Tea 101

As promised, here is a video on how I make tea. My method. Enjoy!

P.S. I couldn't figure out how to edit "HD" videos, so enjoy my weird faces and Alan's voice cameo!

this Monday thing.

Videos take a long time to upload. plus I accidentally recorded in HD so it is taking even longer. Tech starts tomorrow. So I actually have to sleep.

Sorry readers. Soon I promise.

Tea Thursday -White Tea

White Tea

I have some loose china white tea that I bought from McNulty's (West Village) and every time I made the tea for my "experiment" I warmed my mug and used filtered water. I was surprised with the result! After trying 6 different methods, the best tasting result is on my tea chart below. 

I will fill in more as I experiment more.

Please comment with any questions! I will try to do my promised Tea 101 on Monday, but inspiration may strike and I might write about something else... you'll never know unless you come back on Monday!

Until then,

No post yesterday.

I know I promised a spectacular Tea 101 post yesterday, it's on it's way! I know more about Tea than I thought and I want to share all of it and I ran out of time. Between work this weekend (we are approaching Tech week) and visitors and work on Monday time slipped away from me. But I shall post on Thursday!

until then,

Tea Thursday Introduction

 Hello to my 7 followers!

(If you like my blog subscribe so I know if I am writing for someone other than my mom...)

This week, I decided to start a mini-series to replace T³ for 5-6 weeks depending on popularity. It will be about one of my passions, Tea! It shall be called:

My original plan was just to make a chart with proper steeping temperatures and times and such, but after doing some internet research, I am having a hard time finding consistent information. Not wanting to have my readers make a less than perfect cup of tea, I have decided to do some experiments and come up with

Amy's Perfect Cup of Tea Chart

And then you can keep it handy in the kitchen for when you are craving a blissful cup of tea.

For this whole week I will make tea and try out different amounts and temperatures record my data like a scientist. 

Next week I will report back and tell you what I came up with.

I know what you are thinking, "Amy, why is this going to last 5-6 weeks?"   The answer is simple, I will be testing out one variety of tea a week, starting with White, followed by; Green, Oolong and Black. 

Tune in Monday for my Tea 101!

Mark. Burgers. Beer. Wine.

My boyfriend and I have been to "Mark" on St. Mark's Place twice and have been so impressed and satisfied! I would recommend the bacon sliders that have to bacon cooked into the patty. At $2.95 for a bacon slider, why not? (It's $2.50 for a regular slider) AND we were pleasantly surprised yesterday when we were there during Happy Hour and we each got a beer for $3! (and it was not PBR or the like it was yummy stuff). And they are speedy. I was nervous because we were seeing a 7:00 show at The Public (5 min away) and we got there at 6. There was a crowd there, but we got in, ate, drank and paid within 35 min! It was perfect.

Their website

Healthy: 2 Greasy sliders (the Yummy kind!) Beer Milkshakes, Bacon, French fries, Cheese fries! They COULD have healthier  options, but I don't think that is the point of this place.

Cheap:  5 $12 could get you 2 sliders, fries AND a beer (during Happy Hour). Can't beat it.
Yummy:5 SOOO Yummy!

Total: 12/15

Dino-mite!

Have you heard about http://trashnothing.com/ ? It is like the free section on craig's list. People post things that they don't want to throw away and if you get in touch with them you can arrange to pick it up. I love it! The streets of NY are kinda like a free-for all anyway and you can find all sorts of treasures, but that is another story. I recently found a treasure on Trash Nothing. A hand painted needlepoint canvas! only 10% completed I looked on the website and the retail value is $85. (Threads not included!) It's to make a Dinosaur Tooth fairy pillow. 

Cute, right?

I am not planning on having children anytime soon, but I do have a favorite little almost-four year old back in Texas. So I am making a pillow for him! I have never done needlepoint before, so I will be learning as I go. If you guys have any tips, let me know! I will be updating you as I make progress.

Until next time,

Tune in Tomorrow!

Come back tomorrow for my delayed Monday post. It will be exciting I promise!

Til Tomorrow,

Sapori NYC

This Thursday instead of the usual, I am writing a review of a restaurant that my boyfriend and I have gone to twice and we both love it!

Their website

The first time we went here was after church and we wanted an affordable lunch that was not a burger. (Well I wanted something that wasn't a burger, my bf can always go for a burger...) We walked in to a cozy new restaurant and I was a little nervous because 1. They had no menu posted outside (so I was nervous the prices were going to be exorbitant.) 2. The place was not crowded (so I thought it must not be a popular place). Boy was I wrong on two accounts.

The waiters were very attentive and gave us descriptions of the dishes we asked them about. They told us right away that they just opened and are a BYOB place so next time we come bring a bottle of wine. The menu was short and we each ordered a $12 pasta dish from the lunch menu. The waiter brought us a few pieces of bread with some tapenade, not anything to fill you up, just enough to whet your appetite. When our  pasta arrived, we were in heaven. It was beautifully presented and even tastier than it looked. When we finished our meals we had just enough room for dessert and coffee. We got a mango cheesecake that was not on the menu, but recommended by the waiter and barista. I am so glad we tried it! It was divine.

We had such a great, affordable experience, yesterday when in search of a place to eat dinner Sapori seemed like a natural choice for the neighborhood we were going to be in. This time we stopped by Trader Joe's wine shop first, picked up a $5 bottle of wine and took it with us. Best part? No Corking Fee! We had more delicious pasta (a little more expensive for the dinner menu, but still affordable) and terrific tiramisu and over all another great experience! This has got to be the best kept secret of Murray Hill.

Now to my rating system:

Healthy: 4 Homemade pasta? healthier than processed!
Cheap:  4 For a nice sit-down Italian place? you can't do much cheaper.
Yummy:5 Everything I had was the best thing I have ever had.

Total: 13/15

Until Monday,