How To Make A Bird Seed Wreath

This was taken from a wonderful 
Bird Website
A wreath on your front gate says welcome to family and friends and if you make a bird seed wreath, wild birds will also stop by to get a taste of your crafting skills.

I make two types of bird seed wreaths. In late summer and fall I make a "nature's harvest" bird seed wreath.


When nature is brimming with ripening fruits and berries and seed heads are forming on grasses, I collect everything that I would eat if I were a wild bird. In nature, I look for vines of wild grapes and bittersweet, for privet berries on the hedge and seed heads forming on weeds. In my garden I look for sunflowers, zinnias and ornamental grasses going to seed. To learn how to make a bird seed wreath like this one, click here.

When I run out of materials for making my "nature's harvest" bird seed wreaths, I make a bird seed wreath that is perfect for winter. Since this project requires the use of gelatin, temperatures should be close to or below freezing. If you live in an area where winter temperatures stay near 50, you can substitute peanut butter or rendered suet for the gelatin.

Making a bird seed wreath is a messy project that can be a lot of fun for kids.

How To Make A Bird Seed Wreath

This was taken from a wonderful 
Bird Website
A wreath on your front gate says welcome to family and friends and if you make a bird seed wreath, wild birds will also stop by to get a taste of your crafting skills.

I make two types of bird seed wreaths. In late summer and fall I make a "nature's harvest" bird seed wreath.

Chinese Ceramic Tea Cup - The Gaiwan

How to Brew and Drink Tea Using a Gaiwan Cup

Jan 14, 2010 Jeremy Suizo

The gaiwan has been the favored vessel of tea drinking since the Ming Dynasty - representing the ideal means of enjoying the flavor, color, and smell of tea.

The gaiwan is a three-piece Chinese tea cup first created during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). Gaiwans consist of three pieces: the bowl, the lid, and the saucer. Each piece fulfills a role in the act of drinking tea and adds to the overall functionality of the gaiwan. Aside from holding the tea, the bowl acts as brewing container and can be drunken from directly. The saucer insulates the bottom and allows the drinker to lift the cup without getting burned. Finally, the lid doubles as insulation and tool for stirring and holding back leaves while drinking.
Tea connoisseurs praise the gaiwan as being the ideal vessel for drinking tea. Aside from the functionality of the cup, serving as both drinking and brewing vessel, the gaiwan has aesthetic value. Most gaiwan cups are made of either porcelain or glass. The whiteness or clearness of the cup contrasts with the color of the tea leaves and adds to the visual enjoyment of tea drinking. Gaiwans also bring out the subtle aroma of teas as the lid helps to capture the smell of the tea leaves as they steep. Lastly, gaiwan tea cups allow the drinker to experience tea authentically, as they would drink tea during the Ming Dynasty.

How to Brew Tea Using a Gaiwan

Although the vessel may be different, the steps to brewing tea in a gaiwan are exactly the same as how you would brew loose leaf tea normally.
Simply add the desired amount of loose leaf tea into the bowl of the gaiwan and add a little hot water to rinse the tea leaves. After a few seconds, empty out the water, using the lid to hold back the leaves, add more hot water, cover with the lid, and steep the tea leaves as long as necessary. The tea can then be sipped straight from the gaiwan. The time and temperature for steeping is dependent on the variety of tea one is drinking.

An alternative method of using the gaiwan is to brew the teas within the gaiwan itself and then to decant the ready tea into a separate teapot or into small tea cups à la the Gongfu tea ceremony. This method is better when serving tea to multiple people in a semi-formal context.

How to Drink Tea Using a Gaiwan

Once the tea is steeped and ready to drink, take hold of the saucer, placing it onto the palm of your hand, and with your other hand push back the lid so that there is enough of a gap to sip from, but not too big so as to allow tea leaves to escape the bowl. Hold the lid down with your hand as you bring up the saucer and cup to drink.

What Tea to Drink in a Gaiwan

Any loose leaf tea is drinkable from a gaiwan tea cup, however, green teas and white teas are the preferred tea to use. The delicate and subtle aroma and flavor of those teas match the aesthetic of the gaiwan better than the hearty and robust black teas. On a practical note, the gaiwan is a better alternative to clay teapots which tend to over-brew lighter teas.

Chinese Ceramic Tea Cup - The Gaiwan

How to Brew and Drink Tea Using a Gaiwan Cup

Jan 14, 2010 Jeremy Suizo

The gaiwan has been the favored vessel of tea drinking since the Ming Dynasty - representing the ideal means of enjoying the flavor, color, and smell of tea.

The gaiwan is a three-piece Chinese tea cup first created during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). Gaiwans consist of three pieces: the bowl, the lid, and the saucer. Each piece fulfills a role in the act of drinking tea and adds to the overall functionality of the gaiwan. Aside from holding the tea, the bowl acts as brewing container and can be drunken from directly. The saucer insulates the bottom and allows the drinker to lift the cup without getting burned. Finally, the lid doubles as insulation and tool for stirring and holding back leaves while drinking.
Tea connoisseurs praise the gaiwan as being the ideal vessel for drinking tea. Aside from the functionality of the cup, serving as both drinking and brewing vessel, the gaiwan has aesthetic value. Most gaiwan cups are made of either porcelain or glass. The whiteness or clearness of the cup contrasts with the color of the tea leaves and adds to the visual enjoyment of tea drinking. Gaiwans also bring out the subtle aroma of teas as the lid helps to capture the smell of the tea leaves as they steep. Lastly, gaiwan tea cups allow the drinker to experience tea authentically, as they would drink tea during the Ming Dynasty.

How to Brew Tea Using a Gaiwan

Although the vessel may be different, the steps to brewing tea in a gaiwan are exactly the same as how you would brew loose leaf tea normally.
Simply add the desired amount of loose leaf tea into the bowl of the gaiwan and add a little hot water to rinse the tea leaves. After a few seconds, empty out the water, using the lid to hold back the leaves, add more hot water, cover with the lid, and steep the tea leaves as long as necessary. The tea can then be sipped straight from the gaiwan. The time and temperature for steeping is dependent on the variety of tea one is drinking.

An alternative method of using the gaiwan is to brew the teas within the gaiwan itself and then to decant the ready tea into a separate teapot or into small tea cups à la the Gongfu tea ceremony. This method is better when serving tea to multiple people in a semi-formal context.

How to Drink Tea Using a Gaiwan

Once the tea is steeped and ready to drink, take hold of the saucer, placing it onto the palm of your hand, and with your other hand push back the lid so that there is enough of a gap to sip from, but not too big so as to allow tea leaves to escape the bowl. Hold the lid down with your hand as you bring up the saucer and cup to drink.

What Tea to Drink in a Gaiwan

Any loose leaf tea is drinkable from a gaiwan tea cup, however, green teas and white teas are the preferred tea to use. The delicate and subtle aroma and flavor of those teas match the aesthetic of the gaiwan better than the hearty and robust black teas. On a practical note, the gaiwan is a better alternative to clay teapots which tend to over-brew lighter teas.

Tame Blood Pressure Hibiscus Tea

Image by avlxyz via Flickr

Those who drank 24oz. of Hibiscus tea daily saw their Blood Pressure go down on average 13 points.After six weeks. Hibiscus contains plant pigments that act like artery relaxing (ACE) inhibitors.

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• Herbal Teas for High Blood Pressure (brighthub.com)
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• Health Matters Understanding Your Blood Pressure ()
• Measuring Your Blood Pressure at Home (blood-pressure-monitoring.org)
• 
  

  Whole Hibiscus Flowers

  Whole Hibiscus Flowers, imported from China.   Use as an addition to herbal and "straight" teas.   Used alone, it brews into a very pink/red licquor, with a rather tart taste.   Blends well with most straight teas - with the possible exception of Pu-Erh - altho, try it, you might like it! Use several whole flowers per 16 to 24 oz pot. Use Boiling (212º) water. Steep for 5 to 7 minutes. Caffeine-Free • 1 oz. $ 3.00   •   4 oz. $ 9.00

    http://www.atomicmall.com/view.php?id=1028491

Tame Blood Pressure Hibiscus Tea

Image by avlxyz via Flickr

Those who drank 24oz. of Hibiscus tea daily saw their Blood Pressure go down on average 13 points.After six weeks. Hibiscus contains plant pigments that act like artery relaxing (ACE) inhibitors.

Related articles by Zemanta

• Herbal Teas for High Blood Pressure (brighthub.com)
• Common Causes of High Blood Pressure (brighthub.com)
• Health Matters Understanding Your Blood Pressure ()
• Measuring Your Blood Pressure at Home (blood-pressure-monitoring.org)
• 
  

  Whole Hibiscus Flowers

  Whole Hibiscus Flowers, imported from China.   Use as an addition to herbal and "straight" teas.   Used alone, it brews into a very pink/red licquor, with a rather tart taste.   Blends well with most straight teas - with the possible exception of Pu-Erh - altho, try it, you might like it! Use several whole flowers per 16 to 24 oz pot. Use Boiling (212º) water. Steep for 5 to 7 minutes. Caffeine-Free • 1 oz. $ 3.00   •   4 oz. $ 9.00

    http://www.atomicmall.com/view.php?id=1028491

More Health Benifits cooking with herbs

Image via Wikipedia

Plain Old Black Pepper  (for heartburn)
Bay Leaves (stop pain)
Sage (Sharpen memory)
Turmeric (boost immunity)
Celery Seed (calm down)
Cinnamon (ease PMS)
Garlic (chase away germs)

http://www.watkinsonline.com/store.cfm?Parent=14&gCatalogLocale=CAN&ECredit=383437

More Health Benifits cooking with herbs

Image via Wikipedia

Plain Old Black Pepper  (for heartburn)
Bay Leaves (stop pain)
Sage (Sharpen memory)
Turmeric (boost immunity)
Celery Seed (calm down)
Cinnamon (ease PMS)
Garlic (chase away germs)

http://www.watkinsonline.com/store.cfm?Parent=14&gCatalogLocale=CAN&ECredit=383437

The Healing Power of Culinary Herbs

Discover the everyday healing power of flavorful culinary herbs. Add herbs and let your diet do double duty by eating well to feed your appetite and your health.

This article was taken from Herb Companion Newsletter
***

I once gave a friend a gift basket I had filled with packets of culinary herb seeds. On each packet I wrote the herb’s therapeutic benefits. My friend later said she was now sprinkling “little green things” on all of her food—a new habit that she still enjoys.

Culinary aficionados describe those “little green things” as they would a fine wine or an intoxicating perfume. For example, Jill Norman in The Classic Herb Cookbook (DK Adult, 1997) portrays mints as “…highly aromatic, the strong, sweetish yet fresh smell is instantly recognizable. The taste is pleasantly warm and pungent with a cooling aftertaste.”
Aromatic, flavor-rich herbs truly are intoxicating—not just in a culinary sense, but medicinally, too. Their flavors and aromas are rich in medicinal import. Herbs help us digest our food, detoxify our bodies, and keep our hearts and minds active. Even in smidgens, they make their presence felt.
***
Flavorful Recipes With Healing Powers

• Herb Butter
• Herb Oil
• Shrimp with Coconut Milk, Chile and Curry Leaf
• Carrot and Ginger Energizer
• Salsa Verde
• Herb-Roasted Potatoes
• Turmeric Yogurt Soup
• Chile Pepper Garnish
• Strawberry, Cantaloupe and Basil Salad
• Online Exclusive Recipe: Bow Ties with Herb Sauce

Follow the links for more information or read the article page-by-page.
Shortcut to Digestive Herbs
Shortcut to Antimicrobial Herbs
Shortcut to Antioxidant Herbs
Shortcut to Memory-Boosting Herbs
Shortcut to Heart-Healthy Herbs

Page: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Next >>

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• 9 Herbs To Spice Up Your Garden (PHOTOS) (huffingtonpost.com)
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• Making Tea from Plants Grown in the Backyard (nytimes.com)

The Healing Power of Culinary Herbs

Discover the everyday healing power of flavorful culinary herbs. Add herbs and let your diet do double duty by eating well to feed your appetite and your health.

This article was taken from Herb Companion Newsletter
***

I once gave a friend a gift basket I had filled with packets of culinary herb seeds. On each packet I wrote the herb’s therapeutic benefits. My friend later said she was now sprinkling “little green things” on all of her food—a new habit that she still enjoys.