Food and Drink
We are huge fans of bacon in our household. We love it for breakfast, on sandwiches, on pizza, you name it. Usually, we make bacon in large batches because it’s easier than standing over a stovetop flipping strip after strip in the frying pan. Yes, the frying pan is great for super crispy pieces, but I don’t like being assaulted by grease splatters while trying to make breakfast.
Here is our go-to recipe for making perfect bacon in the oven. For this batch we used a thick-cut, peppered bacon.
Yesterday was National Pancake Day and boy, do I love to celebrate the holidays. This recipe for pancakes is simple, healthy, and easy to whip up. I usually have eggs and bananas lying around, so this is a go-to recipe for when I’m craving pancakes without wanting the heavy feeling that regular, carbohydrate-filled pancakes usually give me.
I mention this at least once a week - I love coffee and tea. Next to plain water, tea is my favorite beverage. I grew up drinking tea but as an adult I have really developed a taste for good quality teas. I enjoy not only the flavor of tea, but the experience of tea. You will not find me taking short cuts when it comes to tea. I’d rather just have coffee if I’m in a hurry.
Now if you are okay with microwaving your water and just tossing your bag in {cringe} then good for you. But if you are interested in brewing tea to maximize the flavor and experience, then read on. I hope you will try these techniques to really up your tea game and get the most out of your cup.
THE EQUIPMENT. Besides the actual tea, you need some basic tools to get started. A personal pot with removable tea holder works great if you enjoy multiple cups. A small tea infuser that sits in your cup is great for an individual cup at a time. I have multiple types of infusers for whatever mood I’m in. My favorite is my perfect tea maker from Teavana. You also need a kettle for the stove or electric water boiler, a thermometer {yes, you need this}, and a timer. Air tight tea canisters are also great to have.
THE TEA. Now if you are really serious about tea drinking, you need to go with loose leaf tea. I prefer buying small batches of tea from specialty tea stores. Specialty tea stores usually have more options and varieties and experts to help find the right tea for you. Believe me, it’s worth it to spend a few extra bucks on a small batch of good tea rather than buy a box of bags at your grocery store. I usually have good quality black and green tea on hand. With high quality tea, you can easily get 2-3 brews from your leaves. Start with a simple black or green, then venture out to the florals and flavored varieties, then you can even get creative and make your own blends!
THE METHOD. This is where the magic happens. Once you have the equipment and the quality tea, you can begin the brewing process. Always think of brewing tea as a tea triangle - the amount of tea, the brewing time, and the brewing temperature. To get the best out of your tea, each tea needs to be brewed at the specific temperature for a specific time. If you want to up the flavor or intensity, you increase the amount of tea, not the brewing time. Each tea is different and it is usually helpful to have a little cheat sheet taped to your fridge. Here are a couple things to keep in mind. NEVER pour boiling water over tea because it will burn. And ALWAYS keep a timer for your tea, if you brew it too long the tannins will make your tea bitter. Here are a few key “triangles” that Teavana puts on their tea canisters.
TYPE; TEMPERATURE; AMOUNT; TIME {per 8 oz water}
white; 175°F/79°C; 1.5 tsp; 4-5 min
white {flavored}; 175°F/79°C; 1.5 tsp; 2 min
green; 175°F/79°C; 1 tsp; 45sec-1min
green {flavored}; 175°F/79°C; 1 tsp; 2 min
black; 195°-205°F/90°-96°C; 1 tsp; 2-3 min
herbal; 208°F/98°C; 1.5 tsp; 5-6 min
I like to drink tea straight, with lemon and honey, or with a splash of milk and a little sugar. My tea wish list includes this amazing Breville One-Touch Tea Maker, swoon.
Experiment and have fun with your tea! I hope you enjoy your next cup!
Obviously, my thoughts are very baby focused right now and most of my blog posts as of late have been very baby-centric. So I thought I would take a moment to talk about something else and share with you one of my favorite restaurants in San Francisco.
Plow is a local breakfast and lunch place in the quiet neighborhood of Potrero Hill. It’s a small place with maybe 10 tables and a small counter but it is hugely popular and beloved. During peak brunch time, you can usually find yourself looking at a two-hour wait - but it is entirely worth it. I try to go right when the place opens to make sure I can get a seat. And although it’s very busy from open until close, you never feel pressured to rush your meal. I’ve spent many mornings and afternoons chatting with friends or enjoying a book and a cup of coffee.
My favorite dish is called The Plow and it has a little bit of everything - eggs, bacon or sausage, {addicting} potatoes, and lemon ricotta pancakes. They only use local ingredients and everything is made fresh daily. You can count on the classics like corned beef and hash and also try new things like chia seed pudding. If you make it to SF, be sure to stop by this little gem.
My friend Lena gave me some great advice: go on a lot of dates before the baby comes. AMEN.
Paul and I hit up one of my favorite restaurants this past weekend. We always order way more food than necessary and enjoy our time together. I ordered my favorite pasta and of course, a slice of delicious raspberry lemon cream cheesecake.
I love to spend alone time with Paul and I am so grateful that we were able to steal away a few moments and get around town for a lovely lunch date.