Lavender Vodka and a Good Book

The guys are building a new bonfire pit so I ran to the market for some fresh bratwurst to grill. Found some Lavender Vodka and if you fidnt know, I love lavender in my beverages.

I added a shot to a glass of iced tonic water and a slice of lemon. Not bad but I think next time I'll add it to a bit of lemonade.  

Now, it's time to relax and read a couple chapters before the guys get hungry. 

I'm currently reading "The Last Second Chance" Blue Moon book 3 by Lucy Stone.  Totally loving this small town romance series. Lucy writes with a romantic comedy style I really enjoy. I'm hooked.

Tea For Two - Friendship and Romance

"A cup of tea shared with a friend is happiness tasted and time well spent" - Anonymous

I've always enjoyed tea. Perhaps, more so after I spent a few weeks with family friends in England when I was a teen. Girlfriends and I would rush home when school let out to grab a cup of tea and watch General Hospital. We loved trying new flavors and blends of teas.

"A cup of tea is like friendship, a special blend of you and me."

Now I enjoy more herbal blends, especially those locally made. I drink "Cassie With a Twist" to ease my fibromyalgia pain. Herbal blends with lavender are very relaxing and often help me sleep. Enjoying cinnamon rose tea on the porch is heavenly.

A gift of tea is always heartwarming and can be romantic. My fly-boy hubby travels the world and brings special blends home to me. I picture him smelling and maybe tasting various teas. It gives me warm fuzzies knowing he is thinking of me when he's thousands of miles away.

Enjoying tea with a special someone can be a romantic moment as well. Specialty teas are made, often with vanilla, rose, chocolate and spices to inspire romance.

Teas can be very healing, both physically and mentally. Those Nature People is a Michigan shop that provides many natural and hand made items. They create wonderful hand-selected blends such as my "Cassie With a Twist" and others for whatever may ail you. Other teas are perfect for meditation or simply enjoyment. Delightful caffeine-free teas with names such as "Sunrise Bliss", "Passionate Kisses", and one of my favorites to enjoy on the porch is "Grandma's Garden". 

CLICK to check out their teas!

Yogi Tea is one of my favorite commercial tea companies. When I was diagnosed with Lupus in 2007, my doctor discussed healthy living and an Ayurveda diet with me. Yogi Teas are blended with purpose and inspired by the Ayurveda philosophy. Visit the Yogi Tea Talk Blog for recipes and tips on wellness. The teas are flavorful and comforting. I love the little tags with words of wisdom and comfort.  

Today's Yogi Tea tag is...

"Experience will give you the power and confidence to be you."

So – tea!

When you are feeling sad and blue
And have no clue what to do
Sit down and have a cup of tea
And a hug, one or two or maybe three
Feel those troubles melt away
And start you on a better day…(Anonymous)

Tasty Cream Cheese Chocolate Chip Cookies

Chocolate chip cookies are a favorite comfort food. But if you're like me, I'm tired of making the same-old-same-old. Quarantine 2020 is providing many opportunities for experimental baking. Since my sons are all around, I have plenty of willing taste testers.

During this time, I recommend having some fun in the kitchen with your honey.  Pour each of you a glass of wine. Wear matching aprons. Feel free to get a little silly... remember when you first were living together?

I found this unique recipe and didn't tell son #2 about the cream cheese, (he hates the stuff). The addition of cream cheese gives these chocolate chip cookies a rich, dense, cake-like texture. 

Give it a try!

Ingredients:

• 4 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
• 4 ounces butter, room temperature
• 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips or milk chocolate chips

Preparation:

·         Heat oven to 350°. Grease a cookie sheet, or spray with nonstick cooking spray, or line with silicone liner.

·         In a mixing bowl with electric mixer, beat cream cheese, butter, and sugars until light and fluffy. Beat in egg and vanilla until smooth. Slowly beat in the flour, baking powder, and salt. Fold in chocolate chips.

·         Drop by teaspoonfuls onto prepared baking sheet(s), leaving about 1 inch between cookies. These cookies spread very little. Bake for 10 to 14 minutes, or until the cookies are set and lightly browned around the edges.

·         Makes 2 1/2 to 3 dozen cookies.

Give Me a Shot of Whiskey Sanitizer

During the shutdown of almost everything during Quarantine 2020, several companies have "switched gears" and are producing other items. We see examples every day on the news such as GM building ventilators, ice manufactures making protective shields, etc. My favorite Switch is the distilleries making hand sanitizer.

Traverse City Whiskey Company quickly answered a need. The little distillery is located in the quaint Northern Michigan town of Traverse City and makes some of the smoothest whiskey around. The amazing team there, switched gears and began making hand sanitizer. 

My middle son, Devin, goes to school and works in TC and ordered some of the hand sanitizer for us.

Check it out!

It's sooooo cool!!!!

Visit the Traverse City Whiskey Co. 

The Buck Shops Here

to get yours today!

Thank you Traverse City Whiskey Co. 

for everything you do!

#SupportLocalBusiness

#KeepYourHoneySafe

Take Out Some Love

Hubby said, "Don't cook tonight. Let's order take-out." Music to my ears.

We ordered dinner from the Junction of Hope, a local restaurant.

"The Junction of Hope is America’s first nonprofit 501(c)3 restaurant. Our mission is to employ adults with special needs in Saginaw, Shiawassee and Genesee Counties. Though we operate as a restaurant, our real purpose is to be an employer of people with special needs."  - Taken from their web page.

My family eats there often as my sister-in-law knows several of the "kids" who work at "the Junction". Cheryl has gone to school with or competed at Special Olympics with many of those who pass through the doors.

Lucky for us, they are offering their full menu via take-out.

My whitefish was tender and so flavorful, it melted in my mouth. The homemade coleslaw was made perfectly according to food connoisseur son #2. I paired my meal with a Prophecy white wine. 

Hubby had the baked cod dinner with extra fish, of course, with fries and a salad. He paired his meal with a Corona Light. The boys had monster burgers and ate all their food plus my fries.

We enjoyed our dinner on the deck and were entertained by the backyard wildlife including 3 turkeys. (Real birds... not my guys, even tho they can be turkeys at times.)

During this time, we need to help our local restaurants more than ever. I'm talking about the ones who are owned by someone you normally might run into at the grocery store or church. Most of these small businesses are offering Take-Out services; some even Drive-In services. Try to make a point at least once a week to take a break from cooking and "get some take-out".  Add some wine or a brew, take it to the deck or porch or even picnic style.  Enjoy time alone with your honey or as a family.

Visit the Junction of Hope website

#SupportSmallBusiness