Have A Cup of Cheer!

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"Have a holly, jolly Christmas! It's the best time of the year! I don't know when there'll be snow, but have a cup of cheer..."

The temperature is indeed dropping, which means the tea pot is ever boiling at my house. Whether it be for hot cocoa or a lovely cup of tea, the kettles has been singing it's, "I'm ready!" tune rather frequently of late. My recent efforts to drink less coffee also contributes towards that end. So, I wanted to share with you some of my favorite holiday teas!

One of my all time favorites is Celestial Seasonings' Candy Cane Lane tea.

"This delectable holiday blend starts with naturally decaffeinated green tea and adds unmistakable seasonal flavors like cool peppermint, creamy vanilla and a dash of cinnamon. Candy canes have been cherished symbols of holiday spirit for centuries, and Candy Cane Lane^® is sure to become a festive and healthy tradition at your celebrations!"
—Charlie Baden, Celestial Seasonings Blendmaster

What I can tell you is that the "cool peppermint" is truly cooling - great for sore throats! It is akin (although not as powerful) as that minty fresh feeling you get from chewing gum! The vanilla and cinnamon compliment the green and mint teas nicely and do not overpower. It is a delicious and soothing tea, perfect for morning, noon, or night!

When you're in the mood for something a bit more robust, Celestial Seasonings' Gingerbread Spice Tea hits the spot!

"Stepping into a cozy kitchen warmed by the spicy aroma of freshly baked gingerbread — what a wonderful way to thaw a frosty winter chill! This handcrafted blend is a nostalgic medley of ginger, cinnamon and other time-honored ingredients. Because it's naturally caffeine free, you can indulge in this unmistakably merry tea any time!"
—Charlie Baden, Celestial Seasonings Blendmaster

The blendmaster says it right. The aroma from this tea is alluring and cozy. If you don't happen to have any holiday cookies handy, this tea is the next best thing. Better yet, it is a great accompaniment to those holiday cookies! I like to drink mine with a little bit of sugar and a swirl of whipped cream. Mmmmm.....

Sugar Cookie Sleigh Ride runs in a similar vein; it legitmately tastes just like a Christmas cookie! Unbelievably delicious!!

"This cheerful holiday blend will warm your heart with the inviting aroma and delightfully simple taste of freshly baked sugar cookies straight from the oven. Like all of our teas, Sugar Cookie Sleigh Ride has no refined sweeteners or added sugars — giving you a guilt-free way to partake freely in the pleasures of the season."
—Charlie Baden, Celestial Seasonings Blendmaster

Celestial Seasonings has two other holiday teas I have yet to try - Nutcracker Sweet & Sugar Plum Spice.



I'll have to pick those up and give them a try next time I am out at the store. I can only imagine how delightful they must be!

What are your favorite holiday beverages? Do tell!

My mother-in-law recently purchased a slow cooker cookbook that included drink recipes. Many of them seemed tantalizing to the taste buds. I have yet to try any of those concoctions but will let you know if I do. Happy sipping everyone!

Morning Glory!

Folgers Special Roast

OK, so I'll admit I was slightly duped into discovering this wonderful combination; however, with the given results, I'll gladly succumb to their marketing ploys again.

One day, I was in the supermarket, looking to restock my supply of coffee. Now, a million to one, I prefer flavored coffee, but I generally refuse to pay upwards of $6 for a can/bag of coffee. And seemingly, none of the flavored options were on sale that day. So, I figured I'd just buy regular and get some flavored creamer - a more than satisfying substitute.

As I perused the coffee on the shelves, I remembered a friend told me of someone she knew who taste tested various products to provide consumer reviews. And apparently, this person had remarked that of all the coffees she has tasted, Folgers had the best well-rounded flavor. That day, it also happened to be on sale, so taking such knowledge into account narrowed down my search a bit.

I enjoy a solid medium roast. Far from weak, but equally as far from being intensely and bitterly strong. I was considering their traditional Medium Roast when I spotted their Special Roast. This is where I was duped. It said "Special." My rationale: I work hard!  My morning cup o' joe is a highlight of my day! So in order to make my morning coffee as close to perfection as possible, I need, no, I deserve something "special." So, I bought it. :) You couldn't beat the price anyway.

It wasn't until about a week later that I bought the International Delight creamer. But man, oh man, was I ever glad I did. I love an Almond Joy as is, yet I was skeptical as to how it would taste as a creamer. The answer: indulgently delightful.

My #1 favorite flavor of coffee is coconut. It is hard to come by in a grocery store, and as much as I love Dunkin', their coconut syrup does not do the job. The only place I have consistently found it is at The Christmas Tree Shop in small 4 oz. packets for $0.99. It is either that or do as my loving parents did for me one Christmas and order it via the internet.


The Almond Joy creamer has a stand out but not overly pervasive coconut-y flavor. It also has a subtle chocolatey almond taste too. One of the features I love about it is that when you pour the creamer in, it immediately interacts with the heat/steam from the coffee and your nose is greeted by the smell of coconut. *sigh* You are able to enjoy a moment of bliss before settling into your daily grind.

Needless to say, I am quite happy with my purchase on both fronts - coffee and creamer. By itself, the Folgers Special Roast is quite good, and I bet (although I have not tried it yet) the Almond Joy creamer would do wonders for a cup of hot cocoa. But it is a limited edition, so get it now while you can. I plan to buy a few more pints ASAP.

For more information about Folgers and all of their various roasts, you can visit their website.

At International Delight's website, you can find a list of all of their flavors, recipe ideas, and the local retailers who carry their products by flavor! How nifty is that!?

I Found A Gem In My Freezer!

I love veggies. Even when my husband would rather stick to his meat and starch, I will go out of my way to put a vegetable on my plate. It often appears as a raw veg - perhaps as carrots accompanied by hummus, a traditional green or even a bean salad. Yet, I have no qualms against steaming vegetables either. Cooked spinach is a #1 favorite of mine (though I rarely get to enjoy it as few others within my household have been quite as inspired by Popeye as I have).

For weeks, I have been eyeing a particular package of vegetables in our freezer, just waiting for the opportune meal to bring them out. Well, that opportune meal never really presented itself, so having been tormented by them for so long now I figured, "What the heck?" and cooked 'em up tonight alongside our cheesesteaks. I was delightfully impressed.

The vegetable in question:

They were delicious! A steam in bag version, they were ready to go in 6 minutes flat. There was next to no excess liquid that needed to be drained from the mixture after microwaving - a feature I have not always seen in other brands.

I was surprised at how natural they tasted. They could easily stand alone or be mixed with a little oil, vinegar, and spice as a great tortilla chip dip. They would serve as a great filler in a Mexican dish as the mixture includes corn, black beans, tomatoes, green & red bell peppers, and onion. They could pump up a chili recipe, adding a little more vibrant color beyond the usual red and white beans. The possibilities are endless.

I was quite happy that I finally used them tonight, and I will certainly purchase them again. And, of course, I am very open to trying Veg-All's other vegetable blends. Turns out, they are a company that has been around since the 1920's. If you're curious about their history, click here. Their secret - they prep and package their vegetables in a light onion broth, which gives them an almost buttery taste. Yummm...

I highly recommend this blend, and I'll keep you posted on any others I try. Happy eating everyone!

A New Blog!

In addition to being fascinated by the fashion world, I am equally, if not more so, obsessed with food. I LOVE FOOD! How can you not? It always excites me when I try out a great, new recipe, or when I go out on a limb and put a different twist on a traditional dish. I also become giddy when I stumble across a great food item - whether bought in a store or concocted at home.

Now, let it be known, I am in no way purporting myself as an experienced chef - FAR, FAR from it, actually. I frequently and continuously fumble around the kitchen. I can't use a knife without cutting myself, and I almost always have to consult recipes. Nevertheless, I enjoy creating tasty dishes and absolutely love to consume them.

So I invite you to follow my journey through life as it pertains to food. Hopefully, the information will be, if nothing else, amusing and somewhat helpful. And if all else fails, I pray that it will at least be tasty! Food First!