Southwestern Chai: Spicy Chai With New Mexico Chimayo Chiles

Since the early 1900s, the British-owned Indian Tea Association began to promote their version of chai—which began as an ancient ayurvedic beverage of a mixture of spices and herbs called masala, brewed in water. The origins of that beverage can be traced back 5,000 years, when Indian emperors drank a caffeine-free spiced drink to stay…
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An Olive Juice Gift & Recipe For Your Dirty Martini Pals

[1] Pure olive juice is the best mixer for a Dirty Martini (photo © Sonoma Syrup Co). [2] Most Dirty Martini lovers want more than one olive in their drink. You can also garnish a Dirty Martini with a sliver of roasted pepper, a preserved cherry pepper (photo © Our/New York Vodka | Facebook). [3]…
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It’s All About Bees! Honey~Luscious Flavored Honey Gifts

It’s All About Bees, a line of creamed honey, liquid honey, and honey-based condiments (BBQ and other sauces, fruit butters, jams, jellies, mustards, salsas, syrups) by third-generation beekeeper Wendy Fletcher. Her honey heritage dates to the 1930s when her grandfather kept bees in Homer, Nebraska. In the 1970s, the Fletchers started beekeeping full-time. Four families…
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What Is Sotol? A Mexican Spirit That Isn’t Tequila Or Mezcal!

[1] Sotol can be drunk with salt and lime, similar to tequila (photo © Cristian Rojas | Pexels). [2] Hacienda de Chihuahua is the leading producer of fine sotol. Sotol plata (a.k.a. blanco, joven, or silver) is not aged. It goes straight from distillation to the bottle (photos #2, #3, #4, #5, and #16 ©…
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Gift: Blue & Popcorn Flour Blends For Pancake & Waffle Lovers

[1] Hot off the griddle: popcorn pancakes (photos #1, #2, #3, #6, #7, #8, #9 © Long Table Pancakes). [2] An ear of popcorn looks like regular corn, but extra moisture in the kernels allows it to pop (photo © C Z Grains). [3] The three varieties of Long Table heirloom pancake and flour blends.…
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