Lemon lavender iced tea- LincWay

https://lincway.us/

I headed to Lincway on Mothers Day weekend because they were giving away free drinks to women if they bought lunch there.  I loved that it was for all women- I did not have to be a mom.  As a "SINK"- single income no kids, we often get over looked at Mothers Day...and that is totally understandable, we aren't moms, lol!!  But, I love when people think of us women and I don't have to be a mom to be recognized as influencing kids.  Don't get me wrong, I am not bashing Mother's Day...I just like that LincWay did this free drink promotion for all ladies.

I got a veggie sandwich with gluten free bread and a lavender lemonade.  Super good.

While I was there I had a neat God story happen.  I forgot my cell phone and when I went to the car to get it, I saw a friend, in her car, who was leaving.  I waved and walked back into the cafe.  I didn't think twice about it.

Then I see her come back in the cafe and call my name.

She said, hey were were just talking about you and your tea business.  Would you want to partner with us and have your tea at our store?

MAN!!  Really??  Of course I would!  I had just been praying about my business and here was someone "out of the blue" wanting to have me sell my tea at their store.  God is sooo good.  I felt like He was blessing my business and providing for me.  I am so excited to be on this adventure of tea.  I want to give all the glory to God.  I see so many possible ways this tea business can grow and take place.  I just want to trust God and His leading in all of it.

The lavender lemonade was really good, sweet but good.  So, on the way out I got an Arnold Palmer- 1/2 unsweetened tea and half lavender lemonade.  Now that was the bomb!!

This tea gets 5 tea cups from me!!  The staff is super friendly, the flavor was on point, and the price is decent.  

On the way to Lincway, I saw these adorable sheep.  It looked like a painting to me and reminded me a Psalm 23: 1-3 

Psalm 23:1-3 ESV
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2     He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
3     He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness
    for his name’s sake.

Tazo Passion Spritzer

Working on perfecting my tea spritzer. I have been inspired Caribou and their great boost drink, but it is pricey...and this way I can also control the sugar...or lack of.

I bought a tea concentrate and a seltzer water and boom...I have a great tea spritzer for a fraction of the cost.

I did about half and half...have tea and have seltzer water.

It was really great.  Now I want to work on creating my own tea concentrate and add it to a seltzer.

I am thinking of a fruity tea- like peach or raspberry.  I can make it with little to no sugar and then add the fizzy water.

Play with your tea!!  You never know what great drink you will create!!

Mochi bread

Okay, so I had this delicious mochi ball from this tea shop in Wadsworth.

Tea Time- 300 Weatherstone Dr Suite 101, Wadsworth, OH 44281

It was sweet, light, and just downright addicting.  And bonus- it is gluten free.

I thought I would try to make it. I found what looked to be an easy recipe with not may ingredients. 

My batch did not turn out anything like what I had tried.  Mine were heavy, doughy, and not sweet.

Glutinous Rice Flour 2 1/3 C

Salt 1 tsp

Sesame Oil 1 tbsp

Vegetable Oil 1 tbsp

Warm Water 9.2 fl oz

Sesame Seeds (black and white)1.1 oz

The first time I made it I had white rice flour, not sweet white rice flour.  However, the second time I made them I used the correct flour.

To make the bread dough, mix mochiko flour with salt in a bowl.

Then, tip in the sesame oil, vegetable oil, and warm water.

The water shouldn't be too hot; you should be able to hold your pinkie finger in it comfortably.

As for the oil, you can replace sesame oil with vegetable oil if you prefer. But sesame oil will add a nice nutty flavor to the bread dough.

Mix the ingredients with a spoon until they come together into a dough.

Then, use your hands to knead the mochi dough right into the bowl until it's smooth, uniform, and pliable  (**Note my dough was sticky and not pliable)

Divide the bread dough into as many pieces as the number of servings, about 45g (1.6 oz) each.

Then, shape each piece into a smooth ball, rolling it between your palms or over a flat surface 

Next, fill a shallow bowl or plate with a mix of black and white sesame seeds.

Spray or brush the top of each bread roll with water and press it over the seeds to coat it. The water will help the seeds stick to the mochi ball.

Place the sesame-coated mochi bread rolls onto a baking tray lined with baking paper.

To help the bread rise evenly and without cracks, score an "X" in the center of each ball using a sharp knife.

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees

Bake the mochi rolls on the middle shelf for 30 minutes (for slightly softer bread) or 35 minutes (for slightly crustier bread). The rolls will look slightly golden when ready.

Note: as the bread cooks, the mochi dough will inflate making the rolls puff up — this is normal.  (**NOTE, mine did not inflate)

Once ready, transfer the mochi rolls onto a rack.

Let them cool down just slightly, and enjoy them while still warm.

The rolls' crust will be ultra crunchy like bread, while the crumb will be deliciously chewy, moist, stretchy, and sticky — just like a Japanese mochi!

Not inflated, not fluffy, not kind of hollow inside.

The everything bagel seasoning on the outside was great!!!  But the inside was not.  I will do some more research and try again.  

If you have hints, please let me know!!

I did make these the night before my Japanese tea class.  My  11am class wanted to try them, so I let them try them.  They thought they were good- but they also said they did not know what they were supposed to taste like.  I tossed the remaining batch...and the entire second batch.

**Send me your tried and true recipes***