Unplug to Recharge Challenge: Detox Tea

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beverage, detox, fitness, health, tea, wellness

Unplug to Recharge Challenge
You can take the easy route and purchase boxes of detox teas or you can custom blend teas that suites your needs and pleases your palate.

Detox Tea Recipes

Use a mesh strainer to steep ingredients in hot water for about 7 minutes. Stir and sip.

Detox Tea #1
1 green tea bag
1 Tbsp. fresh grated ginger
1 Tbsp. lemon
honey (optional)

Detox Tea # 2
1 white tea bag
1 cinnamon stick
1 Tbsp. fresh grated ginger
1 tsp. turmeric
honey (optional)

Detox Tea # 3
2 Tbsp. apple cider vinegar
1 cinnamon stick
honey

Detox Tea #4
1 dandelion root tea bag
lemon juice
honey

Detox Tea #5
1 white tea bag
1 Tbsp. lime juice
honey (optional)

Detox Tea #6
1 white tea bag
10-15 mint leaves
1 Tbsp. fresh grated ginger
honey (optional)

Detox Tea #7
1/2 tsp. fennel seeds
1/2 tsp. coriander 
1/2 tsp. cumin seeds
honey

Detox Tea #8
1 green tea bag
1 tsp. cloves
honey

Also check out my Spa Water recipes…

What is your favorite detox tea?

XOXO,
Young Wifey

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Earl Grey Iced Tea

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beverage, drink, Earl Grey, food, foodie, recipe, tea

Year round, Hubster loves iced tea. I prefer hot tea when it’s cold outside and iced tea when it’s warmer. I love tea, however I don’t really care too much for American brands and/or blends. Maybe only one brand has a decent English Breakfast and Earl Grey Blend. Hubster never ventures the hot tea route, so he’s never tried those blends.

Yesterday, when I was making a new gallon of iced tea, I decided to try Earl Grey. I was convinced that Hubster (reluctant to try new things) would tell me that it tasted terrible or that it had gone bad. To my surprise, he didn’t say either. Instead he drank it down, poured a second glass and told me that it was good!

I then informed him of the switch and he declared that he actually preferred it! Could it be? Is he actually developing taste buds for tea?

I set on my back deck and enjoy the 75°F afternoon (in March?!), I sip the sweet victory of my Earl Grey iced tea…

Ingredients:
8 Earl Grey tea bags, 1 gallon of water, 1 c. sugar, orange slices

Directions:
Bring 1/2 of water to a boil and pour over tea bags in a pitcher. Steep tea until water cools. Squeeze and discard tea bags. Stir in sugar until dissolved (Add more hot water is necessary). Fill pitcher with remaining cool water and chill tea before serving. Serve over ice and garnish with an orange slice.

Usually, I enjoy lemon juice, mint or peach schnapps in my regular iced tea, but I may not be going back. What is your favorite iced tea variation?

Grilled Pound Cake with Crème Fraîche, Tangerine & Pomegranate

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autumn breakfast, autumn brunch, beverage, beverage recipe, breakfast, brunch, brunch recipe, chinese apple, comfort food, crème fraîche, crème fraîche substitute, dessert, easy meal, fall breakfast, fall brunch, favorite foods, food, foodie, gourmet brunch, grilles, grilling, holiday breakfast, holiday brunch, meal, mimosa, pomegranate, pomegranate seeds, postaday2011, pound cake, recipe, seasonal food, tangerine, tangerine pomegranate, vegetarian recipe, winter breakfast, winter brunch

Grilled Pound Cake with Crème Fraîche, Tangerines & Pomegranate

Yesterday morning we started off our New Year with something sweet… grilled pound cake. We only consumed one loaf, so today I wanted to play around with a new idea and use part of the other loaf. Use butter rum pound cake recipe or almond pound cake recipe. Crème fraîche is impossible to get here and when it is available, it cost a fortune. I however didn’t have time to make crème fraîche, so I made a quick and easy substitute.

Ingredients:
butter rum pound cake, crème fraîche, 3 tangerines, 1 pomegranate

Directions:
Heat grill pan over medium heat. Use a bread knife to slice the pound cake. Lightly butter each side of cake, place on hot pan and grill  for about 30 seconds before flipping. Remove promptly from heat. Spread crème fraîche on one slice of pound cake and top with another slice. Peal tangerines and break into segments, remove any seeds. Add 1/2 a tangerine to each plate and sprinkle on the pomegranate seeds.

Crème Fraîche Substitute:
Whip together 1/2 c. sour cream and 1/2 a c. of sweet whipped cream (homemade, not out of a tub or can). You’re supposed to let it stand just like you would making true crème fraîche, but then it’s not any faster. Make and let it sit awhile with you mix the pound cake batter.

*Garnish with a sprinkle of confectioner’s sugar if desired.

Yesterday Hubster walked to the store to get orange juice and instead returned with an orange, pineapple, apple… I thought this would be a tasty variation for a mimosa…

What was on your breakfast plate?

Twelfth Day of Christmas – Espresso Jar Candle

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12 Days of Christmas, 12th day of Christmas, beverage, candle, candle making, Christmas cheer, Christmas decor, Christmas gift, Christmas party, Christmas present, Christmas tradition, coffee, door prizes, espresso, gift, gift giving, gift in a jar, handmade, holiday craft, holiday party, home decor, homemade, hostess gift, hot beverages, house warming, house warming gift, jar candle, jar craft, party favors, present, scented candle, twelfth day of Christmas, twelve days of Christmas

On the twelfth day of Christmas Young Wifey shared with me her Espresso Jar Candle, Gingerbread Man Ornaments, Fleece Blankets, Bottle Cap Magnets, Fleece Sphere Ornament, Button Wreath Ornament, Christmas Mouse Cat Toy, Melted Frosty Ornament, Crocheted Fan Bookmarks, Crocheted Snowflake Ornaments, Wine Glass Charms and Glass Globe Ornaments…

Today’s post is very late, due to an earlier science experiment that went wrong and resulted in a few small burns on my hand… Ouch!.. The first brand of wax dye I tried was not very good and caused the wax to bubble and splatter out of the pot, which caused me to spill the candle fragrance on the counter. I’ve made dozens of candles before and I felt like a clueless newbie. I’ll be contacting the wax dye company tomorrow.

It took a while for me to start the second batch, this time I only added fragrance. I also had gloves on this time. Also, I didn’t wait for the wax to set before photographing… once the jar cools, I’ll clean up the outside where I spilled some wax. I’ll update with a better photo once the candle is cleaned up and I have some natural light to photograph.

Espresso Jar Candle

 

These Espresso Jar Candles are so cute and easy to make. These candles make a great Christmas present, housewarming present, hostess gift, party favors of door prizes! Coffee lovers beware! Do not attempt to drink this!

How To:
Use clear drying craft glue to attach coffee beans to the inside of the jar, in a pattern you like. I covered the bottom of the sides with coffee beans and glued a few randomly up the sides. Center candle wick in middle of jar, and glue base down. Allow all glue to dry completely (it took three hours for all traces of my glue to disappear). Cut wax into small pieces and heat over medium heat until all melted. Keep still until candle is set. Tie a piece of holiday ribbon around the neck of the jar and attach a gift tag.

Approx. Cost
Airtight glass jar = $1, large block of wax = $7.50, small bag of whole coffee beans = $1, package of candle wicks = $1, craft glue = $1 a bottle, bottle of candle fragrance = $1, bottle of wax dye = $1    Such a cute gift for about $3.25 a candle

This post wraps up 2010’s 12 Days of Christmas countdown, I hope you saw a few ideas that you can use, or inspired you to create something else! Happy Holiday season everyone!!!

2009′s Christmas Countdown – On the twelfth day of Christmas Young Wifey shared with me, her chocolate Christmas fudge, chocolate bonbons, coconut clusters, cranberry almond bark, chocolate amaretto cherries, pecan turtles, raspberry chocolate truffles, gingerbread fudge, peppermint bark, dark chocolate peanut butter balls, cracked glass candy, and her peanut butter fudge recipe…

Second Day of Christmas – Wine Glass Charms

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beverage, beverage charm, Christmas, Christmas Dinner, Christmas party, cocktail charm, cocktail hour, cocktail party, craft, drink charm, food, frugal, Frugality, gift, gift giving, gift ideas, handmade, handmade gift, Holiday, holiday menu, holiday season, holiday traditions, homemade, homemade gift, hostess gift, party, party favor, party favors, personalized gifts, second day of Christmas, stemware, thank you gifts, vino, wine, wine charm, wine glass

On the second day of Christmas Young Wifey shared with me her Wine Glass Charms and Glass Globe Ornaments…

Simple and elegant as a gift or party favors. Make them match your holiday decor and give them to guests to keep as party favors. Customize them with a monogram and give them as a gift to the wine lover. Create a festive set and bring them to a party as your hostess gift. Kids can help  create this simple craft.

Wine Glass Charms

How To:
Select a charm and several beads, slide on hoop in desired pattern. Make sure each wine charm is unique to help guest easily recognize their glass. Place a bead of clear drying glue under the last bead to hold them on the hoop.

Approx. Cost of Project:
package of 10 hoops = $1, assorted beads = $2-4, 2 sets of charms = $5, you can make a set of 10 for under $10!

*If you’re hosting a holiday party, hand out wine charms at the beginning as a party favor. Set up a wine charm craft station; arrange little bowls of beads, charms and hoops, then your guest can each make their own wine charm.

Unfortunately all my stemware is in our storage unit, so I couldn’t model the charms in the picture. Remember to check out my blog tomorrow to see what gift idea I’ll be sharing.

2009’s Christmas Countdown – On the twelfth day of Christmas Young Wifey shared with me, her chocolate Christmas fudgerecipe, chocolate bonbons, coconut clusters, cranberry almond bark, chocolate amaretto cherries, pecan turtles, raspberry chocolate truffles,gingerbread fudge, peppermint bark, dark chocolate peanut butter balls, cracked glass candy, and her peanut butter fudgerecipe…

Happy Hanukkah to my Jewish friends!
 

 

Summer Beverages

Tags

alcoholic tea, BBQ, beverage, ice tea, iced tea, lemonade, limeade, limeade cocktail, party, peach iced tea, peach tea, rose spritzer, summer beverages, summer drinks, summer recipe, wine spritzer

I was recently told that I make the best lemonade and Iced Tea. Seriously? Do these people ever drink things that aren’t bottled or doesn’t come from a mix? Since it’s BBQ and party season I decided to share my summer beverage recipes perfect for entertaining any group.

Three Gallon Beverage Dispensers

Lemonade: For every gallon of water, mix together 1 c. sugar and 1 c. lemon juice. You can either use fresh squeezed lemon juice or from the bottle, but never frozen or from a mix! If I squeeze fresh lemon juice, I leave the lemon halves in the pitcher. Most people prefer the juice from the bottle, with just a few lemons as garnish.

Limeade: For every gallon of water, mix together 1/2 c. sugar and 1 c. lime juice. You can either use fresh squeezed lime juice or from the bottle, but never frozen or from a mix! If I squeeze fresh lime juice, I leave the lime halves in the pitcher. Add light rum, vodka or tequila for an adult drink.

Iced Tea: For every gallon of water, use 10 tag bags (I always use Lipton) and 3/4 c. sugar. Bring about half of the water to a boil, add tea bags and allow to steap. Squeeze tea bags to remove extra fluid, and discard. Mix in sugar while tea is still hot, this will allow it to dissolve. Add a sprig or two of fresh mint and a splash of lemon juice if desired. Then add ice to fill pitcher or container and finish off with water.

Alcoholic Peach Iced Tea: For every gallon of water, use 10 tag bags, 1 c. peach schnapps (or more to your liking), 1 fresh sliced peach. Bring about half of the water to a boil, add tea bags and allow to steap. Squeeze tea bags to remove extra fluid, and discard. Add ice to fill pitcher or container, then peach slices and finish off with water.

Wine Spritzer: I use 1 gallon of rosé wine, two 2-liter bottles of citrus soda and fresh fruit (one chopped green apple or a pint of sliced strawberries). Fill pitcher halfway with ice and add fruit. Pour wine and soda on top.

Mojitos

Tags

beverage, Cinco de Mayo, club soda, cocktail, cocktail hour, drinks, lime, mint, mixed drink, Mojitos, rum, sparkling water, white rum

My week-long Cinco de Mayo celebration continues with a refreshing drink (not this morning, after school yesterday). Mojitos! What a fun word to say. What a tasty drink. Although I think they’re originally Cuban… not Mexican… but I’m not a beverage historian.

Mojitos

Ingredients:
Fresh mint, lime, sugar, white rum, sparkling water or club soda, crushed ice

Directions:
Add mint leaves to glass, squeeze lime on top and add a tsp. of sugar. Use a muddler to crush the mint leaves. Fill glass with ice, add rum and top off with sparkling water or club soda. Garnish glass with a spring of mint and a lime wedge.

Other than mojitos or margaritas, what other Mexican beverages do you enjoy?