Dark Chocolate Baked Oatmeal

You know those days when you wake up craving chocolate? Let me restart. You know how every morning, you wake up needing a chocolate fix? No? Just me? Well this is awkward.

If as a child, your favourite cereals were cocoa puffs and cocoa krispies, and when you were out of cereal, you either slathered Nutella onto toast or ate a double chocolate Pop-Tart, then this recipe is for you!

Only now that you're older, you have to pretend that you've grown out of your love for those sugary bowls of crispy, chocolatey, heavenly goodness, and opt for the boring bowls of sludge called oatmeal.

But wait. I am here to let you know that not all hope is lost. If you still need that morning chocolate fix, (of course you do) then you can have it in the healthier form of baked oatmeal! Yaaay!


Dark Chocolate Baked Oatmeal
1/2 cup old fashioned oats
1/4 tsp. Baking powder
1 1/2 tbsp. Cocoa powder
1 small ripe banana, mashed
1/3 cup almond milk, or milk of choice

1) Preheat oven to 350° Fahrenheit. And grease a single- serving ramkin.
2) Combine first three ingredients.
3) Stir in first the banana, then the milk.
4) Bake until no longer liquidy in the center, or about 25-30 minutes.

Notes:
·For a sweeter, fudgier oatmeal, use more banana.
·For a richer oatmeal, as half of a mashed avocado, or a.tablespoon of coconut oil in step three.
·To be a happier person, mix in a handful of chocolate chips in step three.

Enjoy!
-Liesl

How to: The Perfect Brew

Brewing times. It’s something the majority of us don’t usually consider when making a steamy cup of tea. Boil water, pour it over the tea bag in the cup, drink. It sounds like the world’s most simple recipe. But there seems to be an art to brewing the perfect cup of tea. You, lucky reader, get to have the secret to becoming a tea-brewing master. 

Green and White Tea:

These delicate teas get special treatment when it comes to brewing. To get the perfect flavors here you should heat the water to just before the boiling point. Water that’s too hot can “cook” your tea leaves(which is not our goal here). Let the green tea steep for 1 minute or less and the white tea for 1-3 minutes. (Matcha tea has the same heating instructions, but no steeping time of course!)

Black and Oolong Tea:

With these two, you can boil the water to your heart’s content before pouring it. Then let each of them steep for 5-7 minutes.

Herbal Tea:

As with black and oolong, Herbal tea can be made with boiling water. However, this time, you can let it steep for 5-7 minutes depending on your preference of flavor strength.

Here's a handy little chart that puts it all together

As for how to remove the tea bag, you can take a look at “The Great Squeeze Debate” to help you make your decision.

And for the very last step: Drink and enjoy! *But be careful not to burn yourself, it always ruins the experience*

-Elizabeth

The Best Creamy Peanut Butter

It seems like everywhere, I am seeing the instructions for making one-ingredient peanut butter. The whole "one ingredient" thing is convenient, but since I grew up on the hydrogenated-oil laden stuff, the taste of the peanut-only peanut butter just doesn't cut it. Who is with me? Because if you are, this recipe is for you.

By simply adding a few extra ingredients, I was able to manipulate the flavor of this peanut butter to mimic its store-bought cousin. The flavor was not an exact match, but I actually thought that the taste was superior to what I grew up on. (Thanks, vanilla extract!)

Note: You will need a high powered food processor to make this get to the best consistency. I use a Ninja system.

The Best Peanut Butter
2 c. Dry Roasted Unsalted Peanuts
1 Tbsp. Coconut Oil
1 Tbsp. Agave Nectar*
1 tsp. Vanilla extract
1 pinch salt

Process all ingredients an a strong food processor until desired consistancy is reached. First, it will become coarse like sand. The it will become a thick paste, like Play-Doh. Keep on processing until it becomes more like a liquid.
Store refrigerated in an airtight container for up to two weeks.

Feel free to play around with the ratios if you so desire.
*honey or maple syrup can be substituted.
~Liesl

Letter Writing: A Lost Art

When was the last time you sent a letter to someone?
Letter writing is a valuable form of communication that is too often neglected. I mean why take the time to write out a letter, figure out the address of the recipient, and pay a whopping 50 cents for a stamp?

Although the convenience of text messaging, phone conversations, and even e-mails are definitely dominant forms of communication in this day and age, there is just something so special about receiving a letter. 

Need some reasons to send out a letter?

Because letter writing takes "so much more" work than most other communicational outlets, whenever I receive a letter, I get the sense that the sender really cares about me. So when I want to let someone else know that I care about how they are doing, letter writing is the perfect way to do so.

Probably my favourite reason to write a letter is stationary, one of the loves of my life. This may just be me, but there is something about stationary that draws me in and motivates me to write more letters. Or if you want to get creative, make your own note cards or stationary with some good quality cardstock and a gel pen!

Here are a few inspiring note cards:

These floral note cards are not only adorable, but also eco-friendly!

{$15.50/12 cards}

How cool are these Personalized notes? I love the color scheme!

{$12.00/10cards}

I adore the font on this set of minimalistic personalized stationary! Yes please!

{15.00/12}

And although a response should never be expected, many times, when you write a letter, you'll receive one in response! Talk about exciting!

So go ahead, and write that letter. It will be well worth the the time, effort, and postage!

~Liesl

Guidelines to Reading Classic Literature

We’ve all been there before. And by “there” I mean tried to read a classic novel and found ourselves unable to get through it. For some, it may discourage you from reading anything pre-1900’s again. I’m here to tell you not to give up just yet! Perhaps all you need to get started on your road to being an avid reader of classic novels are a few starter tips.

• 
  Tip #1: Audiobooks are your friend
  So I’ve found that one of the hard parts of reading older books is getting through all the old language. Of course, if you’re watching a Shakespearean play, those old english words sound beautiful. But when you’re reading, it just becomes a hurdle when you have to stop to decipher the spelling differences. However, when there’s someone to read all the funny words for you (with the right pronunciation, too) it makes it ten times easier to finish these types of books.
  
  
  
  Tip #2: Movies are also your friends
  It may sounds counterintuitive to watch movies, but if you can watch ones with that old english vocabulary in them, it still helps you get used to it. Also, watching good movie adaptations can introduce you to classic stories that you might have previously been too intimidated to attempt reading.
  
  
  
  Tip #3: Start small
  In the same way that runners have to train for marathons, you have to work your way up to reading the more difficult classics. Don’t start with something like Les Miserables(it’s called “the brick” for a reason). If you go for an easier read you’ll find yourself enjoying “old books” and it will build your stamina  and enthusiasm to read more!
  
  

  

  "The Brick"

  Here are a few recommendations:
  Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen(the audiobook narrated by Carolyn Seymour is perfect too!)
  Jane Eyre - Emily Bronte (or the audiobook narrated by Susan Ericksen)
  Sherlock Holmes series - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
  The Lord of the Rings- J.R.R. Tolkien
  Little Women - Louisa May Alcott
  The Great Gatsby- F Scott Fitzgerald
  The Narnia series - C.S. Lewis
  
  
  -Elizabeth
  
  

Tea Highlight: The Republic of Tea

So obviously here on Simply Brewed we love tea; all sorts of tea, really. But sometimes it’s hard to find a great variety of teas at any given grocery store. In general, they tend to offer the usual green, black, camomile, etc. And perhaps if they’re feeling a bit crazy you’ll see one with honey or lemon flavorings too.

Don’t get me wrong, plain tea is great, but there are so many other flavor combinations we miss out on if we only stick to the original flavors!Where can we find such unique flavors? you may ask. The answer is: republicoftea.com!

The Republic of Tea is a company that makes a huge variety of premium teas. They have black, green, oolong, matcha, white, herbal, rooibos, hibiscus, and decaf. I can’t even begin to list all of the flavor combinations. Did I mention they also offer it in tea bags as well as loose leaf?

As a bonus, it won’t cost you an arm and a leg. It averages $10 for 50 tea bags(20 cents per cup) compared to $3 for 20 tea bags(15 cents per cup) if you get a generic brand. It’s certainly cheaper than someplace like Teavana which can cost almost $1 per cup.

And to top it off, they even take steps to be eco friendly as well. For example, they eliminated the use of staples or glue in their tea bags and the bags are even made out of unbleached tea paper. (I think I’m in tea love)

Head over to their website and check out all the cool info they have on tea health benefits, brewing times, and FAQ's. They’ll even mail you a free catalog!

-Elizabeth

{*Attention* This was not a sponsored post. They're just a great company worth highlighting!}

The Great Squeeze Debate

Tea.

It's the world's most popular drink (excluding water), [Source] and it is simple enough to make that anyone can enjoy it. Additionally, it can be relatively cheap, especially when compared to coffee.

        

So obviously, the majority of the world can agree that tea is a spectacular beverage, but what seems to be the cause for debate in this area is the matter of whether or not tea bags should be squeezed subsequent to brewing.

It makes sense to squeeze tea bags. After all, the liquid absorbed by the bag is usually the most flavorful, and by wringing out the bag, the issue of that tea-puddle disappears.

However, many argue that in squeezing the tea bag, the previously perfect cup of tea takes on a bitter taste.

Which side has a more valid argument?

As it turns out, tea leaves have oils in them, called tannins. These oils are what can cause a cup of tea to turn bitter. When one squeezes their tea bag post-brewing, they are releasing the bitter tannins into their beverage. The bitterness is rather subtle. Enough so, in fact, that many do not notice a difference in flavor!

Typically, black, white, and green teas have the highest amount of tannins in them, while herbal teas have little to no tannins.

So really the choice is yours, whether or not to squeeze the tea bag. If the flavor of your tea seems kind of off, then maybe try not to squeeze the bag or don't let it brew as long. If that tea puddle really bothers you, squeezing the bag will not make such a huge difference on the taste.

Or do it like I do: don't remove the bag at all.

-Liesl

Book Suggestion: In the Shadow of the Banyan

Have you ever found a random book that you’ve heard nothing about and decided to pick it up and give it a chance? It’s like the reading equivalent to a blind date. You just don’t know how it’ll turn out. But how awesome is it when those books turn out to be amazing? Maybe we just have lower expectations and find ourselves pleasantly surprised. Or maybe it serves as a reminder that our next favorite book could be waiting just around the corner!

I’ve experienced this discovery-of-unexpectedly-great-book feeling before. One of the best is the time when I decided to get the book “In the Shadow of the Banyan” by Vaddey Ratner. I stumbled upon the kindle version while it was on sale and I happened to be looking for a new read (though I suppose I’m pretty much always looking for a new read). So I went for it and started reading. And I kept reading. I devoured the book.

                                                        
(Just look at how gorgeous this cover is!)

Loosely based on the author’s childhood, “In the Shadow of the Banyan” tells the story of a young girl named Raami who lives with her family in Cambodia during the emergence of the communist Khmer Rouge. We follow their journey as they struggle to both stay together as well as stay alive. Raami is a curious child full of life and love who must learn to adapt to the harsh world around her. If I had to sum it up in a few words I would describe it simply as “tragically beautiful”. (Spoiler alert: You will fall in love with the characters. And you will also cry.)

But seriously, the writing was great. I literally stopped reading at times to just admire the author’s lovely descriptions and savour her brilliant prose. To give you a taste, here’s a quote from the book in which Raami’s father says, “You see Raami, as beautiful as this temple is, it’s only a tiny, modest glimpse of what is divinely possible in all of us. We are capable of extraordinary beauty if we dare to dream”. I recommend this book as a must read. So go read it now, and thank me later.

-Elizabeth

Audiobooks: A Solution for the Busy Reader

Okay, so of course we all love the feeling of holding a heavy book in our hands and turning the the smooth, white pages one at a time as we get slowly drawn into the story. But let’s be honest, reading isn’t always practical. Sometimes we just get so busy that we don’t have the luxury of curling up with the perfect book (on a rainy day with a hot cup of tea, some comfy pillows, and soft music in the background...if I do say so myself).

Fear not! There’s still hope for the busy book worm. One of the wonderful things that technology has bestowed upon us (aside from Netflix and running water) is audiobooks. While they don’t have the same feel as traditional books, they’re the perfect way to enjoy your favorite stories on the go.

I’ve seen book-lovers cringe at the word “audiobook” and complain that having a narrator “ruins the story” for them. While I, too, have had experience with bad narrators, I have also found some amazing ones as well. The right reader can completely enhance the feel of the story. One example of this that I have to highlight is the audiobook “The Book Thief”, written by Markus Zusak and read by Allan Corduner. Corduner’s voice made a great story even more enjoyable in this case. He was able to perfectly define each of the character's voices throughout all 13 hours and 56 minutes of the story. It literally brought me to tears. (Can I just say I have a love/hate relationship with sad stories?)

If you haven’t read the story yet (or even if you have!), or are just looking for a good audiobook, I definitely recommend getting the audiobook version of “The Book Thief”. It’s a beautiful story and the narrator does a wonderful job of bringing the story of life. It may even change your mind about audiobooks! So go check it out! (Link below)

-Elizabeth

Find the "The Book Thief" audiobook here: http://www.audible.com/pd/Fiction/The-Book-Thief-Audiobook/B002V00YSK/ref=a_search_c4_1_1_srTtl?qid=1446299376&sr=1-1

Coconut Olive Oil Sugar Scrub

Last year when I was Christmas shopping, I stopped in Bath and Body Works. I love that place, and almost always go crazy trying out all those tester bottles of lotions, perfumes, and soaps. And don't even get me started on candle-smelling. (Oh my gosh, the mint chocolate chip!)

Anyways, it was there that I first discovered sugar scrubs. I was just going along, sampling basically everything, when suddenly my life got much better. It's shocking how smooth my skin gets from that stuff! But at $16 a bottle (I'm on a tight budget) I decided to forego the indulgence until a later time.

But on the ride home, the wheels in my head started turning. There had to be a easy, cheaper way to recreate the magical scrub. And so I did. Now this is not much like the chemical-laden stuff at Bath and Body Works, but it completes the job with the same outcome. Maybe if you want the same consistency as the stuff at the store, substitute your favorite lotion for the oils. I have not tried this, so let me know if it works!

 I like to use this on my legs after I shave. It makes them feel like butter! This also makes a cute gift for hostesses, party favors, etc.

Coconut and Olive Sugar Scrub

1 cup granulated sugar
2 Tbsp. Olive oil
3 Tbsp. Coconut oil

Optional: a few drops of your favourite essential oil for fragrance
Mix all ingredients until well combined. Add extra oil if you'd like a more spreadable consistancy. Store in an air-tight container, and avoid allowing liquids into container.

To use:
Rub the scrub against skin in a back and forth motion. Wash off with washcloth or running water.

- Liesl