.recipe: snooze tea.

A few years ago I found a curiosity to grow my knowledge about herbs and how to make delicious and beneficial tea blends. This lead me taking a herbal class a few years ago and learned how to make a yummy calm tea for the winter months. I loved the process of blending and drinking the tea. It's also a wonderful gift to give to loved ones! I have continued to try and experiment with herbs and tea blends then a few weeks ago I found a new herbal tea book that is overflowing with wonderful blends and recipes from PNW Herbalist Sarah Farr. I want to try all of these recipes but the first one I tried was snooze tea. It's a perfect tea for bedtime, the blend includes valerian and kava kava which are deeply relaxing herbs (note: some people do have different experiences with kava kava best to research more information if you have any medical concerns. And you shouldn't consume this tea if you are pregnant or breastfeed). 

If you need a little help to unwind and relax at night this might be a nice tea to try. Find the recipe and infusion instructions below!

Snooze Tea

Recipe by: Sarah Farr

from Healing Herbal Teas: Learn to Blend 101 Specially Formulated Teas for Stress Management, Common Ailments, Seasonal Health, and Immune Support

2 parts Valerian

1 part Kava

1 part Linden

1 part mint

1 part passionflower

0.25 part hops

0.25 part nutmeg

Hot: Pour 1.5 cups hot water over 1 to 2 tablespoons tea. Steep for 5 to 10 mins.

Cold: Combine 2 cups cold water and 1 to 2 tablespoons of tea in lidded jar. Shake the jar to make sure all the tea is saturated. Place in the refrigerator or cool place for at least 2 hours.

.pre-thanksgivng.

disclaimer: ok so I was really just looking for an excuse to cook.

I'm heading over the hills to Seattle to dog sit/celebrate t-day with the sister. So I decided to make a little mini-gratitude dinner for the parents and I last night. It was good to the last bite. Thanks to all the amazing blog-o-sphere foodies it's not hard to be inspired. This is what is looked like:

sorry I was so excited to eat not all food was photographed. :)

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!
May we all take a little extra time to savor all the goodness in our lives.

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I'm thankful for delicious food that excites my taste buds and nourishes my body.
I'm thankful for a family and a home that supports and loves me.
I'm thankful for this past year and all the amazing adventures I've experienced, all stunning sunsets I've seen, and the people I have meet who have taught me something in someway.
I'm thankful for my working hands and the art they make that heals and soothes my soul.
I'm thankful for the time to spend with my sweet Nana who is in the advance stages of Alzheimer's.
I'm thankful for real unpolished authentic love that loves without asking.

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food: oregano brussel sprouts - thanks to Heidi Swanson
         whole wheat rolls - thanks to river cottage
    

.canning.

Have you ever canned? I was a non-believer...until last week.  My Mom and I signed up for a continuing education canning 101 course and WHOA. It's SO easy. Why didn't I start this a LONG time ago? I've thrown TOO many things away that could have been CANNED. 

I'm honestly in love (and with the donation of about 500 canning jars from Nana Ruby Jean's basement this could be a dangerous combo...). Here are some of my pickled jalapenos I made today. You can find the recipe here. 

I'm just finishing up another batch of pickled carrots with a hint of cinnamon in them. 

Oh. Did I tell you I moved into a new pad (trailer)...

What's your new favorite discovery??

.summer eats.

Is it hot in your corner of the world? I never though I would come back to America to "warm up" from the cold winter of Malawi (more chilly than cold but you know...). It's been straight high 90's to 100. It's a demanding dry heat, but I love it. The only way I know summer time to be.

But with the thick heat what to eat? zucchini crudo (raw) and fried okra? Sounds good to me.

let simmer until the onions are soft and fragrant then add a few tomatoes (not pictured). While this is simmering with the tomatoes put the red pepper in the oven to roast.

let mix simmer and saute until soften. Set aside until meal is read and then serve on top on zucchini (think spaghetti).

and then a good ol' southern appetizer...

the cornmeal mix is mostly cornmeal with a dash of flour, paprika, salt, and pepper.

and finally enjoy!

deschutes brewery anyone??

. uni brows and piñatas.

hello all. i'm still here! i just finished a one week training on natural medicines and it was honestly the best week i've had in malawi for so many reasons, but mostly because it was just fascinating to learn about the plants, their properties, and how to make tinctures, body oils, and healing teas...i'll be sharing more soon. the training finished just in time to celebrate cinco de mayo. yes yes nothing to do with malawi and actually quite odd to be celebrating but a volunteer friend convinced me to host the party a my house because who DOESN'T enjoy an excuse to make mexican food?? we spent the whole saturday cooking and i was so worth it. the menu included: corn tortillas, guacamole, beans, bean dip, home made cheese, fish, and roasted salsa. We ate and ate and ate! There was also a few rounds of pin the tail on the zebra (trying to pull a little africa into the mix) and piñatas!

honestly, i'm always looking for an excuse to sport a uni brow...

here we are at the cinco de mayo party at my house with two volunteer friends.

but the highlight (of course it involves my boys!!) was watching promise and osborne experience breaking a pinata for the first time. they now run around the house calling me "Arish (that's name)" and then covering their eyes with one hand and pounding their fist in the air. i think this is just the beginning of piñatas and one step closer to mexican-nizing my boys! success!!

un abrazote.

.weekendy bwino.

How was your weekend? I (brace yourself!) had an action packed weekend in Machinga. Saturday morning I thought the sky was falling…or at least my ceiling was. Um…sitting reading my morning meditation book – concentrating – focusing – striving – to stay present ::crumbling::. Ignore the distractions. Wait something is actually falling. My ceiling!!  Seriously, my pioneer mansion has a metal roof (full of leaks) and then an inside sheetrock-esk ceiling layer. Between the heavy rains and the age of it (and a mystery cat trapped up there) it’s slowly been falling down section by section all week. I have yet to see or hear a cat but my gardener/watchman SWEARS to it. Hmm…All I care about is what will be left of my ceiling by next weekend?? The excitement continued when I was invited to a chibuku powered soccer match. We lost 2-4. But no worries the celebratory goat roast was still on! I’ll admit I skipped out on this to welcome my FIRST house guests for the weekend! Jessica, a fellow Response Volunteer living in the central region came down to visit with her friend along with the Liwonde crew. It was great! We ate homemade tortillas, guacamole, and beans on the front porch staying up until the wee hour 12am!! Sunday morning we enjoyed a lovely brunch of chai tea, rosemary flatbread, and an egg scramble before they set off.

I think the pioneer mansion is meant for entertaining. Who wants to come next???

Pictures:

1. The goalie with a snake crown?? In case you're wondering it wasn't a good luck charm.

2. Even Obama made it out for the game.

3. Where my ceiling USE to be.

4. Sir Osborne. <3

happy late love day.
i was without power and network, but i was sending much love to you all.
i spent my day the only way i know how...eating mexican food while watching the sunset and candlelight yoga. who knew malawi was going to be so lush?

p.s.
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