Orange Lemonade

Sometimes we forget how easy it can be to make certain food and drink. While watching Lemon Tree recently, I was reminded of how simple it is to make lemonade; all you need is the fresh juice of a lemon, a little sugar to taste, and cool water. Plus, with spring's new growth starting to peek out, I was in the mood for something that reminds me of warm, sunny days.

Here, I added the juice of a small orange for more complexity of flavor. If you want to make the flavor even more interesting, you can add a couple drops of orange blossom water to your glass.

Bubble Tea

Some years ago, I was introduced to bubble tea by Tina, Zena, and Nancy. Not only do we still enjoy bubble tea together on occasion, but the drink itself always reminds me of them. :)

A few months ago, upon finding tapioca pearls during a shopping trip, I decided to make some at home. It's easy enough: bubbles, tea, and juice. And, when you make it at home, not only can you choose any flavor of tea and juice you want, but you can also control the sugar and amount of bubbles you add to your drink. (Do not be fooled! It looks light, but bubble tea calories can add up quickly.)

Here's today's results, tea with strawberry lemonade and, of course, bubbles.

Masala Chai

Mmmmm........warm, spicy, milky, sweet, fragrant tea. Why buy it from a cafe or pre-packaged when you can make it fresh?

There are variations to the spices in different regions of India (as well, I'm sure, from one household to another), but I like to use fresh ginger, cinnamon, peppercorns, whole cloves, a dash of nutmeg, and whole cardamom, all which can be found in a well-stocked kitchen. 

After the spices boil together, add some perfumed tea, milk, and sugar and let them simmer.

Using a strainer to catch the whole spices and tea leaves, pour into a cup and enjoy!

Mint and Sage Tea

Unsweetened mint and sage tea, perfect for all sorts of abdominal pain. Simply boil water then steep fresh or dry mint and sage leaves. You can sweeten it, especially if you find the sage bitter.