Tea time

My husband and I started our very first garden together this summer. In said garden, we planted some mint plants... I first thought that the mint would be a great adornment to my baking needs; mint brownies for example! However, I have recently learned how to make something deceptively simple, and incredibly delicious with mint as the star ingredient!

Got some fresh mint? Got some hot water? Well then! You, my friend, have fresh mint tea! I feel strange writing about something so simple on my blog, however I never realized, for whatever reason, how simple tea can be to make. I was definitely always the one to buy pre-packaged, pre-bagged tea from the supermarket - this summer, however, I am using more loose leaf tea and also dabbling in teas without tea leaves at all! Such as this mint tea.

Mint tea is great as a relaxing, caffeine-free drink. I am really shying away from caffeine in the evening hours and this makes a great hot beverage to sip before bed! Drink it unsweetened or add whatever sweetener you prefer, I think it is great alone or with a drop of agave nectar in it...Yum!

To make this tea get yourself a couple sprigs of mint, stem and leaves are fine! Boil a cup of water and mix the two into a mug or tea pot. Allow to rest at least 5 minutes, I just leave the sprigs in mine while I drink it, the flavor only gets better!

This summer I have been making a lot of home made iced tea and this mint tea will make an excellent addition to my ice tea roster! 

Enjoy and drink up! 

- Night Owl Gal

Bagel time!

I have a weakness for bagels; toasted with butter and jam, slathered with fresh-made hummus, or grilled with egg and cheese! Yum! I used to buy bagels from the store, however I have learned that making home made ones is healthier and tastier. Over the past few years I have been perfecting my bagel recipe of choice and now I want to share it with you, readers.

This recipe is super simple and takes less than 2-hours to complete.  It is also husband-approved! Which is even better!

Bagels

2 packages of fast-acting yeast

1 tbsp. agave nectar

1 tbsp. olive oil

dash of salt

1-1/2 cups hot water

4 cups of flour

In a large bowl combine the yeast and agave nectar

Add the olive oil

Add the water

Mix in the flour.

Using a spatula, mix the ingredients until well blended, then knead the dough until smooth.

Shape the dough into a ball and place on the counter

Slice the dough into 8-sections, like so...

Place the eight sections on a tray and let rise for 25 minutes.

After the dough has risen, take each piece and shape like a bagel:

Set these aside for another 20 minutes.  Meanwhile, start preheating the oven at 425F. 

Also start boiling a large pot of water, you will boil the bagels in this!

Boil the bagels for 1 minute on each side. After they are boiled, place them on a greased cookie sheet.

Bake the bagels for 15 minutes. 

Enjoy your delicious home made bagels!

- Night Owl Gal