Marionberry Crisp

Berries make wonderful desserts! They are filled with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and fiber. Their juicy sweetness delights the taste buds and satisfy any craving for a delicate dessert. Strawberries, raspberries, boysenberries, huckleberries, elderberries, lingonberries, blueberries and more come in a colorful palette of reds, blues, and purples. A simple half cup of Marionberries contain 4.4 grams of fiber and only 27 calories. Nutrient dense, they are not only tasty, but amazingly good for you as well!

Cranberry Tea for a November Day

 

Cranberry tea is tart and such a great morning wake up call! Not only does it attract the attention of your taste buds, but the health benefits of cranberry abound. Cranberry contains multiple vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and phytochemicals. The nutrients cranberry contains are especially helpful in protecting you against heart disease and cancer. Additionally, the acids and other components in cranberry juice are helpful in treating or preventing urinary tract infections, kidney stones, and peptic ulcers. It also helps prevent the formation of oral bacteria that can lead to gum diseases and plaque. It is a great natural defense for the body!

Taken alone, cranberry juice can sometimes be difficult to take in any quantity, so it can be helpful to mix it with other tasty ingredients to make it go down just a bit better. What better ingredient to pair with cranberry juice than tea! Try this recipe and see what you think!

Cranberry Tea

1 quart brewed tea of choice

4 cloves, whole

4 cardamom seeds

cinnamon to taste

1 tsp. stevia

1 1/2 cups cranberry juice

1/2 cup orange juice

While brewed tea is hot, add cloves, cardamom seeds, and cinnamon. Then add stevia. Stir. Allow tea to cool to room temperature. Then strain.  Add cranberry juice and orange juice. Warm to a comfortable drinking temperature (do not boil). Serve and enjoy! For garnish, add 2 or 3 cranberries to each cup. They will look beautiful as they float.

*More stevia can be added for a sweeter tea.

Berry Bubble Tea

Summer is here. Although hot tea never goes out of style at our house, it is sometimes nice to have an alternative. As you'll recall, I am trying to eat the G.O.M.B.S. way and one thing that means is that I'm adding specific certain foods to the family diet. Three of these foods are seeds, berries, and green tea. This week I developed a recipe that utilizes all three of these ingredients and is a refreshing, delicious treat!

Berry Bubble Tea

16 - 24 ounces green tea

2 - 3 Tbsp. chia seeds

1 packet stevia (1/2 tsp.)

1/2 cup blueberries

Place ingredients in a quart jar. Lid and shake. Then place in the fridge for several hours. It will chill and the chia seeds will soften and expand. When ready to serve, place blueberries in a pretty glass. Pour the green tea mixture over the top and fill the glass up. Stir and enjoy! 


This is a very refreshing drink! It works well with ice, if you prefer. And I've found that Jasmine green tea is exceptionally delicious! 

While we are on the subject of bubbles, I simply must share this picture of family and friends blowing bubbles at Brandon's and Sally's wedding. It's one of my favorite pictures. Everyone is so intent upon bubble blowing, aren't they!