Mint Tea

I have been reading Ayurveda recipes and cookbooks.  My body type - vata -  prefers warm/hot foods and drinks.  This homemade mint tea is a hot and simple green drink for you to try this fall; it's perfect for vata and kapha constitutions when served hot.   Pittas will probably like this drink cold.  You can learn more about Ayurveda here. 

There are lots of ayuvedic tea recipes online and in cookbooks; I have been enjoying Eat Taste Heal: An Ayurvedic Cookbook for Modern Living.

For mint tea: You'll need about 5-10 fresh mint leaves (from your garden or grocery market), 1 cup filtered water, and honey.  Place the filtered water in a saucepan. Bring to a boil.  Then remove from heat and add the mint leaves. Steep for 10 minutes.  You can strain the mint leaves if you prefer, but I don't.  I actually eat some of them. Pour into your favorite mug - my favorites are my Polish pottery mugs - and add honey.  Sip and enjoy!

Note - While writing this post, I had two cups of this warming, calming mint tea.  

Beet, Berry, and Almond Smoothie

 My picture does not do this smoothie justice. It's a deeper color in person.  Let's call it very-mixed-berry and it was yummy! 

I have a list of smoothies I want to sample, many of which are on my Na zdrowie Pinterest board (Pronounced: Naz-droh-vee-ay, which means cheers, or drink to your health in Polish.)

Since I had some steamed beets in the fridge, I thought I'd give this one a try.  I added 2 small steamed beets (cut in half), some frozen mixed berries, honey, milk, mint, and slivered almonds.  I eyeballed the ingredients, but here's a similar, more detailed recipe. 

Summer Drinks

M and I have been making drinks in our mason jars.  His drink is a Mississippi Queen and mine is a Ginger Babushka Mule. The Mississippi Queen is an ode to M's dad.  

Ginger Babuska Mule (left), Mississippi Queen (right)

For a Mississippi Queen you'll need: a 16 ounce mason jar and straw because drinks look cooler and even taste better in them (trust me), 6 ounces of lemonade, 4 ounces of an ale/lager, 2 ounces of bourbon, and ice. 

Directions for a Mississippi Queen:

1. Place the lemonade, beer, bourbon, and ice in a shaker or thermos (like us).  Shake well.

2. Add ice to the mason jar and add your shaken drink.

3. Top with a Maraschino cherry (optional).  Of course, you can adjust the liquids to your taste. 

The Ginger Babushka is our version of a Moscow Mule, since we are Polish.  Okay, okay, I cannot take credit for the name, I had a similar drink with the same name at a local restaurant recently. This green-herb  drink has alcohol, but I'm sure you could make it non-alcoholic. 

For a Ginger Babushka Mule you'll need: a 16 ounce mason jar and straw, 2-3 ounces of vodka, a few sprigs of mint (we used fresh mint from our garden), 12 ounces non-alcoholic ginger beer (you need non-alcoholic ginger beer NOT ginger ale), 1 teaspoon of bitters (the liquid in the olive jar), and ice.

Directions for a Ginger Babushka Mule:

1.Combine a handful of ice, 2-3 shots of vodka, 3 ounces of ginger beer, the mint, and bitters in a shaker. Shake well - in a shaker or thermos. 

2. Fill the mason jar with more ice.  Pour your shaken drink into the mason jar. 

3. Top with the remaining ginger beer.  Stir and add a straw.  

 Na zdrowie! 

(Pronounced: Naz-droh-vee-ay, which means cheers or drink to your health in Polish.)