How to make a perfect pot of tea

First of all, fill the teapot with hot water and allow it to stand for a few minutes - this will warm up the pot so that the tea you pour into it after will not cool down as quickly. Now empty the teapot, add the loose herbs (1 heaping teaspoon of dried herb per cup of water, plust 1 extra teaspoon for the pot), and fill the pot with boiled water. Cover and steep tea for about 10 minutes. To serve the tea, hold a strainer over each cup as you pour - on this photo, I made my delicious blend of herbal tea with good-for-digestion herbs!

Latest Workshop News...

How do you spell frustration?...Ordering, waiting, then patiently trying to connect furnace stove pipes that are mighty cold to the touch! Better get back in the warm house and watch some more Olympic Games - go Canada go!

Mom, may I have another muffin?

Few days ago, I made a wonderfully warming bowl of mushroom barley soup with some colourful cabbage salad on the side ...yum! Speaking of warming, the herb cinnamon has hot energy and is used in this Mott's Fruitsations Blueberry muffin recipe:
In large bowl, whisk together 2 cups all purpose flour, 1/4 cup wheat germ, 1 tsp. baking powder, 1/2 tsp. baking soda, 1/2 tsp. cinnamon, and 1/4 tsp. salt.

In another bowl, whisk together 2 containers unsweetened fruit snacks, 2 eggs, 1/2 cup brown sugar, 1/4 canola oil, and 1 tsp. vanilla. Pour over flour mixture, stir in 1 cup blueberries. Spoon into 12 muffin cups, then combine 2 tbsp. flour, 2 tbsp. wheat germ, 2 tbsp. brown sugar, 1 tbsp. canola oil, sprinkle over muffins. Bake 350F (180C) for about 20 mins until centre comes out clean. A+ from the guys!

First visit to Richters!

Here is a tiny sample of the herbs, flowers, and vegies I'll be starting real soon... Richters is a wonderful warm place to visit for the selection of seeds, plants, and ... fat cats! One of the friendly staff members mentioned that the cats used to be good 'mousers', but have since taken on jobs as 'supervisors'. I just had to buy Hollyhock seeds as I had seen some gorgeous flowers last summer at Sage Mountain Herbal Retreat Center.