Poor Man's Tea to Chase Away the Winter Blues

As we speak freezing rain is falling on the 2 feet of snow we received over the weekend. Despite a wool sweater, scarf, and hat, I must admit it's a bit chilly in here. Having left the "Sunny and 70" that is Los Angeles for the cheesesteak-y frigidness that is Philly, I am still getting used to this thing called snow.

Though a nice cuppatea is my go-to for keeping the winter chill at bay, I can only justify going through so much of it in a day. Also, as I like my tea as I like my men (tall, hot, and super sweet) I have quickly gone through enough honey to make Winnie the Pooh seem miserly.

So, in the interest of preventing adult onset diabetes, I have been mixing it up with a simple slice or two of lemon and a lot of boiling water, otherwise known as poor mans tea. It's piping hot, refreshing, and a touch bitter....just like me.

A Note About: Immersion Blenders

photos and pricing courtesy Amazon.com

Few electric kitchen gizmos are as essential to me as the immersion blender (also known as a stick blender). It's a great tool for creating soups and sauces, as well as the occasional smoothie-by-the-glass.

There are a few key benefits to the immersion blender opposed to a regular blender:

For one, you can stick it right into the pot to puree hot foods without waiting for them to cool, or worrying about steam and puréeing in batches. For anyone who has tried to purée a hot soup in a regular blender, you know what a challenge it can be as the steam builds up and threatens to pop the lid right off.

Two, they are generally small, and can easily be stored in a cupboard or drawer rather than taking up valuable counter space.

And lastly, they are generally quieter and easier to clean than their bigger cousins.