Do you drink coffee or tea? I've been drinking my morning coffee since I was 17, but after learning of all the uses there are for tea in addition to drinking it, I may change my routine.
Tea plants originated in Asia, probably where China, India and Burma meet. It's known that tea was used as a beverage in China as far back as the 10th century B.C. and the commodity made its way to Europe via Portuguese importers in the 16th century. Thank goodness for the Western Hemisphere! Tea is credited with numerous health benefits. It is available in many forms including herbal, caffeinated, and decaf. A variety of types can be found on most grocery store shelves.
One of my favorite ways to use tea is in a marinade for inexpensive, and therefore tougher, cuts of meat. It helps improve my meal's flavor while keeping my food costs down. People often think of MSG (monosodium glutamate) when they hear the term "meat tenderizer" as it's been widely used to reduce costs in restaurants and even in our home kitchens. But MSG has been tied to adverse side effects in recent years so many restaurants now advertise "No MSG" on their menus.
I recommend natural techniques to make cheap or low-fat cuts of meat easier to chew. My food mallet has helped me to improve many a piece of meat. It's especially effective with veal cutlets. But I prefer to use marinades for thicker cuts because they can enhance the meat's flavor, too. Here's one of my favorites for tenderizing a 2-lb flank steak before grilling it.
Mix together and place the following into a Ziploc bag or covered casserole dish with your meat:
· 2 cups of cooled Black Tea
· 1/4 cup of Extra Virgin Olive Oil
· 4 cloves of Garlic, minced
· 2 teaspoons peeled Ginger Root, minced
It's best to marinate the meat for several hours or overnight if possible. The longer it soaks the tastier it will become, and the easier it will be to chew.
If my creation doesn't sound like your "cup of tea" scores of recipes for tea-based marinades will arrive at your fingertips by conducting an internet search. I encourage you to find one that sounds good to you.
Other uses for tea include:
· Removing odors from smelly shoes
· Easing tired eyes
· Treating and coloring hair
· Nourishing plants
· Treating skin irritations
· Cleaning wood floors, furniture, and mirrors
· Soothing toothaches and swelling
· Dying cloth
· Easing tired eyes
· Treating and coloring hair
· Nourishing plants
· Treating skin irritations
· Cleaning wood floors, furniture, and mirrors
· Soothing toothaches and swelling
· Dying cloth
Expand your tea repertoire and tea-up your year for easier living. Check out other great cooking and food tips at easyweeklymeals.com/products.html.
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