Black Raspberry Season

Fruit is just starting to darken and this little berry is everywhere in Minnesota. Glad to see it's abundance along bike trails and walking paths. The tiny berries are smaller than raspberries with a hollow center and they will come off the branch easily when ripe. They start green then turn red and finally black.

Summer Brew - Cold Brew Tea

After a weekend with highs in the 90s, I got up early to prep some cool teas for the warm week ahead. Hibiscus flower and chamomile - mint will be ready-to-drink and waiting for me when I get home from work. Simple. Delicious.

Homemade Yogurt with fresh grated cinnamon and dried papaya slices

Home -style homestead hippy-mama dessert. No sugar no processed yum!

Homemade Yogurt and Local Honey

Yum!!

Herbal Tea - Cinnamon Stick with Fresh Ginger Root & Turmeric Root

Fresh and Fragrant Cinnamon Stick, Turmeric & Ginger Root!
Grated and brewed as Chai or added to pre-blended chai tea for that extra punch of flavor - yum!!

Recipe Testing: Pure Maple Syrup Infused Root Ginger

Candied Ginger is delicious...Pure Maple Candied Ginger Root is even better!
With the added bonus that you can save the ginger-infused maple syrup for pancakes and yogurt.

It is super-easy to make and if you do it on a weekend, your house will smell amazing and your family will be hovering close by to get a taste of the finished product.

Pure local maple syrup and ginger root simmering on the stove

Mini batch of maple-candied ginger root

Store in a cute canning jar and enjoy! Yum!

I drew inspiration from two sources:
Alton Brown Recipe
Tarheel Foodie Blog

Root Study: Ginger & Turmeric

Root Study...Ginger Root & Turmeric Root
Fresh from the co-op and soon to be recipe tested...brews, infusions, and smoothies!

RNK Vinyl Stickers for Book Release Branding

Thanks, again, to my favorite graphic designer, Montana Strait of Strait Design Performance Graphics, for creating essential branding components for my upcoming book release via ArtBooks&Brew!!!

I will also use them in my March/April art display at Munkabeans Coffeehouse in Shakopee. Very exciting!

New Mini Book of Poetry & Photography from ArtBooks&Brew!

Test print of my first mini art book, "Artful Inspirations" arrived in today's mail and it looks fantastic! Features original haiku and photography.

 

 

Photography by RNK Photography
Available for purchase Spring 2017!
Email romeoninjakitty@yahoo.com to reserve your advanced copy!

Tea-Infused Smoothie Recipe Testing - Turmeric Ginger Raspberry

Turmeric-ginger infused milk + organic raspberries = super-yum recipe development!

Turmeric Ginger Raspberry Smoothie topped with candied ginger and fresh organic raspberry

Homemade Yogurt

Homemade yogurt with raw local honey and a dash of cinnamon!

Smoothie Testing Prep: Homemade Yogurt

Tea blends and tea-infused smoothie recipes will be featured in my herbal and tea brew book (coming Spring 2017), so homemade yogurt is a consistent, cost-effective, healthy, and delicious base to make. <3

Jars

New yogurt and whey

In the jars

In the fridge

Tea Smoothie Recipe Creation: Jasmine Avocado Blend Testing

Tasty research for my herbal and tea brew book (coming Spring 2017). Photos from recent testing of tea-infused smoothie recipes...fun for me and the whole family!

Black Jasmine loose-leaf tea

Infusing tea in warm milk

Avocado

Avocado with local organic honey

Adding some of my own homemade yogurt!

Topping with tea-infused milk and ice

Yum!

 

A cup that never gets emptied

never gets filled

...

empty and fill your cup

each day

Herbal Study: Artisanal & Medicinal Honey

Organic Honey and Cinnamon Bark Essential Oil

Organic Raw Honey with Ginger and Mandarin Essential Oils

 

Organic Raw Honey with Cardamom and Rose otto Essential Oils

 

Organic Raw Honey with Rosemary and Black Pepper Essential Oils

Essential Oil Infused Honey - Independent Study

Green Jasmine Pearls Tea

 

Herbal Study - Cinnamon

 

Herbal Study - Cloves