Thing is, I can’t get them anymore. They closed the Starbucks locally that was good and left the one where all the really lazy people work open. Not sure how that worked but it did. Anyway..I figured it was time to learn how to make my own copy cat gingerbread latte.

If you want to make this really easy start out with the JazzyBird Espresso.

Gingerbread Latte Recipe

• 2- 4 oz espresso shot
• 2 tbs Monin Gingerbread Syrup
• 1/2 cup of whole milk steamed and frothed
• 3- 4 tbs whipped cream
• 1 tbs candied ginger
• 2 tbs caramel sauce
• Fresh grated nutmeg

1. A quick way to steam milk without a steamer is to heat it to a simmer on the stove (or in the microwave) and carefully blend it until it is frothy. Be careful though. It is very hot and if it flies out of the blender it will burn you.
2. Add the espresso shot to a warmed coffee mug.
3. Stir in the syrup
4. Add the milk
5. Put whipped cream on top, drizzle with caramel syrup, sprinkle with grated nutmeg and add the candied ginger

Serves 1

image SXC

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Try this when you need something to warm you up.

Cranberry Ginger Tea Recipe

• 2 teaspoons loose Black tea (your choice but try this Black Dragon Pearl by Teavana)
• 2 cups hot water (just under the boil)
• 6 tbs sliced, peeled, fresh ginger
• 1/2 cup cranberry juice (warmed)
• 1/2 cup cranberries
• Pinch of cinnamon
• Pinch of cardamom

1. Steep everything but cranberry juice  for 10 to 15 minutes and then strain into cups.
2. Add hot cranberry juice
3. Add a little sugar to taste.
4. Serve with a cinnamon stick if desired.

Makes 2 cups

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I may not be here tomorrow (saturday 6/14) because we are having an open house so that everyone who has not seen Chris in awhile can spend time with him. If I do miss the day that is what is going on and we will surf and shop early next week.

I have to admit that I used brown sugar in the above recipe and that is why it looks brown. Truth in advertising, right?

This is a fantastic, moist cake that is just a touch different. It is wonderful with cream cheese and orange marmalade spread on it and cut in small shapes for tea sandwiches as well as when topped with a dollop of cream and served as a cake.

1 cup sugar, white
1/3 c butter softened
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 eggs
1 3/4 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
grated zest from one lemon
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup sour cream
2 tablespoons lavender buds

Glaze:
1/3 cup sifted powdered sugar
1 tsp lemon juice
1/2 tsp vanilla

Preheat oven to 350°.

Beat sugar, butter, and teaspoon vanilla at medium speed until well-blended. Add eggs beating well after each addition. Combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, lemon zest and salt. Add flour mixture to sugar mixture alternately with sour cream, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Stir in lavender gently.

Pour the batter into an 8-inch greased loaf pan. Bake at 350° for 1 hour or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean.
Combine the powdered sugar and remaining ingredients. Stir until smooth. Spread over hot cake. Cool in pan 20 minutes, remove from the pan. Cool completely.

Image:MaryeAudet

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See that? That is goat’s milk. Gallons of raw, organic, healthy goat’s milk milked by yours truly in the wee hours of the morning. O.k…well not wee hours. More like 8:00, or uh… 9:00…maybe even 10:00. I admit it ..I get out there when I can.

What are you going to do with that much milk?

Ice Cream. Seriously. Copious amounts of ice cream. It doesn’t take us long to go through a gallon of the stuff.

Remember that we are a family of coffee and tea drinkers. Earl Grey makes a fabulous ice cream. In fact I have so many variations on the stuff it isn’t funny. Earl Grey chocolate, Earl Grey, lavender and vanilla bean… Earl Grey with candied orange, Earl Grey chocolate chip….

So use your imagination. If you are really using goats milk and it is raw and fresh then you do not need the half and half. However if you are using anything else do not skimp on the cream. It is what makes the difference, I promise.

Earl Grey Vanilla Bean Ice Cream

• 3 cups whole milk

• 3 c half and half
• 2 vanilla beans. split
• 8 Earl Grey tea bags
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 12 egg yolks
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 5 cups heavy cream lightly whipped

Put the milk, half and half, vanilla bean, and sugar in a pot. Bring almost to a boil and remove from heat. Stir well and put in 1/2 c loose leaf Earl Grey tea. You can steep it in a cheesecloth if you like. Leave for a good half hour to let the tea steep. Strain out the tea leaves. You can do this by pouring through a tea mesh, or gold coffee filter, or even cheese cloth. Scrape the inside flesh and seeds from the vanilla beans into the milk mixture.

Mix the egg yolks with the remaining sugar until light. Add a little of the milk mixture to the eggs and then whisk in the egg mixture to the milk. Return to medium heat and cook, stirring, until mixture thickens.

Remove from heat and cool. Fold in whipped cream thoroughly. Chill.

Freeze in large capacity ice cream maker according to instructions and then allow to ripen in the freezer for at least 12 hours before serving.

Makes: Approximately a gallon.

Image: Marye Audet 

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I was reminded that it is Red Hat Day today by Sandy, at ALL Holiday Cafe. She has some great background on what it is, and the history of it.

So, as any day is a great day for an impromptu tea party, here are some ideas to get you started. Just call your friends, tell them to clear their schedules (yeah, right…) and go have a blast.

The first thing that I like about Red Hat teas is that they are so not meant to be serious. Poke fun at aging. I mean, after all, some of us will never wear a bikini again but what we may lack in stomach muscles we have gained in confidence and technique, right?

I had posted a series on hosting a Red Hat Christmas tea back in November. It was in three parts…

Part one Decorating

Part two The Menu

Part three Tea Suggestions

Now, of course that was then, and this is now. For an impromptu Red Hat Party it needs to be quick, easy, and if your budget looks like mine right now..inexpensive (cheap). If you have collections of beautiful china then go for it…but if not…try this:

Grab Purple paper plates and red napkins at the party store..if you have a little extra cash buy some play necklaces in those colors to decorate with…Feathers work well too, so if you happen to be at Hobby Lobby then pick up a bag of those to toss around the table. You can add to the sparkle with red/purple confetti.

Try some of the following foods. Keep in mind I am thinking impromptu here so there is not a lot of preparation:

Pink Hat Party Dip

1 c sour cream

8 oz cream cheese

1/2 c sugar

1/4 c raspberry jam

1/2 c raspberries

Mix everything but the raspberries in the mixer at medium speed. Chill. Garnish with fresh raspberries and chocolate curls. Use it as a dip for Lorna Doone cookies and fresh fruit.

Fruit Pizza

1 package refrigerated sugar cookie dough, or one recipe homemade

1 jar Marshmallow fluff

1 package cream cheese

assorted fruit, peeled and sliced

1/2 c pecans or walnuts chopped

1/2 c chopped chocolate

On an ungreased baking sheet, or pizza pan, smooth the cookie dough into a 1/4 inch thick layer. Bake for 10 minutes.

Mix marshmallow cream and cream cheese. Spread over the crust. Chill. Decorate pizza with slices of fruit and sprinkle nuts and chocolate over top.

Red Hat Tea Punch

• 4 cups boiling water
• 10 Celestial Seasonings Red Zinger tea bags
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 2 liters of gingerale or Sprite
• 12 oz apple raspberry juice

Mix all ingredients except gingerale (or Sprite). Chill. Add the soda just before serving.

Serve Rooibus, or black current tea to keep with the red/purple theme.

Most of all, celebrate being uniquely you.

Images: Morguefile

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