Sun Basket- subscription meal service

I'd been toying with the idea of trying out a subscription meal service for a while when I decided to give Sun Basket a try. I liked that, while slightly more expensive than the others on my list, they offer recipes made with organic ingredients in recyclable or compostable packaging.  The recipes also looked rather interesting and easy to make. My first order arrived on Wednesday and came with ingredients for 2 portions of 3 separate meals: Salmon with Tomatillo-Avocado Salsa & Jicama Salad, Creole Shrimp Rice & Padrón Peppers, and Steak with Artichoke Butter & Summer Vegetables. 

So far I've had the salmon and the shrimp dishes and both were very good.  Here's a quick review of each of those, the steak dish will be reviewed after I make and eat it tonight. 

The Salmon with Tomatillo-Avocado Salsa & Jicama Salad was delightful. 

I was introduced to a delicious spice I was unaware of prior to this box and got to work with a root vegetable I'd tasted before but never really thought about since then, not because it wasn't tasty but because I had no idea what to do with it.  The recipe was easy to follow and turned out deliciously. 

The salmon was a simple pan-frying with a small amount of oil, salt, and black pepper but it was delicious with the salsa. I'd never thought about using mint and cilantro at the same time in a salsa, nor had I ever used a radish, but it was very, very good. The only negative was that the avocado wasn't quite ripe yep so it was a bit tougher than I would've liked. (I blame that on my own lack of knowledge regarding avocados- they're either not ripe at all or they're way past their tasty ripeness by the time I get to them. Had I waited another day or 2 to try this recipe it would've been perfect.) the jicama salad was delicious (it's the part that looks like French fries) and introduced me to working with jicama as well as sumac- a citrus tasting spice- to make a crisp and refreshing side dish and (in my solo-culinary adventurer style of cooking for one) snack the next day. Overall the meal was delicious and a great first impression of the recipes I'll be trying. 

Last night, I tried the next recipe: Creole Shrimp Rice with Padrón Peppers. It was delicious, albeit a bit spicier than I usually eat. 

There was a note in the bag for the padrón peppers that they had run out but replaced them with mini sweet peppers. I made the sweet peppers the same way the others would've been made and frankly can't believe I never made them before. Just heat them over a medium high heat with a bit of oil until they're blistered and slightly charred, then plop them on a paper towel lined plate and add some salt when they're done. Super easy and very tasty! They also paired beautifully with the spicy rice dish with their sweetness. 

The rice dish was super easy and made me wonder why I've been using minute rice or ready-cooked Trader Joe's frozen rice for so long! The meal was colorful, flavorful, and pretty easy to make by myself. With a few ingredients and basic instructions, the meal was ready to eat in a short amount of time and I made my first Creole rice dish. 

So far I have been pleased with the recipes I've tried and have even picked up a few new tricks along the way. I'm excited for this evening's dinner and will post about it later.  If you'd like to try Sun Basket for yourself, get 3 meals for free (you still pay for the other half) with the following address: sunbasket.com/3free/Jennifer142294 

Tea Notes: David's Tea: Pumpkin Maté

This is a rather tasty maté with pumpkin seeds and a touch of spice.  I was in the mood for a strong cup of caffeine and maté fits that bill. It was very good with a few pieces of rock sugar and I have no complaints. I would absolutely get this tea again, perhaps when autumn comes back around as it reminds me of sitting by the window watching the falling leaves. It doesn't taste like a pile of leaves, of course, but it has a definite taste of fall to it (of course it does... pumpkin!). I'll keep this one on my list for sure. If you like maté, pumpkin, and a bit of spice, you'll enjoy this tea. I'm not sure how it would be unsweetened, but it was very good with the rock sugar (regular sugar would work too, of course). 

To make this tea, heat the water to 185 degrees Fahrenheit and steep for 4-7 minutes. I went closer to 7 and used a scoop and a half for 16 oz. of water. 

Bonus Product Review: Cheeky: 16oz. hot cup with lid and sleeve from Target: 

As I was running some errands today, I decided to use a paper to-go cup. The latest batch of cups is from Cheeky. You get 10 cups for about $4 and a portion of the sale goes to help combat hunger in the USA through Feeding America.  I like the cups because they're relatively large (16 ounces is pretty sweet for a paper cup) and they come with sleeves and lids. The manufacturer of these cups is Solo... I'm not really sure that I've had a to go cup like this that wasn't by Solo.

I have discovered that hotter teas don't always work as well in this kind of cup because the sleeve doesn't provided a lot of protection from the heat. However, for a tea steeped at 185 degrees Fahrenheit, the sleeve was perfect. I like the pretty color of the cup and the easy cleanup. While I don't normally use disposable drinks are, occasionally I do and this is a nice product to work with. I also liked that my tea cooled faster than it does in my thermos. I'm not a fan of piping hot beverages and the last time I used the thermos, I had finished my entire day of shopping and getting lunch before it was remotely drinkable.  That isn't necessarily a bad thing, of course.  It just depends on preferences and/or moods.    I would purchase the cups again and recommend them to a friend if the friend was looking for a similar product. 

Tea Notes: David's Tea: Jessie's Tea

Steeped somewhere between 4 and 7 minutes in water heated to 200 degrees F, this tea forms a beautiful gold color. The scent is very relaxing with hints of coconut and lavender. The flavor is rather delicate and enjoyable without additional sweetening. The most noticeable flavor is the coconut, but it is not overpowering nor unpleasant. I enjoyed this cup of tea greatly in my delicate porcelain tea for one set from the English Tea Store (stay tuned for a review of the product later).

Jessie's Tea came in my latest sampler from David's Tea. It is an all organic, all caffeine free sampler with some new and some familiar blends. Like the other 2 samplers I've gotten, this one has 12 small tins of tea.  It was a logical set to purchase as I like to avoid consuming caffeine in the evening and staying up until sunrise (unfortunately I know this from experience). I'm also growing a bit bored with the delicious chamomile tea from Harney and Sons and wanted to mix things up a bit.

All in all, Jessie's Tea is a beautiful, delicate, tasty tea that I give 4 stars.

Sweet Peppers w/ Peanut Butter Sauce

This incredibly easy recipe is also surprisingly tasty! I had it today as a side dish to a veggie soyaki with rice. To make it, simply mix some peanut butter and water then toss a bit of sliced sweet peppers to coat. I've enjoyed this dish several times when visiting a family friend for homemade dumplings. My dad's colleague and good friend is from China and makes some of the tastiest foods I've had the pleasure to eat. This is one of his recipes and it goes wonderfully with various Asia-inspired dishes. Give it a try if you like peppers and peanut butter then let me know what you think!

For this dish, I used the peanut butter I had open in the pantry- it was an all natural crunchy peanut butter and worked pretty well. It's also good with creamy peanut butter, just use what you have on hand. No need to buy special ingredients, just use what you like!

Tea Notes: Product Review: Tea Box Express: February 2016

 

After finding so much joy with Topper's monthly Bark Box subscription, I was searching for a nice little subscription box for myself. After some pretty exhausting research, I decided to try out 3 months of Tea Box Express as a gift to myself. I love to try new teas and tools, so it seemed like a rather good subscription to try out. The reviews and contents of previous boxes were rather promising with 2-3 featured teas, a small food item, and a tea accessory each month, all with a central theme.  I especially liked the idea that the box would come with new flavors and brands to try as well as a tea accessory. Some of the boxes looked really nice so I thought I'd try it out with a 3 month gift order instead of the recurring subscription.  If I like the 3 boxes, I will probably sign up for a regular subscription.

The February 2016 box has a pretty basic, unimaginative theme of "Valentines Day" and arrived on February 19.  Had it arrived before Valentine's Day, the theme may have been a tad less disappointing. I would have liked to see a bit more creativity in the theme selection and look forward to seeing what the March box holds. 

The featured teas for February are Berry Me in Kisses and Chai Love You by Tease Tea. I had never heard of the company before this subscription, so I'm looking forward to trying them both out. My experience with chai teas has been a bit hit or miss lately, but I am hopeful that the Chai Love You will be good. It seems like a nice list of ingredients so I am optimistic. I had the Berry Me in Kisses during work today with honey and without and it tastes pretty good either way.  It's also a really pretty color when it steeps. 

The box held 2 food items: a tiny box of chocolates by Nunu Chocolates and a heart-shaped decorated sugar cookie from Corso's Cookies. The chocolates I've tried so far have been pretty tasty. The chocolate shell is a bit underwhelming but the filling is good and the little box is rather cute in its simplicity. The box of chocolates also fit into the valentine theme rather nicely.  The cookie was pretty standard in the decorated sugar cookie world... sweet and cute.

The accessories in this box were a tea scoop and some loose empty tea bags. It never hurts to have an extra scoop around the house. The tea bags were a bit disappointing. They were just a thin paper that is folded and sealed around the edges. Without a drawstring or other means of closing the bag, they're a bit awkward. This isn't a huge deal, but I would have liked something a bit more conducive to steeping tea without a mess or risk of leaves escaping.

All in all, this was a decent box, but I am not yet convinced that I will want to order another set after the gift subscription trial is through. This particular box pulls in 2 stars on the 1-5 scale.  I am still hopeful for the next 2 as I like the concept of trying new teas as well as receiving treats and tea accessories. We shall see!

Tea Notes: Tease Tea: Berry Me in Kisses

My first box from Tea Box Express arrived today and this is one of the teas it contained. A post on the overall box is to follow. This tea has a nice and fruity aroma in the bag. A combination of strawberry, blueberry, elderberry, rose petals, and white tea leaves form this blend. It steeps to a beautiful deep purple-red color. The flavor is mostly fruity with just a hint of traditional tea flavor.  Without a sweetener, there is a pleasant tartness to this tea. With a sweetener, the sweetness of the berries is more enhanced. Overall, I'd say it is rather good with or without any added honey. I would purchase this blend again if I were in the mood for a cup of berries. 

Garlic Naan with Marinara Sauce

This is a very tasty and easy combination to prepare.  I came across the garlic naan from Trader Joe's while perusing the frozen foods section on my last visit.  As a solo diner most of the time, if you don't count the eyeballs surrounded by fur watching my every bite, I rarely purchase bread anymore because I can never finish it before it goes bad. The frozen naan was an excellent solution because it is already frozen and is pretty flat, thus taking very little space in the freezer. The package contains 4 naans and is recloseable. The naan takes about 10 minutes to prepare, mostly just waiting for the oven to warm to a toasty 400 degrees Fahrenheit.  I'm very glad I picked it up because it is also delicious!  I heated a bit of Trader Joe's marinara sauce (also delicious) for dipping and the combination has found a new home in my easy peasy go to pseudo-recipe collection. With a nice leafy salad, some cheese, and fruit, it makes a pretty spectacular lunch or light dinner. Alone, it makes a tasty snack between meals.

I'm all out of the garlic naan until the next trip, but I still have a package of whole grain naan ready to heat and eat. I'm looking forward to trying that one too!

Tea Notes: David's Tea: Midsummer Night's Dream

I decided to try a new layout for the tea photos. This time it's a chalkboard and I rather like the style. Anyway, back to the review. David's Tea sends 3 samples of tea with every order. Midsummer Night's Dream came with my last order. It has a strong citrus/fruity scent and the flavor of orange zest is rather prominent in this tea. It is not bitter like some teas that feature orange peel, so I am rather pleased with this sample. Even though it does not have any caffeine, I can see it being a tasty beverage to start a lazy day. The citrus reminds me of orange juice to a degree, but it is still clearly a tea blend and is rather enjoyable. I would consider purchasing this product again though it is not one of my favorites at this point in time. It may be a lot tastier as an iced tea when the days get warm in the summer. Perhaps even as a sun tea!

This tea can be found at www.davidstea.com. This review is entirely my own and I did not receive any products, discounts, or money to write it. I just like keeping track of the things I find and what I like vs dislike.

Tea Notes: David's Tea: Forever Nuts ⭐️⭐️

Forever Nuts

This tea smells incredible, like fresh cooking candied nuts, then falls flat in the flavor department.  The color is a pretty shade of orange and the fragrance is wonderful.  However, it is nearly flavorless. The second round, with more of the mixture, provided only a tiny bit of added flavor. This tea is reminiscent of drinking scented plain water.  There were a few hints of apple or cinnamon here and there, but overall I would consider this to be one of the most disappointing "teas" thus far.  I would not purchase this tea again due to the lack of flavor. It isn't repulsive, but it is utterly flavorless. 

This tea is featured in the David's Top 12 sampler set from www.davidstea.com. This review is entirely my own and I did not receive any products, discounts, or money to write it. I just like keeping track of the things I find and what I like vs dislike. 

Tea Notes: David's Tea: Mother's Little Helper ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Mother's Little Helper

This tea was a pleasant surprise.  I had low expectations from the description because some of the ingredients are not usually very high on my list of likes.  However, the aroma of this tea clears the airways and the blend of flavors works very well.  I enjoyed this tea shortly before bed and found it to be pleasant and relaxing.  I would definitely order this tea again.

This tea is featured in the David's Top 12 sampler set from www.davidstea.com. This review is entirely my own and I did not receive any products, discounts, or money to write it. I just like keeping track of the things I find and what I like vs dislike. 

Tea Notes: David's Tea: Chocolate Macaroon ⭐️⭐️

This tea has a soft scent of chocolate and puffed rice. It is light tan in color. The flavor is a bit weak and leaves something to be desired. I can't quite place what is missing, but it is not a favorite. It does not taste bitter or otherwise bad, it just isn't very flavorful.

The flavor did strengthen a bit as I left the infuser in the pot while I was working and the flavor improved. This is a tea that tastes better the longer it steeps.  It might have been a good idea to use the entire sample for one steeping instead of dividing it into 2 servings. The tea had grown cold by the time it was strong enough to enjoy.  I am willing to try it again, though, with more product to provide more flavor. After the tea had basically been soaking/steeping for an hour and a half, I noticed a nice flavor of coconut that balanced well with the chocolate and tea. This is definitely a tea to try again with the knowledge that it needs to be brewed stronger. For now, though, I'm only giving this one 2 stars. 

This tea can be found at www.davidstea.com. This review is entirely my own and I did not receive any products, discounts, or money to write it. I just like keeping track of the things I find and what I like vs dislike. 

Tea Notes: David's Tea: Strawberry Rhubarb Parfait⭐️⭐️⭐️

Strawberry Rhubarb Parfait

This selection has a delightful scent of sweet strawberries and cream. The moment the tin is opened, the aroma pleasantly permeates the air. As it brews, the color becomes a beautiful shade of red. This tea provides a perfect balance of sweet from the strawberries and yogurt and tart from the rhubarb and apples. I would purchase this tea again.  Well done, David's Tea!

This tea is featured in the David's Top 12 sampler set from www.davidstea.com. This review is entirely my own and I did not receive any products, discounts, or money to write it. I just like keeping track of the things I find and what I like vs dislike. 

Tea Notes: David's Tea: Birthday Cake⭐️⭐️⭐️

Birthday Cake

The fragrance of this tea is reminiscent of a fresh cake.  The flavor is satisfying, and I can see myself purchasing it again.  Ice cream sprinkles (that's right, those tiny molded pieces of sugar, wax, and cornstarch) were added as a cute nod to birthday festivities.  While they caused a slight waxy film on top of the tea, it did not detract from the flavor or aroma. A benefit of the sprinkles and vanilla flavors are that I did not add any sweeteners and still enjoyed this tea quite a bit.  I would purchase this caffeine-free tea again. 

This tea is featured in the David's Top 12 sampler set from www.davidstea.com. This review is entirely my own and I did not receive any products, discounts, or money to write it. I just like keeping track of the things I find and what I like vs dislike. 

Tea Notes: David's Tea: The Skinny⭐️⭐️

The Skinny

This tea was not very tasty on the first sip.  However, with a small amount of agave nectar, the tea slowly grew on me as I continued through the pot.  With the sweetener, the tea has a nice balance and becomes more palatable.  I brewed a second cup (the sample has enough for about 3 steepings in all), this time with a generous amount of agave nectar and the tea was much tastier. I would not consider this to be a favorite, but it is not terrible. I am not likely to purchase this particular variety again.

This tea is featured in the David's Top 12 sampler set from www.davidstea.com. This review is entirely my own and I did not receive any products, discounts, or money to write it. I just like keeping track of the things I find and what I like vs dislike. 

Tea Notes: David's Tea: Super Ginger⭐️⭐️⭐️

Super Ginger
Super Ginger is surprisingly good. I like the spiciness of the peppercorns. This was not a tea I expected to enjoy as much as I have.  It isn't a favorite, but when the mood is right, I rather like the balance of ginger and pepper. It is a rather pretty tea with the pop of red, tiny green leaves, and pieces of ginger. The flavor is somewhat strong, but it works. This is a nice tea to drink by the window on a cold rainy day.

This tea is featured in the David's Top 12 sampler set from www.davidstea.com. This review is entirely my own and I did not receive any products, discounts, or money to write it. I just like keeping track of the things I find and what I like vs dislike. 

Tea Notes: David's Tea: Cream of Earl Grey⭐️⭐️⭐️

I really enjoyed this tea.  It has all the necessary components of a tasty Earl Grey with an added touch of creamy vanilla flavor.  The tea smells nice and brews to a pretty shade of brown.  I would purchase it again.

This tea is featured in the David's Top 12 sampler set from www.davidstea.com. This review is entirely my own and I did not receive any products, discounts, or money to write it. I just like keeping track of the things I find and what I like vs dislike. 

Tea Notes: David's Tea: Buddha's Blend

 I was very excited to try this tea because the description on the website sounds so delicious.  The tea smells like a jar filled with fruity gummy bears and as a person that likes gummy bears, this is a good thing!  The flavor has more floral than fruity notes, but it is rather tasty. It is especially tasty with honey.  This tea is pretty, smells nice and tastes good. I can see myself wanting it again when I'm craving something sweet and flowery.  I would definitely purchase this tea again.  The flavors are a bit powerful, so a little bit of tea and short steep time goes a long way. 

This tea can be found at www.davidstea.com. This review is entirely my own and I did not receive any products, discounts, or money to write it. I just like keeping track of the things I find and what I like vs dislike. 

Easy Peasy Quinoa Bowl

This is one of the easiest dishes I've made in a while (okay, okay, most of my dishes are rather easy).  It's one bag of frozen Trader Joe's Quinoa Vegetable Melange, a fresh avocado (sliced and sprinkled with some lime juice), some grape tomatoes (halved), and the juice from 3/4 of a fresh lime. Prepare the quinoa package as directed and pour it into a bowl, squeeze some lime juice over it, and stir. Top with the tomatoes and avocado. Voilà, it's ready to eat!

As a quick weeknight meal with a decent amount of nutrients, this one is a keeper. I might add some spring mix, onion, or other fixings next time, but it is pretty good with this combination. Alone, the TJ's Quinoa Vegetable Melange has a decent flavor but is a bit boring for a full meal. Adding the fresh ingredients gives it another layer of flavor and texture that I really enjoyed. 

Tea Notes: Joie Tea Infuser: Product Review

Joie Tea Infuser
Looking for an alternative to the functional yet boring and quick to rust mesh ball infuser I've purchased a few times in the past, I was excited to find this sleek little gadget with its own built-in scoop on a shopping trip before the holidays.  I've used it several times so far and am happy to report that I haven't seen any rust yet. The tea can be a bit challenging to get from the tin into the infuser without causing a small mess due to the opening size, but it is superior to the cheap mesh infuser. Removing the little leaves out of the infuser can be a bit challenging, but I am happy with the purchase.  Ultimately it is not that difficult to use or to rinse out. Scrubbing, however, requires a tiny brush.

Once the tea is in the infuser, the lid/handle secures nicely and the gadget it is long enough to fit a standard mug (as shown above). The tiny holes also do a nice job preventing any escape attempts by the steeping leaves.  Overall, I like this infuser. It is not perfect, but it serves its purpose well and I would consider buying another in the future.  The tray and lid are made of plastic, but I have not had any issues with water touching the plastic while steeping. If your mug is too tall and filled completely, the plastic may be submerged.  If not, there is no risk of the plastic touching the tea. The plastic part doesn't bother me much, but I know some people specifically ask for the materials and if plastic touches the water.

One item to note is that I have not seen this particular style for sale online. The company's website has a selection of other shapes and styles, but this one may have been discontinued.

Tea Notes: Harney & Sons Paris Tea

I've been enjoying Harney & Sons teas for the past few years and this is one of my go-to varieties. The beverage is a tasty black tea blend, reminiscent of a fine Earl Grey with added notes of vanilla. The tea is a true pleasure, especially when sweetened with a touch of raw honey. The tea comes in loose leaf and sachet form.  Historically I've purchased the sachet tins but will likely switch to loose leaf on my next order. This is a tea I rarely don't have in my collection. Recently, I found that they offer the tea in a decaffeinated form and purchased a tin for my mom. She also enjoys this beautiful tea. I'll stick to the caffeinated variety, but I'm glad they offer decaf as well.  It is a very good tea!

Tea Notes: ForLife Stump Pot (product review)

The ForLife stump pot is pretty wonderful. I received it as part of a set I had purchased with tins of Harney & Sons Paris and Earl Grey Supreme teas (to be reviewed in the future). The stump pot comes in a variety of colors with two matching cups. Mine is white and it is my favorite set thus far. The white allows for an untinted photo of the tea, which is particularly useful for the review photos.  All of the colors look nice, though. I particularly like the turquoise, gray, and mandarin ones.

The pot is relatively easy to clean and the infuser fits perfectly. The area that is most difficult is the spout, but with a small brush (think pipe cleaner), it is easy to clean.

The infuser has very small holes, which are great for preventing the leaves from making an escape into the rest of the pot.  The handle easily flattens to allow the lid to close and gives no trouble when I lift it back up to pull out the infuser.  The infuser handle is plastic, which prevents it from getting too hot to touch.  It does not make contact with the tea during steeping or pouring.

The flat lid is particularly useful because it provides a perfect resting place for the tea cup.  The tea cups also stack together nicely.  On a cluttered desk, I like that I do not have to make room for the pot and cup to rest separately.  The pot holds about 16 ounces of liquid and retains the heat longer than a regular mug.

I have noticed some wear on the lid where the teacup sits.  It is nothing major and does not remove from the other wonderful qualities.  I've been using the pot several times a day for a couple of weeks now and it is holding up very well.  My main concern is breakage if I drop it.  It is primarily high-fired ceramic, after all, and my kitchen floor is made of hard tiles.  The pot, itself has not shown any signs of staining so far and I have brewed teas that are bright red, dark brown, bright yellow, etc.  The pot and cup are as white as they were when they came in the box.

Overall I'd give this set 4 stars. It is a nice size, has clean lines, and functions very well. The cups can stack and rest on top of the pot.  It is very close to a five-star product (I really love this pot!), but with the slight wear on the lid and mild difficulty cleaning the spout, it is not perfect.  There may never be a "perfect" teapot by those standards, but I do like to leave room for improvement.

Tea Notes: Harney & Sons: Holiday Tea and White Christmas Tea

Harney & Sons: Holiday Tea

The Harney and Sons Holiday tea is a flavored black tea. It tastes like a little bit of Christmas in a teacup. The spice and mild citrus notes pair wonderfully with the black tea base. It is a beautiful tea I greatly enjoy on the particularly cold winter days. I would recommend this tea if you enjoy a beautiful, warming tea with a perfect balance of flavors.

Harney & Sons: White Christmas

 Another winter hit from Harney and Sons! This is a mild tea with a light aroma and delicate balance of flavor. It is very pleasant and contains caffeine. The order came in a tin of sachets (similar to the pyramid bags of other brands).  I opened a sachet and brewed the tea in my stump pot with a bit of sugar. I've been enjoying this tea off and on since Christmas and have almost run out. I sincerely hope they make it again next season! This tea is a keeper, perfect for a winter day. 

Tea Notes: An Introduction

I've been on a bit of a tea kick recently. The hot tea warms me up on these cold days and there are so many different kinds to try.  While I still enjoy a cup of black coffee with sugar or a fancy latte from time to time, teas are so versatile and becoming a staple in my work routine.  In order to keep track of the many varieties I intend to try, welcome to Tea Notes!

Tea Notes is an unscheduled post containing notes and my own personal rating of different teas.  Some posts may take a while to be posted b cause they contain a review of each item in a set. For example, I am currently working on 2 sample collections from David's Tea. Please note that I have no formal training in the art of tea, which you may find to be rather obvious as you read the posts, but I'm learning.  I've been using my Keurig Brewer to heat the water, but a new variable temperature kettle is on its way from Amazon (I'm a Prime member, yay to free shipping!  As a side note, if you don't already use it, Amazon Smile is basically the same as the regular site, but a small portion of each sale goes to a charity/organization of your choice. I chose the Boxer Transfer Network... They do some wonderful things saving all kinds of dogs, not just boxers, and giving them the lives they deserve. I adopted my best friend from the BTN in a failed foster attempt and I couldn't be happier!). When the kettle arrives and I've learned how to use it, the teas will finally be brewed at the temperature they should be. That is exciting to think about.

I will be using a typical 0-5 star rating scale for my overall experience with the tea or accessory.

 5 stars means that I absolutely love the product and want to stock up on as much as I can.  This rating is likely to be very rare because it basically means there is no room for improvement and I cannot think of something better.  However, we will see about that.  If I love something, I'm going to tell you!

4 stars means that I truly enjoyed the product and would definitely purchase it again.  It is likely a part of my regular stock.

3 stars means that I found the product to be pretty good.  I would most likely purchase it again if it were on sale or as a seasonal selection.  It is enjoyable or useful, just not my favorite.

2 stars means the product is palatable, but I am not a fan.  I am unlikely to purchase a 2 star item again.

1 star means the product was pretty bad.  I may have finished drinking/using it, but I will not buy again.

0 stars mean that I found the product to be utterly disgusting.  It was so offensive to my senses that I threw it out before finishing.  If the company that sold the product has a satisfaction guarantee policy, I am likely to return it.  If not, the tea leaves may be thrown on the compost pile or tossed and the packaging recycled or re-purposed.


Some upcoming reviews include various selections from Harney & Sons, David's Tea, ForLife (product review), and Joie (product review).

Harney and Sons has been my go to tea company for the past few years and have enjoyed all but a few of their varieties.  The prices are affordable, the teas are a nice quality, the tins are cute and useful, and they have frequent sales and coupon codes. If Harney and Sons started a tea subscription program, I'd be sure to check it out!

Recently, I decided to branch out and try some new teas and brands. A couple of weeks ago, I purchased two sample collections from David's Tea: David's Top 12 and the 2015 Tea of the Month collections.  Ordering a full size of an unknown tea from an unfamiliar brand seemed crazy and the sample collections, while pricy, were a nice alternative. Each collection is housed in a slim, nicely constructed box with caffeine levels, instructions, and a brief description for each tea printed on the inside of the box lid. The teas' lists of ingredients are on the bottom of the box. The individual teas, in sets of 12, are stored in adorable little tins that are tastefully labeled with each tea's name. The tins will find a new home on the spice rack or in my craft box when they're done holding the samples.  The variety in each box provides an introduction to a rather diverse collection of options.  I am glad I had a few tea accessories already because the order does not come with any tools for measuring or steeping. 

Do you have any suggestions to make? Favorite brands? Infusers? Mugs? Steeping tricks? Please comment! I am quite new to this and value your input. 

Skinny Stuffed Pepper Soup

It was a great night for soup tonight and I had a pretty decent selection of fresh ingredients. I've been in the mood for stuffed pepper soup lately and had everything I needed to make a rather tasty (and I'm guessing healthy) version.  It turned out wonderfully and I will definitely make it again. The organic grass-fed beef was really good and it was very lean. I liked the very lean part because there was no need to drain that pesky extra fat. The small amount of fat it did have just added to the flavor of the soup. There were no added oils for the recipe, so the fat content is pretty low even without draining off the tiny bit of fat still left. 

I chose to prepare the rice separately and add it right before serving. Some stuffed pepper soups I've tried, while still delicious, were missing a good part of the broth because the rice had taken it all in. Adding it right before serving allowed the soup the keep most of its flavorful broth.  The soup turned out really well and other than the broth and 2 kinds of spices (3 if you count one very small shake of salt near the end), all the ingredients were fresh!  No canned veggies here today, not that I'm against canned, I just enjoyed the fresh flavor of the soup. 

Ingredients:

1 lb. extra lean ground beef

1 green pepper, large dice

1 small onion, medium dice

~12 grape/yellow pear/cherry tomatoes, halved

2 cloves garlic, thinly sliced

32 oz. vegetable broth or stock

Ground cumin, to taste

Chili powder, to taste

Salt, optional

Prepared rice, about a cup

Brown beef in a medium sauce pan. When the beef is partially cooked through, add peppers, onion, and garlic. Mix it up and cook until meat is browned and peppers are getting tender. Add vegetable stock, cumin, chili powder, and tomatoes. Bring to a simmer and let the flavors mingle for several minutes. When tomatoes are soft but not yet disintegrated, the soup is ready for serving. Add rice to the bowl and top with soup. Mix it up and serve immediately.  

Wine me Wednesday: Crabbie's Ginger Beer

It's been a while since I posted a Wine Me Wednesday entry. Granted, the return to WMW does not feature a wine, but it is still an alcoholic beverage and this is my blog so I'm going to run with it. Tonight's dinner (see earlier post) had a rather common theme of ginger. The tilapia had ginger, the Zoodles had ginger, so why not also try a ginger beer?  This was a great choice to go with the dish. Spectacular, actually... As long as you like ginger. If you don't, you might want to skip this one.

The bottle said to serve over ice with a slice of lime so I did. Brilliant! It was truly delicious. Barely had a traditional beer flavor and was quite refreshing. I am sure to enjoy the beverage again with other flavorful dishes. It would probably go really well with a nice stir fry. Only trouble is that I only got one bottle to try! I will definitely be putting it on the list for the weekend grocery trip!  If you joy ginger ale and malt beverages, give this one a try. It's pretty fantastic.

Everything seems to taste better when I'm using my Pints for Pets glass.  I love helping the rescued fur-babies and am also a fan of beer. This snazzy glass is a souvenir from the annual gathering of rescue and beer enthusiasts.  I'm soooo looking forward to the next one this year!

Zesty Tilapia and Zoodles with a Kick

Tilapia is a mild white fish that takes on new flavors like a champ. Tonight I was in the mood to use some of the yummy new ingredients I picked up over the weekend to try something new. As you've seen in a previous post, I have a newfound love for zoodles and usually pick some up when I go on my semi-monthly trip to Trader Joe's and Wegmans. For tonight's meal, I decided to try a quick "stir fry" with the zoodles to go with a new flavor for the tilapia. It turned out very well and paired wonderfully with Crabbie's Alcoholic Ginger Beer (more on that on tonight's long overdue Wine Me Wednesday).

With no further ado, here are some general guidelines for creating the zesty tilapia and zoodles with a kick:

Zesty Tilapia

Tilapia filet (or filets if you're having guests)

Fresh ginger, very tiny dice

Fresh garlic, very tiny dice

Rice vinegar, just a splash

Juice of 1 lime

Trader Joe's sweet chili sauce

Soy sauce

Sesame oil

Mix ginger, garlic, rice vinegar, lime juice, and soy sauce to combine. Then add chili sauce, followed by sesame oil. Rinse and place tilapia in a bag (or the bowl if it's large enough, it's your kitchen), pour the sauce over the fish and swish it around, making sure the fish is fully coated.  Let the fish and sauce mingle for a few minutes while the oven preheats to 400 degrees F.  Give the fish and sauce one last swish then pour it out onto a piece of foil with the edges folded up to prevent spilling. Fold the foil into a packet then bake for about 20 minutes or until the fish is cooked through. Serve with Zoodles w/a Kick.

Zoodles w/a Kick

Zoodles (roughly the size of spaghetti, I picked up a prepared package that also contained some carrot, onion, and sweet red peppers)

Small bunch of broccoli, lightly steamed

Fresh ginger, very tiny dice

Fresh garlic, very tiny dice

Trader Joe's sweet chili sauce

Soy sauce

Sesame oil

Extra virgin olive oil

Heat oils with ginger and garlic in a high-sided skillet or wok if you have one. When the garlic and ginger start to soften, add chili sauce and soy sauce, cook a minute or 2 to allow the flavors to mingle. Mix frequently to prevent burning.  If the peppers and onions are separate, try adding them to the pan a few minutes early as they tend to take longer to cook than the Zoodles. When there are a few minutes left to go, add the broccoli and Zoodles.  Mix to coat the veggies with the sauce and allow to heat through. Cook a tad longer if you want the Zoodles to be softer. Serve immediately. 

Leafy Pasta Salad

I picked up a whole rotisserie chicken at the grocery store on Sunday to eat throughout the week. On Monday, I made chicken fajita pasta using one of the chicken breasts. Honestly, that would have been a much tastier dish without the chicken. The rotisserie flavor wasn't the best pairing with the recipe and the texture just wasn't right for a fajita dish. However, it was pretty good despite the chicken, so with a different meat selection next time it will be much tastier.  Perhaps make fajitas one night then use the leftovers for the pasta the next day.  The vegetables turned out well, so the idea is there, I just need to work on the execution.

One perk of last night's near-failure at dinner is that I prepared the full pound of penne pasta to use for a few meals including today's successful salad lunch! There are still many noodles left, so I'm thinking soup is up next. Perhaps a nice vegetable noodle soup. Making the whole pound of penne this week just seemed to work for me. Usually I make enough for a single meal, but then I don't have any leftover for pasta salads. ***update: the pasta salad was so tasty I made a second batch so none was left for soup. #noregrets



Leafy Pasta Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette
Spring mix
Cooked penne (or whatever pasta you have or are in the mood to eat)
Dried Cranberries (I used Trader Joe's Organic Dried Cranberries)
Candied pecans (or regular pecans, other nuts would also work)
Balsamic vinaigrette
Feta cheese
Black pepper

Toss the spring mix, pasta, cranberries and pecans with balsamic vinaigrette. Then add feta and toss again. Place in a salad bowl and add black pepper (to taste). Serve immediately.

Ground Lamb and Greens

While at the grocery store over the weekend, I found a package of organic ground lamb in the meat department and thought "This sounds delicious, i could really go for a gyro or Greek meatballs!"  So I put the package in my cart and continued shopping.  Well, as it turns out.  When I got home I realized I had forgotten to pick up feta cheese and since I only make one trip for groceries per week and didn't feel like going back out, I was left to come up with a different tasty use for the ground meat.

As luck would have it, I am rather happy to have forgotten the feta and deciding to ditch the original plan.  Why?  Let me tell you.  I looked into other uses for ground lamb and several different curry-inspired dishes came up.  While none of them looked particularly appealing as they were and I did not have most of the ingredients they called for, it was time to get creative.  Thus a rather easy, delicious dinner was born.

As you may have seen before, I enjoy making a quick curry-style dish out of chick peas (garbanzo beans), stewed tomatoes, and curry powder.  It cooks up fast and is rather tasty over rice.  It is also a nutrient-packed, vegetarian dish I make rather often so I already have my go-to jar of curry spice in the pantry.

I used the lamb mixture for 2 different meals.  The first meal consisted of a warmed piece of whole grain naan, tzatziki sauce, and home cooked greens (the Trader Joe's Spicy Spinach Blend worked wonderfully for this).  It kind of reminded me of a curry-inspired gyro... do those exist?  Well, if they didn't before they do now.

The second meal was even simpler.  I heated the curried lamb on the stove and popped the rice into the microwave (Trader Joe's Jasmine Rice- pre-prepared and in the freezer section).  Quite possibly the epitome of laziness, you take the bag out of the box, put it in the microwave on high for 3 minutes, and it's ready to serve... no additional pots to clean, no measuring, and no waiting for water to boil.  It is a wonderful product.  Then the rice went into the bowl followed by the leftover lamb mixture and was served with a side of grapes. 

So now for the recipes:

Curried Ground Lamb

1lb Ground Lamb (I used organic, but it's your choice)
1 medium onion, diced (minus a small amount for the greens)
~1 inch fresh ginger, peeled and minced (reserve a few pieces for the greens)

~1 tsp crushed garlic

1 pinch cinnamon

Curry powder (amount to taste)

1 can whole peeled tomatoes, crushed a bit

Brown lamb with onion. When lamb begins to cook, add ginger and garlic.  Continue cooking the mixture until lamb is browned. Drain fat. Add curry powder and cinnamon, let cook about a minute, stirring regularly.  When spices are evenly distributed, add can of tomatoes. Cover and cook until tomatoes are cooked through and liquid is mostly evaporated. 

Cooked Greens

Trader Joe's spicy spinach blend (or other greens meant for cooking)

Honey

Extra virgin olive oil

Rice vinegar

Minced ginger

Black pepper

Diced onion

Crushed garlic

Cook onion in olive oil until sweating.  Add vinegar, honey, pepper, garlic, and ginger. Mix and cook until onions are more wilted. Add greens toward end and cook until wilted. Mix well and serve immediately.