Infusions

 

tea_is_ready_

It's not life's “illusions” I recall, but life's infusions !

 

 

Tea is my favorite drink. I delight in every aspect of it. The taste and aroma. It's healthy. The variety is unlimited and the romance surrounding the leaf intrigues me. But the detail I connect with in my heart and mind is the process of “infusing”.... tea is not tea until it has had the proper amount of “steeping", of “soaking” in hot water !

 

My life is about infusions...you know, being immersed in whatever I am about at the moment....could be cooking with my grandchildren, traveling to Portland to visit our kids, dining in our hometown, moving cows, plowing ground, photography, felting, praying, trying a new tea or dancing with my Sweet Husband of many many years !

 

My “blog” life is about sharing these past and present infusions with all of you ! I look forward to connecting with you and hearing about your life's infusions too !



Not Your Momma's Tea-Party Recipes PDF Print E-mail
Written by Kate Barker   
Wednesday, 23 June 2010 17:44


What could be more refreshing on a hot summer day than the traditional Southern Sweet Tea?  What about "Tipsy Tea"....a fun "party" variation of an old favorite!

 

iced_tea


My daughter gave the me the inspiring and delightful book called, "Porch Parties".  This book is dedicated to cocktail recipes and lots of ideas for outdoor entertaining!


porch_parties


For "Tipsy Tea" start with a great Sweet Tea....


8 cups water
8 heaping teaspoons nice black tea in an infuser
1 cup sugar
Bring 8 cups of water to a boil. Remove pan from heat. Add tea in the infuser. Stir in the sugar. Steep for at least one hour.

Fill a glass with ice and pour tea over ice.

Now add 2 ounces of Orange Flavored Vodka that has been chilled.  Cut a round slice of an orange and then cut in 1/2 and use as a garnish.

Woowee...yummy...I'm sure this will be a hit!

 

 

Another Great Tea "Cocktail" is the Green Tea 'Tini

 

This recipe calls for the use of a speciality item called:

 

 

altZen-green-tea-liqueur

 

According to the Zen Green Tea Liqueur website, this liqueur uses "green tea leaves from Kyoto, the historic capital of Japan, well-known for it's superior quality tea."

 

The Green Tea 'Tini recipe is as follows:

 

3-4 ounces Citrus Flavored Vodka....chilled

2 ounces Green Tea Liqueur (Zen Green Tea Liqueur)

1 ounce lemon-lime soda

fresh lemon or lime slices

 

Using a cocktail shaker, combine the vodka, green tea liqueur, soda and ice.  Shake well and strain into chilled martini glasses.  Garnish with lemon or lime slices.

And toast to your health...after all your having your "green tea" aren't you?

 

 

Iced tea is quite versatile... and can be combined with many other beverages to enhance flavors and taste.  The famous "Arnold Palmer"...1/2 lemonade and 1/2 tea is quite refreshing.

 

So this summer, make it a point to try some new recipes featuring a great standby...iced tea!

 

Happy Summer Infusions!!

Kate

http://tea4kate.com

 


 


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Last Updated on Wednesday, 23 June 2010 19:37
 
Life's a Bowl of Cherries PDF Print E-mail
Written by Kate Barker   
Monday, 14 June 2010 19:10


bowl_of_cherries

How many times have I heard "Life is just a bowl of cherries"?

And sometimes it's true.  Life just couldn't be better!

Sweet and colorful, fresh and ripe....pleasant and perfect.

 

But like cherries in a bowl, I only have to wait a day or two and then, I find a cherry that is beginning to deteriorate...darkened skin...a little white place.  The rotting process has begun!

 

I pick through the cherries, discarding all the decaying ones. Once again my bowl of cherries is perfect. I am diligent in this ritual until all the cherries have been eaten or thrown away.

 

I wish the "rotten" things in life could so easily be detected and so easily amended! My attentiveness might avert one disaster, and in the next moment, I am in the midst of another crisis.

 

I just want to enjoy that bowl of cherries!

 

Fortunately, tea time gives me the break I need to take a moment, breathe, relax and choose a new perspective to view my "chair of bowlies"! ( A Mary Engelbrit saying)

 

I like to listen to this version of the song...."Life is just a Bowl of Cherries" while I drink my tea and reflect!

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JqiqUeNyQyU&feature=related

 

Happy Infusions !

Kate

http://tea4kate.com

 


 

 

Last Updated on Monday, 14 June 2010 20:16
 
Poached Pears with Vanilla Ice Cream... PDF Print E-mail
Written by Kate Barker   
Friday, 30 April 2010 07:38


While sorting through my cookbook collection, I came across this delightful recipe in my "French Women Don't Get Fat" book. (Very inspiring, by the way!)

 

I adapted it, since I didn't have any Muscat Beaumes de Venise on hand....  What kind of wine is this?  Ah ha, I had to look it up and found out it's a dessert wine. (Sorry, my lack of wine knowledge is showing!)  I decided to substitute a Sherry, but I think Brandy would also work...it's good to experiment, n'est-ce pa?

 

Here's the recipe:

 

Poached Pears with Vanilla Ice Cream

 

2          cups Muscat Beaumes de Venise or any good dessert wine

1/2       cup sugar ( I used 1/4 cup raw and 1/4 cup regular white)

2          tablespoons lemon juice

4          Bosc pears, peeled, cored and halved ( I cut them smaller to fit better in my dessert dish)

1          or more scoops of your favorite Vanilla Ice Cream ( I love homemade!)

 

In a heavy saucepan, bring wine and sugar to a boil.  Simmer for 5 more minutes....

Add lemon juice and pears....cook about 10-15 more minutes on low to medium heat.

 

pears_poached_in_sherry

 

Cool and refrigerate.

 

When ready to serve, bring the pears to room temperature.  Serve with a scoop or two of vanilla ice cream and a sprig of mint!

 

poached_pears_with_vanilla_ice_cream

 

A refreshing dessert perfect with tea!

 

I have missed my "mint patch" that used to grow right outside our back door at the ranch.  It was proflic!  Of course, the dripping faucet helped!  Every winter, it would die down, and I would wonder if this was the year it wouldn't revive.  Behold, every spring, little green leaves appeared and I rejoiced!

This year I planted a little mint with my little viola's.  I can quickly grab a sprig or two...right outside my back door again! Can't wait for iced tea season...of course this Saturday I have to make a Mint Julep and watch the Kentucky Derby!

 

mint_out_my_back_door

 

Happy Infusions,

Kate

http://tea4kate.com

Last Updated on Friday, 30 April 2010 09:58
 
Sorting the Cookbook Collection.... PDF Print E-mail
Written by Kate Barker   
Sunday, 18 April 2010 20:52


I love each one of them.  They have distinct personalities.  How could I sort and throw out any of them?

 

There they were stacked on my counter awaiting their fate.....

stack_of_cookbooks

My cookbook collection.  My recipes. Those wonderful creations that had saved my reputation more than once.

 

frugal

Love this one. It's full of fabulous uncomplicated, gourmet, delicious recipes, and is a storehouse of information. It was a keeper.

 

My mother ask me to take home a few of her cookbooks the last time I visited her.  Considering the current state of affairs, I thought this one might

be helpful....

dining_during_depression

 

Perusing through this collection from the Sunday Parade Magazine, I spotted several variations of the "Budget Casserole" and "Budget Stretcher"  I remember my mother using.  My favorite from this era, though, are the molded gelatin salads and the Baked Alaska dessert....

 

parade_cookbook

 

Oh dear... I hadn't found any to dispose of yet.

 

 

 

Memories flooded my mind when I reached for this one....

 

bishops_pumpkin_farm

 

I went with my children and now I'm going with my grandchildren on field trips to Bishop's Pumpkin Farm in Wheatland, California. (That means Bishop's has been in business over 25 years!)   This little book is full of memories and great recipes like the Applesauce Pumpkin Bread (moist and tasty)

and I love their Persimmon Cookie recipe.  I put it in the sentimental stack.

 

In my quest to raise healthy children, I collected these two fine cookbooks.  The Snacks has clever ideas for "presentation" of healthy foods and the CANDY

was invaluable for great traveling ideas...foods, games and "how to's".  Ok, these two belong in the sentimental pile.

 

healthy_snacks

 

candy_monster

 

I felt like hugging some of these cookbooks.  They're like old friends!  When we moved to our ranch in Surprise Valley, I loved using recipes submitted by so many people I knew and saw at least once a month!  Great food and sometimes a story or two  makes this one a little like a story book.....

 

surprise_valley_cooks

 

This darling notebook, given to me by my precious daughters, holds my accumulation of handwritten and typed recipes from

family and friends, and those I cut from magazines and newspapers.

recipe_notebook

 

And then there was the time My Sweet Husband and I attended a conference for small family farms and met a woman who was collecting recipes

and farm stories for her cookbook.  We agreed to contribute and were published in this cookbook....

 

 

ca_farm_cookbook

 

barker_ranch_inside_ca_farm_cookbook

 

 

Probably one of the funniest cookbooks I've ever seen was given to me by my sister-in-law...

 

.white_trash

It does have the best bread pudding recipe I've ever tried!  Sometimes it's fun just to read through the names of the recipes..."Uncle Willie's Swamp

Cabbage Stew",  "Clara Jane Vickar's Creamed Tuna Lunch", "Betty Sue's Sister-In-Law's Fried Eggplant". It does have a whole section of recipes I don't

think I will ever use...."Boiled Squirrel", "Butt's Gator Tail", and " Aunt Donnah's Roast Possum".  However, one should never say never!  I'm not ready to

part with this one yet.

 

This was my first cookbook.  I had to buy it for my high school Home Economics class. It's a basic, classical cookbook .  It is beloved.  Currently, the cover has been duct taped, and some of the index pages have come loose from the three ring binder, but for the most part, it is in great shape and still quite useful.

 

betty_crocker_cookbook

 

Well, I did manage to find six books to give away. I discovered I had never used a recipe from any of them and had no attachment to them.

 

Next there is the magazine recipe collection to sort through....the Bon Appetit, the Taste of Home, the Food Network.

Not right now though.  I'm ready for a cup of tea!

 

Happy Cooking, Happy Infusions,

Kate

http://tea4kate.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Last Updated on Thursday, 22 April 2010 17:49
 
Bananas in Brown Sugar Sauce.... PDF Print E-mail
Written by Kate Barker   
Friday, 02 April 2010 16:09


Recalling the advice of my dear Homemaking teacher, Mrs. Whalen, I decided to try the recipe before making it for guests.

Fortunately, I even decided this two days in advance, and not the day before.  When I retrieved the brown sugar from my pantry, the jar was filled with rock hard lumps!


hard_lumps



I had heard putting a piece of bread in an airtight container with hard brown sugar would soften it overnight.
We only had whole wheat bread.  I carefully laid a piece on top and looked for recipes without brown sugar.

the_bread_trick

I didn't really believe it would work by the next day. Since I had "read" that this was a guaranteed method, I presumed it would eventually soften the brown sugar.

The next day, it was perfect...not one lump!

results-no_hard_lumps


I proceeded to make my....
bananas_in_brown_sugar_sauce

Bananas in Brown Sugar Sauce for Two

1   teaspoon         butter ( I used a little more)
1/2 teaspoon         canola/vegetable oil
2   tablespoons      brown sugar ( no lumps)
1   teaspoon         lime juice
2   tablespoons      dark rum (optional)
1/8 teaspoon         ground cinnamon
Sprinkle             nutmeg and ginger (optional)
2                    small bananas (quartered or sliced)
Scoops of..........Vanilla ice cream or frozen yogurt

 

Heat butter and oil, add brown sugar and heat until it bubbles. Add rum, if desired, lime juice and spices.  Cook slowly until it thickens slightly.  Add bananas and cook until heat until tender.


Divide for two and ladle over a scoop or two of ice cream or frozen yogurt.

This is lovely and tasty !  I have made it with the rum and without, delicious either way.  It is very rich and a little goes a long way!

I had a cup of Spiced Pear black tea with this.
Divine!

Happy Infusions,
Kate







Last Updated on Friday, 02 April 2010 16:36
 
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