Coconut Matcha Mochi

I made mochi for the first time! It’s been on my recipe wish list for a long time. I’ve been nervous to tackle it because I thought it would be a big process. Turns out, it’s super easy.  Mochi is a sweet Japanese rice cake made of chewy glutinous rice. The key ingredient for this…

Black Tea Blondies

Where’s the hottest place you’ve ever spent a summer? For me, it’s Arizona. I recently moved here and just experienced my first 118-degree day. Yep, that’s hot enough to cook an egg on the sidewalk, and way too hot to turn on the oven. During this same record-hot week, I received samples of the most…

Easy Vegan Matcha Ice Cream

I developed this recipe for a tea company awhile back using just matcha green tea powder, heavy cream, and sweetened condensed milk. I recently pulled the recipe out of the archives to see if I could whip up a dairy-free, vegan version with some coconut milk products I had in the pantry. Good news! It…

Slow Cooker Chai-Ginger Apple Butter

If you’ve peeked at my cooking with tea recipes lately you’ll notice I’m a bit lazy. I’m all about minimal work for maximum flavor. Enter this slow cooker apple butter. Apples, crystallized ginger, sugar, and a bold spice mix transform overnight in the slow cooker, emerging in the morning as the perfect fall spread for…

Strawberry Earl Grey Mini Pies

Friends invited us for a socially-distanced pandemic porch dinner for four and I stressed about what to contribute. I never want to show up to dinner empty handed, but what’s safe to share these days? Enter the mini pie. One for each person and no touching of shared serving dishes or utensils required. Plus, they’re…

Chamomile Grits with Blueberry Compote

I confess, I did some panic grocery buying when this pandemic first started. When the grocery isles were low on rice, beans, and pasta, I randomly stocked up on bags of grits hoping to stretch them out into many meals. Being full-time nomads with no home, Dan and I were camping in Arizona when things…

Cacao Coconut Overnight Oats

I was introduced to cacao tea several years back at the World Tea Expo, an annual trade show where tea companies unveil their latest offerings and tea geeks like me get drunk on tea. At the time, the chocolate company debuting cacao as tea explained that the locals on their South American cacao farm would…

Earl Grey Plum Torte

Being somewhat of a tea snob, I’m almost embarrassed to admit my favorite tea is one of the most common—Earl Grey. I find this deliciously flavored tea both nostalgic and comforting. It’s also of the easiest teas to cook with, because you really notice the flavor it imparts into a dish. What is that famous…

Almond Pu-erh Protein Shake

I’m always surprised by the kitchen sophistication of my 14-year-old niece. When we hang out, she often brings a long list of homemade cooking projects she wants to accomplish. Our latest hang-out session included crepes, walnut bread, cardamom buns, granola, seed crackers, and four-bean chili. All of which we tackled over two days. This simple…

Gluten-Free Matcha Pop Tarts

Is there anything better than a homemade pop tart? Especially a gluten-free one that tastes like the real deal. Your G-F buds’ eyes will pop out of their heads when you serve these. The G-F naysayers won’t even be able to tell they are gluten-free. A healthy dose of bright green matcha tea powder in…

Whole Wheat Matcha Almond Waffles

I recently borrowed a friend’s waffle maker, which was a huge mistake because now I want one! Needless to say, I’ve been on a waffle kick. One night we even tried masa harina corn waffles as the base for our taco-like dinner, instead of tortillas. But nothing beats a classic breakfast waffle. Except maybe this…

Rooibos Candied Clementines

Orange-chocolate is my second favorite dessert flavor, next to lemon. I have memories of my dad treating me to Swiss Orange Chip ice cream at Swenson’s as a kid. Anytime I see a Terry’s chocolate orange at the market, I scoop one (or two) up. Set a bag of chocolate dipped candied orange peel in…

Silver Bud Winter Mar-tea-ni

I am a tea addict. I’d probably qualify as a tea hoarder too. I just can’t stop collecting teas! Whenever I see a tea I’ve never tried, one I’ve never heard of, or simply get sucked into a tea’s story, I can’t resist the urge to snatch it up and sip it. Feeding right into…

Cinnamon Tea Infused Raisin & Barley Muffins

When you are a hardcore tea geek, people often bring you back interesting teas from far off places. I have gifts in my tea cabinet from Sri Lanka, India, Puerto Rico, Jamaica, Spain, England, Ireland, Hong Kong, Japan, Copenhagen, France, Amsterdam, New York, Iowa, Illinois, North Carolina, San Francisco, Seattle…and now Alaska. My sister, Liz,…

Tea Roasted Carrot & Farro Risotto

I love fall. The colors that change daily. The cool-in-the-morning, warm-in-the-afternoon weather. The end-of-season farmer’s market fare. And the excuse to start making those comforting, warming one-pot meals. I’m a huge fan of homemade risotto, especially after mastering a Deborah Madison recipe that I turned into a Parsley, Pea, and Green Tea Risotto. But we’ve…