Peach Iced Tea | The Innkeeper's Sister

Welcome to the TLC Book Tours stop for The Innkeeper's Sister by Linda Goodnight! This is book 3 in Goodnight's Honeyridge Novels series, but the first (and only so far) one that I've read. I actually didn't even realize it was a part of a series until I'd finished it, which means it definitely works as a stand-alone book. When I went to look back at the descriptions for the first 2 books, they are connected by location (Honey Ridge, Tennessee), but focus on different main characters. Those characters also play a part in this book, so I'm looking forward to going back and reading their stories.

Vanilla Black Tea Rice Pilaf

I tend to go through phases...phases where I can't get enough of eating a certain dish, sipping a certain drink, or using a certain ingredient. Lately, I've had tea on the brain. But when I say tea, I mean tea as a whole (as opposed to one certain variety), so that actually opens up a whole world of possibilities.

Ginger Peach Milk Tea (Bubble Tea) | #Nyanuary

This month, the Fandom Foodies are exploring a fun theme that is all about kitty cats! Katharina from Pretty Cake Machine challenged us to come up with recipes inspired by cats in fiction or fandoms, inspired by (or made for) real-life cats, or even food shaped like a cat. The possibilities are endless and there are already so many creative recipes linked up that you can check out here!

I have a long list of cats in fiction that I love, so although I've made homemade cat treats in the past and have been toying with creating a new recipe, I decided to grab onto one of my fiction favorites today—the trouble-making duo of Si and Am from Lady and the Tramp.

Peach-Rosewater Earl Grey Granita inspired by Unearthed | #UnearthedParty

Nature has a way of grounding us, helping us get back to the basics and connect with ourselves. In the newly released Unearthed, a memoir by Alexandra Risen, we see a neglected garden used to represent Risen's journey of understanding and accepantance. While the description of the memoir is "How an Abandoned Garden Taught Me to Accept and Love My Parents", I think, though real, the garden is actually a representation of history, growth, mystery, nurture, and understanding—and that true acceptance can only come with time and age. Unfortunately, we don't often get to that point until it's too late to say goodbye or share our growth with loved ones. But we can still make peace with ourselves.

When it comes to memoirs, I usually wind up on one extreme or the other (love 'em or hate 'em). It's usually a question of interesting versus boring. Fortunately, this one was on the love side for me. As someone who feels entirely disconnected with her past on one side of the family, I could identify with Risen. I know next to nothing about the paternal side of the family because similarly, they never talked about the past.

Matcha Marshmallow Corn Flakes Squares inspired by Saving Grace

Aaaaaah, April 20th...aka the day when pot smokers around the world (or maybe it's just the country?) raise their buds high as a nod to the fact that it's 420 ALL DAY LONG. If you're not familiar with the history, there are all sorts of 420 origins stories. The one that I heard back in the days was that 420 was the police code for "marijuana smoking in progress" in California, so as a way of sticking it to the man, the date has blossomed into a day to salute the herb.

Those were the days before Google, so I figured I'd google it to see if that was true. Well, to some people it is, but I did find some other supposed roots in the number. Maybe that's part of its appeal? Anyway, since the day is upon us, my f'ing fab friend Sophia from NY Foodgasm suggested we make some 4/20-inspired food. With so many fun ideas floating around in my head, I happily agreed.

Simple Loose Leaf Subscription Tea Box Review

Last month I briefly introduced you to Simple Loose Leaf, a monthly subscription box for tea drinkers. I told you that I'd be back with a review once I had the chance to try it out, so as promised - here is that review. With a Simple Loose Leaf membership, each tea box that you receive will include at least 4 different loose leaf teas - a black, a green, an herbal, and a surprise or two, plus 2 reusable muslin tea bags.

Each box also contains a beautifully done card with information about the products in your box. Along with descriptions of each type of tea that you received, it also tells the proper steps for making a cup of loose leaf tea, which I think is important, especially for those less familiar with loose leaf...like myself. Knowing how much of each tea to use, what temperature the water should be (because it's not the same for all types), and how long to let it steep can be a bit daunting if you've only ever used prefilled tea bags.

Simple Loose Leaf - a subscription box for tea drinkers!

Simple Loose Leaf is like having a personal tea sommelier—it's the perfect partner in your pursuit for a healthier and happier you (or so I hear)! How does it work? Well, each month a box containing 4 to 5 loose leaf teas, 2 reusable muslin tea bags and a beautiful card detailing your month's tea selection is shipped right to your door for just $17. After you've tried the tea, you can order your favorites and more from their store with a 50% member's only discount.

I'll be trying this service out over the next few months and will report back with my thoughts on the service and the products - stay tuned! Until then, Simple Loose Leaf is offering my readers a
25% off of a gift membership or ongoing subscription signup by entering code 25HOLIDAY when ordering from their website, so visit Simple Loose Leaf to place your order today!

Stylish On-The-Go Thermos Choice, a Libre Tea Glass Review

Last month I introduced you to the Libre Tea Glass, a pretty, practical, and convenient on-the-go glass with a removable filter for leaf tea. It's 100% BPA free, has a glass interior, and keeps drinks hot or cold. Today I'm going to share my thoughts on the glass after using it for a couple of weeks.

Appearance: It's definitely a looker. I ordered their 14-ounce Classic Glass Tea Infuser. It's very sleek and sophisticated with shades of tan, gold, and silver. The outer material is a durable poly, while the inside is glass.

Feel: Substantial...and this is a good thing. The glass has a bit of weight to it, which in my mind means that it's not going to flip over or blow away if I'm outside in the park, at a ball game, etc.

Libre Tea Glass: feature + discount code

[sponsored conversation]

Most of us want to lead healthy, active lives and inspire our families and friends; now we can enjoy a tea moment anywhere anytime with the stylish and convenient solution for teas, herbs, and fruit infusions on-the-go.

The Libre tea glass is a pretty and practical choice for convenient leaf tea on-the-go. Its removable filter keeps all the leaves, or the bag, in the glass away from your mouth; also great for fruits or soothing herbal elixirs. You can create your own flavorful beverage and enjoy. Wonderful herbal teas are a great way to wind down at the end of a long day. The "how to" video (at the bottom of this article) shows three ways that you can use the Libre tea glass.

The 100% BPA free Libre tea glasses keep drinks hot or cold, are durable, and ensure a fresh taste every time due to their easy-wash glass interior - it's the only to go thermos you'll need at the soccer field, yoga class, on a hike, the morning dog walk, or curled up on the couch. We love to inspire tea moments anywhere, anytime - take a sip, watch your tea leaves dance, and enjoy relaxing tea moment for yourself.

This holiday, give your friends and family an inspired and unique gift you can use all year round. Choose from their Classic Collection - sophisticated metal trim with gold detailed lids, or their Libre Life Collection. They have great deals on 6-piece Holiday Gift Paks for all the tea lovers on your list. My readers get to save (great for holiday gifts, calm moments, and traveling)!

Get 10% off until November 15, 2015 by placing your order HERE and using code: USAMoms10.

Read my Libre Tea Glass review!

Apple Pie Hot Toddy inspired by Broken Homes and Gardens

Today I'm happy to be hosting a book tour stop for the novel, Broken Homes & Gardens by Rebecca Kelley. If you enjoy chick-lit and rom-com's, I think you'll love spending a day with this book. Seriously, I read this book in a day. It was a fun little reality-escape on a pleasantly cool day we had last week.

Set (mostly) in Porland, Oregon, Broken Homes & Gardens centers around young-twenty-something Joanna who returns to the States after a brief stint teaching English to kids in the Czech Republic. Typical of most people that age (at least the ones I know/knew), she doesn't really know what she wants to do with her life...who she is. She falls in love with the city, gardening, and unexpectedly, a guy named Malcolm.

I loved the fact that the characters in this book are flawed, like every real person alive. They try new things and make wrong choices, and sometimes realize too late what the right choices should have been. I won't give spoilers, but this is a great love story that takes twists and turns, and ultimately concludes with a cliffhanger (hurry up book 2!).

Sweet Tea Peach Popsicles (with or without Peach Bourbon)

I originally shared this recipe in a post that I wrote for Mrs. Happy Homemaker just after she unexpectedly lost the love of her life. The popsicles are made from ingredients that reminded me of the time I had just spent with Crystal two months before...along with her husband Michael.

That being said, these popsicles are a refreshing frozen summer treat - with a Southern twist that anybody can enjoy, but if you have a few moments, I hope you'll drop my original post at Mrs. Happy Homemaker to read about the inspiration behind these Sweet Tea Peach Popsicles!

Masala Chai {Spiced Tea}

Well, it seems that the temps have sort of leveled out over the past week or so.  We're talking mid-40's.  Although it does dip down into the 30's...low 30's...overnight.  So I've had to turn to warm beverages.  Usually, I'm a big water drinker.  Especially in the heat.  I always have a bottle or glass or water nearby.  And while I am still drinking it, I find myself longing for hot cups of coffee...steaming mugs of hot chocolate...and the scent of tea to clear my head instead.

So fair warning, it's all drinks all weekend long over here.  But they're perfect, toasty drinks.  Entirely fitting.  Today is just a quickie, a big mug of beautifully spiced Masala Chai. This is a very simple version that is made with just a few spices.  Spices that you may already have hanging out in your spice cupboard, anyway.  For a slightly more "involved" cup of tea, check out this Garam Chai (which just so happens to be my favorite style of chai).

Masala Chai {Spiced Tea}

by Heather Schmitt-González

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Keywords: simmer beverage vegetarian Indian

Ingredients (serves 2)

• 1 pint water
• 1 (1") cinnamon stick
• 8 cardamom pods, bruised
• 8 whole cloves
• 6 fl oz. milk
• ~2 Tbs. sugar, or to taste
• 3 tsp. loose black tea

Instructions

Place water, cinnamon, cardamom, and cloves in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat to low and let simmer for 10 minutes. Add milk and sugar and bring back to the simmer. Add tea leaves, cover, and turn off heat; let sit 2 minutes.

Strain tea into 2 cups and serve right away.

slightly adapted from Madhur Jaffrey's Indian Cookery

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So, what are your favorite hot beverages...the ones that you long for on a cold, blustery day?

IHCC theme: Indian Tea Party