Rx on a cold day: A hot cuppa tea

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Grandmother Smith was a true T-totaller. She didn’t take strong drink–and she was totally in favor of a good cup of tea. Each time I visited she would greet me with a huge hug and an invitation: “Cuppa?”

Unknown-1Grandmother made her own chamomile tea with flowering herbs she grew in her garden. She said a cuppa before bedtime helped her to get a good night’s sleep.

Since then, we have learned a lot more about the benefits of tea. Green tea is loaded with antioxidants, which are believed to strengthen cells against cancer. Tea made from acai berries is touted as a weight-loss aid. And grandmother was right; soothing chamomile is recognized as a mild sleep inducer, as well as a soother of stomachs.

unnamedHyleys, an all-natural line of teas, has introduced two collections that focus on specific lifestyle concerns. They sent me several boxes and invited me to give them a try.

The first, Hyleys Slim Teas, is a line of green teas made with senna leaves and fruit flavoring that promotes body cleansing, detoxification, and a healthy digestive system. It’s available in pomegranate, blueberry, raspberries and other flavors. I savored a cup of Goji berry, a fragrant afternoon pick-me-up with a slightly bitter taste reminiscent of dried cranberries. It’s a pleasant repast that does not require sugar, cream or a butler to serve it.

Hyleys Sleep Teas are caffeine-free herbal formulations with such natural ingredients as chamomile flowers, Valerian root, rosemary leaves, lavender blossoms, peppermint, and lemon balm leaves. Sleep Teas come two varieties: mint, and, of course, chamomile. (MSRP: $5.99 for a box of 25 tea bags individually packed in foil envelopes.)

Sorry, Grandmother, I like the mint best because it’s stronger and smells fresh and lovely. No matter what is in my cuppa, it will conjure fond memories.

 

 

 

 

Winterthur goes on winter break

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Winterthur Museum, Garden and Library is taking a winter nap, closing Monday, Jan. 4, and reopening to the public on Tuesday, March 1.

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The next big exhibit will debut on March 26.  Made in the Americas: The New World Discovers Asia, currently on view at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, explores both the global reach of Asian goods beginning in the 16th century and the profound influence of Asia on the arts of the colonial Americas. The exhibit got rave reviews in the Wall Street Journal and features 85 showstoppers, including exquisite silverwork, textiles, furniture, ceramics, and paintings.

Expect a show outdoors starring spring blooms, including bright white snowdrops, yellow adonis and aconite blossoms on Winterthur’s March Bank, while lavender Crocus tomasinianus, known as Tommies, and blue glory-of-the-snow blanket the East Terrace lawn.

While the museum will be buttoned up tight, Winterthur members still will have access to the grounds and garden for hikes and strolls. The Winterthur Library will continue to provide service to scholars and researchers.

The first month of 2016: Veganuary

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The first emerging lifestyle trend of 2016 is Veganuary, a month when ethical- and health-minded folks are encouraged to give up all animal products.

I’m making it lots less complicated. Starting on New Year’s Day, I will forgo all meat, alcohol and refined sugar for one month. Call it the trifecta.

v1Still, I’m not going whole hog on vegan. I will take half and half in my coffee, enjoy an omelet, drizzle honey on my oatmeal. I am not the vegan police and I don’t view a nibble of goat cheese as an act of animal thievery. And giving up wine and sweets strikes me as a fair trade for yogurt.

Ultimately, I just want to do something nice for my body, a 31-day spring cleaning, of sorts.

2015 was a year of getting my home and career in order. In 2016, it’s me who needs to be set right.
beefwellington_2647597bAs V-Day looms, I indulge in beef Wellington and free-flowing Cabernet Sauvignon at a New Year’s Eve party hosted by longtime friends in the Sovereign State of South Jersey. As we count down to midnight, I say good bye to cow and cab, hello to green salads and green tea.

I’ll check in throughout the month to share foods that work for me and various gadgets I discover along the way. I’ll also post a Cocktail of the Hour I tested before I took the pledge. A reminder that February will soon be here.

One month. 31 days. Starting today.

Lots of Ninja, less counter space

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There is a seemingly endless supply of small appliances we can add to our arsenal of kitchen helpers. But which ones deserve a coveted place on the pantry shelf?

The Nutri Ninja Auto-iQ Pro Compact System was designed based on customer feedback  asking for a juicer that can perform multiple functions and doesn’t take up a lot of counter space.

Ninja Blender

Ninja Blender

Enter Ninja, a compact system that attacks multiple chores like, well, a ninja warrior. It plows through ice, frozen veggies and even nuts as readily as it blends ripe fruit. Picture your blender after six months of working out three times a week with a personal trainer.

Sure, it’s great for making smoothies. And the Auto-iQ system takes the guesswork out of blending. But the Pro Compact does more, which makes it a great choice in kitchens where space is limited—or in a larger kitchen that already is maxed out on square footage.

A 40-ounce blend and prep bowl has a powerful blade that can be used for both chopping and mixing dough. (Holiday alert: It’s super for mixing cookie dough.) There’s also a 30-page recipe guide, plus two 24-ounce Nutri Ninja Tritan Cups with sip-and-seal lids and a 24-ounce stainless steel Nutri Ninja Cup with lid for energy drinks on the run.

An additional attachment allows you to grind coffee beans and spices.

You can find the Nutri Ninja Auto-iQ Pro Compact System at Target, Kmart, Bed Bath and Beyond and other retailers. MSRP: $159.99.

 

Cocktail of the hour: The Newman Negroni

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I first sipped Campari in Umbria, in an open air café in a square in the ancient city of Perugia. Even mixed with club soda, Campari struck me as a bit medicinal with its strong, herbaceous notes.

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I soon learned what the Italians have known since Campari was first distilled in 1860. Enjoying a tot with friends at the end of a long day is just what the doctor ordered.

The Negroni dates back to 1919 in Florence, when Count Negroni asked for gin in his Americano in place of the soda. It’s a classic before-dinner drink, a blend of Campari, sweet vermouth and, of course, gin. Traditionally, all three ingredients are mixed in equal portions, so it’s a favorite with home bartenders who don’t need a cheat sheet to mix one.

My friend Mike Newman has perfected his own Negroni, which relies more on gin and less on Campari and vermouth.

Unknown-1“Cut the Campari in half, cut the vermouth to a quarter and leave the gin alone,” Mike advises.

I’ve enjoyed many cocktails over the years with Mike and his lovely wife Linda. So I was looking forward to sampling what I now think of as the Newman Negroni.

Here’s Mike’s recipe:

2 jiggers gin

1 jigger Campari

½ jigger vermouth

We used Tanqueray gin, Martini and Rossi sweet vermouth and, of course, the one and only Campari.

Ice and fruit also are important components of this refreshing drink. Mike meticulously measures the liquors into a shaker with lots of ice. He gives the Negronis a vigorous mixing, then serves over more ice in rocks glasses.

IMG_0574Typically, a Negroni is garnished with orange peel but Mike says you can use lemon in a pinch. Take a thin half-wheel of fruit, place it on the rim of the glass and then swoosh around the rim to impart the fragrance and flavor of the orange.

With its ruby tones and bright pop of orange, the Negroni is bellissimo. The herbal qualities of the Campari play nicely with the juniper tones of the Tanqueray and the sweetness of the vermouth. It’s drier than the traditional Negroni, yet maintains its freshness.

We say “si” to the Newman Negroni.

 

 

Thankful for free turkeys

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For years, we have debated which bird is best for our Thanksgiving table.

Fresh? Frozen? Or free?

Acme Markets has entered the debate with a delectable promotion: a free Shady Brook Farms Grade A Basted Frozen Turkey (average weight 10-22 pounds) when you spend $100 in a single transaction. Shoppers also can opt for a Pride of the Farm frozen turkey breast, topping out at about seven pounds.

We expect more requests for Free Bird than at a Lynyrd Skynyrd review.

gty_turkey_dinner_thg_111118_wmainSo why give away turkeys to patrons who likely can afford to buy a bird? Let’s talk turkey.

First and foremost, the turkey hunt gives shoppers a reason to choose one grocer over another at a time of year when consumers are laying in provisions at a rate rivaled only by the Blizzard of the Century and the Zombie Apocalypse. Gobble, gobble.

We aren’t just buying a turkey. We are baking cookies and pies. We are hosting parties. And we are buying food to give to other people so that they can enjoy a sliver of the abundance the more fortunate among us take for granted.

So, do you like Acme’s strategy of a quick reward to shoppers who part with a single Ben Franklin? Or do you prefer the game plan of ShopRite and other grocers, who don’t part with the turkey until shoppers have rung up $400 between now and Turkey Day? Or are you simply grateful to have a choice between great deals?

Cocktail of the week: Presbyterians pour it on

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Our language is rich with fascinating terms for gatherings of kindred creatures. A romp of otters. An exaltation of larks. A congregation of plovers. And now, a pitcher of Presbyterians.

Who better to sample and critique this little-known cocktail than a group of honest-to-goodness Presbyterians?

My official tasting partner for the evening is our host, the Rev. Dr. Douglas Gerdts of First & Central Presbyterian Church in Wilmington, Del., who takes on the honorary mantle of Minister of Mixology. Rounding out the group are four clergy people and a minister of music, who display such zeal for our mission that they all are recruited for future tastings.

J.R Ewing Bottle WhiteWe start with a recipe from Martha Stewart:

INGREDIENTS

2 ounces whiskey or Bourbon (some recipes call for Scotch or Rye)

2 ounces club soda

2 ounces ginger ale

2 dashes Angostura bitters

DIRECTIONS

Fill a highball glass with ice. Add bourbon, club soda, ginger ale and bitters. Stir and enjoy.

Our base is J.R. Ewing bourbon, provided by the nice folks at Warner Bros. Consumer Products. Warner produced the discontinued TV drama “Dallas” for TNT and named the bourbon for the villainous tycoon played by the late Larry Hagman. Expect to pay about $33 for a 750 ML bottle.

FullSizeRender-30The four-year-old, 80-proof bourbon is distilled in Kentucky and bottled in Texas in a square glass decanter with a wooden stopper and a screen-printed image of the show’s iconic Southfork Ranch. (Witness Rev. Kaci Clark-Porter, a native Texan, contemplating the   bottle.)

It’s a pleasant relaxer with notes of vanilla, oak and orange. It is not my first choice as a sipping bourbon but it does play nicely with other ingredients, which makes it a good choice for cocktails.

Our mixers are Q ginger ale and Fever Tree club soda. The bitters: Woodford Reserve Spiced Cherry. Our own special touch: fresh ginger and lime.

FullSizeRender-29We serve the Presbys in tall glasses with lots of ice, paired with a fanciful, Presbyterian-themed cocktail menu: savory shortbread; charcuterie sausages John Calvin might have enjoyed; cheeses from Germany and Switzerland; and an assortment of tea sandwiches, including salmon (a nod to the Church of Scotland), peanut butter and pickle (a Presby favorite), and cucumber, in case an Episcopalian wandered in. And because Presbyterians truly do have a sense of humor, deviled eggs with crab.

As for the cocktail, it’s remarkably refreshing for a drink with a brown liquor base. Slightly sweet and positively pleasant. The premium mixers are a good investment, offering a clean, fresh balance to the complexity of the spiced cherry bitters. Lime and ginger usher in summer. This is a drink we are adding to our potable portfolio.

Here’s to food, drink and fellowship. Amen.

 

 

 

Musings on TJ Maxx and over-maxed deals

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Bought a Michael Kors top at TJ Maxx yesterday and was aglow with the aura that accompanies getting a great deal.

Before the credit card slip had cooled I learned that fashionistas in California were suing the popular discounter, saying the chain is misleading shoppers with the “compare at” prices printed on T.J. Maxx price tags.

FullSizeRender-27Specifically, the plaintiffs say the listed prices are not necessarily the actual retail price elsewhere, but are compared instead to pumped-up prices in high-end catalogs and tony department stores.

So I look at the price tags on my adorable sleeveless navy top with a gold-tone clasp at the neckline. The original Michael Kors price tag says $89.50. The TJ Maxx price tag doesn’t up the ante. Instead, it says, “Compare at $48.” The actual price: $29.99, less a 10 percent discount for a total of $27.

Either way, I am happy with my purchase. Good value, good price.

As a bonus, I am entertained by eavesdropping on other shoppers in neighboring dressing rooms. I do not apologize for this. People talk. I listen. It’s what I do for a living and, occasionally, personal amusement.

A few snippets of overheard conversation:

From a 20-something: “I think I should have had the other side of my nose pierced.”

From a 60-ish matron: “I like this dress. But do I like TWENTY BUCKS worth???”
From a tween who just started wearing a bra: “This top isn’t tight enough. Do you have one in children’s size Extra Small?”

Cocktail of the Week: Sauza Sparkling Margarita

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Perusing gardens is thirsty work. There are paths to be navigated, flowers to be admired, fountains to contemplate.

IMG_0425So what better ending to the 25th Annual Lewes Garden Tour in Delaware than a relaxing cocktail?

Sauza Sparkling Margaritas invite garden lovers to sit back and enjoy a refreshingly real margarita with only the twist of a screw top. Sauza offers remarkably fresh pre-mixed  margaritas blended from silver tequila, triple sec and carbonation. Keep a few bottles chilled and you are always ready to host drop-in guests.

I taste-tested Original Lime Sauza, sent by the company with an invitation to give it a try,  with my hosts Howard Reign and his husband Rich Swarmer. Instead of traditional margarita glasses, Howard came up with a hip twist, serving our cocktails in martini glasses garnished with a lime wheel, hold the salt.

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The Sauza had been chilling in the fridge while we toured. We enjoyed our first sips, but it lacked the frosty nip we have come to expect from a margarita. Howard came up with the ideal solution: adding crushed ice. The result: the immediate gratification of a tasty margarita with no heavy lifting.

There are lots of ways to experiment with this ready-to-go relaxer, such as adding fresh strawberries or muddled herbs from the garden. Available in Original Lime, Wild Berry, Mango Peach, and Watermelon, Sauza comes in a 750ML bottle for a suggested retail price of $12.99.

Cocktail of the week: White port and tonic

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In the muggy days approaching the official first day of Summer, our thoughts turn to warm weather cocktails. Annabelle Kressman, this week’s official co-taster, and I sipped Fonseca Siroco Extra Dry White Porto with Fever-Tree Indian Premium Tonic this week, thankfully in air-conditioned comfort.

IMG_0417White port, even the extra dry variety, is on the sweet side, slightly oaky, reminiscent of stone fruit and typically served chilled as an aperitif. It takes on a pleasantly citrus vibe when mixed with tonic, especially a tonic with a super clean edge like Fever-Tree.

It isn’t complicated to make. Fill a rocks glass with ice, mix the porto and tonic to taste, add a spritz of fresh lime and enjoy.

White port and tonic is a sophisticated blend and your guests might not be able to identify the potent potable unless you give them a hint. Or just tell them outright.

Annabelle’s pronouncement: “Refreshing, different, very summery. A thumb’s up.”

IMG_0409Fonseca Siroco has been around since the 1950s, a great era for cocktails, which makes it an authentic and unexpected choice for a retro-style get-together. The port has a budget-friendly price point of $19, which means you can splurge on the Fever-Tree, which will set you back about $5 and change for a four-pack of 6.8-ounce bottles.