Posts Tagged ‘tea’
Random Recipe: Earl Grey Vodka
Monday, June 22nd, 2015
It’s Earl Grey vodka! Yum, yum.
In case it wasn’t obvious, I’m in love with Earl Grey tea. I usually have upwards of half a dozen different kinds of Earl Grey in my cupboards, from vanilla to floral to straight-up bergamot. Captain Picard has a special place in my heart for his love of the beverage, as does James Bond’s newest Q.
Earl Grey vodka
- 1 bottle of decent vodka*
- 7 bags of Republic of Tea’s Earl Greyer tea, or whatever Earl Grey you like best
Put the teabags into the vodka. Wait overnight, at least 12 hours. Remove teabags. That’s pretty much it!
I found literally dozens of different recipes for this, and so I ended up randomly choosing a method and going for it. I did, of course, choose the laziest version.
By itself, I found the vodka way too harsh for my tastes, which is true of basically all flavored vodkas. It’s beautifully scented of both tea and bergamot, but the vodka and tannins made it too rough on the palate for me, so, I put it in cocktails!
Tea Times Two
- 1 part Earl Grey vodka
- 1 part Zen green tea liqueur
- 1/2 part half & half
Since all of my ingredients were cold (including my glass), I just mixed them up and went with it. Otherwise, I’d serve it on the rocks since it’s basically a modified White Russian. The sweetness of the Zen and cream took away the harshness from the vodka and delivered a gorgeous, fragrant tea flavor that I will definitely enjoy again.
Quartermaster
- 1 part Earl Grey vodka
- 1 part Nolet Silver gin
- 1 part sweet vermouth
- dash of lemon bitters
- 2 cherries
I love the idea of martinis, but I don’t actually like the dryness of the usual vermouth. I love sweet alcohol, and the Nolet gin is sweet and very floral, with a delightful rose overtone that follows the juniper when drinking it straight. The lemon bitters help keep the bergamot from drowning in roses, and the cherries are there strictly to allow me to enjoy eating them later.
It’s a nice marriage between a Vesper and my usual “semi-perfect” martini, which is just gin and sweet vermouth with perhaps a dash of bitters.
White Londoner
- 1 part Earl Grey vodka
- 1 part simple syrup or vanilla syrup
- 1 part half and half
Serve this one over ice for a London Fog twist on a White Russian. It’s a lovely sipping drink for those evenings curled up with the cats.
What are you going to make with Earl Grey?
*I used some Crystal Head that was a gift from a friend who knows me far too well. I have named him Dorian. He came with two of the adorable crystal skull shot glasses. It was love at first sight.
PS – If you’re not on my list, you might want to fix that! Bookmark sale starts tomorrow.
Categories: Words Words Words
Tags: cocktail, recipe, tea
Cuppa Curiosity
Saturday, May 2nd, 2015
Cuppa Curiosity by Amy Crook
Continuing the series, I have another cheerful, illustrative cup of tea.
Curiosity killed the cat, but satisfaction brought him back. This adorable little black cat cup has a tail for a handle, a pair of sugar mice for sweetness, and a friendly bee resting on his nose. His green eye and the golden bee both have a bit of metallic gold paint on them to add shine to this adorable illustration.
Cuppa Curiosity, 7″x5″ pen & ink, watercolor, and metallic watercolor on paper.
Cuppa Curiosity, detail, by Amy Crook
Above, you can see both the metallic highlights and painted white tooth and eye-shine that give this adorable kitty and bee extra life. Below, you can see the cuppa in a frame, waiting patiently to be put in a carrier and sent to its new home.
Cuppa Curiosity, framed art by Amy Crook
Categories: Floating Gallery, Series and Books, Whimsical and Strange
Tags: bee, cat, cuppa, metallic watercolor, nfs, pen and ink, sold, tea, watercolor
Cuppa Exuberance
Saturday, April 4th, 2015
Cuppa Exuberance by Amy Crook
I love tea, and I love teacups in all their strange and varied glory. There’s a design for everyone out there, and I decided to take my hand at drawing a few.
The first in a series, this cheerful cup of spring is leaping in its exuberance for life. From sky blue to gentle green, the lovely purple of crocuses and the soft yellow bumblebee, this cup celebrates the changing of the seasons.
I hand-painted metallic gold over certain details, including the word “exuberance” on the teabag tag, just like a real china cup might have.
You can bring a sense of celebration into your life every day with this Cuppa Exuberance.
Cuppa Exuberance, 7″x5″ pen & ink and watercolor on paper.
Cuppa Exuberance, detail, by Amy Crook
Above, you can see the shine of golden paint on the lovely purple tea tag, and the soft grey ink I used to for the linework on this pastel cuppa. Below, you can see it tucked into a frame, its enthusiasm gently contained.
Cuppa Exuberance, framed at by Amy Crook
Categories: Floating Gallery, Series and Books, Whimsical and Strange
Tags: cuppa, metallic watercolor, nfs, pen and ink, sold, tea, watercolor
Cuppa Confidence
Wednesday, March 25th, 2015
Cuppa Confidence, commission by Amy Crook for Jo Van Every
Another commission for the delightful Jo Van Every! This time it was for her website, where we were trying to find a good visual metaphor for one of her services. I suggested the cup of tea, something calming and confidence-boosting, and added in the “confidence” on the tag in Photoshop later.
After a recent client meeting I realized that one of the things I do for people is help them feel more confident before a big thing. This particular client got short-listed for a job. We had a session before her interview. She hung up feeling more confident about what she could bring to that job, how to communicate that in the interview, who else she could go to for support, and how to ask them confidently. It may be a cliche but a picture is worth a 1000 words, so I talked to Amy about how to capture that outcome in an image and we came up with the Cuppa Confidence. Because tea makes everything better.
-Jo Van Every
I was so inspired by this idea that I’ve started a little series of watercolors around this theme, and you’ll see Exuberance in this April’s Floating Gallery very soon.
Cuppa Confidence, 7″x5″ pen & ink and watercolor on paper.
Categories: Completed Commissions, Things I'm a Fan Of, Whimsical and Strange
Tags: all rights reserved, cartoon, commission, cuppa, jo vanevery, nfs, pen and ink, tea, watercolor
Tea is Love
Thursday, January 2nd, 2014
Tea is Love, Sherlock parody art by Amy Crook
There’s just something special about that person who makes you tea when they make their own without being asked. Despite the contentious onscreen friendship, I’ve always thought there must be quiet moments at 221b Baker Street where John and Sherlock get along.
You can get this sweet image as one of this year’s Valentines in my Etsy shop, and give it to someone else you adore to show you appreciate the little things they do for you. Or to suggest they make you tea* more often. One of those.
Tea is Love, 5″x7″ pen & ink and Copic marker on paper.
Sherlock Valentine by Amy Crook
(hedgehog not included)
*I’d love a cup of Earl Grey, thanks.
Categories: Card Design, People, Figures and Faces, Series and Books, Things I'm a Fan Of
Tags: copic marker, etsy, john watson, nfs, pen and ink, sherlock, sherlock bbc, sherlock holmes, sold, tea
Sharpie Tea and Jammie Dodger
Friday, July 5th, 2013
Sharpie Tea and Jammie Dodger by Amy Crook
My friend Sarah gave me a prompt for a cup of tea and a biscuit (meaning cookie, of course), and so I drew tea and a Jammie Dodger, which are delicious British biscuits. I know it’s hot most everywhere in the US right now, but I’m sure someone, somewhere would love a hot cuppa and a tasty treat.
Categories: Daily Art, Things I'm a Fan Of, Whimsical and Strange
Tags: nfs, sharpie, sharpie week, tea
Tea at Bag End
Monday, March 25th, 2013
Tea at Bag End, The Hobbit fan art by Amy Crook
After I drew Second Breakfast and sold the original, I was very sad for the empty spot on my wheat-yellow wall he had once occupied. So, I drew a Bilbo of my very own! He’s having a lovely tea at home in his dressing gown. Bilbo’s very glad to be back in the Shire where a hobbit can get six proper meals a day and enjoy a proper cuppa in comfort.
I’m considering making prints or blank cards, I haven’t decided yet, but his original art is staying here with me.
Tea at Bag End, 5″x7″ pen & ink and Copic marker on paper, nfs (in the collection of the artist).
Reaching Out, Tea at Bag End, and Skull Paper by Amy Crook,
displayed with various duckies and Endless
Above, you can see Reaching Out and Tea at Bag End in their permanent homes, and Skull Paper (which will post later this week) hanging out with them so I can enjoy it while I still have it.
Categories: Daily Art, People, Figures and Faces, Series and Books, Things I'm a Fan Of
Tags: all rights reserved, bilbo baggins, copic marker, hobbit, mine, nfs, pen and ink, tea
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