Oh, For the Love of Honey!

Natural raw honey

"The only reason for making a buzzing-noise that I know of is because you're a bee...The only reason for being a bee that I know of is making honey....and the only reason for making 

honey is so I can eat it."

 -Winnie the Pooh in A.A. Milne's 'The House at Pooh Corner'-

I've always thought Pooh a wise bear.  Honey.  The word itself drips sweetly off my tongue.  Honey. Nature's most perfect food; 'tis no wonder it glows golden in the light.  My awe of the honeybee and his ambrosia dates long before owning a tea shop.  Come to think of it, maybe I've taken up tea just to have a vessel for honey.  Hmm.  For a long time now, I have wanted to carry a delicious, local, raw honey in our shop.  It complements what we do very nicely, I'd say.   Beyond suiting tea to a tee, honey has a LONG list of health benefits; it keeps in line with our healthy, natural product line.  This nectar, of course, is known to soothe the sorest of throats, but were you aware that it is both antiviral and antifungal?  Yup, well...the unpasteurized sort, at least.  Before I forget, important tip: when adding honey to your tea for added health benefit, wait for your tea to cool a touch - you don't want to destroy the healthy bits in the honey with high temperatures.  Also, tuck this away in your happy heart arsenal: honey contains flavonoids, antioxidants which help reduce the risk of some cancers and heart disease.  Also, diabetics take note: even though honey contains simple sugars, it is NOT the same as white sugar or artificial sweeteners. Its exact combination of fructose and glucose actually helps the body regulate blood sugar levels. And beyond this impressive list of health accolades, let us face the truth: what would Baklava be without honey?  

With all that said, I am happy to report that by next week, we will be selling the finest raw, local honey that we've come across (these hard working bees collect their pollen from along the Nith River Watershed, Ontario).  It all came about in a rather serendipitous way.   My husband (and business partner) and I were busying ourselves with opening our shop's door this morning when a rather unassuming woman walked in the door...seemingly unsure of what we were all about.  She quietly asked if we liked honey and if we'd ever considered selling it in our shop.   My shriek of excitment startled her, so to quell her nerves, I invited her to sit down to a cup of tea and tell me her story.  Stories, after all, are much nicer accompanied by hot tea.  So, with tea in hand and my happy-yells fading in the distance, I listened.  This lovely woman's husband is a beekeeper.  A hobbyist beekeeper.  He's been doing it for years and from the smile on her face, it was clear that these bees are loved.  Yes, bees.  I have a deep respect for the honeybee and a not-so-secret want to be a beekeeper myself one day, so we were something of kindred spirits on this crisp autumn morning.  Anyway, moving along.   This man, her husband, lost his job in the manufacturing industry and felt inspired to turn his passion into his career: honey.  He has taken 20 hives and turned them into 90.  He tends to his hives lovingly and his wife is behind him in every way to help promote/sell their product.  She tends to all the gardens (HER passion, quite obviously).  I was just so happy to see a 'down on one's luck' moment turn into a really great thing.  Oh yes, sorry - the honey.  I get off topic at times, I know.  Apologies.  We spent a good hour talking about how the bees are tended to, what makes their product the best....and then came the taste test.  Sigh.  Yes, the taste test. I felt giddy.  She produced a glimmering jar of the sweet stuff, and if you looked close enough, I think there was an orb of light encircling that jar.  I took my first spoon of honey and was at a loss for words.  See, it really IS nature's most perfect food.  And for one moment, I savoured that honey.  And I felt really fortunate.  I was sold.  From the integrity of this woman, from the passion...to the obvious quality of her product.  Serendipity.  I've long been waiting for this product to find its way to our shelves.  And the last detail....an open inviation for my husband and I to bring our 4-year-old son to their nearby property to see their operation and to learn all about beekeeping.  Done deal.  I love to support local, small business whenever and however I can.  There's something so important, even ROMANTIC, about it.  So, why all this over honey?  Well, because Winnie the Pooh simply can't be wrong.  And that's that. 

Tea & Spice...for POPCORN?!

Popcorn is the perfect canvas for spices...even tea!

To say I have a mild obsession with popcorn is an understatement.  Whoever discovered popcorn is a genius.  A GENIUS.  There, I said it.  With summer blockbusters waning (and therefore that sinful movie popcorn that we all pretend to not like, but secretly we do), what better time to learn about all the ways you can jazz up your homemade popcorn!  Popcorn, in all its simplicity, is nature's perfect snack food.  It is full of fibre, whole grain, good-for-you deliciousness.  Now, when I am throwing caution to the wind, I still make my popcorn in a big pot atop the stove with oil.  If I'm being more health conscious, I air pop.  For those who are okay with using a microwave, here's a FANTASTIC way to pop your OWN microwave popcorn (and you skip all the salt, additives...and save a bunch of moolah).  Fill a small brown paper lunch bag (like the ones you used circa 1981) with 2 tablespoons of popcorn kernels.  Tape the bag shut and microwave for two minutes (give or take).  Stand the bag up straight and wait to hear that siren-like poppity-pop-pop to begin.  Voila!  Popcorn sans oil!

Now let's get to the good part.  There's no good reason to accept butter and salt as the only possible topping for popcorn.  No way!  As often I do, I turn to my tea and spice shelves for inspiration.  See below for some tasty ideas and get ready for an updated, delicious popcorn experience.

POPCORN TOPPINGS

1.  Smoked Paprika & Parsley.  Combine 2 tablespoons hot or mild smoked pimentón de la vera (smoked paprika), 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh parsley leaves, and 1 teaspoon popcorn salt (or 2 teaspoons kosher salt). Drizzle the popcorn with 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil in a large bowl and toss to coat. Add the seasoning mix and toss again. Serve.

2.  Vietnamese Cinnamon & Sugar.  Vietnamese Cinnamon has a warmer, sweeter taste making it perfect for popcorn.  Combine equal parts cinnamon to sugar.  Drizzle melted butter over popcorn, add in cinnamon-sugar mix and toss.  YUM!

3.  Chipotle-Butter.  Melt approx. 1/4 cup of butter and drizzle over popcorn.  Sprinkle with 1 tablespoon of chipotle chili powder and toss.  Wake up those taste buds!

4.  Lapsang Tea & White Cheddar.  Laspang Souchong is a black tea that has been smoked in Chinese pinewood....and it's the star of this popcorn dish.  Pulverize about 1 tablespoon of Lapsang tea leaves in a coffee bean grinder.  Combine the Lapsang powder with 3 tablespoons of white cheddar powder.  Drizzle melted butter over popcorn and add Lapsang-Cheddar mixture....BEST. POPCORN. EVER.

5.  Indian Spiced Popcorn.  I can't get enough of this popcorn.  Seriously.  Combine 1 tsp. Garam Masala, 1/4 tsp. ground ginger, 1/2 tsp. fine sea salt, 1/2 tsp. turmeric powder, 1/4 tsp. cayenne.  Drizzle 1/4 cup melted butter over popcorn and add spice mixture.  Toss and devour.

6.  Cracked Pepper & Olive Oil.  Drizzle a few tablespoons of olive oil over your popcorn and add some fresh cracked black pepper.  Fantastic.

7. Herbes de Provence.  Drizzle melted butter over your popcorn and toss with a few tablespoons of Herbes de Provence for a fresh, herbal take on this movie theatre fave.

8.  Jasmine Caramel Corn.  Use your favourite caramel corn recipe, but first steep your butter with jasmine green tea leaves.  Sounds strange?  Give it a go....a delicate, unique twist on a classic treat.

9.  Cumin & Garlic. Combine 1/2 tsp. sweet paprika, 1 tsp. sea salt, 1/2 tsp. garlic powder, 1/4 tsp. cayenne.  Drizzle 1/4 cup melted butter over popcorn, add spice mixture and toss.


10.  And....to honour my two favourite things (popcorn and vanilla beans)....enjoy this final recipe:  

VANILLA BEAN POPCORN!

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup corn oil
• 1 (4 inch) vanilla bean, split lengthwise
• 3/4 cup unpopped popcorn
• 1 tablespoon superfine sugar
• salt to taste
• 2 tablespoons butter, melted

Directions

1. Heat corn oil in a large pot over medium-high or high heat for a minute. Add one kernel of popcorn to the oil. When the kernel pops, pour in the remaining popcorn and the vanilla bean. Place a lid on the pot, and shake gently until the corn starts to pop. Shake vigorously until the popping subsides.
2. Remove from the heat, and pour into a large bowl. Remove the vanilla bean from the corn. Scrape seeds from the vanilla bean, and mix with sugar. Stir sugar, salt and melted butter into the corn until evenly coated, and serve. 

10 Ways to Repurpose Aunt Mildred's Tea Cups

 

 

 

 

Vintage tea cups wired as a chandelier!

When you own a tea shop for as long as I have, chances are you've seen a LOT of vintage tea cups. A LOT.  They really are a thing of beauty with their delicate bone china, gold filigree and dainty designs.  Once upon a time it was tradition to give these lovelies to the bride to round out her collection of fine china.  As such, many, MANY people have inherited a truckload of them and one can only burden the china cabinet so much.  I inherited my collection from (you guessed it) Aunt Mildred.  They are beautiful.  I use them, and I think of her fondly.  However, they ARE abundant.  I didn't want to offload them to an antique shop (you're welcome, Aunt Mildred), so I began to think outside the tea cup.  What could I DO with so many tea cups?  ENTER PINTEREST.  For those who are familiar with the website www.pinterest.com, I know you are nodding your head enthusiastically and thinking 'yes! Pinterest!'.  For those NOT in the know, Pinterest is a website that is much like a virtual corkboard: you get to create boards organized by your interests (ex. tea, recipes, crafts, gardening, etc) and then as you find online ideas that are great, you 'pin' them to your board to keep them organized.  It's much like what I used to do in my home office to sort out ideas...but it's online.  I love it.  AND...I come across FANTASTIC ideas.  So, while I would LOVE to take the credit for the ideas I'm about to list for repurposing your tea cups, I really must give kudos to Pinterest.  My husband says I need a 'pintervention'.  That's a different blog post, though!  So, without further ado....dust off your Royal Alberts and get busy!

WAYS TO REPURPOSE YOUR TEA CUPS

1.  Create a tea cup chandelier.  With a special drill bit and an electrician friend, you too can light up your room in a unique way (see picture at the top of this post).

2.  Tea Cup Dessert Tray.  What a cute way to serve up goodies at a baby or wedding shower! 

3.  Tea Cup Clock.  What better way to keep time!

4.  Tea Cup Garden.  Plant herbs or cactuses in your old tea cups.

5.  Tea Cup Candles.  What a pretty way to light a room (or nice out on a patio).

6.  Tea Cup Pin Cushion.  What a cool idea for that sewer in your life (and if that's YOU, even better!)

7.  Tea Cup Key Holder.  Maybe now I won't lose my keys!

8.  Tea Cup Jewelry Sorter.  Nothin' wrong with being more organized!

9. Tea Cup Bird Feeders.  Let those finches dine in style!

10.  Tea Cup Bracelets, Anyone?