I’m tired, friends. It’s Friday, but I only know that because the internet told me so. At this point in my life, the days all blur together. I’m managing to keep a tiny human alive, which is no small feat. These tiny humans are hard work! (Fun fact: I’m currently typing this while wearing the little one in a wrap and bouncing on a yoga ball. Oh, and she’s crying because she’s overtired and is refusing to sleep. It’s one of those days.)
But when life hands you a cranky and overtired baby, you just gotta do what you can to get through it. I have to remind myself that it’s a phase, and it won’t last forever.
It’s precisely days like this that I make myself a big cup of Turmeric Coconut Tea. It’s all the good things, in one little cup. It’s warm and wonderful; comforting and healing. It lifts my spirits and soothes my tired and weary bones. Whatever your troubles may be, I promise this tea will help. It may not fix all your troubles, but it will certainly brighten your day. It’s just that kind of elixir.
I originally discovered this tea on 101 Cookbooks, and then re-discovered it when my friend Kirsten posted about her coconut milk variation of the tea.
There are a number of ways you can make this tea. I start with a mug, and add to it a heaping spoonful of ground turmeric and a heaping spoonful of raw honey. I then add a dash of hot water to the honey and turmeric, and stir together until a paste forms. I then fill the mug with equal parts hot water and hot coconut milk (which I boil together on the stovetop), and stir until the paste dissolves. I then add a generous squeeze of fresh lemon juice, a couple grinds of black pepper, a dash of cayenne, and a cinnamon stick. That’s how I like my turmeric tea, but feel free to make it to your liking. I imagine that it would be wonderful with a bit of freshly grated ginger, and I’ve often wondered how it would taste with a glug of whiskey. (A turmeric toddy, perhaps?)
That, my friends, is how you make a delightful cup of turmeric coconut tea. And, since it’s Friday, I thought I’d leave you with a list of a few of my favorite things. Just because.
FRIDAY FAVORITES: JANUARY 9, 2015
I made this pasta recipe this week, with kale and sage pesto, brussels sprouts, and a brown butter bread crumb topping. It requires a lot of ingredients and has quite a few moving parts, but it’s worth it. I will make this recipe again and again.
This article about the first 3 months of motherhood. This kind of honesty is comforting and refreshing. It’s not all rainbows and roses, people.
Grantland. If I could write for any website, I honestly think it would be Grantland. That may sound strange coming from a food blogger, but I have a secret dream of being an edgy feminist sports writer. I think sports (and sports fans) are an interesting reflection of culture, and I am constantly intrigued by Grantland’s take on sports culture in America. If you don’t believe me, read this brilliant article on Kobe Bryant (and why we love to hate him).
Stammtisch. This new(ish) German brewpub is our current favorite spot for a weeknight meal and/or brew. An excellent selection of German beers? Check. Family friendly? Check. A television for Blazer watching? Check. Incredibly delicious German food? Check. Great service and friendly waitstaff? Check. Stammtisch has it all.
I recently started working with Water Avenue Coffee Co. and I cannot say enough good things about these folks. First of all, the coffee is delicious. And everyone who works there (baristas! roasters! owners! drivers!) are all so darn nice. It’s just an awesome company, all around. I’m really excited about working with them. Here’s to a coffee-filled 2015!
My slow cooker. Since having a baby, I’ve found that the slow cooker is my best friend. It’s just so darn easy. You just throw in your ingredients and walk away. Some of my favorite slow cooker recipes are for pulled pork, pumpkin curry, pot roast, and tomato soup. Oh, and I really want to try this slow cooker beef ragu recipe.
Margaritas. Oh, how I’d missed margaritas. My husband got me a bottle of Mezcal for Christmas (and he made a big batch of homemade sour mix!) and I forgot how good a margarita can be. After nearly a year without them, I’m glad to welcome margaritas back into my life. (For what it’s worth, my favorite margaritas in Portland can be found at Por Que No?, Xico, and Bunk Bar.)
And that’ll do it for today’s favorites. The baby is awake (again) and crying (again) and so I must go. Happy Friday!