drinks Archives - East of Eden Cooking

2017/10/292018/01/25

Lemon Verbena

Have you discovered Lemon Verbena?

Joe held the cup to her lips, and she drank the tea in little sips, breathing in over it to cool it. That’s enough, she said when the cup was only half empty. How was the night?

East of Eden, John Steinbeck

Inspiration

Have you discovered lemon verbena? It’s an easy to grow herb that has the scent and flavor of lemon. It’s sweeter than a regular lemon, even sweeter and milder than a Meyer lemon. The older leaves are tougher and best for tea. The newer, more tender leaves are easier to chop finely to use in baking. If combined with lemon zest, the whole lemony thing gains intensity. It can be used in place of lemon zest in most recipes. Classic shortbread cookies flecked with lemon verbena and lemon zest are a lemon lovers dream. I’ve infused milk with the leaves and then made a mildly herbaceous and lemony cake. Pound cake or shortcake destined for soaking up summer berries and their juice sing with it’s assistance. For more lemon verbena joy Bon Appetit has several recipes and so does The Kitchn. READ MORE . . .

2016/06/042018/01/03

Date Yogurt Shake

Summer Shake Fantasy

“Before the inland sea the valley must have been a forest. And those things happened right under our feet. And it seemed to me sometimes at night that I could feel both the sea and the redwood forest before it.”

East of Eden, John Steinbeck

Inspiration

This is everything I want in a summer shake, just sweet enough, creamy and very cold and hydrating. It has the look and taste of decadence while filled with energizing protein from yogurt and walnuts. With four dates per serving it is not too sweet. I’ve been doing tons of gardening, succulents, herbs, vegetables and then we worked on our massive front yard. When I stop for my morning break the Date Yogurt Shake quenches my thirst and hunger. I am nourished and pampered too. READ MORE . . .

2015/08/092018/01/03

Lavender Lemonade

Finding Summer

“And he lay in the sun warmed sand, counting the waves.”

East of Eden, John Steinbeck

Inspiration

We’ve been having a coastal heat wave. When it warms to eighty and above we fog dwellers start complaining about the heat. Our houses and wardrobes aren’t equipped. Then and only then, do we speak with pride and reverence about the coastal fog. We wait for the fog to return and drink ice cold drinks to replenish the moisture our bodies crave. We drink lemonade–homemade lemonade with lots of ice and a touch of lavender. READ MORE . . .

2014/05/272017/12/31

Thirst Quenching Lemon, Mint and Cucumber Water

The Steinbeck Festival, Tour of Hamilton Ranch

“I must depend on hearsay, on old photographs, on stories told, and on memories which are hazy and mixed with fable in trying to tell you about the Hamiltons. ”

East of Eden, John Steinbeck

Inspiration

The annual Steinbeck Festival is held in Salinas each year. I try to attend at least one event that grows my Steinbeck knowledge. Even better is a learning experience that includes local history and the novel, East of Eden. This year a tour of the Hamilton Ranch in King City was an event I didn’t want to miss. Susan Shillinglaw, a local Steinbeck scholar and author was our tour guide. READ MORE . . .