Penzeys Free Cumin Seed Deal

The Winter 2013 issue of Penzeys Spices has a coupon for a free 1/4 cup jar of Cumin Seed!  The Coupon Code is 42730C if you order online or by telephone.    (The Spring 2013 catalog should be out any day now)

In addition to the coupon, the Winter catalog also has lots of recipes, including Sweet Potato Chocolate Chip Cookies (!), Sweet Potato Enchiladas, Spicy Turkey Gumbo and Ham & Bean Soup, just to name a few to warm your heart and tummy.  Call 800/741-7787 or visit their website www.penzeys.com to get on their mailing list.

Christmas in February!

I even love the variegated leaf!

Oh!  The perfect pure red!

Mr. Nick (Version 215.13)

A little over a month later from my January 11 Poinsettia Post, the crazy weather and temperature changes helped add some more color!    

And my Mr. Nick (Nicotiana) is loving this weather, too.  One plant slightly out of view is over four feet tall!    It was just about last year it was starting to bloom, too. Such a great reseeder, his progeny are also growing in Virginia (Via US Mail!).

Happy Valentine's Day!

Thursday Tea Time

This week -- Sterling Tea "Winter Warmth" and "Mint Kiss"  I thought the packets and the flavors and the names looked and sounded very Valentine-y!


Cost:  1 ounce $4.99 at Central Market, 2 ounces $8 online (Mint Kiss only)
Caffeine:  Winter Warmth-yes, Mint Kiss, no
Type of tea:   Winter Warmth-Black and Red, Mint Kiss-Red
Steeping time:  5-7 minutes
Add ins:  Natural Bliss helped bring out the chocolate-yness in both very nicely!
Tea fragrance:  Winter Warmth-Clove, fruity, chocolate
Mint Kiss-Minty
Ingredients:  Winter Warmth-Organic rooibos, black tea, cinnamon chips, cloves, ginger pieces, apple piers, cinnamon, cacao bits, cardamon, mint, licorice root, natural flavors
Mint Kiss-Organic roobios, peppermint, natural flavoring
Opinion:  I liked Winter Warmth a little bit better, maybe because it had so much going on and such an interesting blend of ingredients.  Unfortunately, it is/was a holiday seasonal tea, but I think still drinkable until that A/C clicks on here.  Mint Kiss was not as chocolatey as I would have thought or liked.  And straight Roobios tea has a distinct flavor.
Rating: Winter Warmth-3.75 only because of the Roobios, had it been straight black tea, it would have rated higher.  Mint Kiss-3  Could have been chocolatier and mintier.

Backatcha, Mr. Big Heart Bear!

This is actually the top of a 15 foot pink and red metallic hearts wrapped bear holding this heart which says "Love You" at Fannin Flowers.   Everything is bigger, deep in the hearts of Texans!

On Fannin Street near the Texas Medical Center.

Happy Mardi Gras!

Mardi Gras Bonhomme De Neige

Let the good times roll, indeed!
Mardi Gras Snowman painted on window of ShyKatz Deli & Bakery in Galveston, Texas.  He's also happy and celebrating because the food is so yummy inside!

Cherry Vanilla Pecan Cookies

Baker's Dozen!

I combined my favorite vanilla sugar cookie recipe, which I've modified over the years from Taste of Home magazine with another recipe idea I saw in the Houston Chronicle recently.  I liked the idea of cherries and pecans.   But not their recipe ingredients of maraschino cherries and confectioner's sugar instead of regular sugar.  I used dried Bing cherries instead from Costco (cutting in half, they were huge!) and a cup of pecans, which I broke into pieces after "toasting" in the microwave.  Then I added Wilton's Pink food coloring gel and sprinkled pink and white sanding sugar on top before baking for even more pinky bling.

Happy Valentine's Day!
And "Go Red" Month, too!  Cherries are "good for you" with lots of anthocyanins - queritrin and ellagic acid.


CHERRY VANILLA PECAN COOKIES


1/2 cup (minus 1 tablespoon) unsalted butter, softened
3/4 cup sugar
1 egg
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/3 cup white whole wheat flour
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt

In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in egg and vanilla. Combine dry ingredients; add to creamed mixture and mix well.
Drop by teaspoonfuls 2 in. apart onto ungreased baking sheets. Bake at 350° for 12-15 minutes or until edges are golden brown. Remove to wire racks to cool.

Yield: about 3-1/2 dozen.
Nutritional Facts
2 cookies equals 109 calories, 5 g fat (3 g saturated fat), 22 mg cholesterol, 90 mg sodium, 16 g carbohydrate, trace fiber, 1 g protein.

Happy New Year of the Water Snake

Greetings from Texas

Soon your snowness will melt away and Spring will spring!   And our melting heat will return.

But for just a moment, we certainly enjoy our life in Texas!  This absolutely gorgeous, almost two-story Japanese Pink Magnolia (Magnolia x soulangeana)  tree picture was taken today by me in Houston, Texas - at the corner of Bissonnet and Shepherd Drive.

"Yet here now, at this moment, at this place, 

The world of the flower, the whole of 

the world is blooming. 

This is the talk of the flower, the truth 

of the blossom: 

The glory of eternal life is fully shining here."   

-  Zenkei Shibayama  

My paperwhites bloomed!  And they smell as pretty as they look!  
I am definitely going to plant these again.  They are in a pot with a magnolia tree-ette.  I love the contrast!

She saw sea shells by the the seashore...

Thursday Tea Time

This week,  Souvenirs from St. Augustine - The Spice & Tea Exchange

Cost:  Two of the three were specialty holiday teas - the Limited Edition Teas the Season Gingerbread Spice and Cinnamon Plum.  However, my favorite is still available online, Coconut Oolong 1 ounce for $4.89, along with the Cinnamon Plum.
Caffeine:  Gingerbread Spice - No, Cinnamon Plum - No, Coconut Oolong - Yes
Type of tea:   Gingerbread Spice and Cinnamon Plum - Herbal.  Coconut Oolong - is, uh, oolong.
Steeping time:  5 minutes
Add ins:  Oh boy, see the results.  All three teas tasted just fine without any add-ins.  But the Coconut Oolong was kicked up a notch with the Natural Bliss.
Tea fragrance:  Gingerbread Spice - clove, Cinnamon Plum - cinnamon/fruity, Coconut Oolong - omg! Coconut!
Ingredients:  Gingerbread Spice:  Lapacho, vanilla, ginger.  Cinnamon Plum:  Cinnamon, hibiscus, currants, plum, licorice root, natural plum flavor.  Coconut Oolong:  Bao Zhong oolong, coconut flavor.
Opinion: The lapacho/Gingerbread Spice was interesting - it looked like twigs. Smelled great. Didn't brew very strongly.  I think that could have been a good thing, after I Googled lapacho tea.  Sounds like the jury is still out on it.  But it tasted good and as long I as don't overdo, I will still enjoy it.

Twiggy!

Lapacho

Pretty in pink!  Pretty awful in mouth!

The Cinnamon Plum brewed to a beautiful color, as you can tell.  I may just use it in the craft room, too!  I bet it would taste great iced.  Evidently it does not play well with
creamer/milk addins!

Cinnamon Plum - Pretty!

Coconut Oolong

Yummy!

The Coconut Oolong was my favorite!  It tasted just like the tea I got at the Tea Lounge in South Austin, albeit minus the tapioca balls.  Very coconutty!  I loved it!  With or without the Natural Bliss.
Rating: Gingerbread Spice - 2.5, just because they Googled side effects and articles were a little unnerving.  Cinnamon Plum 3 - I'm not really a huge fan of hibiscus.  But maybe iced with a little sugar to finish it out. . .Coconut Oolong - 5!  Yup!  That will be a reorder...or another trip to St. Augustine.  I loved that city!

Today's Favorite Workout Song

Pitbull, featuring Christina Aguilera - "Feel This Moment" - 3:47

Hello Kitty McDonald's Happy Meals, Hello Happy!

At McDonalds!  
4:09 PM UPDATE:  I just need the Baker to complete my set!

February 4, 1991

KellyRaeRoberts

Puppy Bowl IX

PUPPY BOWL is back this Sunday!!

Beginning at 3 PM Eastern time/2 PM Central on the Animal Planet Channel.
New this year are the hedgehog cheerleaders.  And can it possibly get any cuter?   The puppy hot tub for after-game play.  Once again you can also follow the "tweets" from @MeepTheBird on Twitter.

So while you wait for the Super Bowl commercials, enjoy some pregame entertainment with Puppy Bowl IX!

Hearts Renewed

Tell me, what is my life without your love
Tell me, who am I without you, by my side

Upcoming Jo-Ann's Pattern Sales

February 3/23 - 
30% off Gingher

February 8/10 - 
Vogue Patterns $3.99
McCalls $1.99

February 15/18 - Presidents Sale
Simplicity 5 for $5
BIGIF buttons