May Showers Bring Back Tea Time

It's May still, isn't it? Yep, according to my calendar we're still right in the middle of it, but heading into a series of days clouded by heavy rainfall. Just when I thought summer was finally nearing, and we were pulling out shorts and tank tops from the backs of our dresser drawers. We had already enjoyed a couple of evenings sitting out on the deck, a plate of chicken burgers on the barbecue, and a salad with fresh fruit set on the table. I'd already started taking those days for granted, riding around the island in shorts and a tank top, flip flops hanging off my toes, on my little red and white scooter. Just hoping for a couple more days of sun, especially over this Mother's Day weekend, I bought a pair of shorts to hopefully get a new shade of tan on my legs - and just as I came out the shops the wind picked up in a fluid motion of clouds covering the sun as well.

I guess it's back to long pants, hot drinks, and big umbrellas stacked by the doors and covering the sidewalks where people should be. Remember shopping in the rain? Jumping into a coffee shop after dashing across the street to be welcomed by a throng of the ten or so other customers who had the same idea - a hot latte and the last of the gluten free baking (oh my goodness, one more scone, don't let that guy take... Okay the cookie looks good too), and just because it is such a rainy day all of a sudden, I'll take a newspaper to watch the people passing by hurried and soaking (I won't laugh, at least not out loud).

You know, I've always wanted to just spend time in a coffee shop, working away at something odd in particular, and people watching. We spent a lot of time on Main Street this week, mum and I went shopping for graduation dresses and popped by to check out a store that was closed, and instead grabbed a drink in one of the restaurants, pairing it with jumbo shrimp and potatoes to keep us going. There are some very interesting people around Main, all doing different things and with different styles - and he stores could keep me entertained for hours! 

So in our eagerness to dress shop again at this particular boutique, with dad in tow this time, we entered the store pulling dress after dress off the shelf - each one beautiful and almost perfect in its own way. I got attached to two, very different, and bounced back and forth between them both, trying them on repeatedly and slowly coming to a decision. If you've ever gone dress shopping, no matter the event, you'll know how much goes into finding the perfect one - with the perfect fit and style for both the occasion and you. We were lucky that the store quickly quieted after we came, giving me all the time I needed in the change room, and all the attention of the salesclerk who was so helpful. She helped me come to a decision with my sister as well, who dad had on the phone, and it was so special to have my whole family there while I chose my graduation dress. 

Anyone up for another round of shops... I'm looking for shoes. (However, I might give it a week for my paycheck to be cashed, and a bit of recuperation). 

I felt like a little girl, peeping in at the perfect dress while the shop was closed. I actually picked out the one I ended up getting today on a previous trip, but I suppose something wasn't quite right. We ended up going around other stores and trying on other dresses. However, I needed dad, and my sister, to be there to make the decision. Ha! I should be on one of those reality shows with the emotion and depth I'm describing this "escapade" with. Don't worry, it really didn't take all that long, and a big plate of Egg's Benedict afterwards refueled us all nicely. Shopping is tiring. Especially trying on dresses and walking around in circles in too-big high heels - you have to curl your toes just to keep them on, and let me tell you, they start to cramp up after a couple laps of the store!

Ginger Maple Tea Lattes

{Print me here}

To end a rainy day, a long day, or as you sit and watch the activities of other people dashing past rain covered shop windows, and need an alternative to coffee or tea, a ginger maple tea latte is just the rich and flavorful hot drink - refreshing and comforting, the perfect balance between the teeter-tottering of this weather. 

I love ginger maple tea lattes because of the sweetness and spice of two key ingredients: maple and fresh ginger. Although I use almond milk for this recipe, cow's milk, or other milk alternative would work perfectly. What a great replacement for your morning coffee!

{Serves 2}

Ingredients:

1 1/2 inch of fresh ginger root, grated or chopped 

3 tablespoons maple syrup 

1 cup almond milk

2 1/2 cups water 

Directions:

In a saucepan over high heat, bring ginger, 2 tablespoons of maple syrup, and water to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer for 5 to 10 minutes. 

Divide the almond milk among two cups, and divide the maple syrup among them also. Place both in the microwave, heating for up to a minute. This can also be done in a separate sauce pan, before dividing among the two cups. 

When the ginger mixture has simmered, remove from the heat, cover, and let sit for another 5 minutes. (Or pour into a french press for this step).

Pour into the cups of almond milk, and serve.

Enjoy! Xx S 

The "Good Cookie"

It's a good thing we have cookies.

They make just feel normal again. Oh darling, I know there are those days when we begin to feel estranged from all those wheat-eaters out there. With a slow shake of your head as you decline a plate of Oreos ("But they're vegan!"), or a slice of cake, to see their tilted head and apologetic smile, just remember that a gluten free cookie has all the same comfort, and all the more flavour. Now, that's better. The warmth and flavour melts in your mouth. Chew. Swallow. Repeat. And rejuvenate.

Friends, you, and yours, are often absorbed in their busyness and activities, and can sometimes pass a plate of wheat-filled treats without thinking. You sheepishly pass it to the next person and avoid anyone's gaze. It's not guilt which you feel for the foods you have chosen (or must) not eat. Sometimes, their questioning which happens so frequently,

"Oh! You can't eat this?"

Or cries of,

"I am so sorry!"

Are worse that just forgetting the plate was ever passed, and held in your hands for that quick moment. Justifying yourself is too exhausting each and every time, time and time again. Sometimes it's a challenge: it's even more a challenge outside the comfort of your own home; managing restaurant menus while dealing with a growing appetite is certainly a tyrant of a battle. Sitting down to a hot latte in the city with friends while they chow down on deliciously appetising sandwiches (I stole all her olives!) or fluffy muffins that leave your belly grumbling (Darling, shhh, I whisper... People only stare, but that's just fine - at least I don't have a wheat belly!)

Friends that must be kept close, tell you they'll hunt the streets for "some of that weird gluten free food," and you laugh. Suddenly it's not so bad. The dragon will be tamed; I'll get my cake - and eat it too.

Those friends also make an pizza just for you for girl's night at her house, an experiment of different flours and techniques so again you can enjoy the normalities of everything about spending time with friends. Even if there is nothing normal about that night. It's important to remember that no matter who you are, and what you choose to do, your friends are always there, will always stand by you.

There will also be that perfect gluten free cookie.

Both invaluable, neither replaceable. This is for you.

Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies
Print me here!

These are the perfect blend of sweet and everything nice. Add 1/2 cup of oats to replace the coconut flour for more crunch, and both ways, enjoy with the soothing aroma from a cup of a maple ginger tea latte. Blending strong and sweet, and putting both your mind and body back into balance.

Yields approximately 18 cookies.

2 tablespoons butter, softened
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1/2 cup almond butter, crunchy
1/2 cup apple sauce
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
1 1/2 cups oats
1/2 cup brown rice flour
1/2 cup coconut flour
1/2 - 3/4 cup gluten free chocolate chips

Preheat the oven to 350°F, and line two baking sheets with parchment paper, set aside.

In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar. Add the egg, pour in the almond butter and apple sauce, and mix.

Now add the cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, baking soda and powder, and oat. Fold into the wet.

Add in brown rice and coconut flour as well as the chocolate chips. Mix until well blended. Form 1 1/2 inch - 2 inch diameter rounds and press lightly onto the parchment paper.

Bake for 12 - 16 minutes.

Make tea.

Eat.

Enjoy!

xx S.

Pumped For Pumpkin

I just saw the page views from last week on my "Pea-Nutter Butter Cookies" Recipe and jumped up, extremely excited - Indonesia to the United States to Russia! It's amazing how many people, who I never imagined, have now seen my recipes. Thank you, to everyone!

Before starting, I was reluctant because I never thought I'd be able to post every week, and stay committed enough to cook every weekend whilst taking photos, but it's become so much more exciting each time, and I approach every post with anticipation for the process. This blog has opened my eyes to things around me that I would never have taken the time to notice before; the beauty of those little things in life, such as small moments that change the day for the better, are especially amazing to experience and ones that I've come to cherish. I've come to appreciate perseverance over procrastination, as the thrill of a popular post far outweighs the comfort of having nothing change, and never taking risks.

It reminds me of the time mum, dad and I looked up from lunch one Sunday to the swaying of a large tree out front of our house. It's one of the largest alders, but tiny branches grown just last spring splayed out from the expanding trunk. Among the branches, his charcoal black coat apparent against the drab brown and golden leaves of the tree, a big squirrel and its even larger tail jumped from branch to branch with vigor and speed, and not one of us knew of his intentions. He climbed higher and higher, to the teetering branches that bounced at the slightest wind, and careened over as the squirrel bounded down the length of it.

"What's he doing!?"

Dad exclaimed, as mum cried out,

"That's amazing!"

I laughed at their excitement, as well as the humor in their expressions, both standing at the window peering up to the trees. You can tell we don't have a TV.

"He's going to get picked off by an eagle..."

Said dad, and I wondered why such a small creature would venture up so high, with so much risk of falling. So much to lose.

"He can't get any food up there can he?"

I asked, "I mean there aren't any nuts or fruit growing on those trees."

"Look he's way at the top!"

Mum shouted excitedly, dashing back to find her camera from a large pile on the counter, an array of written out recipes, pens and schoolbooks.

"That would be a great photo, you can just see the outline of him up there!"

The branch that he was perched on bent precariously under his weight, bowing down ceremoniously. I gasped as he skittered forward, down, so near to losing everything, although so close to reaching the top of the tree.

Just at that moment, with his head tucked underneath the rest of his vertically positioned body, he sprung up and landed at the end of another branch and scurried furiously along it to the trunk of the tree.

A sigh of relief. It was even better than watching a movie.

And with that, after such difficulty and precision in steps, that big squirrel, who we all doubted from the moment the branch began to give way, had completed his journey to the top. Still, his purpose remained unknown, although it seems unlikely that he intended to get a better look at the mountains, or to seek the thrill of being up so high. However to us, he overcame something unattainable. Unbelievable. Extraordinary.

Just like overcoming something in our lives, with adrenaline pumping, we set to high gear. To go. Go. Go. But for some, after days of high heart rates and busy schedules, we rise to an early morning with dropping eyelids and a lagging drive to get up and out of the house.

In contrast to the squirrel, there's nothing behind us, like the fear of falling, to push us to the top, and propel us toward the day. So, for an added boost to my Sunday morning, I combined a bit of coffee, sugar and spice and definitely that something nice! Today, as fall envelopes my senses and imagination for cooking, I scraped the last of puréed pumpkin from the container.

I didn't quite have the energy to purée my own fresh pumpkin. Yet! However Halloween is still coming, and we have not yet carved our pumpkins - so soon!

Spiced Pumpkin Lattes
Print recipe.

A vision for fall:
Crisp air and the soft, gentle glow of the sun against brightly colored leaves. Bundled in warm mittens and scarves we bound through piles of maple leaves that float blissfully through the air as we walk the trails. As gatherings with friends slowly retreat indoors from the unused patio chairs, one treat remains a consistent favorite, and everyone enjoys the comfort of a perfect blend of spices - cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and cloves - smooth, hot, and just enough sweet.

Serves 2

Ingredients

2/3 c brewed coffee
2/3 c almond milk
1 1/3 c water
2 tbsp honey

1/4 tsp vanilla extract
2 tsp powdered cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/8 tsp ground cloves

3 tbsp puréed pumpkin

Directions

On the stove top, heat the coffee, almond milk, water and honey together
until it begins to boil.

Reduce to a simmer, and add the vanilla, spices and pumpkin.

Simmer for 5-10 minutes.

Pour through a strainer a couple of times to get ride of thickness, and pour into mugs.

Serve.

Just Chai It

In the absence of school on Wednesday, I had the freedom of the whole day to myself. With adults at work, an act that usually leaves only the dog and cat to their own devices, comforted by a small stuffy or treat, the kids had their homes as their playgrounds for the day.

I awoke to the late morning sun streaming in, almost beckoning me to go outside with my dog more than her puss-in-boot-like eyes and nudging of my hands, which to her, must have held the "key" to the wall that opens.

However the cosiest pyjamas (in the world!) still hugged me warm, and it was nice to have escaped the tasks which usually muddled by thoughts and stirred up my priorities that followed a day of school.

I'm usually calmed by a well-baked muffin, one of my favourites, or a big mug of tea, that more than often contains a caffeine boost to get me back on my feet after school and to get ready for dance.

And being deprived of sleep by the Monday morning, I reached the afternoon on a low, with a severe deprivation of energy. The remedy? A quick trip across the block, a small wait in line, to the satisfying comfort of holding a hot cup, with the knowledge that in a while, I'll be bouncing back. And forth. And back. And forth... Which continued until the next day, keeping my eyes peeled, and my brain wide awake the entire time.

Luckily it was only just after midnight, but the clocks had still changed the date, a worry on my mind as time ticked closer the shrill of my alarm... 6 hours... 5 and a half... 5 hours...

With sleep blurring my focus and hazing the clarity of messages beeping on my phone, I set to cooking.

Breakfast IS the most important meal of the day after all.

The aromas of spices started to fill the kitchen, the juice of freshly sliced ginger remained on my hands, a better replacement for perfume, and intriguing the dog when she came near.

Her nose flicking up and down, and nostrils flaring.

Cardamom, my favourite spice, spilled on the counter, but added to the overall warmth of the smells around, and caused no blip of annoyance or anger at myself for causing such a mess, I was unwinding the coils of agitation. Each stretch smoothing out bumps from the last weeks.

I added the spices to the water in the saucepan and turned up the heat, the temperature rising in unison with the sounds from the radio, which were becoming clearer and clearer as the spices awoke my senses.

Homemade Chai Tea
Print recipe.

Comforting, soothing, and smooth. A drink well worth the small wait as you inhale the spices from the bubbling saucepan, invigorating the senses. For cold winter days, chilly September mornings, or as a gesture towards family and friends as they make their way in from work or school (*hint hint* mum!), this drink is the perfect thing to make, and look forward to, in any day.

Ingredients

2 1/2 c water

a pinch of ground cloves (I find the powder as a much stronger taste, which can make the drink end up bitter, therefore I use very little)
1 cinnamon stick
6 whole peppercorns
2 star anise
1 inch fresh ginger, sliced thinly
1 tsp cardamom seeds
2 peppermint teabags (or 2 tbsp peppermint tea leaves)

1 c almond milk (or alternative)
1 tbsp honey (optional)

Directions

Pour the water into a saucepan adding the spices and the tea bags. Bring to a boil.

Lower the temperature and simmer for 10 minutes on medium heat.

Pour in the almond milk and simmer for another 5 minutes.

Strain, and stir in honey. Add more almond milk or honey if desired.

Serves 2.


From so many chai teas, from recipe, and using the available spices in my house, I've become so accustomed to the strong flavours and no longer sweeten mine, instead I test the limits of my taste buds with different quantities of ginger, cardamom and cloves.

*Replacing the peppermint teabags with black tea will add a caffeine boost, but will make the chai darker, and may mask some of the flavours of the spices.