Green Tea Lady

For my Saturday afternoon Pampered Chef party, I made orange-almond scones served with a fruity chocolate tea. And what goes better with scones than a bit of jam and some whipped cream? Why nothing, save the great company. A delicious time was had by all!

Afterward, I had half a pint of heavy whipping cream sitting in the fridge and probably a cup of cream whipped with stevia in a bowl. Save indulgence in a particularly favored aged cheddar cheese, I rarely have dairy in my world, so the cream sat there for two days before I decided something must be done. If there’s anything I abhor, it’s wasted food. I used the last of the cream I had whipped with a touch of stevia in George’s coffee, yet there was still that undulcified cream… so I thumbed through my recipe books and decided to attempt some mini quiche.

I can’t remember ever trying quiche before this. Since I already had a cauldron of chili simmering on the stove, I felt quite up to a culinary adventure. I rummaged through the fridge and brought out a couple of eggs, the last of a jar of artichoke hearts, a red pepper and I snipped some green onion fresh from the garden. The original recipe called for bacon, though I just added a bit of hickory smoke to the veggies and it tasted grand. I made a half batch of pie crust, chopped veggies and whisked eggs and cream, and 30 minutes later, I popped a tray of mini-quiche into the oven. I’d say I did well with the timing considering I made the crust from scratch, as well, and I had to cut and form it 24 times in the little mini-muffin pan instead of once in a great big pie pan – plus, it was the first time I’ve made this recipe.

After all that, I still have enough cream to make at least one more batch. I suppose this means I should arrange to host a tea party. The little quiche are very filling, so it’s probably a good idea to spread them around amongst friends. Anyone up for tea and quiche?

Breathe deeply,
Laugh with abandon,
Love wholly,
Eat well.

MiLady Carol
www.GreenTeaLady.com
http://miladycarol.com
Dazzling jewelry that reflects sparkling personalities!

I simply have fallen off the Internet map this past week in a whirlwind of preparation and training to be a Pampered Chef consultant. I know… Pampered Chef!

I’m an artist/jeweler so I love tools. Check.

I’m French and Italian, so I’m genetically predisposed to cook and bake. Check.

I love teaching and interacting with people. Check.

Could this be a more perfect fit? I joined last week and my first show is tonight. I’m very excited! Wish me luck!

Anyway, I apologize for not making a really delicious post, I’ve simply run out of time. Thanks for hanging in there with me. I’ll be back next week with one of the recipes I cooked over the weekend. Stay tuned…

Breathe deeply,
Laugh with abandon,
Love wholly,
Eat well.

MiLady Carol
www.GreenTeaLady.com
http://miladycarol.com
Dazzling jewelry that reflects sparkling personalities!

A new study in the Nutrition journal published on January 18, 2010, showed that green tea’s antioxidant catechins are readily absorbed by our bodies. This is great news! First, a little science…

Catechins are plant-based compounds that are highly antioxidant. Antioxidants are food-based nutrients that naturally prevent or slow the damage that oxygen causes over time.

“What? Oxygen? Hey, we breathe that stuff,” I hear you say.

Well, yes. Yet as our cells use the oxygen we breathe, they produce by-products known as free radicals. It’s the free radicals that cause damage like heart disease, diabetes, and cancer.

Enough science. Simply put, green tea is chuck full of tasty antioxidants and this new study was conducted to prove or disprove all the other studies about how well green tea was absorbed in our systems. The study concluded that our bodies absorb the antioxidants amazingly well and that continued drinking of green tea on a regular basis provides our systems with an abundance of protection… and that’s something to drink to! Cheers!

Breathe deeply,
Laugh with abandon,
Love wholly,
Eat well.

MiLady Carol
www.GreenTeaLady.com
http://miladycarol.com
Dazzling jewelry that reflects sparkling personalities!

References:
Nutrition
Tea News

It’s been busy, of late. So busy, I’m a bit behind on my sleep. What do I reach for when my energy level is low? Ginseng oolong tea! This oolong tea is specially prepared with powdered ginseng root and rolled into nuggets that unfurl more with each steep. It smells clean and strongly of ginseng. It’s just a pleasure to have by my side on a Monday.

Ginseng root has been noted for its many purported health benefits over the centuries. Some believe it lowers blood pressure and blood sugar and aids in lessening the effects of menopause, yet it is most famous for its stimulating properties. Ginseng is said to clear the mind, improve mental facilities and improve overall energy. Whether this is true for everyone is up to debate, yet I’ll offer a general caution that the combination of green tea that contains caffeine and ginseng may not be the ideal evening tea.

There is a really sweet flavor throughout the mouth both in front and in the back (please see my article: The Art of Sipping Tea for an explanation.) I find it leaves a very refreshing sense of clean in my mouth quite a long time after being drunk. I habitually have a pot of tea by my side as I work and I often fall prey to being so consumed that I forget to sip my tea. While some teas taste less impressive when they are cold, I find that Ginseng Oolong tastes equally great in both thermal extremes. I often brew an extra pot of it and leave it on the counter to grow cold for later.

A good ginseng oolong, like most oolongs, is good for several steeps. The ginseng flavor should stay with the tea throughout all the brews. I know I have a good quality tea when both the ginseng and the green tea flavors are both still present in my 5th steep. I find that the first brew is flavorful, the second and third steeps are where the flavors peak, the fourth and fifth require longer steep times to retain the same flavor intensity and the sixth is usually the final steep. Any further steeps are too diminished in taste unless you have a really superior oolong.

Breathe deeply,
Laugh with abandon,
Love wholly,
Eat well.

MiLady Carol
www.GreenTeaLady.com
http://miladycarol.com
Dazzling jewelry that reflects sparkling personalities!

Some of the best medical studies of the effects of green tea are coming out of Asia. This past week, a Taiwanese study** showed that tea drinkers were five times less likely to have lung cancer.

So what does this mean for smokers? The study of 510 people indicated that simply drinking one cup of green tea per day lowered their risk thirteen-fold. The doctors were quick to remind smokers that drinking a cup of green tea a day is not a substitution for quitting, yet it may help mitigate the risk a bit.

Non-smokers with a genetic history of lung cancer in the family also seemed to enjoy a reduced risk. The researchers found that the antioxidants seemed to have a greater effect on people with a specific growth factor genotype.

The doctors believe that it may be the antioxidant quality of green tea that helps modulate the cancer risk. Genetics definitely plays a huge role, yet why wouldn’t we take every possible advantage? If you like the taste of green tea, drink a cup a day to keep the cancer at bay!

Breathe deeply,
Laugh with abandon,
Love wholly,
Eat well.

MiLady Carol
www.GreenTeaLady.com
http://miladycarol.com
Dazzling jewelry that reflects sparkling personalities!

** Reference articles:
World Tea News article

Personal Liberty Digest article