60s. I love this weather, especially since I have a nifty new space heater in my office! The kind that looks like an old radiator. I'm cold natured and the DH is warm natured. So we heat up my little work nest and I'm as happy as a fluffed up bird and he's as cool as a cucumber!

In cool weather, I find myself longing for hot chocolate in the evenings about once per week. I'm also trying to reduce my sugar intake. To marry these two desires, I tried a hot chocolate recipe that used agave nectar instead of sugar. I was very pleased with the result! Here is the recipe that I modified a bit. Instead of using fresh milk, I used powdered and it worked fine.

1 cup (8 oz) milk - if using the powdered version, combine 1 cup water with 1/3 cup milk powder
1 Tbsp cocoa
1 Tbsp agave nectar - I used a wee bit less
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 tsp cinnamon

More info on agave nectar benefits. And, to be fair, concerns about agave. The bottom line - all things (especially sweeteners) in moderation.

Has anyone tried agave nectar as a sweetener in tea?

Deep change

I'm at a moment in my life where I see things stacking in my favor for making a deep change. I need to both actively engage with these things, and at the same time accept that they will hold and support me.

I'm working on some changes in my thinking patterns. I want to let go of internal criticisms that seem constantly with me. This thinking no longer serves me. I want it to slide off me, into the earth, like compost - where it can be turned into something rich and nourishing.

*Image from free Microsoft clipart (with my addition of the text)

NaBloPoMo - Are you ready?

November is not that far away, and I'm staring to think about National Blog Posting Month (NaBloPoMo). For the month of November, many bloggers commit to posting every day. I did it last year, and it was both harder and more fun than I imagined.

I'm signing up again this year! Are you in? (You don't have to sign up at the official site to be part of the fun. You can do it on your own, if you prefer.)

Tea and Yoga

It's back to the mat for me. I truly believe in the physical wellness pyramid of cardio-flexibility-strength and have been somewhat neglectful of the flexibility part of my health. I've found a yoga class that fits with my schedule and with my needs right now. I sit at the desk all day and I run, and those things tend to yield tight hamstrings. Yoga is very good for me, and I do best when I have a class that keeps me honest with committing to practice!

To celebrate finding this class, I made this nifty yoga mat carrier. Isn't it just so cool!?! I used batik fabric that a friend brought me from Africa. Very special fabric - I think it's very well suited for this purpose of helping me be more flexible (literally and figuratively).

And while I'm being introspective, have you ever thought about the connection between tea and yoga? Both encourage centerdness, both encourage reaching high and getting rooted (green tea - pu erh tea), both have great variety and diversity. I've blogged about yoga and tea once before. Others have noticed this connection, too - like this Tea and Yoga Society of San Francisco.

641 - Dewey Decimal and Tea

Order, control - ah, I love it! (Tho I am working hard on embracing creative messes. That's another story.)

This week I completed "stack reader" training at my local library. It's just so cool! I'll be a library volunteer, which gives me access to the staff bathrooms AND a badge. Plus I get to spend hours and hours floating through the library putting things in order and under control. Heaven? Pretty close!

So if you see me at the library looking with concentration at a row of books, I'm practicing my Dewey Decimal skills. Tip: Tea items are scattered throughout the library, based on the type of work (fiction, non-fiction, etc.) However, you'll find a cluster of tea books in the "641" area of the library. Example: Elizabeth Knight's Tea with Friends. And on this topic, check out this creative mug. It pairs my love of libraries and of tea!

*Images from free Microsoft clipart and the mug manufacturer

Spiderweb Cake

If you're looking for a spooky and fun Halloween dessert, give this spiderweb cake a try! It's easy! The recipe inspiration came from the current edition of Country Living magazine.

• Bake a chocolate cake, in two round pans (I used 8-inch).
• Let the cakes cool. Once they've cooled from the oven, place them in the fridge to get really cold. (Wrapped up so they don't dry out.)
• When the cakes are cold, trim off the domes so that the cakes stack nicely.
• Prepare a chocolate ganache (a blend of chopped chocolate and cream). Let the ganache cool just a tad before use.
• Spread some ganache between the layers, as a glue.
• Then pour the ganache over the cake. As you can see in the image below, I allowed mine to pool on the sides (I shaped this after the fact). I also smoothed the top with a knife.
• Let the ganache cool for a bit, then melt white chocolate.
• Using a pastry bag with a small tip, pipe the white chocolate in a spiral on the top of the cake.
• Drag a toothpick from center to edge, around the cake, in about 1" intervals. This makes the web, tho for me the white didn't show enough. To remedy that, I piped in more white chocolate along the trenches. I also dribbled some white choc down the side and into the puddles.
• Garnish with a fake spider (which I didn't have) and enjoy! I took this cake to a party last weekend, and it was popular.

The Tea Deck

I am blessed by generous and compassionate friends! I received the Tea Deck as a gift today. The deck of 50 cards is divided into topics of black, oolong, white, green and herbal. For each type of tea, the card discusses the tea's background, its taste, special properties and tips. Also included is a very interesting recipe section.

My friend and I sat on the porch and sipped Formosa oolong (also called Bai Hao) as we looked at the deck. We pulled the Formosa oolong card (one of my all-time favorite teas) and enjoyed the exquisite photo and description as we sipped.

I am delighted with this deck and can hardly wait to review each card! The deck is a gift on so many levels, because the photography is amazing (and I'll use it as inspiration for my photography). In addition, I can use the cards as a meditation guide, to consider what is happening in my larger connected life.

*images from the Tea Deck publishers

Cheddar-Zuke Biscuits

Cheddar-Zucchini biscuits

I thought the picture turned out quite nicely. That's one of my grandma's aprons in the background.

I got this recipe out of The Classic Zucchini Cookbook. It was a library book I borrowed, so I don't have the original recipe anymore, but it was very tasty. (The cheddar is mild, not overpowering.) The biscuits froze well, too. Here is a similar recipe. Next time, I would add a dash of cayene powder.

I also want to share that zucchini and whole wheat are meant for each other. I used all whole wheat in this recipe (unlike what it called for), and the zucchini kept the biscusts moist and marvelous. I have three more portions of shredded zucchini frozen, so I think I'll be adding zukes to lots of baked goods this winter.

Retro Butterick Dress ('52)

Well (and that's an emphasized "well!") - I have just finished my "summer" sewing project, this 1952 Retro Butterick pattern (newly printed, old pattern). I love the styling of the dress, especially the full skirt and the scooped neck in back.

This dress was a snap to construct - it's only three pieces. The hard part, for me, was in the edge finishing. It uses LOTS of bias tape, around the arms and along the sides, both front and back. You see it better in the drawing than on my version. I just couldn't get the bias tape to work. I kept having little pockets of fabric not caught between the tape sandwich. The DH noticed that one of my grandmother's aprons was lined in bias tape, so I took a closer look. She used a zigzag stitch, catching the tape and the fabric with each stitch, so that's what I ended up doing and it helped. Does anyone have hints for sewing bias tape? It's a skill I need to improve!

The dress fit pretty well for me, except for the upper torso. The bust area was a little roomy, and next time, I will take that in a bit more. For this go-round, I'll just wear a push-up bra and call it good! ;-)

I didn't have the "flappage" issues noted on the patternreview.com site, but I got lucky. I chose a woven seersucker fabric, so it looks nearly the same on both sides. The skirt definitely swishes when I walk. It's one of my favorite features of the dress - its fluidness - but I can see how it might look unsightly with a printed (vs. woven) pattern in the fabric. The inside of the skirt is likely to show.

I may also wear it for Halloween. I have the perfect little pillbox hat. I just need to find some white gloves!

Detox Teas

I had an interesting question yesterday about Detox teas, and here's my response. But I'm certainly not the expert on this topic. I'd love to hear your thoughts on this, too!

Most detox teas don't have camellia sinensis (the tea plant) in them. Detox teas are typically made from a blend of herbs/roots/fruits, etc. The goal is to help the body remove toxins and other stored-up stuff we no longer need.

I recently tried a detox tea sample from Mighty Leaf. I can recommend it, for its flavor and substance. I don't know if it actually helped me detox, as I wasn't on an intentional detox program. However, I know that Mighty Leaf works hard to make sure its products are environmentally responsible and the tea sachet is biodegradable, so there's good stuff going on there. More details here.

Locally, Bloomingfoods has the Mighty Leaf brand. Given that this is a new product for Mighty Leaf, I don't know if it's in stock at Bfoods.

Other tea companies (Celestial Seasonings, Yogi, etc.) also carry detox products. I'm just not experienced with them. I would encourage choosing an organic product, especially for the purposes of detoxing.

*Photo from corbis.com

Teapot Pajama Bottoms

I just sewed my first pair of pajama bottoms, using these instructions. Fun! I found this adorable "tea and cookies" flannel at JoAnn's, and I had a 40% off coupon. Wahoo. The only downside was that I didn't have quite enough fabric to cut out two whole legs, since the fabric is directional. I pressed on, tho, as I was determined to have a pair of comfy lounge pants out of this fabric! I just pieced together the back of one leg (three big sections), and all worked out fine!

I love the sewing instructions. The author uses lots of photos, and they are very helpful. She also has a great sense of humor. It's how I wish all sewing instructions were written! ;-) It's the first project I've started and completed in one (long) sewing session.

I'm so excited; I'm wearing them tonight! Fall has fallen here - the grey and rain came today. We'll still have sunny, crisp days, but we'll also have evenings like tonight - perfect for a cup of tea or, as I made in celebration of my PJs, a mug of hot chocolate.

Antique Tea Strainer

I picked up this antique tea strainer when I was on vacation in New Harmony. I found it at a fantastic antique mall. The strainer caught my eye because I love old enameled kitchen items. I have a few, which came with the DH. They are white with red trim.

The enamel on this is chipped; it's seen wear. That makes me love it more. I can imagine a young wife straining a big jug of tea with this.

Tea and Pregnancy

I had a blog reader recently ask me the following:

Would you be so kind as to recommend a tea that I might enjoy? I'm a long-time serious coffee drinker and have to stop for pregnancy. I'd like to have a cup of tea in the morning with no caff or at least less than coffee (100+ mgs) a little would probably be helpful. I know a lot about selecting good coffee but little to none about selecting good tea.

What a great question! Below are my thoughts, and I'd love for others who prefer caffeine-free (or light) teas to contribute their thoughts, too.

Consider Rooibos

First, I would recommend that you give Rooibos a try. Rooibos (ROY-boss) is a naturally caffeine-free alternative to tea. It's from an African "red bush" plant. It's become very popular in the US in the past few years and is quite flavorful. I find that it has a slightly nutty flavor. It's not truly "tea" because it does not come from the camellia sinensis bush. However, it has many qualities of tea, such as a pleasing flavor and aroma, and blending well with herbs, spices and fruit oils. One of my friends who has been recently pregnant highly recommends this tea.

If you have a natural foods store (your local coop, Whole Foods, Wild Oats, etc.) or tea shop/retailer (local tea room, Teavana, Tealuxe, etc.) near you, it will be easy to find loose Rooibos (sometimes called red tea). If these sources are not near you, look for bagged varieties from Republic of Tea or other brands.

Go for herbals

Also consider herbal teas (also called herbal infusions or tisanes). Again, these technically are not tea because they don't contain any of the tea leaf itself. They are made from dried herbs (mint, chamomile, etc), roots, berries and spices (cinnamon, ginger, etc.). There are many varieties to choose from. I like the Celestial Seasonings brand. Do read this article from the American Pregnancy Association for its advice on consuming herbal teas.

Double-steep
If you would prefer a true cup of tea, I suggest you go for the double-steeping method. Caffeine is highly water soluble. In the first steeping, a cup of tea gives up ~60% of its caffeine. Simply drain this first steeping, and reuse the leaves for a second steep. (Loose leaves work better than tea bags for this double-steeping.) I can't give you exact amounts of caffeine per cup, as it varies greatly by the tea itself, but that second steeping will contain significantly less caffeine than the first.

Decaf teas

Decaf teas are another option, tho they are last on my list for two reasons. 1 - The name is misleading. Realize that it still has trace amounts of caffeine in it. No tea is truly caffeine-free, even decaf ones. 2 - Some methods for making decaf tea use very harsh chemicals. Not what you want to put into your body at this time. Look for the "CO2" process.

OK, those are my ideas - what tips do the rest of you have to offer?

Saving Your Pennies with Tea

Use it up

Wear it out

Make it do

Or do without

--saying from the Great Depression era

I don't know about you, but with all the doom and gloom descending upon the economy these days, I'm giving extra thoughts to ways I can tighten the spending belt and save my pennies. I'm thrifty by my nature, so it's always a fun challenge for me to find ways to save money.

Are you using your loose tea to help you save money?

I think of high-quality loose tea as an affordable luxury. One ounce of loose tea will make approximately 8 - 12 cups of tea. That's assuming the teaspoon per cup ratio (give or take) and also assuming single consumption. You can extend this tea further by re-using it!

Not many people realize that you can re-steep loose teas. Yes! This is one of their joys. In addition, since caffeine is highly water soluble, the second pot you brew will have significantly less caffeine (around 60%). Here's what I do: 1 - Make a pot of fresh leaves in the morning. 2 - Stick the used leaves (in my cotton tea sock) in a mug and put them in the fridge or set them on the counter. 3 - Reuse those same leaves in the afternoon/evening (with less caffeine).

Think about the magnification principle here. Now, you can get between 16 and 24 cups of tea from your one ounce. That's pretty cost efficient! Many of my Serendipity Teas prices hover around $2.50/oz. At 16 cups/ounce, that's 15.6 cents per cup. Try finding that at Starbucks!

Some green and oolong teas stand up to multiple steepings. You may want to slightly increase the steep time and/or temp for the second or third steep. (This is where a tea tasting notebook comes in handy - keep notes about how you like that second steep - at what temp/time?)

So, drink your tea wisely and reuse those leaves! And when you're done, use them as compost.

How are you saving your pennies these days, tea-wise or other?

Photos from corbis.com