Recipes that are simple and delicious.
I know it has been a while since I last posted, and my apologies. I am still cooking and keeping busy but writing about something that I have made, at least in the kitchen, recently has not been there. Up until now that is. I […]
My kid has been coming home on a regular basis for most of his junior year in high school. I always think how rad would that have been when I was in school! He gets this privilege for a couple of reasons, and I am […]
Bubble tea or Boba tea? However you define it there is something completely addicting about a simple addition to a drink. Tapioca pearls. I was first introduced to bubble tea only a couple of years ago. My eldest son was the person who introduced me while visiting Chinatown outside of Chicago, Illinois. When I think about it, I often think this, of all things, is the first time I was introduced to after so many years? To be honest I am not sure what type of drink I was sucking down along with the chewy tapioca pearls, but what I did know is that it was awesome.
It’s a drink for sure. It always feels like a real treat though while you are drinking it. The straw is a wide straw, and a perfect straw at that. It’s wide enough to slurp up those tapioca pearls while at the same time getting as much of the drink as you desire. I’m not sure what came over me but I was out to get some tapioca pearls and use up some great black tea.
The beautiful thing is that you can find the tapioca pearls at your local Asian market and cook them in about 20 minutes. Let’s just say my kids could not be happier.
Ingredients:
To a large pot add about 8 cups of water. Bring to a boil. Slowly add in the tapioca pearls and stir along the way. Cook for about 8 minutes. Cover, reduce the heat to low, and continue to cook, stirring a few times along the way, for another 8 minutes.
To a large bowl, add cold water.
Strain the tapioca pearls then add them to the bowl of cold water. Soak for about 30 seconds to slightly cool, then strain the water. Add in the brown sugar to the strain tapioca pears and give a few good stirs. The sugar will melt make the pearls nice and sweet.
Now for the assembly. I like mine with cold black tea and almond milk. You go how you want to go.
To a serving glass, add as much tapioca pearls as you desire. I went about 1/2 cup. Add some ice, then almond milk and black tea. When you are ready to serve, throw in a bubble tea straw (you can probably also find this at your Asian market), stir and go at it.
The black tea and almond milk is super refreshing. It’s creamy, caffeinated, and once you get those tapioca pearls slurped up, it just becomes a chewy, delicious beverage. Now when my kids want bubble tea (or bubble juice) they got it. 20 minutes and those chewy tapioca pearls transform your drink into pure joy.
Please note that you will want to cook what you will use. Storing the cooked tapioca is probably not the best option as they will harden up within hours. Regardless they will probably not last that long. One cup of cooked tapioca pearls (they get slightly bigger when cooked) went to about four regular drinks.
What are your thoughts on bubble tea? Fan?
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I really give credit to my wife, in more ways than one, but one of those credits is due to packing a healthy lunch on a regular basis. As I do all of the grocery shopping, I am very in tune as to what is needed throughout the week, and in the past it always includes ‘Lightly Salted Roasted Almonds’. It kind of drives me nuts because not all stores are carrying the Blue Diamond brand that she loves. I’ll admit when I do find them I often have sighed, and probably loud enough where others hear it in an aisle, not only because I had finally located them, but also the price. I know, I know, what is under $10 for a bag of these great, healthy nuts still drive me nuts and I know that I can make them better, or at least just as good.
So, while shopping at my local Costco, I noticed that there was big bag of raw, unsalted almonds that were probably four times the amount in quantity for about the same price, if not a few dollars more. I was all in, and I was out to get these lightly salted almonds made and ready for lunch time. Did I succeed? Heck yeah, I succeeded. Not only did I succeed but I also had a good amount over to be used in homemade horchata!
Let’s get started on taking basic almonds and turning them into flavorful nuts that are a perfect snack.
Ingredients:
Start by preheating your oven to 350 degrees.
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Have I mentioned how I love using parchment for an easy cleanup for any type of baking, plus it is nonstick? Yep, love it. It’s not mandatory for these, but if you have it why not use it…
To a large bowl, add the almonds, oil, and salt. Mix well and ensure that everything is lightly coated.
Add the nuts, evenly, to the lined baking sheet (I use a 9 x 13), and place into the oven for about 6 minutes. After, remove the baking sheet, and mix up those almonds. Make sure to spread them out as evenly as possible, then return back to the oven, and bake for about 7-10 more minutes.
Your goal is to keep an eye on the almonds so they do not burn or overcook! So open the door or turn on the oven light and give a quick check every few minutes.
Once cooked, remove from the oven, and give them a light mix, and let them cool. Once cooled, add them to an airtight container and snack throughout the weeks. These may not be exactly like Blue Diamond, but for cost, and effort, these are pretty darn delicious, and more importantly wife approved.
If you are looking to save some money, and take a few minutes to make some great healthy snacks, then give these a shot. Simple, and delicious! Hope you enjoy.
