spiced tea & snow.

So I woke up this morning thinking it would be a rainy day (as the forecasters kept saying about this nor'easter) and looked outside to see snowflakes falling! Apparently the forecast changed while I was sleeping, and we are getting 2-4" of snow through tonight. I know people will likely grumble about winter coming too soon, but I stocked up on wool socks, fleece lined leggings, and even got boots with more tread than usual. I'M READY!

When the snow started falling I knew exactly which tea to pluck from my cabinet. Harney & Son's "Holiday Tea" is perfectly warm and soft. From their website: "Our Holiday blend tastes of orange and cloves with hints of vanilla and almond." It is medium bodied, and makes a golden brown cup. The tea in the tin is so pretty with the pieces of red safflower amongst the black leaves and orange pieces. I brewed up a pot and watched the snowflakes fall with some Fleet Foxes playing. Perfect way to relax before work!

almond tea & cold weather.

This past week our area was hit by Hurricane Sandy (superstorm sounds ... so sensationalized) and lost power for 2 days. Not so bad in comparison to the others out there whose homes were destroyed, those stranded in NYC without their trains, and the people who are STILL without power in this chilly weather. I've heard talk of a nor'easter headed our way this coming week as well. Our old trees creaked all throughout the storm, and I had very little sleep. I was quite worried the winds would knock a tree onto our house or our wires, but we were very lucky and our property came out unscathed. So many fallen trees elsewhere, though. :(

While we were without power we had our wood burning stove going, and I brewed my tea on top of it. So glad I had a way to make a hot drink -- the weather immediately after the storm was cold, damp and miserable.

Right now I am craving macarons from Le Bonbon. I had ordered from them a short while ago and my package somehow made it to Hawaii from California ... on the way to Pennsylvania? When they finally arrived they were crushed and the ice packs they needed to stay fresh had thawed out completely. They have since been devoured, but I've been thinking about them all week and might make another order sometime soon.

(earl grey tea and white chocolate lemon ganache & black lavender and cassis white chocolate ganache macarons pictured)

They were my first ever French macarons (after seeing so many photographed all over the internet) and I think I know why they're so popular now! My favorite flavor by far was their pistachio buttercream, followed in close second by the Earl Grey with lemon zest. I thoroughly enjoyed them with almond black tea. They just posted pumpkin pie flavored ones, and I am sorely tempted to get another sampler with those included.

I also just realized The Hobbit is out next month! I can hardly contain my excitement!!!!!