Fenugreek Ginger Tea

Besides begin a coffee addict, I am also a super big tea drinker. At least 1, if not like 3 cups a day. And when I say cups, I mean a 32oz ball jar of steaming hot water with a tea bag of some sort in it. And sure, I will use the same bag twice or leave in an old bag and add a new bag. Or with loose leaf, I’ll end up just eventually swallowing it all. What can I tell ya. That’s my truth. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Anyway, tea. I have a shit ton. Bags and loose leaf, but sometimes what I would call "conventional tea flavors” do not sing my fancy. That is when I will dig around in my spice jars and pull stuff out to make or add to a tea.

Fenugreek. A seed. A great tasting seed. I usually use it in my chilis and curry dishes, but lately, I have also been brewing it up with (and without) fresh ginger to drink because it is fantastic. Ginger of course is spicy and earthy, but fenugreek, while also being really earthy, also has a sweetness to it and tastes kind of like real maple syrup. Now doesn’t that sound great? That’s because it is great.

So if you are feeling a little something different and tasty and maybe just so happened to have some fenugreek in the old spice cabinet, give this tea a try. A perfect for and cosy drink for cold winter afternoon.

To the tea!

The stuff. Water, fenugreek, fresh ginger, and an orange.

Dump water into a pot and add in fenugreek seeds. Place on the stove and bring to a boil, then turn the heat to low and simmer.

Cut up the fresh ginger into small chunks and take a few ribbons of peel from the orange.

After the fenugreek has had a 5 minute head start in the water, add in the ginger and orange and keep simmering for another 5 to 10 minutes. (longer time for stronger tea)

A tea decoction.

Strain the tea into cups, squeeze in a little fresh orange juice, and go curl up o the couch.

It’s tea time.

-C

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Fenugreek Ginger Tea

makes 2 cups of tea

• 2 teaspoons fenugreek seeds

• 1 inch chunk of fresh ginger

• an orange (optional)

• 4 cups water

Place water and fenugreek seeds in a pot and place on stove. Bring to a boil then turn heat down to simmer for about 5 minutes. Cut up ginger into small chunks and peel a few ribbons of orange zest and place into pot. Continue to simmer for another 5-10 minutes (longer for stronger tea). When you are ready to drink, strain into cups, squeeze in a little fresh orange juice, and drink.

Sunday Happy

I have two questions. Is it crazy that we still have or Christmas tree up? It is just so nice and still looking as fresh as the day we cut it so I am having hard time saying goodbye to it. I did take all the ornaments off, just left on the lights, so it is kind of like a big house plant right? That is what I am telling myself because that it what it is. Once it start dropping needles or most likely, just after this week, to the goat farm. But as of now, it stays.

Anyway, my other question is, where the hell is winter? For real. When I went to bed Friday night there was a few inches of snow on the ground and when I woke up Saturday morning, it felt like freaking late spring and I barely needed to wear clothes, much less a jacket. And everyone I talked to was all, “Oooh, so nice. Love it love it , blah blah blah”. Me, I hate it. This overly warm winter shit has got to stop. It is making me sad. I need winter, real winter. And that is global warming for ya. Fuck!

Yup, that and everything else this week. I stole (but not really) a new batch of balloons from the gym (the heart finally went down). Went for a nice pre snow melt, snow hike with the mr. Made lunch for Anthony and fixed his fancy pants. But a big part of the week has been spent over at the loft, packing, cleaning, and fixing things because as of this past Friday, little miss Barb is staying there. And now my back porch is full of all the stuff I brought home that I have been meaning to bring over here for the past 3 years. Mostly books, which we have no good shelves for yet (build shelves are on my list of things to do), and a good amount if shit I have to go through again and get rid of. Agh, I hate stuff. I might just stick it all on the curb with a free sign and walk away.

I also have been trying to get into my studio as much as possible. I threw some more mugs, glazed hearts, cleaned tools. Spent time with myself and my goals for selling more pots more seriously which then kind of turned into spending time with all the paperwork that seems to be flowing in from all the other thing in the rest of our life. Because who could forget, new year means new taxes. Oh taxes. I am going to stop there and not think to much more about them for at least another couple weeks, then I will start stressing. The usual way I do it. Ha.

And now its Sunday. Currently raining and still to freaking warm but is getting colder as the day goes on which means a nice layer of ice on everything making for a crap shoot of any outdoor activities today. I really wanted to try and go or a hike but it’s not gonna happen so I will probably just go to the gym, maybe stop in and see the littles ( I haven’t anyone really this week because everyone is back at school and I have been so busy) and then veg out on the couch with my books (recurrently ready 3), coffee, and a sketch pad. Need to get these book shelves designed and built before the momnuent for the need dies and the books stay in boxes an the porch forever.

Links to things I spent time looking at on the internet.

-Feeling Artsy? Here's How Making Art Helps Your Brain. Art is life, or my life at least.

-I am a hand eater, or I mean, I eat with my hands, a lot. It is much easier then getting a sharp fork into my mouth with our stabbing myself in the face. HA. Why Food Tastes Better When You Eat With Your Hands.

-Plant based is the new buzz word. What Does ‘Plant-Based’ Actually Mean?

The Germantown Laundromat: An Eco-Minded Gathering Spot in the Hudson Valley, Mending Services IncludedI love everything about this so much!

-Me and the mr.? Meet the couple who sailed across Mongolia in a handmade cart. Yeah, I think so.

-Genius. I would totally be into this if it didn’t mean I had to interact with people. Maybe set it up blog style? Why Cookbook Clubs Should Be the New Way We Entertain

-Every time I start to bitch about the crowds of all the new people in the gym these days I stop myself because really, good for them for being there. Stop Complaining About the Gym Being Packed, Because It's More Damaging Than You Think

-Planting Trees Is Good. Eliminating Deforestation Is Better. So lets stop cutting down the trees. Yeah, thats a good idea.

-Oh shit, you never know, you might be getting some new next door neighbors. HA. Meghan And Harry 'Step Back' As Royals — What Does That Mean, Exactly?

-Oh hell no. Do Bathtubs Belong in Bedrooms? But I guess a lot op people think its a good idea..? And sure, it looks cool, but wet water in the bedroom, just seems wrong to me.

Pictures from the week.

Sunday Happy

Happy New Years!

Can you believe it? 2020. Not only a new year but a new decade. I mean, wasn't it just Y2K like a few years ago? Haha. Y2K. Do you even remember that?

The past week was good. Kicked it off by making a Pokemon ball cake for Judah’s birthday (he is now 10 freaking years old) and going over to participate in birthday party stuff. Then it was New Years Eve and Day, which the mr and I just kind of spent chillin a bit, took an afternoon and ran out of town. Nothing special and no we didn't stay up all night. I don’t think I could even if I wanted to. HA. After New Years, the fog of the holiday season kind of rolled in. My brain shut down from over stimulation, my body is feeling tired and sore, and I just feel off. I think a big part is the weather. It has been way to warm, damp, no snow, and just not wintery enough. Dang it, I need me some winter!

Anyway, the rest of the week went by. Started packing up the loft so Barb can move in next week before she goes back to school. I have been going to the new gym everyday, trying to get used to that new fancy building (I love it, but still miss the old building). We spent time with Coco and Judah being awesome and eating popsicles. And we have been watching the heart balloon move around he house as it slowly sinks further and further to the floor.

Now we are at Sunday. Not sure exactly what’s in store. I am going to the gym and then there are a few things that we need to get done this afternoon, but we were thinking we might grab a little or two and try to hike up a small mountain. Or maybe even just go for a long walk through some trees. It snowed yesterday and I am so excited and am very much in need of outdoors and trees and quiet.

Internet for your taking.

-I think keeping the thermostat at 55 is right. With a fan blowing too. Your Bedroom Is Too Hot. What is the ideal temperature for sleep?

-Why you shouldn’t bother making a resolution in January. Right? Right!

-Looking for a good mustard? Mustard Manual: Your Guide to Mustard Varieties

-The best things to eat and drink to fight wintertime dread. Soup. Aways soup.

-I have been saying this all along! Never Cut a Squash Again.

-Did you know that scrabble pieces were made in VT? Three shifts at the Scrabble factory: The inventor

-5 Reasons Why a Homestead is an Excellent Place for a Child to Grow Up. I wish I grew on a a farmstead. Hopefully someday I will be living on one though.

-Make This the Year You Finally See the Aurora Borealis. I sure am hoping I will!

-I am all about CBD, but this? Seriously, a bodysuit infused with CBD? What the fuck. I Spent a Full Week Wearing a CBD-Infused Bodysuit

Pictures from the week.

Cranberry Brussels Sprout Slaw

What do you think about at 5 o’clock in the morning? Wait, are you awake at 5? Well I am and yes, I know that most people are not and think I am crazy for waking up so early, but it is and I do and whatever. Anyway, it’s 5 o'clock and I am at the gym (yes, I wake up at 5 AND go to the gym) and me and my gym friend start talking about food (as usual) and what we were going to do with our Brussels sprouts that we got from the farm (I got her to join my CSA!). That is what I am usual thinking at 5. Food, and how to prepare it. And as the sprout conversation commerced, this is what materialized in my head. Crisp, crunchy fresh Brussels spouts, shredded up and tossed in a warm tangy cranberry sauce. My mouth was salivating and as usual, I left the gym hungry.

So I came home, drank all my coffee and then proceeded to make the sprout dish for lunch and let me tell you, this sprout slaw is amazing. Tangy and crunchy and all Brussels sprouty. It has a hardy salad feel without being heavy. It is a slaw that really get me, you know. (I actually don’t know.)

Anyway, you should really get on the eating this Brussels sprouts slaw (or any Brussels sprouts dish) train now, before they go out of season and you end up buying kind of not great sprouts from the market that don’t taste as good. Bad Brussels sprouts suck.

To the cranberry Brussels sprout slaw.

The stuff. Fresh Brussels sprouts, cranberries (fresh or frozen), some onion, balsamic vinegar, a little maple, dried cranberries and toasted walnuts, and salt and pepper.

Start with onion. Grab it and dice it nice and small.

Dump the onion into a skillet with a little pinch of salt and a splash of water and cook for a few minutes, just unit they are not raw anymore. Then add in the cranberries and 1/2 cup water. Cook on a low heat until the cranberries all pop and the sauce starts to thicken.

While cranberries are cooking, shred up the sprouts. Thin as you can get them.

Cranberries are now a thick and chunky sauce and oh so delicious. Add in the vinegar and maple here and give it a good stir and a taste test too. If it is too tart for your liking, add more maple. Think you might need a bit more vinegar, well splash it on it.

Now toss those shredded spouts it.

Stir it around. Season with salt and pepper and there it is.

Scoop into a bowl. Top with dried cranberries and walnuts and grab a fork.

This is good.

-C

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Cranberry Brussels Sprout Slaw

serves 3-4 as a side or one person who wants to eat it all to themselves

• 1 1/2 cups fresh or frozen cranberries

• 1/2 a pound Brussels sprouts ( around 3 1/2- 4 cups shredded)

• 1 small or 1/2 a large onion

• 3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar

• 1 tablespoon maple syrup (or more to taste)

• salt and pepper

• 1/2 -3/4 cup water

• small handful dried cranberries (optional)

• smal handfuls toasted walnuts (optional)

Start with dicing the onion up into small pieces. Place in a skillet with a small pinch of salt and a good splash of water and place on medium heat. Cook for a few minutes or until the water has evaporated and the onions are not raw. Add in the cranberries and 1/2 cup water. Keep on low heat and cook until the cranberries pop and start to thicken. If the cranberries are not cooked all the way and the water has evaporated out, just add another 1/2 cup.

While cranberries are cooking, shredded the Brussels sprouts, as thin as you can. A mandolin is great for this but a knife works too.

Once the cranberries have cooked down to a saucey consistency add in the vinegar and maple and stir around. Remove from heat and carefully taste the sauce. If you think it needs more maple or vinegar, add in another tablespoon until it tastes good to you. Dump in the shredded sprouts and mix. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

And then it’s done. You can dump it all into a bowl and sprinkle the dried cranberries and walnuts on top, or leave it in the skillet and do the same. Me,I scooped half into a bowl for pictures sake and ate the rest right out of the skillet. I then licked the skillet clean with my finger. Then ate the bowl full. SO good.

Sunday Happy

December in action and we are taking it at full speed. All the activities, the birthdays, the holiday celebrations… So much and I love it all, even if I feel like a crazy lady and want to run screaming from groups of people bigger the 2. I’ll deal with the interactions now and just plan to spend the month of January hiding and recovering. I’ll be ok.

The week started with the hunt for our Christmas tree. The Green Mountain National Forest, seventh year running, and this year did not disappoint. A fantastic hike into the woods near a beaver pond with lots of trees, snow on the ground, and no people. Exactly how I like to find our tree. And find it we did, the most perfect (too perfect?) tree. And it only took about an hour of almost cutting down like 20 other trees. Once we were positive, the mr cut it down, we said our thanks to the world, then hiked our tree out of the woods and slid it into the back of the car. Hopped in, cranked the Christmas music, and we were good to go. A perfect Christmas tree expedition.

Then life. Kind of a busy week in terms of birthdays. The beginning of the week Justin turned older by a year, then the next day Sophia did to so we partied with spaghetti, chocolate chocolate cake with tiny apples (she wanted it to be apple shaped but I just made little apples instead), and ballerina style dancing. Then there was a little lull in activities as far as birthdays where the mr and I did some stuff like work stuff, (more him then me), decorated, hung out with Barb, did the doings.

And then Friday. After an afternoon of loading kilns next to other kilns that were 2100 degrees and almost burning my face off, it was a rush to get home and prepare for the masses. Not technically the mr’s birthday, but we had his annual grilled cheese and soup birthday celebration. Pretty much the whole fam at the house again. Lots of grilled cheeses sandwiches were made, so much soup was scooped (tomato and split pea per usual), and cake and ice cream concluded the night. And I only found half a grilled cheese sandwich under the couch when I was cleaning yesterday… Progress? I don’t know, but there definitely was a few big dried soup puddles on the floor. But not on the couch! So there is that.

Back to Sunday. Not sure whats on the agenda for today but I have some stuff I need to do and I know that the mr has some stuff he needs to do. Plus together we have some stuff we need to do so we will see what gets done. Mostly though, I think I am shooting for a small hike, some coffee, and a chill afternoon of reading on the couch, facing the lit up Christmas tree. That would be swell.

Check out what I checked out from the internet this week.

-The Farmers' Almanac Winter Forecast Is Here—and Brrr!. Give me all the snow!!!!

-I can’t imagine a life without reading. Not A Regular Reader? 4 Strategies To Make Reading A Habit

-Why Your Kid Loves the Garbage Truck So Much. I liked the cement trucks…they don’t stink an they spin.

-I am sorry, but this is some bullshit. Italian Artist's Duct-Taped Bananas Are Selling for $120,000 Each

-How to Stop Making Excuses and Start Composting Already. And in Vermont, it’t the law!

-Netflix is perverted. Ha! The Brands Are (Literally) Too Horny and Must Be Stopped

-Food delivery and takeout are on the rise. So are the mountains of trash they create.I like the idea of reusable metal tin. Could we get there?

-Here's Why Your Favorite Headband Always Leaves You With a Headache. I used o wear headbands all the time, but had to stop because of the head pressure it caused.

-How Often, Really, Do You Follow This Recipe Instruction?. Never but always. I like to add color to food, but only when it is edible and adds flavor.

-The sink that looks kind of like a mini tub…. Swoon. For a Long Winter’s Nap: A Manor House and a Schoolhouse in the German Countryside, Available for Stays

And pictures from the week