Mom Tea All Day

When I was at home before going to college, Mom made me hot tea for breakfast*. I didn't like the tea too strong, so she would pull the tea bag out after achieving a pale brew and drop it in a shot glass on the window sill to be dunked again tomorrow.

I did acquire a real appreciation of robust tea in my 20's. And made fresh tea for every cup. Frugality has its limits.

Now, my recently adopted tea habit reminds me of Mom's attention and thrift. These days I start with one or sometimes two bags of decaf black tea and brew it until it's pretty "strong". Since decaf never seems to rise to the level of sharp acidity of conventional tea, I can leave the bag(s) in the cup and occasionally warm it up with hot water all morning long without missing much.

Tea connoisseurs are spinning in their seats right now. I know. I know! That's no way to create a cup of tea. But really my necessary avoidance of caffeine and my subdued, old taste buds mean that I just enjoy a hot beverage that is little more than colored water and a hand warmer. (~shrug~)

On a special occasion, I still do enjoy "real" tea. Well-brewed Earl Grey or English Breakfast Tea with a squeeze of lemon. That's a delight!

* Back home, on the days when I had a sore throat from overnight post-nasal drip, Mom made hot chocolate with real milk and Nestlé Quick. And marshmallows on top. Indulgent but excellent nursing.

** The beautiful mug pictured here was made by Janet, my lovely and talented sister, as was the little pill cup in the background.

Lunch got by me...

I wish I thought to photo this plate before I finished it. 

There was 

Fresh hummus - made while I 

Roasted cauliflower with Tajin and a drizzle of

Spicy-sweet brine from a batch of lime pickles which brine was also tasty with bites of

Goat's milk feta alternating with

Indian turmeric pickles. 

The vehicle for all was home-baked and fire-toasted sourdough bread.

Yum! 

Posted by email  from my dining table.

To Kill a Mockingbird - it was hotter then...

I'm just parking this quote here. I treasure it and want to be able to find it fast. I want to find photos to illustrate that kind of heat. 

Somehow, it was hotter then: a black dog suffered on a summer's day; bony mules hitched to Hoover carts flicked flies in the sweltering shade of the live oaks on the square. Men's stiff collars wilted by nine in the morning. Ladies bathed before noon, after their three-o'clock naps, and by nightfall were like soft teacakes with frostings of sweat and sweet talcum.

Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird