How To Make a Proper Pot of Hot Tea

"No pleasure is simpler, no luxury cheaper, no consciousness-altering substance more benign."
    - Norwood Pratt 

One of the first things that I learned in seventh grade home economics class, nearly 40 years ago, was how to brew a proper pot of hot tea. This was an art that every young lady needed to master, and wedding shower gifts of the time (and for a decade after) often included bone china cups and saucers for those important ladies-only occasions at which tea would be "poured." 

Alas, except among tea aficionados, it would seem that making tea properly is seldom considered today. Here's what you need to know. 

Water Quality
Water quality will affect the tea's taste. If your tap water has additives such as chlorine or fluoride, consider using spring water. Warm tap water can carry minerals from the water pipes - always use freshly-drawn cold water. 

The Teapot
Choose a china teapot with a spout that comes up to the same level as the top of the pot so the pot can be filled without tea running out the spout. Be sure that the handle of the pot is well-balanced and comfortable and that your knuckles don't touch the pot. A round pot is preferable as this allows the tea leaves to gently swirl with the water. Avoid metal teapots as they distort the taste of the tea. 

Bags or Leaves?
Decide which form of tea you will use. Tea connoisseurs shudder at the mention of tea bags, as most bag teas are of a lower quality than the loose leaves. However, there are some quality bagged teas available. You might have a soft spot for a particular brand (Nova Scotians are very fond of their local "King Cole" brand) or may not want to mess with tea leaves. Leaves can be brewed in an infuser although aficionados prefer the loose tea alone in the pot. If you choose to use an infuser, try to stay away from the ceramic style which do not allow water to circulate and generally produce weak, flavourless tea. Choose an infuser that will allow the correct amount of tealeaves without packing tightly. 

Type of Tea
Decide which type of tea you will use. All true tea comes from the leaves of a tree called Camellia sinensis. The leaves of this tree are picked and then "withered" or wilted. Steaming the leaves at this point will prevent oxidization-a process in which the leaf's enzymes come in contact with the oxygen in the air-and produce green tea. Oolong tea is prepared from partially oxidized leaves, while leaves that have been fully oxidized (for as long as four hours) produce black tea. Most purchased teas are a blend of these, sometimes with additives. For example, Earl Grey is a tea blend scented with the oil of the citrus bergamia fruit. 

Making the Tea
Now that you've assembled your equipment, you're ready to make a proper pot of tea.

1. Empty any standing water from the tea kettle and fill with fresh water. Put kettle on to boil.
   
2. Once the water is very hot, but not boiling, pour some into each of two teapots and swish it around to warm the pots.
   
3. Just before the kettle reaches a boil, pour the hot water out of one teapot and add the tea. Use a teaspoon of tea per cup.
   
4. Take the teapot to the kettle. As soon as the kettle boils, pour boiling water into the teapot and replace the lid. Don't let the water over-boil, as it will lose oxygen and result in a flat-tasting tea.
   
5. Let the tea steep from 2 to 5 minutes, depending on the type of tea and strength that you prefer. Large leaves require more steeping time than small ones.
   
6. Empty the water from the second teapot and strain the tea into this pot for serving. This will prevent the bitter taste that results from sitting on the leaves for a long period of time.
   
7. Offer milk (never cream), sugar and lemon with the tea.
   
8. Cover the teapot with a tea cozy to keep the tea warm (never microwave to reheat!)

Prefer Decaf?
Although tea contains less caffeine per cup than coffee, if you are sensitive to caffeine you can decaffeinate tea by using this trick. Since 80% of tea's caffeine is released within the first 30 seconds of steeping, allow tea to steep half a minute and then pour off the water. Immediately add fresh, boiling water to the wet tea leaves and steep 2 to 5 minutes as usual.

Enjoy! 

Winter Care of Garden Fountains & Accessories

One of the most common questions we hear is what to do with a garden fountain or accessory in areas where freezes are common. Proper winter care is required for all cast stone, fiberglass, ceramic, and terracotta products to protect them from the freeze/thaw cycles that occur during the winter. 

Any garden fountain or statuary that can hold water, snow, or ice, such as a planter or birdbath can be damaged by the winter freeze/thaw cycle. Below are some suggestions for minimizing the possibility of damage to your garden fountains and accessories. 

1. Original Placement
Try to always place your statuary, benches or birdbaths on a firm, solid foundation and not directly on open soil, grass, or uneven surfaces. While this seems basic, consider that accumulated water or ice can make a fountain or birdbath imbalanced, and cause it to topple.

2. Concrete and Cast Stone Birdbaths, Benches and Statuary
If at all possible, a birdbath top should not remain outside in winter because if it fills with water, snow, or ice and freezes. The natural expansion effect will cause the top to crack. All birdbaths should be stored indoors in winter, whether in a garage or garden shed. 

Concrete or cast stone bench legs, decorative statuary, and garden fountains should be raised off the ground in winter to avoid the possible damage that can result if the product freezes to the ground surface. 

3. Concrete and Cast Stone Planters
For planters to be left in place, with plants in them, over the winter, here are a few suggestions. First, raise them off the ground. This can best be accomplished by placing two pressure-treated wood planks under the edges of the planter. Take care not to block the drainage hole. Contact with the wet ground during a freeze/thaw cycle could cause your planters to crack, chip, or crumble. 

Second, if possible, bring the planter indoors during the winter. Even if it is in a cold, unheated garage, at least it will be dry. Third, if you must leave an unplanted container outdoors during the winter, turn it upside down, on the aforementioned treated lumber stripes, and cover with burlap or other absorbent material, and then cover with thick, dark plastic, like a lawn and leaf trash bag. 

4. Polyethylene Planters and Statuary
Poly garden planters (those made of plastics) and decorative statuary are lightweight, mostly durable, resistant to extreme temperature fluctuations, and UV resistant. Some color variation is common due to the molding production process but they should otherwise do fine through the winter. Keep them clean and dry, and if a poly planter or fountain is left outside, cover it to keep water from accumulating. 

How to Make Homemade Ice Cream (Without an Ice Cream Maker!)

When I was growing up on our small family dairy farm in west central Wisconsin 40 years ago, my dad would make homemade ice cream using cream and milk from our very own cows and a hand-cranked ice cream freezer. 

But you don't need an ice cream freezer to make your own homemade ice cream. You can make ice cream with your refrigerator. Here's how: 

Dad's Favorite Recipe
(From the book Give Me a Home Where the Dairy Cows Roam: True Stories from a Wisconsin Farm. Coming in Fall 2004.)

• 2 eggs
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 1 cup milk
• 1 pint heavy whipping cream
• pinch of salt
• 2 teaspoons vanilla

Using an electric mixer, beat the eggs for several minutes until thick and lemon colored. Add 1 cup of milk and blend into the eggs. Mix sugar and cornstarch in a large saucepan. Add egg/milk mixture to the sugar and cornstarch. Cook until thick (about 5 minutes) stirring constantly. Allow the custard mixture to cool to room temperature. 

When the custard is cool, put into a freezer-safe bowl. Blend in cream and salt. Freeze for 2 hours or until slushy. Add 2 teaspoons vanilla. Whip for 5 to 10 minutes with an electric mixer. Return to freezer and finish freezing (several hours or overnight). 

Variations
After you have whipped the ice cream, fold in 1 to 2 cups of fresh or frozen fruit, nuts and/or chocolate before returning the ice cream to the freezer to finish freezing. 

Here are some ideas for additions to your ice cream:

• Strawberries
• Blackberries
• Raspberries
• Peaches
• Cherries (or Maraschino Cherries)
• Chocolate chips
• Butterscotch chips
• Crushed Heath bars
• Crushed peppermint candy
• Chopped walnuts
• Chopped pistachio nuts
• Diced bananas
• Coconut
• Chocolate chip cookie dough (drop into the ice cream by small spoonfuls and carefully fold in)
• Caramel or chocolate or fudge syrup (drop into the ice cream by small spoonfuls and carefully fold in)

Recipe: Pizza Pie

These are really simple -- and as personalized as a pizza. 

Start with a can or jar of your favorite pasta sauce. Add any or all of the following:

• 1-2 gloves of garlic, minced
• 1/2 cup chopped onions
• 1/2 cup green or black olives
• 1/2 cup - 1 cup diced pepperoni
• 1/2 cup - 1 cup cubed or shredded mozzarella
• Whatever else you like on your pizza, cut in small dice.

Mix all ingredients together. Grease both sides of a campfire iron. On one side of the iron, lay a slice of bread. Top with 2 tablespoons of the pizza mix and spread it evenly, nearly to the edges. Top with a second slice of bread and close the iron. Cook over campfire or barbecue until both sides of the "pie" are toasted. 

Cut in half and serve. Caution: the filling will be hot. 

Easy Steps to Building a Potted Fountain

These instructions are for a fountain using two flower pots and pebbles. The principles are the same for building large or more elaborate units.

1. Choose the pots you want to use. You will need two different sizes. The larger will be the holding pot and must NOT have a drainage hole. If it does, seal the hole with silicone adhesive. If needed, cover the hole with a pottery shard and silicone around the edges of the shard.
   
   The smaller pot MUST have at least one 1/2" drainage hole. Drill it if necessary. You may want additional water to escape from the top of your fountain. If so, drill small holes around the rim of the smaller pot.
   
2. Consider how high your completed project will be and what type of water flow you prefer. Purchase an appropriate sized pump and tubing. As you assemble your fountain, try to hide the pump, pump cord and tubing as much as possible. Depending on what materials you use, you may choose black or clear tubing.
   
3. Place your pump in the bottom container. Attach the tubing and keep the electrical cord over the rim of the pot. If you want, you can use pot shards to hide the pump. Partly fill the pot with pebbles. Thread the tubing through the drainage hole in the smaller pot from the bottom and set the smaller pot in the pebbles. Position firmly and completely fill the bottom pot with more pebbles, shells or marbles.
   
4. Hold the tubing upright in the smaller pot and fill the pot with pebbles. Cut off the hose off an inch or so below the level of the rocks.
   
5. Fill the large pot with water about halfway up and fill the small vessel to the top. Plug in the pump and enjoy!