Hot Chai, Winter in the City..

Back in December, I took a trip to Oregon, where a friend and I had some of the most delicious chai tea I've ever had. Now, spring is here in my little West Coast town, and I've been hit with a sudden craving for chai.  I decided to try to make my own as soon as I could afford the supplies.

My first attempt was OK, but it tasted a bit medicinal--too much cardamom and cloves, not enough of every thing else. My second attempt was much milder and smoother, and that's the recipe I'm giving you today. This makes enough for four people instead of one, because let's be honest--who's really going to drink just one cup? And if you multiply these ingredients by three, you'll have enough for twelve cups, which should get you through the week (or at least a few days, in our house).

Chai tea for four

Liquids:
 3 cups water
2 cups Half-and-Half
 4 full teaspoons / 2 tea bags of British black tea (Tetley seems to work nicely)

Spices:
4 pods green cardamom
1 thumb sized piece (or 2 inches) fresh ginger, crushed up or at least chopped up
4 whole black peppercorns
1/2 a cinnamon stick
1/2 a cup of brown sugar

Combine the liquids and the tea into a pot and set the heat to medium. Get a ziplock bag and put all the spices and ginger together, then crush them either with a pot or a rolling pin ( you can stop when you can see the cardamom pods break open and the cinnamon break up). Dump the spices into the liquid, then stir frequently for 30 minutes, or until the liquid level drops by roughly half an inch. Strain the solids out, add the brown sugar and stir till dissolved. Serve hot or ice cold.

Valentine's Day: Romance on the Rails

Ok, so I'm gonna break with tradition here, and post about something I DIDN'T cook myself. But it was a heckuva lot of fun.

Valentine's Day weekend, I was chosen to ride the Niles Canyon Romance on the Rails train trip. The trip gave patrons a chance to ride an old school 1940's lounge car, sample local wines from Livermore and nibble on some hors d'oeuvres. As a reporter, I schmoozed--uh, made friends with--the crew and the snack ladies, and got in on the food and drinks.

The trip was awesome, the food was amazing, and the company was incredible. Wonder if I can talk my way back there next year?

Coconut Rum and Tea...I mean Coke

I met up with my friend at a local coffee shop earlier this evening to do some writing (OK, blogging). I forgot, however, that there are negative consequences to drinking coffee at nine at night. So after cleaning the kitchen and washing, putting away and starting a new load of dishes, as well as fixing the broken spice rack, I decided I needed some additional help to get to sleep. So I experimented with what we had left in the house.

Apparently, rum and cinnamon spiced tea was a really crappy combination. So I went with a classic, with a slight alteration.

Coconut Rum and Coke

2 ounces coconut rum
2 ounces Coke (Coke Zero, in this case)

Pour ingredients into a glass. Mix, and drink. Serves one hyperactive blogger.

Adult Hot Toddy

I've been drinking a lot of these over the last two days. Mainly because I had a nasty sore throat, and a hot toddy tends to ease the pain, as well as the coughing. Depending on the amount of booze you put in, it can be a VERY effective nightcap as well. Mine is pretty basic, but I've seen ones where people use cloves, sugar syrup, and (wonder of wonders!) a teabag. And any alcohol will do--brandy, rum, whiskey, scotch, etc.You can even use wine, but...that's a recipe that comes later, closer to Christmas. [:)]


Scientific fact: alcohol can temporarily raise your body temperature, which is why many people feel flushed when they've had too much. I wonder if that's why I woke up the last few nights sweating profusely...?


This recipe can also be used for kids, without the alcohol of course. We want the little darlings to feel better, not kill them off.


Ok, off to go make another one. I really, REALLY need to get some more lemons...


Adult Hot Toddy

6 ounces water

2 tablespoons honey

1 shot brandy

1/2 a lemon


Pour water and honey into a microwave safe 8 ounce cup. Heat for two minutes, or until honey has melted and water is fairly warm. Add the brandy and lemon and stir. Makes one serving--which, depending on how strong you made it, may be the only one you need for the rest of the night.

Bourbon and 7Up

So I was somewhat irritated when I got home today. I decided to watch a little TV and make a drink to calm down. I grabbed some diet 7Up and some Four Roses, and did a little experimentation. The result is pretty damn tasty.


Bourbon and 7Up


1 oz Four Roses Bourbon (or whatever bourbon suits your fancy)

3 oz Diet 7Up (you can also use regular)

1 lime, sliced into wedges


Get an old fashioned glass (the short kind) and fill it with ice. Add the bourbon and 7Up. Squeeze the lime into the drink and stir lightly. Serves one annoyed and keyed up blogger.

Rum and Gingerale

I love cocktails and rarely drink a spirit straight (If I do, you know I've had a really , REALLY bad day). This rum drink is a takeoff on a Cuba Libre, my personal favorite (and my boyfriend's as well). Best of all, it takes seconds to make.

Rum and Gingerale

2 ounces rum

4-6 ounces gingerale

Lime juice (optional)

Serve over ice. Stir to combine. Serves one relaxed blogger.