Casa Robino

I couldn't have carried the little mushroom jar to Istanbul-- my bags were packed full as it was, and the snow would have gotten the best of the nutrients stored within and killed or dulled all of them, so I left it at casa.

You, too, can seize the opportunity to take Kombucha powers into your own hands and brew this healthy fermented tea beverage! I already purchased a 2-liter glass container that will hold the fermenting batch (it just has to be sterilized first in boiling water for 20 minutes), and enough raw sugar to last a while.

The link below provides step-by-step instructions:

To all concerned or unconcerned, & people who need sunday warmth; tea, pancakes and good or bad conversation -

URGENT - Kitten is running around spreading her legs to anything that moves...and keeps eating plants..So, we figure, it would be good to raise some funds for her to get sprayed (?), to calm down her hormones a wee bit..
Therefore, this sunday (first of the year at casa) we will be raising donations for none other than our constant host, miss kitten.

Pancakes, home made jams, a whole bunch of teas.
Come come come!

Davide and I collaborated on a most delicious winter morning drink:
Chai Bomb; chai masala tea with a shot of espresso.

First, prepare an old-fashioned handmade espresso with the old steel machine.

Meanwhile, make your chai.
Boil water on the stovetop with a mixture of:
ginger, cinnamon, black tea leaves, nutmeg, cloves, 1 small dried peperoncino, sweet red pepper, and cardamom pods until dark.

Add (soya or rice, for vegans) milk to taste. Continue boiling.

Strain the chai mixture into a teapot.