blissful domesticity- mint orange tea and raspberry oatmeal bars
Wow, Ohio has been a scorcher this week! The little ladies have been busy running through the sprinkler and enjoying the warm evenings by catching fireflies which light up our field right now. I have been busy in the kitchen making veggie hummus wraps and salads using the lettuce and spinach from our garden. I have also been packing for an art show in Decatur, GA. My friend is selling her gorgeous bags there and I’m tagging along to help and learn the ropes of the indie/art fair community. We will be child free for 4 nights and 5 days; I’ve never been away from my little ladies that long so it should be interesting, but fun. Here are some goodies that I’ve been working on for the past few days-
We are not usually black tea people, but I thought this recipe sounded like the most refreshing drink for a very hot Ohio day. We had all the ingredients on hand, including the black tea bags which we normally use for staining paper.
Mint Orange Black Tea (from the cooking channel)
3 c water to make the tea, plus 3 c cold water or a bottle of carbonated water
7 black tea bags
1 c freshly squeezed orange juice
1/2 c sugar
fresh mint sprigs- at least 3 large
1/2 orange cut into slices
1. Boil 3 c water, remove from heat and add 7 tea bags; cover and steep for 10 minutes.
2. Make the orange simple syrup- mix the 2 c OJ and sugar in a pan, bring to a boil, then simmer until the sugar dissolves (about 5 minutes).
3. Let tea and orange syrup cool, then mix in a pitcher. Add a few sprigs of mint and orange slices, and 3 c cold water or bottle of carbonated water.
4. Serve cold on ice.
I’ve also been working on some new hedgehogs, I have a booth at a street fair in early June. This is a big reason I haven’t been blogging as much lately, work, work, work AND organize, organize, organize.
I made these yummy raspberry bars yesterday-
Hearty Raspberry Oatmeal Bars (from an old Vegetarian Times magazine)
1 1/4 c all-purpose flour
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1 c light brown sugar
1/2 c unsalted butter (softened)
1 large egg
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 tsp almond extract
2 c old fashioned rolled oats, divided into 1 3/4 c and 1/4 c
1 c raspberry jam
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Coat 9-inch square baking dish with cooking spray.
2. Sift together flour, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt in large bowl.
3. Cream sugar and butter until light and fluffy. Beat in egg and vanilla and almond extracts until smooth. Add flour mixture to butter mixture; mix until combined. Stir in 1 3/4 c oats. Spread 2/3 of batter on bottom of prepared baking dish. Spread raspberry jam over the batter with back of spoon.
4. Add remaining 1/4 cup oats to remaining batter. Crumble over top of raspberry jam.
5. Bake 30 minutes, or until golden. cool, then cut into bars.
And Araina keeps bringing in the flowers for me. I found this little arrangement on the kitchen counter yesterday afternoon. The bright red begonia made me smile.
Little quick link share love- Kari, from The Snail’s Trail, has put up a list of nature activities to share as well, visit here for the link list of ideas and get your family outdoors!
I won’t be blogging for the next 5-6 days (I may not get and Outdoor Monday post up next week); I’ll be in Georgia at the art fair…….it’s ironic because I could be moving to this area come mid-summer. Have a wonderful and safe Memorial weekend!
“That’s all.”
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oh that tea looks so wonderful
happy days xx
YUMMY!! I am going to have to try this
Ohh that looks so good! Thanks for sharing. Hey, we just made butter on Monday…by shaking, your kiddos may like that too. Stay cool. Karen
Sippy Cup Central
The raspberry bars look good. And I love the little new friends you’re making.
thanks for these recipes! Hope you had lots of fun in GA
Glad I found your blog via Juanita Tortilla. I love the raspberry oatmeal bars, I actually wrote the recipe down. ( I have all the ingredients in my pantry)yeahhhh.
and Yes would LOVE to see your Friend’s bags!
Greetings from a Mexican Mommy living in Europe
Oh, wow, if I had an oven, I would totally make those raspberry bars! The tea looks quite refreshing too!
I hope you have a wonderful trip! We are from Georgia, and have family in the Atlanta area (both Jonny and I went to college in Athens.) Wow-four nights with no kids, I can’t even imagine it! Thanks for sharing the oatmeal bar recipe, I need some new breakfast inspiration and I can easily convert that to gluten free.
Ooh, that tea looks ridiculously refreshing! I’m going to have to try that out! Thanks for sharing! http://amysreallife.wordpress.com
The tea & oat bars look heavenly…… can;t wait to hear how the craft fair went
We just visited Kerrville, TX and saw some great things there….. including the Indigo Girls who are ironically from Decatur….
Ohhhhh the tea and bars sound scrumptious! I love when the children make their own flower arrangements. Oftentimes they use things I wouldn’t even think of
I found a snake and the children were thrilled!
http://www.childinharmony.com/2010/06/sssssss.html
happy day!
That tea looks delicious! Hope you had fun on your trip.
I finally managed to get an outdoor post up (yay!):
http://oakbeefarm.wordpress.com/2010/06/01/in-the-garden/
The tea and the bars both sound delicious! Hope your booth at the street fair does really well.
Hope you are having a wonderful time at the art fair. Can’t wait to see all the pics.
Claudia
http://lilmuselily.com/2010/06/01/monday-outdoors-picture-4/
Thank you soooo much for the recipe for the raspberry oatmeal bars. I made them today and they are delicious!!!!
Have a great trip to Georgia this week. It’s been hot and sticky here too but today we got some rain and it cooled everything off. Your tea looks so good as does the raspberry bars. good luck with everything and we’ll see you back here soon I hope.
We participated today in Outdoor Monday, finally. I’m going to blog the store opening and giveaway this afternoon.
Hope you had a great trip!
Becca
Oh boy…those oatmeal bars look decadently delicious! I think I’ve bookmarked about half of your blog already (I spent an embarrassing amount of time this morning going back through your archives while my son enjoyed breakfast and played). Thanks for sharing so many wonderful recipes!
Oh my gosh, I can’t wait to try making the tea and bars!
Hope you have a grand time, while in GA.
In addition, I hope your friend does well, selling all her goods.
Cheers~
Bairbre Aine
The tea sounds divine! I can hardly wait to make it! Lord knows I have plenty of mint in the garden already!
Thanks!
I was born in Decatur, Georgia and now live 1 1/2 hours away. What is the name of the art festival you are participating in? My husband is an artist also. We went to a reception tonight at a gallery he has pieces in – in Sautee, GA. If you would like to take a peek at his work check him out at http://www.artofscottk.blogspot.com.
Blessings
Diane
Have a great time at the art fair in Georgia!
Those oatmeal bars look delicious!!
Have fun in GA! Those raspberry bars are calling me, I think I’m going to have to make them!
Becca
Hi, I know I’ve been MIA lately. I am wondering if I missed our nature swap email?
Cheers!
just figured I’d better check. Hope all is well. The tea looks lovely and the bars look scrumptious; I’m hungry!
I often drop in for a visit and today I am alert because I will soon be in Ohio and I DON’T want it to be scorching hot. Ill be giving a talk at a tea in Chagrin Falls (Village Herbs), and doing television in Cleveland and Cincinnati. Believe me, I LOOK BAD under hot conditions. Not a nice sight.
I love your postings and enjoy your adventures. I always make special tea blends and will try out your bar when I finally arrive at our little cottage in Maine.
Keep up your great work with the children, art, gardens, everything.
All joys,
Sharon Lovejoy Writes from Sunflower House and a Little Green Island, but right now I’m looking at the Missouri River in Council Bluffs, Iowa, and it is HOT here too.
Looks good! I’m going to have to try this.
Those hearty raspberry oatmeal bars look yummylicious!!!!
Claudia
I keep the recipes ! That’s all
Have a wonderful adventure! I think I need to make those bars this weekend. Too delicious!
Have a great trip!
I love these recipes, thanks! I seem to be bookmarking all of your posts lately!
I definitely AM a black tea person…and that drink looks fantastic. Will try it soon.
)
Have a blast in GA. (But please don’t move there…
Those bars look yummy! Have a great trip.
We have oatmeal bars on our agenda for tomorrow! great timing! The tea sounds delicious, maybe we’ll try that too!
The tea and bars both look amazing! Enjoy your time away. I can’t wait to hear about your trip.
yourbars looks yummy:: have fun & take some photos in decatur, that’s my stomping ground, would love to see your friends bags! i have been sewing this week too….=)