Chai Tea

I love tea.  I have learned though over the years, and with lots of trial and error, that I don't like all teas.  I am primarily a green or a white tea drinker, that loves spice and fruity flavors.  I stay away from the Lipton teas (no offense - just don't really like the black tea flavor) and any of the black tea - if I am drinking it straight.  If you are one that says, "Ugh. Tea!" take another look - try a different type... experiment.  Tea has so many benefits that you are crazy not to give it another try.  In March I wrote a post about the benefits of teas.. start there with your experimentation..
I have a beautiful friend that has a tea site online (www.konitea.com.)  She has a blog she writes with recipes, ideas, how to use tea in your cooking, etc.. She has a beautiful outlook on life and some great ideas for you to try!  My favorite tea is Chai.  I love cinnamon, cloves, and all the warm spices... I have a hard time finding the proper blend for me - Phuong has several options and I am going to add several more below for you to try.

Phuong's options for loose leaf chai teas:  https://www.konitea.com/advanced_search_result.php?search_in_description=1&keywords=chai&osCsid=65ijo0n9irhcd9rpso227j7t74&Submit=Search
Phuong's blended chai latte recipe: http://www.theteachick.com/2010/12/30/Masala-Chai-Latte
Phuong's aphrodisiac chai cake recipe: http://www.theteachick.com/2011/07/23/Koni-Aphrodisiac-Chai-Cake

Chai tea is a combination of either green or black tea leaves and a variety of warming spices - cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cloves, licorice, cardamom, etc... The health benefits are quite numerous when you think of all the spices that you add to your Chai concoction. 

Gentle Green Chai
This is a yummy variation of kahwah, a Kashmiri green tea that serves two.
• 1½ cups cold water
• 2 heaping teaspoons green tea
• Seed of 1 cardamom pod
• 2 whole cloves
• 2 strands saffron (optional)
• 6 blanched almonds, chopped
• ½ cup milk
• 1 tablespoon honey
1. Combine water, tea, spices and almonds in small saucepan. Cook over low heat until hot (do not boil). Partially cover; steep over low heat 10 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in milk and honey.
2. Pour through fine wire-mesh strainer into warm teapot, discarding solids. Serve.

Read more: http://www.herbcompanion.com/cooking/make-chai-gentle-green-chai.aspx#ixzz1dnMUVRd6

Basic Black Chai
If you prefer, omit the milk and sugar and offer them separately.  Or try soy / almond / rice milk as an alternative.  Serves two.
• 1½ cups cold water
• One 2-inch piece cinnamon stick, broken
• 2 heaping teaspoons black tea
• Seed of 3 cardamom pods
• One ¼-inch-thick slice fresh ginger
• 3 whole cloves
• 2 black peppercorns
• ¼ to ½ cup milk
• 1 to 2 tablespoons sugar (or honey)
1. Bring water to a boil in small saucepan. Add cinnamon, cover, remove from heat; steep 2 minutes. Return pan to heat; bring to a boil. Add tea, spices, milk and sugar; cover, and remove from heat. Steep 3 minutes.
2. Pour mixture through fine wire-mesh strainer into warm teapot, discarding solids. Garnish with cinnamon sticks.

Read more: http://www.herbcompanion.com/cooking/make-chai-basic-black-chai.aspx#ixzz1dnMvYlBr

Tulsi Chai
In India, Tulsi Chai, made from holy basil (Ocimum sanctum), is used to treat colds and reduce stress.  Sweet Basil can replace the Holy Basil if none is available.  Serves two.
• ½ cup holy basil leaves
• 2 cups cold water
• 2 heaping teaspoons green tea
• Seed of 1 cardamom pod
• One 1⁄4-inch-thick slice fresh ginger
• One 2-inch cinnamon stick, broken
• 2 whole cloves
• Pinch of nutmeg
• 1 tablespoon honey
• Milk, to taste
1. In small saucepan, boil basil and water. Reduce heat, cover and simmer 3 minutes. Stir in tea, spices and honey: bring almost to a boil. Remove from heat, cover and steep 3 minutes.
2. Pour mixture through fine wire-mesh strainer into warm teapot, discarding solids. Serve with milk. Garnish with skewered crystallized ginger cubes, fresh basil leaves and grated nutmeg.

Read more: http://www.herbcompanion.com/cooking/make-chai-tulsi-chai.aspx#ixzz1dnT0Gp5U

Hot Chai Latte

By: RILEYCARLSON
"A delicious, warm, old-fashioned style Chai Tea. With yummy spices, and authentic flavors, it's bound to be a hit with the whole family!"

Ingredients

* 1 cup milk
* 1 cup water
* 1 large strip of orange peel
* 3 whole cloves
* 1 (3 inch) cinnamon stick
* 3 whole black peppercorns
* 1 pinch ground nutmeg
* 4 teaspoons white sugar
* 2 teaspoons black tea leaves

Directions

Combine the milk and water in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Once this mixture has warmed, place the orange peel, cloves, cinnamon stick, peppercorns, nutmeg, sugar and tea leaves into the pan. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer until the color deepens to your liking. Strain out spices, and pour into cups.

Nutritional Information Per Serving Calories: 111 | Total Fat: 2.8g | Cholesterol: 10mgPowered by ESHA Nutrient Database

Read More: http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/hot-chai-latte/detail.aspx

Health Benefits: Antioxidants abound in Chai tea.  Warming spices are always beneficial to migraines, muscle aches, digestive tract, respiratory system, and your heart.  Why would you not give this flavorful, aromatic tea a try?  Blessings... E

What is in a scent?

Did you know that smells can increase your libido?  How about increase your memory?  Or help you lose weight?  Our sense of smell is one of the best memory triggers we have... have you ever walked past a restaurant and remember a favorite event from childhood?  Or walked passed someone, and remembered a loved one long gone? 

We are inundated with smells every day without paying attention to how those smells affect us.  Let's take a look at several... and let's see if you can add to the list I start.

1. Peppermint.  The smell of peppermint has been known to soothe a sour stomach, relieve the pain of a migraine, invigorate your workout, and help relax one for restful slumber.

2. Cinnamon. Has long been known to be an aphrodisiac.... light some cinnamon candles on a night you want some romance!!

3. Favorite scents.  Having some of your favorite odors around will help you stay away from the refrigerator... as long as they are not foody smells!!  :) 

4. Rosemary.  Long known to increase your mental acutity.  Rosemary not only helps you study better, but will help you the night before a big test to sharpen your memory.

5. Green Apple.  This like your favorite scents, will reduce your food cravings. 

6. Orange.  The citrisy smell of the orange is known to relax and destress.

7. Lavender.  Lavender has been known for centuries to relieve stress, pain, help relax, and aid in deep slumber.  Be careful though, many people - and especially babies - are sensitive to lavender.  If you try sleeping with lavender in your pillow - or add the essential oil to your rinse cycle for your bedding and develop a rash - you might want to try something else.

8. Baby powder.  Has been known to increase sexual urges in women.

Aromatherapy has been used for centuries to heal many ailments.  Grab a book from the library or go online and do some research as to how you can use scents to help you get to your center.

Additional reading: http://azer.com/aiweb/categories/magazine/91_folder/91_articles/91_scents.html
More reading: http://serendip.brynmawr.edu/exchange/node/1887
More reading: http://ezinearticles.com/?Delight-the-Senses---Breathe-Scents-to-Heal-Body,-Mind-and-Soul&id=3579330

I hope you find a way to smell yourself healthier!!  Blessings... E

Foods You Should be Eating - Cinnamon

Hello All!  I apologize for not being able to post for the last couple weeks.  I have been very busy with both work and home. 

I was working on a series of "foods you should be eating" when I left.  And want to finish this segment... so on to Cinnamon.  Cinnamon has so many health benefits, even if you don't like it - you should find some way to incorporate it into your regular foods. 

Cinnamon is a warming herb - this means that it heats up the body and helps "cold conditions" such as skin, heart (and circulatory), and arthritic and rheumatic problems.  Cinnamon is commonly used for digestive problems and diabetes, but it can also be used to help lower cholesterol, reduce the spread of cancer / leukemia, strengthen the memory and cognitive functions of the brain.  When added to foods, it is a natural preservative and inhibits the growth of bacteria (including eColi). 

Cinnamon is also a great source of Manganese, iron, fiber, and calcium.  PLEASE NOTE: A person can overdose with cinnamon.  Persons suffering from diabetes need to read the interactions with cinnamon and ensure that they are taking proper amounts. 

Cinnamon stick is also used instead of moth balls to keep away moths and other insects. 

Recommended Reading: http://www.monumentalmassage.com/articles/benefits_of_cinnamon.html
More Recommended Reading: http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=68
More Recommended Reading: http://ezinearticles.com/?25-Health-Benefits-of-Cinnamon---A-Miraculous-Spice&id=1665340

We talked about Quinoa also as a food you should be eating... and any fruit is good for you.. so here is a cinnamon quinoa recipe for you to try: http://www.101cookbooks.com/archives/warm-and-nutty-cinnamon-quinoa-recipe.html

Glad to be back!  Hope you enjoy!!  Blessings... E

SUPER foods - Herbs / Spices

The best way to a healthier you... is to add a little "spice" to your meals.  Get creative with what herbs and spices you add to your meals.  It doesn't have to be complicated or hard... my favorite use... add as many fresh herbs as I can find to my salad... mmmm... a little balsamic vinegar.

http://www.herbcompanion.com/ is a great site.  Lots of good info.  Recipes - how to grow herbs - where to find organic farms in your area.
http://www.whfoods.com/ is another great site for information.

Mint - Peppermint has the highest concentration of menthol of any in the mint family.  It is commonly used to settle stomach indigestion, soothes nausea, protects the body against the formation of cancer cells, cleanses the body, and clears congestion.  Peppermint oil is known to aid in relieving the pain of a migraine by rubbing a drop of oil on the temples and at the base of the neck.  Boiling water and adding both peppermint oil and eucalyptus oil and breathing in the vapor helps to relieve congestion (both sinus and chest) and helps to heal lung infections.

Ginger - We use the tuber root / rhizome of the beautiful tropical ginger plant.  The Asians have used ginger for thousands of years as a healing herb.  When taken internally, it helps prevent motion sickness, reduces morning sickness during pregnancy, reduces inflammation and the effects of arthritis, fights colon cancer, and fights tumors.  When used in the bath it is an anti-inflammatory, a stress reliever, and helps reduce the affects of cold/flu. 
Turmeric - Turmeric is an active ingredient in mustard and curry.  It has a very distinctive taste and color.  Turmeric is known for it's great anti-inflammatory characteristics and for its relief for arthritic joints.  It is a powerful antioxidant that helps prevent cataracts, colon cancer and Alzheimer’s disease.

Dill - I absolutely love fresh dill in my salads.  I grow it in my garden, because I eat so much of it... it gets too expensive! :)  Dill helps with digestion, has cancer fighting properties, helps regulate menstrual cycle, fights insomnia, and promotes good oral hygiene.

Thyme - I was surprised to find how many health benefits Thyme has.  Thyme when drank as a tea (fresh thyme, honey, lemon) has a variety of benefits - expels parasites, soothes and relaxes the mind and eases sleep, eases menstrual cramps and the effects of PMS.  Insects do not like thyme so plant some in your garden or around your favorite roses to deter them.  Thyme increases brain function and cell regeneration.  There are too many benefits to list here.  Thyme can be used fresh, dried, as a tincture, and as an essential oil.  It can be used to aid in healing almost any ailment.

Cinnamon - my favorite spice is also my favorite scent.  The most common benefits of cinnamon is a healthy heart and lower cholesterol. Just 1/2 t. of cinnamon has been known to reduce the LDL and triglycerides.  It has also been shown to reduce blood sugar levels.  There are also studies showing that cinnamon helps fight cancer.  Specifically slowing the growth of leukemia and lymphoma cancer cells.  It helps clear sinuses and reduce coughing.  Cinnamon reduces nervous tension and increases alertness, memory, and concentration.  Many women use it to ease menstrual pain and cramping.  Cinnamon aids in digestion, reduces urinary infections, and boosts immune system functions.

Garlic - one of the oldest medicinal herbs known, many consider it a wonder drug because of its many benefits.  There are so many benefits I can't name them all here... Garlic is a natural mosquito repellent.  It helps normalize cholesterol levels, strengthens the natural ability for the body heal itself, fights cancer, strengthens the body against allergies, helps regulate blood pressure, helps the body maintain a healthy weight, helps fight strokes, and promotes a healthy heart.

Hot Peppers - spicy food has long been known to aid in heart health, breaks up congestion, and as an analgesic (pain killer).  It also helps reduces the symptoms of Asthma, fights free radicals that cause cancer, boosts immunity, helps one maintain a healthy weight, and fights ulcers. 

Aloe Vera - aloe has long been known to help heal skin rashes, burns, and other skin ailments.  It also has been shown to regenerate skin cells.  An anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and immune stimulant herb with wonderful benefits. 

This is only a start... every herb and spice out there has some healthy benefit... the more herbs you use in your food - the less salt you need.- obviously your heart will than you there!  Try using one of the many Mrs. Dash products more and salt less... I know!  this is a work in progress.. we take baby steps!  Just giving you some great alternatives.  :)