Tea for Dana

I woke up this morning not wanting to leave my plethora of blankets.  Its been so cold, that I swear Jack Frost himself kisses my windows every morning and evening.  I got up and gathered my sweat pants, sweat shirt, and bathrobe, and bundled up as I headed to the kitchen.  This morning I had a task; make tea for Dana, but first, breakfast!

I decided to make us some scrambled eggs.  Green peppers, Cilantro, sea salt, & black pepper were all in order.  A big pile of veggie eggs with an avocado on the side was the perfect kick start to my

day.  

After breakfast I spent some time outside with our chickens.  Even in the cold, these fluffy girls are full of life.  Pecking at every bug, piece of grass, or fruit scraps they find on the ground, they walked around our yard clucking and cooing as if  they had not a care in the world.  I sat on our porch and gazed out at them as they walked around.  Taking in the morning air, I breathed deep and thanked nature for the little bit of warmness ( 39 degrees ) I was feeling.  

As I entered back into the house from letting my breakfast digest, I knew it was time for me to start my task for the morning: make Dana's tea!  

Dana and I have known each other for 10 years, and although we don't get to talk much, he is always pleasant to have a conversation with and we catch up every now and then.  Dana and I met at school in Virginia.  Over the years we have kept up with where each other is via Facebook.  As much as I despise the drama I see on Facebook, I love it for the fact that I can keep up with old friends.  

Dana had seen my posts online about my herbal remedies and homemade teas, and asked if I would create a blend for him to drink in the morning for overall wellness.  I was delighted when he asked and took the request as a challenge to make something new!  Like a scientist excited to get new chemicals, I headed to the Herbiary this weekend to get my ingredients for Dana's tea.  

I decided to make Dana a wellness tea that would taste robust and refreshing for the morning, and be packed with Vitamin C for the flu season.  After doing some research, I decided to use rosebuds, fennel seed, lemongrass, cinnamon chips, hibiscus flowers and honey granules.  

Rosebuds, and hibiscus are packed with Vitamin C.  The rosebuds also contain Vitamins A, B and E.  They have zinc, calcium and iron as well.  Fennel seed and cinnamon aid in digestion, and lemongrass is high in calcium, magnesium, and iron.  

I got whole hibiscus petals and needed to break them up so they would blend in the tea perfectly. 

I added the honey granules to the tea for a nice sweet kick!  The rose petals, and hibiscus add a floral berry taste while the fennel adds a touch of licorice.  The honey granules will help to balance all of the flavors and make this tea, perfect for the morning.  

While mixing the herbs and flowers with my hands, I'm overtaken with the aroma of wellness. The smells that erupt from my mixing bowl are fruitful and calming, and I can't wait for Dana to try it! 

After packing the herbs into their new home, I seal them up to be shipped to California to their new owner.  Dana, I hope you enjoy your tea! 

Foggy Mountain Church Street

A late afternoon phone call had me head to Foggy Mountain. The temperature felt as though it was dropping by the second, as I walked down the sidewalk of Church Street.  

Church street looks exactly like it sounds.  A street adorned with churches on either side of the road.  Churches so beautiful, it would make even a non-believer want to enter them.  Each of the churches have beautiful stone work decorating the outside of them, with huge, carved, wooden doors in which you would enter the sanctuary.  

As you near downtown the churches start to fade, and the tall buildings become more prevalent.  I like walking up church street as it's quiet and semi hidden from the chaos of downtown.  It's a one-way street, so it's not as busy as the other streets in downtown, and offers a peaceful venture to what is becoming one of my favorite brew pub's, Foggy Mountain.   

Foggy Mountain is one of the smallest brew pubs I've been to in Asheville.  A large open room with a bar and a few tables, this little pub has everything it needs to please its local crowd.  Good beer, tasty food, and background music that is unique and entertaining compared to the typical tunes you hear in a bar.  

The best part about Foggy Mountain, is that they have live entertainment on select nights, and due to the venue being so small, the sound is incredible! A new addition to their music schedule is open mic nights on Thursday's that will feature local artists performing their own work opposed to covers.  Being a lover of music and a musician, it will be awesome to experience the music Asheville's local artists have brewing in their heads.  

After a tasty salad, and a Kolsch, with my best friend,  John and my lover, Adam, we decide to hit the road and go our separate ways.  John to a concert, and Adam and I to our toasty home, where a fire and a movie sound so warm on this cold evening I practically jump out of my seat.  

We begin the trek back down Church street, and as always, I admire the beauty in the archetecture of these collasal stone buildings one last time for the night.  Shivering in my car, I crank up the heat and head for home, for a peaceful, Friday night.  

K.

http://www.foggymountainavl.com

Peppermint Wonderland & Breakfast Casserole

Adam and I [ attempt to ] get up every morning at 5:45 AM.  Our bed is so cozy, adorned with a thick quilt, with a woodland scene containing bears and pine trees on it, and pillows to match.  Each morning as I hear the alarm beeping, I sink down into my cozy pile of blankets and pillows and try not to hit the 'snooze' button.  Especially on a morning like today, when it was a whopping 4 degrees
 outside.

This morning, we were on a mission, so waking up at exactly 5:45AM had to happen.

I recently have gone back on the paleo diet, as I am noticing in my ripe late 20's, that my belly seems to grow for no reason.  I definitely cannot eat the same way I used to.  I may be naturally skinny, but even skinny girls can be out of shape, and out of shape I am!

This morning our mission was to make a yummy paleo casserole for breakfast, that we could eat on for lunch and dinner as well if we so choose. The prep began last night in order to expedite the process this morning, and as I mixed my ingredients together the smells of healthy, natural food filled the house like warm cookies coming out of the oven.

Before I could start, I of course had to make a cup of tea.  This morning I chose peppermint tea.  Peppermint has a way of filling every part of me.  The taste and smell are strong and slightly spicy.  Even now as I write and take a sip, my tongue starts to tingle as though my taste buds are dancing in a peppermint wonderland.   Peppermint is very beneficial to the body as it relieves almost all stomach ailments, clears skin, helps digestion, promotes weight loss, and can give you a great sense of stress and sinus relief.  If you ever are feeling down, achy, stressed, etc; peppermint is the way to go!

After my tea had brewed, I started combining all of my ingredients. You start by adding a tablespoon of bacon fat to your pan.  I chose to add Ghee to my pan instead.  Ghee is clarified, organic butter made from organic milk.   It's hard to find, but its a wonderful way to supplement butter in your diet without eating actual butter.  After the fat [or Ghee] melts, add in a whole diced yellow onion and minced garlic.  Let the onion get soft, and then add a pound of ground, grass fed beef.  Continue to cook your beef until it browns and then add your spices.  Cumin, salt, pepper, chili powder, and oregano are all in order for this luscious dish.

After your concoction is mixed and browned, pat your beef down into the bottom of your pan, making it look almost patty like.  Add shredded sweet potato on top and pat this down as well.  The sweet potato looks like cheese and add a rich taste!  Top with enchilada sauce or salsa and cover for 8-10 minutes to simmer so the sweet potato softens.  Once the potato is softened, remove from heat and mix in 6 wished eggs.

After this, place the pan in the oven.  For this reason, I cooked everything in my trusty cast iron skillet ( thanks for the wedding present, John!) so I could easily throw the dish into the oven instead of having to transfer the ingredients to a baking dish.  If you don't have a cast iron skillet, transfer into a baking dish and go from there.   Then go invest in a cast iron skillet because you will love life that much more.

Bake your casserole at 450 degrees for 25 minutes, and voila, you have a yummy, healthy, breakfast [lunch and dinner] casserole!

* For a complete list of ingredients, send me an email at: kalaver@gmail.com.

One of those days ...

 It was one of those days again.  The one where I wake up with a gut wrenching feeling in my stomach.  One of those days where all I do is think about my Dad. 

I can't believe its been almost 8 years. I really don't even know how that can be. 
No matter how many days pass, there isn't a single one where I don't think about him.  

His smile.
His laugh.
The way he said, " Kate." 
His sweat pants. 
His work ethic.
His demeanor.
His love. 

Some days are harder than others, but everyday something happens as a painful reminder that he is gone. 

Its hard to explain how you feel about death to those who have never experienced it.  Even to those who have experienced it, its hard to talk about.  For me at least. 

 I feel like I have tried to burry the fact that he is gone underneath my skin; but like a prisoner plotting to escape, the thoughts of him creep forward in my mind countless times in a day.

 I work hard, I play harder and I try to enjoy every bit of life I have been given, because I know that's what he would want.  I've always appreciated my experiences, and found beauty in things most people wouldn't, but since my dad's passing, I have to say; I love and laugh harder, I stare at the mountains, sunsets, and sunrises longer, and I am even more thankful for every breath I take.  I do all of these things because I now know too well, that we can loose everything in an instance.  

With no warning at all, everything can disappear...

K. 

Rainy Sevenberry Sangria

I woke up this morning with the worst tummy ache.  Hands on my belly, taking in meditative breaths, I could hear the rain lightly tapping on my window.  All i wanted was to fall back asleep as the dim grey light of morning peered through my chestnut colored curtains.  I knew my morning tea would be the answer to cure my quivering belly; so with one last deep breath and placed my feet on the cold, wooden floor, grabbed my bathrobe, and headed for the kitchen.

I'm a big believer in herbal medicine and recently have become more interested in creating my own teas and tinctures.  Being someone who can't swallow pills, I have always taken the homeopathic road when it comes to illness.  This morning decided a mix of Elderberries, Peppermint, Hibiscus flowers, Black Currant, and Green Rooibus were in order. 

     The smell of the tea loose in my hand is sweet and enticing! I know as soon as the Roobius enters my body, my tummy will feel healed and my day can finally start. 

     It's hard for me to get motivated on a rainy day, so after this warm cup of herbs is finished steeping, some light reading is in order followed by a day of home projects and crafts. No better way to spend a Sunday.  

K.