Playing With Our Food

Shane is working out of town again. Unlike last year when he spent months working in western Kansas, this time he's just 2-3 hours away in Springfield, MO.  Remember our trip in March when we spent some time at the Bass Pro Shop in Springfield?  They are expanding, and that is were he's working, during the night while the store is closed.  He's been told the job is only for this week.  Right.  The job last year in Kansas was only supposed to have lasted two weeks, and it stretched out to most of 9 months.  It's already looking like this job will run longer, too.  Even if it does, things will work out better than last year.  This time he's close enough to drive home on the weekends.

One night before he left, we had some delicious, but ugly, Star Wars pancakes.  Those pancake forms worked about as well as I expected them to, which was not well at all.

Yoda?

Darth Vader or a Christmas bell?

Better results on this Storm Trooper when I used the form as a cutter.

Luke, I am your bacon!

These were made with a new-to-me pancake recipe that we really liked.  I'll be posting it sometimes soon.

Product Review - Tea Infuser Travel Jar

At Christmas time, instead of exchange gifts with each other, Shane and I just buy a few things for ourselves that have caught our eyes throughout the year.

Being a tea lover, one of the things I bought myself last month was this tea infuser/travel jar.  I had seen them in the mall, but thought the price a little much and the sales clerk a little pushy, so I didn't buy one there.  I found this one made by Teas, Etc. online. It was a little less expensive than the jar I found at the mall and had much better customer reviews.  For what it's worth, I didn't pay the price shown in this link; if shop around online and you might be able to find it for less.

Here's how it works:

Place loose tea of choice in the bottom portion, which is made of BPA-free plastic.  Add sweetener, if desired.

Pour very hot (to boiling) water over tea leaves.

Screw on both the wire mesh strainer and the plastic lid.  Let tea steep as desired.

Remove plastic lid and drink hot tea through the wire mesh part.  The strainer keeps tea leaves from getting in your mouth.


I like this design better than a regular tea pot.  I think the tea stays hot longer and because I like my tea STRONG, this design works very well for me.  If you don't like your tea as strong, it is suggested that you use less loose tea or use water that is below the boiling point.

I have also used this jar for iced tea.  I steep it basically the same way, but I use half the water and once it's cooled a bit, I add ice cubes.  The strainer keeps the ice from sliding into your mouth.  (That's a big plus for me because I have sensitive teeth.)  Others have suggested using this container for water with lemon or lime slices.

I put this purchase off for months because I wasn't sure I'd like the jar, but since I bought it I have used it every single day, several times a day.  I wouldn't want to be without it, and I'm thinking of buying another.

The only drawback I can see is that it's not recommended for the dishwasher.

This isn't in any way a paid review.  I just love tea and now I love this new way to enjoy it.

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PS:  Unless there is something really special going on, I won't be posting on weekends.  See y'all Monday!