11.21.2012

I WANT CHAI TEA!


(photo by Design Sponge)

I can't compare Jakarta's monsoon season with wintertime in Europe, but there's the same kind of feeling where you want to cozy up in bed with a nice hot drink, and when I saw this recipe for homemade chai tea, I wanted to make it straight away! Unfortunately I haven't bought the ingredients, but I thought I'd share the recipe since I've always been curious how you make chai tea :)


A Perfect Mug of Chai
  • 4 c. cold water
  • 4–6 cardamom pods* (depending how intense you like your chai)
  • 4–6 cloves (per above)
  • 4–6 black peppercorns (optional)
  • 2 Tbsp. fresh ginger, chopped (optional)
  • 4 tsp. black tea (I use Darjeeling. You can also use three tea bags.)
  • 4–6 tsp. raw honey (to your preference)
  • 1/4 c. milk
*You’ll need to bruise your cardamom pods before adding them to the water, in order to expose the seeds inside. I do this by hitting them with the back of a spoon. Once cracked open, place the whole thing into the pot — pod, seeds and all!

1. Add water and spices to a medium-sized stainless-steel pot. Bring to a boil over high heat.
2. Reduce heat to low, place tea in a tea strainer and add to a pot along with honey and milk. Simmer for 5 minutes.
3. Remove from heat, cover and steep for 5 minutes longer.
4. Remove and compost tea, and pour chai in two large mugs. I like to leave the spices in, but you can discard them if you prefer.
5. Sip and smile!

SHUGO TOKUMARU - RUM HEE


This song has been playing on my iPod a lot lately. It cheers me up :)

INSPIRATION # 9

I'm going to be very random and just post some things that I've been pinning on my Pinterest page. Somehow, running between my job at YUM, tutoring kids, gym and being home before Amal goes to sleep has not given me time to relax and update my blog. But that's fine; that's life and this is what I'll see when I look back on these past few months: a very hectic busy yet satisfying schedule :)



I thought this cat shaped pre-school in Germany was really, really cool...The kids must be ecstatic to be in a school like this.


My eyes keep coming back to this outfit on my Pinterest page.... love the orange skirt paired with that flowy grey top..


I wish Amal were still at an age where I could dress him up.... This is an outfit that would totally fit him!


What can I say more than what the quote says? :)