Monday, November 20, 2017
Preparing the Food and Mood for Thanksgiving
Friday, November 17, 2017
Hot Tea Recipes for Fall and Winter Reviewed
Time Time Card is Available on Zazzle |
Hot Tea Anyone?
I really love discovering new hot tea blends and hot tea recipes! Not only is hot tea good for our health, hot tea recipes are often simply delicious.
January is National Hot Tea Month, but long before January, I need my hot tea. After all, November and December are very cold months and we are constantly looking for something to warm us up inside and out.
Truthfully, most tea-lovers drink hot tea year round. We don't wait for the cold weather, but hot tea is essential when freezing temperatures settle in for the fall and winter months.
There are many great hot tea blends and hot tea recipes. It is often hard to choose a favorite hot tea, so we simply must sample them all! Hot tea is especially delicious when shared with loved ones.
Choosing the Right Hot Tea Recipe
What is the Difference in Teas?
Green, Black, and Oolong tea are all made from the same tea leaves. It is the actual processing of the tea leaves that makes the difference.
Green teas ~ The leaves are steamed before they start to ferment. Tea leaves are not allowed to ferment for Green teas.
Black teas ~ The leaves are fermented for a limited time and then heated to stop further fermentation.
Oolong teas ~ The leaves are partially fermented.
Herbal teas ~ Not actually made from tea leaves.
Herbal Tea
Even though they are called tea, herbal teas are not made from tea leaves. They are drinks created with flower leaves, peels, spices and/or herbs.Make Your Own Herbal Tea ~ From the National Gardening Association: Herbal Tea Recipes
Try Hot Diaphoretic Herbal Tea
If You Feel a Cold Coming On Red Clover Tea – Herbal Tea Recipe
Made from red clover blossoms & leaves Hibiscus Lemongrass Tea -- A blend of hibiscus flowers, lemongrass & rosehips
Lipton Premium Black Tea Bags, Natural Energy 40 ctCheck Price
Black Tea
According to the Tea Association of the United States, "recent research findings have reported that drinking black tea may improve the body's defenses and quicken the response to bacteria and viruses."This is just awesome news and an excellent reason to raise our tea cups and toast tea!
Black tea is considered the tea choice for energy. If you need a boost in your energy level, this is the tea choice for you.
Black Tea Recipes
Thai Tea Recipe - Made with MilkGreen Tea
Green tea is considered to be healthiest tea. It is lower in caffeine and contains antioxidants that promote better health. Some studies show that it may even help prevent cancer, heart disease and tooth decay.Green tea also helps to increase your metabolism, which can result in slight weight loss and it helps lower cholesterol.
For more health information, see: Green Tea Health Benefits
Oolong Tea
Oolong Tea is often referred to as the "weight loss tea" and it has been said that it is the most effective tea in aiding weight loss. Some report that it aids in the relief of eczema, diabetes and allergies.Oolong tea is my personal favorite. I've never tried any Oolong blend recipes. I simply stick to the standard Bigelow teabag and add a teaspoon of sugar for taste. I don't drink Oolong tea for weight loss. Honestly, if it affects my weight, I wouldn't know it. I have been drinking it for decades.
Holiday Hot Tea Recipes
From Halloween to New Years, we are celebrating, chatting, sipping tea and visiting with friends and family. It is wonderful to have a variety of hot tea recipes to serve and to share.Spice Tea Recipe Orange Tea Recipe Warm Grapefruit Tea Hot Cranberry Tea
Check Out More Recipe Reviews at
ReviewThisRecipes.com
More Hot Tea Articles
I am not the only hot tea loving Contributor! Here are a few more articles that you can read right here on Review This!There are lots of great options available from a selection of teas to strainers, mugs, tea pots and much, much more.
The Manatea Tea Infuser and Mug Gift Set is really cute - I love the casual look of the mug and the 'go with the flow' inscription
Why drink peppermint tea? As well as being delicious this tea has a myriad of health benefits.
Looking for good medicinal teas? You can't do much better than Lifestyle Awareness teas. Here's my review after trying them.
Hot Tea Recipes for Fall and Winter Reviewed Written by:
Saturday, November 11, 2017
National Gingerbread Cookie Day Review
Gingerbread Cookies (source: Pixabay) |
Gingerbread cookies are traditionally made in shapes such as flowers, hearts, and trees. They can be made in different sizes and can be iced and decorated.
The Gingerbread Man shape probably goes back to the time of Queen Elizabeth I. History tells us that her palace baker during her reign (1558 to 1603) baked and decorated gingerbread men in the likenesses of important court visitors for Her Majesty to present to them.
The tale of Hansel and Gretel of Grimm’s Fairy Tales (1812) increased the popularity of gingerbread cookies and other treats. Later, Gingerbread men and animals became popular Christmas tree ornaments.
Gingerbread Cookie Recipes
There are lots of gingerbread cookie recipes online.
For a different and a bit unusual Gingerbread Cookie recipe, I found this one in a gingerbread crafts leaflet:
Gingerbread Cutout Cookies
by Shelly Vaughan
Source: Pixabay |
Touch of Pineapple Gingerbread People Cookies
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup butter-flavored shortening
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 cup dark molasses
- 1 cup pineapple juice or more as needed
- 5 cups flour
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1-1/2 teaspoons ground ginger
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- Miniature candy-coated chocolate candies (M&Ms) and/or raisins
Icing:
- 1-1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
- 2 tablespoons pineapple juice:
Instructions:
- For cookies, combine shortening, sugar and molasses in large bowl. Stir in pineapple juice. In another bowl, stir together flour, baking soda, salt, ginger, cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg. Gradually stir into molasses mixture until thoroughly incorporated (Dough will be stiff.) Cover and chill for 2 hours.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray cookie sheet with non-stick cooking spray once.
- On floured surface, roll dough out 1/3 inch thick. Cut into desired shapes with floured cookie cutter, using gingerbread people cutter or other cutter. Place cookies 1"-2" apart on prepared cookie sheet. Decorate with candies and/or raisins as desired. Bake for 10 minutes, or until light finger indentation springs back. Cool completely.
- Store cookies in single layer in airtight container, or layer cookies with waxed paper separating layers.
*Makes 3 dozen.
Decorating Gingerbread Cookies
Source: Pixabay |
Decorating Tips
- Gently press decorating candies or other items into cookies before baking.
- Pipe icing onto warm cookies with a small decorating tip.
- Icing is quick and easy to make. If you prefer convenience items, however, you may use tubes of decorating icing with decorating tips.
- If you would like to add some color to your cookies, lightly spinkle colored sugars, sprinkles, nonpareils or flaked coconut over wet icing. Gently shake off excess, if necessary.
Gingerbread People Parts
It's fun to personalize your gingerbread people. When baking with children, this is the part they like the best. Here are a few suggestions:
- Eyes -- raisins, dried blueberries, miniature M&Ms.
- Noses -- cinnamon red-hot candies, M&Ms, dried cranberries.
- Buttons -- raisins, cinnamon-coated raisins or golden raisins, small jelly beans, decorating stars, miniature M&Ms, chocolate chips, peanut butter chips, butterscotch chips, walnut pieces, pecan pieces, macadamia nut pieces.
- Mouths -- licorice strings, almond slivers, red or pink decorating icing.
Currently Available on Etsy |
*The gingerbread cutout cookie recipe and decorating tips are by Shelly Vaugham and was printed in the craft leaflet "Easy Gingerbread Crafts" published by House of White Birches in 1999. Available on Etsy on sale at the present time.
And, in addition to the above recipe, Coletta Teske of Review This! included a yummy looking gingerbread cookie recipe in her blog post food review of Simple Snacks for Santa.
Other Forms of Gingerbread Cookies
Besides edible gingerbread cookies, other forms of this cookie have become popular.
Plush Gingerbread Cookie Doll
Gingerbread Cookie Coasters |
Add to the decoration of your home for the holidays with this set of Gingerbread Cookie Coasters.
This is a set of 4 drink coasters with a gingerbread cookie design. Two coasters have a gingerbread boy with a candy cane. Two coasters have a gingerbread boy with a heart.
Gingerbread Cookie Coasters are handmade in needlepoint using acrylic yarn and plastic canvas. They measure 3.5 x 3.75 inches.
Gingerbread Cookie Playset
Christmas Gingerbread Men Cookies Playset |
Gingerbread Holidays Throughout the Year
November 21st isn't the only gingerbread holiday. Besides this 'cookie' day, we have:
- National Gingerbread Day on June 5.
- Gingerbread Decorating Day on December 9.
- Gingerbread House Day on December 12.
Happy Gingerbread Cookie Day!
Monday, October 30, 2017
No Fuss Caramel Apple Treats
Easy and delicious caramel apples |
Ms. Prindable's Caramel Apples
There is no fuss or muss if you buy your caramel apples already made. Food stands at local apple harvest festivals or state fairs have the most amazing caramel apples. But what if you want a caramel apple and don't feel like leaving the house?
I believe it was two years ago when someone gave me a wonderful gift of a Ms. Prindable's caramel apple. That gourmet apple was divine. I don't recall which flavor I had, since Ms. Prindable's carries a variety of caramel-covered apples, but I do recall it was covered in roasted nuts. It was rich, delicious, and it was one of the large apples. That gourmet apple was a very welcomed and thoughtful gift.
Some of the apples offered by Mrs. Prindables on Amazon |
Werther's Sugar-Free Caramel Apple Hard Candies
The least fussy-mussy caramel apple flavored treats are the Werther's sugar free hard candies. Even though they are hard candies and even though they are sugar-free, these are some of my favorite autumn candies.
These Werther's candies truly taste like caramel and green-apples. They are small treats that are individually wrapped - small enough to carry several of them in your pocket or your purse. Because they are hard candies there is no mess other than having to throw away the wrapper.
In addition to the sugar-free hard candies, Werther's offers caramel apple flavored hard candies and caramel apple flavored soft candies.
Werther's Candies |
Caramel Apple Pops
Caramel Apple Pops are green apple-flavored hard candies on a stick with a coating of caramel. They are wonderful but not quite as easy to carry in your pocket or purse. You can definitely keep them handy at home or in your desk drawer. And they are a popular Halloween treat.
Caramel Apple Pops |
Making Caramel Apples at Home with AllRecipes
Well folks, I've now spent so much time thinking about caramel apples that I looked for a tutorial on making them at home. AllRecipes has this "recipe" and video showing the steps of melting the caramel in the microwave and coating the apples.
You can be sure that I'll be snacking on the caramel apple treats above, but I also may end up making some caramel apples at home this year with the help of allrecipes.
Friday, October 20, 2017
Ghoulish Goodies Halloween Cookbook Review
One of my favorite Halloween cookbooks is Ghoulish Goodies because it is chock full of fabulously frightful Halloween recipes and decorating ideas. From spooky yet cute, to ghoulishly grotesque, there is something for every Halloween party or gathering featured in the cookbook.
The front cover of the cookbook gives a very accurate description of what you can expect to find within the book. However, there is so much more than just what you see there. The back cover gives you a bit more insight, but honestly, until you look inside the book, you will not appreciate how truly fantastic this cookbook really is for Halloween.
Let me show you some of my favorite recipes in the book. Keep in mind, there are a lot more in the book though. The features in the collage below just happen to be my personal choices.
This Collage was Created with Scanned Images from the Actual Cookbook |
Ghoulish Goodies Cookbook
Ghoulish Goodies Cookbook
Paperback or Kindle Version Available!Check PriceThis really is a fantastic Halloween cookbook and one that every Halloween hostess should own. Each recipe gives the exact ingredients required, along with easy to follow instructions for creating these Halloween fun food masterpieces.
It also includes lots of decorating tips alongside the individual recipes. For instance, it tells you exactly how to make the "super grass" used on the Ghost Graveyard cake (upper right corner of the collage above).
There are extra recipes included for dipping sauces, plus tips for decorative tray presentation. The presentation suggestions could easily be incorporated with other Halloween food.
Believe it or not, the author didn't stop there. She has also included a section for Halloween supper. Some of dinner recipes feature Candy Corn Pizza, Orange Rice, or Ghost Mashed Potatoes. This would be a really fun supper to serve. Although I must admit, the meatloaf with an unblinking eyeball might me just a little too grotesque for even this Halloween Hostess.
Do I sound excited to review this book? You bet I am! But, I am more excited about getting into the kitchen and making my own Ghoulish Goodies from this cookbook.
ReviewThisBooks.com
Read More Cookbook Reviews at ReviewThisReviews.com ~ Cookbooks
Ghoulish Goodies Halloween Cookbook Review Written by:
Thursday, September 28, 2017
Review of Favorite Banana Bread Recipe
Bread for Fall Menus
Banana Bread
- Tip: If I can't bake that day, I peel the bananas and put them in a freezer bag to freeze for later use. When I'm ready to use them I just sit them out for a few minutes and add them to the recipe.
Recipe for Favorite Banana Bread
Mix together 1 1/2 cup flour, 1 t baking pwd, 1 t baking soda,
and 1/2 t salt.
Mix together wet and dry ingredients. Fold in one half cup of one of the following:
your favorite nuts, raisins, chocolate chips, or dried cranberries.
Bake 325 degrees for 1 hour.
Cool 5 minutes before removing from pan.
Adding Extra Ingredients
Recipe Card
Monday, September 18, 2017
Easy Two-Ingredient Roasted Potatoes
Balsamic Vinaigrette Roasted Potatoes Recipe
Years ago I often made oven-roasted potatoes after tossing them in some balsamic vinaigrette. On the Kraft recipe site they state:
"Red potatoes are seasoned with nothing but balsamic vinaigrette and pepper and end up tasting like something a five-star chef made."Now, my palate is not sophisticated so I am unable to verify that statement with absolute certainty. But I can report that the balsamic vinaigrette roasted potatoes are delicious. Here is their recipe.
I don't follow recipes very well and I tend to just throw things together. My roasted vinaigrette potatoes version is as follows:
- Wash potatoes and cut into chunks (peel if preferred, but I don't)
- Place into a greased baking dish
- Add 2-3 squirts of vinaigrette and toss (coating all pieces of potato)
- Add any extra desired ingredients (see partial list below)
- Place into a pre-heated 350 degree oven for about 20 minutes (stirring occasionally)
- Increase oven to 450 and bake until potatoes reached desired softness (use a fork to check)
The step of starting at a lower temperature then increasing the temp is just something I do so that I remember to go stir and coat the potatoes a few times before they finish. That is a completely unnecessary step for an attentive cook.
Additional Ingredients to Consider When Roasting Potatoes
You can add additional items that you are craving or that you think would be tasty. Some ideas include:
a vinaigrette other than Balsamic
a dressing other than vinaigrette (such as mustard)
my roasted potatoes |
salt
fresh rosemary
lemon juice
onions
browned bacon
browned sausage
ham chunks
Below I will show some of the vinaigrettes I have used regularly with much success. Just a note, the raspberry vinaigrette is one of the choices I make for my Couscous Summer Salad. But I also wouldn't hesitate to use it on roasted potatoes.
Saturday, September 2, 2017
Review of Our Favorite Seafood Dip ~ with Recipe
Homemade Clam Dip & Chips
Family Game Night Snacks (c) Elf |
The quickest and most popular of these type of snacks are what we all like to refer to as 'chips & dip'.
Many years ago our grocery store carried, along with your typical onion dip and guacamole dip, a creamy cream cheese type dip with clams. The seafood lovers in my family absolutely loved it. Somewhere along the line the store-bought clam dip disappeared from the dairy section, probably due to lack of popularity as not everyone likes clams. (Can't imagine that, but it's true!). :-)
We really missed not being able to buy clam dip any more, so I got to pondering on it and figured out it couldn't be that hard to come up with my own version. Using some suggestions from an appetizer cook book for seafood-type dips, this 'homemade clam dip' is what I 'invented'. My family and friends liked it so much that it has become the 'expected' snack item at our house for any time we get together. It's best served with ripple-style chips and/or pretzels because it is a bit 'stiffer' than some dips and the regular chips break apart too easily while 'dipping'.
My son recently called me long distance because he couldn't find his copy of my recipe and needed a review of the ingredients for the batch he was making. Others have asked for the recipe too, so I decided to share it here. Hope you enjoy it at your next gathering.
RECIPE For Clam Dip
- 1 (or 2) 8-ounce package Cream cheese, softened
- 8 ounce tub Sour cream, Use 'light' version, if desired
- 1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire Sauce
- 1 teaspoon Lemon Juice, bottled or Fresh
- 3 or 4 Scallions or Green Onions, chopped
- Dash Pepper
- 1 or 2 cans Canned Clams, drained
- Large Bag Ripple-style Potato Chips and/or Pretzels
- Place opened package of cream cheese in a medium bowl to soften.
- Finely chop 3 or 4 fresh scallions (or green onions). Amount depends on your personal preference.
- When cream cheese is soft enough to work with, add the chopped green onions, Worcestershire sauce, lemon juice and pepper. Stir to mix.
- Add the sour cream a few spoonfuls at a time, stirring into the cream cheese mixture.
- Continue adding sour cream until the dip is the consistency you prefer. Some like it stiffer, somewhat like a spread you could serve on crackers; others like it soft enough to use with chips and pretzels.
- When the dip is mixed to the consistency you like, add the clams (drained, but allow a tiny bit of clam juice to remain for a nice extra flavor).
- Cover and refrigerate for several hours or overnight to allow the flavors to nicely blend. Stir once again before serving with the chips and/or pretzels.
Cook Time
Chips and Other Dips!
If clams are not your favorite, there are lots of other kinds of dips from spinach and guacamole to onion dip to salsas. Any dip and combination of chips (potato, tortilla, pretzels) make great finger food snacks for any kind of party or get-together.
Dip Cookbook
Available on Amazon |
Dips is a dip cookbook with more than 40 recipes ranging from quick & easy dips to fancy party dips. A cookbook filled with dip recipes for any party or occasion.
Are you a fan of 'chips & dips?' What is your favorite kind of dip?
For a variety of other kinds of appetizers, check out these fabulous appetizer reviews compiled for your snacking pleasure here on
National Chip and Dip Day is
March 23
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