#183 The Case of Camomile Tea

Do you wish you could drink in the peace and gentleness of this photo?

This is soothing camomile and you can!

My romance novelist friend Kathleen grows these tiny, cheerful, daisy-like flowers in her garden.

Here's how to make tea from fresh flower heads:

Heat water to boiling in a kettle.

Pour hot tap water into a 2-cup teapot and top with the lid to heat the pot.

When the outside of the teapot feels warm to the touch, empty the water then drop a tablespoon of camomile flower heads into the pot and fill the pot with boiling water.

Steep for 3 min.

Pour into teacups through a tea strainer.

Serves 2.

Plus it's easy to dry camomile flower heads for use over the non-growing season.

Spread them on a cookie sheet and let them air dry out of the light for several days.

They're ready to store in a mason jar when they are very crumbly between your fingers.

Here's how to make tea from dried camomile:

Heat water to boiling in a kettle.

Pour hot tap water into a 2-cup teapot and top with the lid to heat the pot.

When the outside of the teapot feels warm to the touch, empty the water then drop a half tablespoon of dried camomile into the pot and fill the pot with boiling water.

Steep for 3 min.

Pour into teacups through a tea strainer.

Serves 2.

♥ Becki

Comments

The Case of Vegetarian Detective in Italy

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#266 The Case of Royal Icing

T o make filling your pastry tube easier, cut a tiny bit off the very tip to allow air to escape before you add your icing. Later, make the hole larger if you wish. 19-oz-can chick peas, shaken 2 cups icing sugar 1/8 teaspoon salt 1/8 teaspoon vanilla food colouring (optional) Add 3 tablespoons of liquid from the chick pea can (aquafaba) to a large bowl. Beat on high for four min., until foamy and thick. (Make Hummus with the chick peas.) Add the icing sugar, salt, vanilla, and colouring as desired. Beat until combined then on high for six min., occasionally scraping down the side of the bowl. A spoon stuck upright in the icing should remain standing but you want the mixture to be thin enough to squeeze easily out of your pastry tube. Add drops of water to thin, if necessary. Fill your pastry tube. Leftovers can be stored in the fridge, in an airtight container with a clean, damp cloth. ♥ Becki

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