Recipes, Food Tips, Healthy Eating & More

@harriethodgson1

I love walnuts too. I have been drinking Matcha tea mid morning when I am home, especially before going to gym class, which is at noon. I drink the ceremonial type along with some dried apricots or a banana if I am going to gym class. The tea really fills me up until lunch which I have been eating around 2. I was always so hungry during class that I was eating lunch at 11:15 before class and then was hungry again a few hours later. Does anyone else drink matcha, or use it in a smoothie, or sprinkled over salads?

I love plain Stonyfield yogurt with defrosted frozen fruit and a sprinkle of Elizabeth’s granola for the crunch for breakfast, make my own steel cut oatmeal with cinnamon, some maple syrup, golden raisins and walnuts...enough for 4 breakfast days. Also love gluten free waffle with defrosted frozen fruit on top...fruit is slightly warm and I can mush it down over the waffle. I love my breakfast and my newfound matcha tea.

Regards from Florida Mary

,@imallearsIve heard of matcha but what is it exactly?

Hi Mary @imallears - I tried drinking matcha tea and I wanted to like it because its supposed to be so healthy, but I just can't get past the taste - or maybe its the smell that goes in my nose. I even tried it with smoothies and I liked them better that the straight up tea, but I just think its not my thing. Now your waffles and fruit - that sounds like a winner! Yum!

@harriethodgson1

Hi,

There are many different brands of matcha and the one I drink is the Ceremonial grade.
I use one teaspoon on 6 oz of water....after whisking a small amount into a paste. The water should not be boiling.Its best at 160 tp 165 degrees so take it off before the water comes to a boil. Boiling the water will make it bitter and destroy these tender leaves.
The ceremonial brands are made to drink as a tea and have no smell nor do they have a strong taste. These powders are not cheap and I paid $17 for a 1 and 1/2 oz can...about 30 days worth. Culinary grades are best in smoothies and sprinkling on food. There are different grades of Culinary also.
Perhaps that is what you were drinking. I guess it’s like a good bottle of wine vs a cheap bottle with bitter tannins and too much acidity. Sometimes you have to experiment with different types and brands and I would never order from Amazon. Read the label and make sure it’s from Japan. Different regions in Japan grind the tea leaves much like different wine regions ferment their grapes. I got mine in a health food store. Premium Culinary is a slightly cheaper alternate to Ceremonial.
These are loose powders and they don’t come in tea bags.

I’m sure you know a lot of this but many people are not aware of the differences.

Regards from Florida Mary

I made some strawberry chia preserves yesterday. Amazingly easy, quick and yummy too. Especially tasty on cinnamon swirl sprout bread!!!

Morning @parus- You sound good this morning! Now don't tease, spill the recipe. Chia strawberry preserves sound amazing.
PS- In regard to planting plants- it's not silly- just the opposite. It's healthy too.

Frozen or fresh strawberries (any fruit) cook on medium heat until mushy. I like it smoother so used a potato masher once they were soft and removed from heat then added chia seeds according to how much fruit or until it was desired thickness and some lemon juice. Sweetener is optional. Cool and store in the frig. Anxious to try this with other fruits as they come in season!!!
Attitude is better. I do no flowers until after mother's day. Started doing pot inventory. Perennials have been up for over a month. Nothing blooming there as of yet. Just have to pace myself. ARGH!! Spring blooming trees/shrubs in the neighborhood mostly over.
The Oriole has moved on North for more blooming flowers.

@parus- Sounds delicious. Our pear tree was gorgeous in its bloom this year. All spring blooms falling now. Next, less muted colors! Hummers will be next. We also have raptors flying around!

@parus Sounds just wonderfully healthy!!

@pars that ound yummy A friend brought me some homemade peach jam .Guess I'm going to have to make vegetable soup I had a guy yesterday ask me for some .