Anyone For Tea?

Ginger tea to be precise. I have a theory about ginger...It's a bit like the Marmite 'love it' or 'hate it' theory...I think it's genetic. Me? I love it, can't get enough. So does my daughter, and I only have to see a bottle of Stone's Green Ginger wine to think of my mum, she loved it and she made the best ginger cake and biscuits ever. 'A' on the other hand can't abide it. It's not the heat he doesn't like, he's a real Scotch bonnet pepper fan. I just don't think he has the gene!

So even though all you need to make decent ginger tea is a nice small piece of ginger root,no wonder when tea shopping I couldn't resist trying a packet of Pukka 'three ginger' tea. Did you know there were THREE different types of ginger? I didn't and I considered myself to be a ginger connoisseur. I had to buy a packet to find out more.

First of all it contains the usual ginger root we're all familiar with.

It also contains Turmeric....I had no idea it's a form of ginger and also one of those apparently miracle super foods that's really good for you.

....and Galengal,another kind of ginger.

It has Licorice root too! ...but even I know thats not a form of ginger! (but it is a legume...that means it's related to peas and beans!!)

All designed, 'to settle digestion warm circulation and lift your spirit'......

And it does really have a lovely deep gingery taste....

Ooh and this Ginger Hibiscus Tea sounds yummy too.....and the Licorice interesting......

..It's amazing what you learn when you're food shopping......

Making Rainbows on a Rainy Day

I'm not ashamed to say that I love the Walt Disney Film Pollyanna. Especially on a rainy Sunday morning when the dreaded lurgie has returned and you've been trying to sleep on the sofa since 3am so you don't disturb your partner and your chest feels like someone's sitting on it!
But curled up with a woolly blanket and a special hot drink in your favourite mug....
...and Pollyanna to keep you company .....
.......you just find so many things........
.....to be glad about..................

Things like a friend sharing this recipe with me for a special pep-up-drink................

You just need to put the following ingredients in your favourite mug:-

The juice of half a lemon or lime

A big spoonful of honey, preferably Manuka

A little cinnamon

A crushed garlic clove (seriously)

A dash of whisky

I also add grated or finely chopped fresh ginger root

Pour over lots of hot water and then give it a good old stir

I'm not usually known for drinking alcohol at the crack of dawn and I did leave it out this time, although there have been the odd occasions.......like when I was 21 on a road trip to Paris with three girl friends in a very old bright blue VW beetle called Bluebell. We didn't quite make it to one of our planned hotel stops one night....I think our map reading wasn't up to scratch. We ending up sleeping in Bluebell in the middle of the Bois de Boulogne.....I say sleep, I don't think any of us slept a wink....four people in a VW!! It was absolutely freezing.....as the sun rose we spotted a light on in a little cafe..it must have been 5am....and a line of small rotund French men filed in.......Without hesitation we followed.... mmm we could smell hot coffee, warm croissants and we noticed they were drinking cognac... All being of the ethos that 'when in Rome do as the Romans' we ordered cognac too.... No wonder we drove around Paris in a dream......what with that and all the pink champagne too.....but that's another story.....

OOh and I'm 'glad' it's raining today.....I won't have to water the garden........