Homemade Chai Lattes

        There is so much to enjoy in a chai latte. It has a spicy warmth, a festive scent and when you hold a cup full of anything hot it feels homey. Some of the ingredients weren't  available at my regular grocery store so I planned a trip to Whole Foods with the sole purpose of getting the needed items. They were burning a hole in my pantry with the random few days of heat that followed but I held out hope knowing that September usually does give us a few chilly days. Soon enough the weather had the perfect crisp chill in it and  I was ready to make my first batch of the season.

   Chai will always have a soft spot in my heart for a bigger reason than just the taste. Every Christmas me and a small group of my friends would gather together on Christmas Adam ( named by my friends little brother because it is in fact the day before Christmas Eve...get it?) and eat, drink, sing and most importantly catch up on each other's lives. When it started it consisted of just a handful of us down in the basement of "The G's". We were tiny little high school students and looking for any extra excuse to hang out with one another over the long Christmas break. As the years have passed and passed since those first gatherings they now include babies, children, and spouses. For many of the people coming it no longer a short drive from their house, so the time spent catching up on lives has become even more central. As much as I love to talk with these dear friends the thing I might look forward to the most about the evenings is Daniel's homemade chai.

   Daniel would stand for what seemed like hours over the stove tossing in spice after spice into his pot, stirring it gently and offering small tastes to anyone. He hesitated to serve it until it tasted just right and for Daniel the chai needed time, slow time to develop into that delicious brew. The chai seemed to take shape just as the group did. Needing more of this and that at the start of the night until well into the evening when the flavors were rich and developed and a simple sip would make you feel like family was present. Daniel loved to master the art of crafting his delicious chai and we all loved him for it.  Whenever I decide to make chai in my little kitchen I am brought back to that slice in time, even with my small ones running around, even with no other adults present, I still am reminded of precious friendship.  I find it such a treasure when food or drink so directly connects you with a memory. For me that treasure is found in chai lattes. And though I have never gotten Daniel to give me his "recipe"( which if you know Daniel at all the likelihood of him even having a recipe is highly unlikely) I have attempted to make it many times without success...until now. Enjoy!

Chai Lattes

4 whole black peppercorns
5 green cardamom pods, smashed/cracked open slightly
6 whole cloves
1 cinnamon stick
a small chunk of fresh ginger, peeled and thinly sliced
1 vanilla bean ( I use a bourbon soaked one and it was amazing one of the best smells I have enjoyed in a long while) Slice and open it, then use the backside of your knife blade to scrape out the seeds. Add both the seeds and the bean to the pan.
1 Tablespoon black tea, I used Assam
1 1/2 cups water
1/2 milk
Honey to taste (I used about 2-2 1/2Tablespoons)

Combine the peppercorns, smashed cardamom pods, cloves, ginger, vanilla bean/seeds, and cinnamon stick to a small pot filled with the water. Bring it to a boil, cover and simmer for a few minutes. After about 5 minutes take off of the stove and let it continue to steep (covered) for 10 minutes. Add the tea and continue to steep for another 5 minutes.

Pour the contents of the pot through a very fine strainer into another bowl. Pour liquid from the bowl back into the pot, add milk and honey, warm up a touch and serve hot.

I hope this drink creates special memories for you so that when you find yourself smelling the aromas of cloves, ginger and cinnamon your heart is happy and full.

Everlane

I bought this shirt and this shirt from a online store named Everlane. To be honest I am not even sure how I first stumbled upon the store, but I am so thankful I did. When I opened my first order from Everlane it was love at first sight and first wear for both of them! A huge feat! I did end up giving the second shirt away to one of my friends. It was calling her name in my closet every single day-what else could I do?  I do however plan on buying another few shirts in the next few weeks because they fit me very well. I have a short torso so the box cut style hits me just where a normal shirt on most people would, which is fabulous. Their shirts impress me because they are well priced, nice quality, hold up to a good wash and dry cycle and are made by a great company I can get behind. I suggest checking them out and maybe even buying something. Go here to do it.



         What secret companies do you all know about and want to share with me?

 

My heart is racing...

While reading through my usual blogs I found my heartbeat quickening. Sometimes when I read a well-written blog, or view images/decorating that captivates me, or artistic endeavors that inspire my whole person I can feel my heart start to race. Even as I type this my palms are getting a little sweaty and the only reason is this blog post. Tell me I am not the only one with this "racing heart" syndrome.....right?! Also, who can guess what I want for my birthday? (hint hint...some jewelry)

Saturday

 

This Saturday the weather was absolute perfection so we enjoyed some time at Sonny Acres and Klein Creek Farm.

 

 

And now we are off to the next thing...

 

(aka slowly losing my mind while the children run around the house like wild animals (literally- they are playing wild animals) nothing like a good ole Saturday:))

back to normal

 

finally life is getting back to normal

and I am so glad

Our new house.

If you were wondering where I have been these last few weeks you now know. We moved. I love our new house and find that it feels more like home than any other house I have lived in my whole life. I feels as though this home was made just for me and my likings. Every aspect of it connects with some part of me and each day I marvel at that reality. Now the only problem is that my blog is called "Little House on Prairie" and since we no longer live on Prairie the name kinda needs to go. Any thoughts for  a new blog name? The street we live on now is called Union. I thought about "To form a more perfect Union"....but that might come across wrong...so I am soliciting YOU to give me some ideas!

 

Ready, GO!