What are the Remarkable Benefits of Drinking Tea?
November 29, 2010
People, since time immemorial, have been reaping the many remarkable benefits that one can get from drinking tea. In fact, various studies have already been conducted to find out just how beneficial teas can be to the human body, and these studies have given us a very good understanding how teas help us.
But what are these benefits exactly, and how can tea help us live a healthier life?
One of the many benefits that tea offers is that it has anti-aging properties, especially those teas made from the oolong tea leaves. Regularly drinking oolong tea decreases the rate of wrinkle formation, which is a mark of aging.
For a person who regularly suffers from allergies, it would be very beneficial for him to drink a regular cup of tea, especially green tea. It has been found out that green tea has antioxidant properties, and these antioxidant properties not only help in the prevention of cancer formation but it also plays a role in preventing an allergic attack by blocking a biochemical process. In fact, these studies have also shown that regular tea consumption is beneficial to patients suffering from common allergic attacks like pollen and dust allergy as well as pet dander allergy.
As to its anti-cancer property, countless researches have been conducted and have shown that regularly drinking tea may very well be one of the best anti-cancer routines that a person can have. It has been found out that both green teas as well as black teas have these anti-cancer properties, although green teas have much more anti-cancer properties than the black teas.
Drinking tea can also help you lose some weight by helping your body increase its metabolism rate which results in faster calorie burning. Aside from helping you lose weight, it is also good for the heart. Not only can drinking tea lower the bad cholesterol levels in your body, but it also has properties that can help in the prevention of blood clot formation. In the long run, drinking tea regularly will help you decrease your chances of suffering from a heart attack or a stroke.
Lastly, teas have properties that are very beneficial for your skeletal system. Not only can it help alleviate the inflammation around the joints, but it will also help make the joints more mobile and pain-free. Aside from this, regular consumption of tea also helps increased the bone mineral densities of your skeletal systems. Not only does this help you have healthier bones, but this will also make you less prone to diseases of the bone such as osteoporosis.
Image Credit: rd.com
Does anyone know of a good site that has recipes using green tea in meals not just as a drink?
November 21, 2010
Green Tea Recipes
Can green tea recipe be really transformed into a delicious meal? How should it be combined with other ingredients? In preparing a recipe, it should be treated as a unique ingredient.
Green Tea Poached Halibut with Yellow Onions, Fennel Root, and Tarragon
Ingredients
1 tablespoon Sencha leaves
1 1/2 cups cold water
1 1/2 tablespoons high-quality peanut oil
2 medium yellow onions, coarsely chopped
1 cup fennel root, coarsely chopped
2 carrots, coarsely chopped
1 tablespoon fresh tarragon, chopped
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 pound halibut or comparable firm fish, 4 filets or steaks
Directions
Mix Sencha green tea leaves with cold water. Let the mixture sit for 30 minutes. Strain, reserving the liquid.
In a deep skillet, heat the peanut oil. Add the onions, fennel root, and carrots. Cook over medium heat until the onions are soft, about 10 minutes. Add tarragon and salt.
Raise heat to high. Add 1 cup of the reserved tea liquid. Bring to a boil. Place the pieces of fish on top of the vegetable mixture.
Reduce to a simmer. Cook uncovered for 1 hour. Don’t worry, the halibut will not disintergrate as it absorbs the tea flavor, and this length of time will allow the tea liquid to reduce to as tasty broth. If the mixture begins to boil dry, add more of the reserved liquid. Approximately half of the liquid should be boiled away by the end of the hour.
Adjust the seasoning. Place the fish on heated plates. Cover with the vegetable mixture. Garnish with a little fresh tarragon.
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Green Tea Chicken Noodle Soup
8 ounces boneless, skinless chicken. Cut into1/2 inch portion
1/2 cup brewed Red Rose Green tea
5 ounces dry bean thread noodles
4 cups chicken stock
2 (1/2 inch thick) slices ginger root, lightly mashed
1/2 cup oyster mushrooms, cubed
3 cups packed spinach leaves, large stems removed
Salt and white pepper, as desired
Directions: Place the chicken in a large bowl and add the green tea. Cover and refrigerate 1 hour to marinate. Cover the bean thread noodles with warm water. Soak until softened, about 10 minutes. Drain. In a big pot bring the stock, ginger and mushrooms to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat and simmer 2 minutes. Add the chicken, including the tea marinade, and noodles. Return to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer 3 minutes. Add the spinach and boil for 2 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
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Green Tea Cucumber Marinade
Green Tea Vinaigrette:
1 teaspoon sesame oil
1 teaspoon soy sauce
2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
1 cup strong Red Rose green tea
1 teaspoon toasted sesame seeds
1 dash hot pepper sauce
3 small cucumbers, sliced into chunks
Directions: Brew 1 cup of Red Rose Green Tea. Whisk together vinaigrette ingredients with the green tea, and toss with the cucumbers. Cover and marinate for at least 2 hours before serving.
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Green Tea Sorbet
2 cups boiling water
2 cups water
8 Red Rose Green Tea bags
2 Tbsp. Lemon juice
1 1/4 cups sugar
1/4 cup dark corn syrup
Directions – In a teapot, pour boiling water over the tea bags. Cover teapot and brew for 5 minutes. Remove the tea bags and gently squeeze the remaining flavor out of them. In medium sized saucepan, bring the 2 cups of water and sugar to a boil. Boil for 1 minute. Remove pan from heat and stir in the tea, corn syrup and lemon juice. Pour into a metal bowl. Cover and refrigerate until well chilled, approximately 1 hour. Process in ice cream maker and follow directions according to the manufacturer.
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High Tea Recipes please!!!!?
November 15, 2010
I need to find some High Tea recipes for school but the darned school computers wont open certain websites. Could someone please find me a recipe, or if you have any that you know of, and write them as an answer! I’ll rank you! please and thank you!
Smoked Salmon Quiche with Dill Pastry
This is quite rich and packed with wonderful flavours – my kids go nuts for it!
Prep time: 30 minutes (plus 40 min fridge time)
Baking time: I hour
Equipment needed: Large mixing bowl, wooden spoon, scales, rolling pin and board, flan tin (35 x 10 cm – greased), saucepan, measuring jug
Ingredients
Pastry
155 g plain flour
15 g chopped fresh dill
90 g butter – diced (cold)
I egg yolk
Filling
30 g butter
1 red onion (diced)
175 g smoked salmon (cut into strips)
1 teaspoon lemon juice
20 g chopped fresh dill
20 g chopped chives
1 egg (beaten)
80 ml double cream
How to make the pastries
Step 1: Mix the flour, dill and butter until crumbly.
Step2: Add the egg yolk and 2 large spoons of water. Mix into a dough.
Step 3: Using floured hands make a ball and put the pastry into plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 mins.
Step 4: Roll out, fit into the greased tin and trim the edges. Put back into the fridge for 10 minutes.
Step 5: Preheat the oven to 190 degrees and bake blind for 15 minutes: with beads and greaseproof paper. Then remove the beads and cook for a further 10 minutes. Cool.
How to make the filling
Step 1: Reduce the oven to 180 degrees.
Step 2: Gently fry the onion in the butter until soft.
Step 3: Stir in the lemon juice and herbs and then add the salmon.
Step 4: Mix together the egg and cream and season.
Step 5: Lay the salmon onto the pastry and pour over the cream and egg mixture.
Step 6: Bake for 25-30 mins.
Serve warm with salad and new potatoes for a hearty high tea.
Lapsang Souchong Egg Salad Sandwiches
3 tsp. Lapsang Souchong tea leaves
8 hard-boiled eggs
3 Tbsp. mayonnaise
2 tsp. finely chopped chives Pinch of salt, optional 8 slices bread, any kind
Sherla Combs Disappearing Peanut Butter Pie
From Sherla Combs and the Case of the Great Jewel Robberies. www.MysteryTeaParties.com
1 16 oz jar peanut butter
1 8 oz pkg. reduced fat cream cheese, softened
3/4 cup honey
1 8 oz. carton frozen whipped topping, thawed
1 prepared cookie, chocolate or crumb pie crust
2 tbsp chocolate chips
1/2 tsp shortening
Beat together cream cheese and honey until well mixed. Stir in peanut butter, mix
well. Gently fold in whipped topping. Spoon into crust. Heat chocolate chips and
shortening over low heat until melted; drizzle over pie. Chill for several hours.
Serve, and watch it disappear before your eyes!
Blueberry Tea Bread
from Christine’s Bed & Breakfast & Tea Room
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup oil
2 eggs
½ cup of orange juice or a little more if needed
2 cups of flour or a little more if needed
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 Tablespoon of Cinnamon
3/4 cup of blueberries
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a large pan or two small ones and set aside.
Cream all the wet ingredients together and then add the dry. Thebatter should be not thick but loose. Bake until lightly golden and the topof loaf springs back. Let bread cool.
Almond Shortbreads:
Recipe:
1/2 cup (1 stick) (113 grams) unsalted butter, room temperature
1/4 cup (50 grams) granulated white sugar
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2/3 cup (85 grams) all-purpose flour
1/3 cup (30 grams) almond flour (meal)
2 tablespoons (15 grams) rice flour or cornstarch (corn flour)
1/8 teaspoon salt
Flaked almonds for decorating the top of the shortbread (optional)
Preheat oven to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C) with the rack in the middle of the oven. Have ready a 8 inch (20 cm) tart pan with a removable bottom.
In the bowl of your electric mixer cream the butter and sugar until smooth (about 2 minutes). Beat in the vanilla extract. In a separate bowl whisk together the flours (all purpose, almond, and rice) and salt. Add this mixture to the butter and sugar mixture and beat just until incorporated.
Press the shortbread dough evenly into the tart pan. Prick the surface of the shortbread with a fork to prevent the shortbread from puffing up. Using a sharp knife, score (make shallow lines) the top of the shortbread into 12 even pieces. Gently press the flaked almonds in a decorative pattern on the top of the shortbread.
Place in preheated oven and bake until it is nicely browned (biscuit color), about 45-55 minutes. Transfer shortbread to rack and cool for five minutes before removing from tart pan. Place the shortbread round on a cutting board and cut into 12 wedges (along the lines scored). Cool completely on a wire rack.
Makes 12 shortbread wedges. Shortbreads make a wonderful accompaniment to ice creams and ices, and Fruit Fools (Rhubarb & Strawberry) (Kiwi, Blackberry or Strawberry)
Read more: "Almond Shortbread Cookies Recipe With Picture – Joyofbaking.com" – http://www.joyofbaking.com/shortbreads/AlmondShortbreadCookies.html#ixzz0ACkdjlHC
Apple Tart Recipe
CRUST:
1 cup (140 grams) all-purpose flour
1/3 cup (35 grams) confectioners (powdered or icing) sugar
1/2 cup (1 stick) (113 grams) cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
FILLING:
One 8-ounce (227 grams) cream cheese, at room temperature
1/4 cup (50 grams) granulated white sugar
1 large egg
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
TOPPING:
1/4 cup (50 grams) granulated white sugar
1/2 teaspoon (2 grams) ground cinnamon
4 cups (500 ml) Granny Smith apples, peeled and cut into 1/4 inch (.6 cm) slices (about 3-4 large apples)
Preheat oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C) and place rack in center of oven. Grease (or spray with Pam) a 9 inch (22 cm) springform pan
.
CRUST: In the bowl of your food processor place the flour and sugar. Pulse to blend together. Add butter and pulse until dough just begins to come together. Pat the dough onto the bottom and one inch (2.5 cm) up the sides of the pan. Cover with plastic wrap and place in refrigerator while you make the filling.
FILLING: In a food processor process the cream cheese until smooth. Add the sugar and mix well. Blend in the egg and vanilla extract and process until smooth. Remove the crust from the fridge and pour in the filling. Return to refrigerator while you prepare the topping.
TOPPING: Combine the sugar and cinnamon in a large bowl. Toss the sliced apples in the sugar mixture. Spoon the apples evenly over the cream cheese layer and sprinkle with almonds. Place the springform pan on a larger baking sheet to catch the drips.
Bake at 450 degr
How do I make a pitcher (approx 2 qt) of iced green tea?
November 7, 2010
I read about the weight loss benefits of green tea and I’m looking for an efficient way to make and drink a lot of it every day. I think I would like to make a pitcher of iced green tea. How does one make a pitcher of iced green tea? If anyone else has consumption ideas or sugarless green tea recipes, I would be very appreciative.
Thanks!
What i do, is i make green tea (hot) and pour alot of boiling water into the container you are mixing the tea, then add alot of green tea bags (your preference on how many), let it cool, and then stick it in teh fridge. You can also add a little splenda to sweeten it. You can do this to any tea, i have found…and then just pour it in a glass with some ice, very nummy!!!
some variations that i have found that works is getting some sugar free syrup to add, such as vanilla, and it adds alot of flavor!
