That's Karma!

Today, on Foodsherpa, there's a great deal taking place that you'll want to get in on if you like tea! They are offering two canisters of tea, 24 bags in each, for $8.99, and these aren't just any teas.

Both teas, from Karma Blends, are wellness teas, offering health benefits aside from a nice, hot cup of tea. All natural and organic ingredients make these teas good for you in every way! After checking out Karma Blends website, I found that for one, we're getting a GREAT deal here, and secondly, they have a wonderful mantra. "You are what you consume, and you should enjoy what you consume." I like that, don't you?

Focus Better uses Ginko Biloba (an herb known to enhance memory), along with brahmi, cinnamon, tulsi and peppermint to create a tea that improves memory, focus and IQ. I haven't had all 24 bags yet, but I still have faith that it will actually help! That's why this tea makes for a great pick-me-up in the middle of the day, when focus on your work might be fading a bit from your morning caffeine crash. These teas are caffeine-free, thus making them a great drink any time of day. I know I've been enjoying a cup every night before bed! The herbal, revitalizing scent of this tea upon brewing is quite refreshing, and it has a minty, earthy taste. It's relaxing, and awakening, at the same time...I think it might be the peppermint! Do you have a sore throat? Try adding some honey to this one for a soothing blend that will heal that throat in no time!

Immunity Builder uses Echinacea to boost immunity, along with Purpurea and Spearmint. This one has a bit of a sweeter taste than the Focus Better, but would also taste good with some honey, for a sore throat. I think this would one would also make a great iced tea, for a warm summer's day. Immunity Builder is a great tea to keep on hand for those days that you feel a cold coming on. We normally drink orange juice, or consume massive amounts of Vitamin C to combat sickness, but why not try this tea instead!

So, go check out the sale at Foodsherpa and pick up a canister of each of these teas for the grand total of $8.99. You won't find a better deal anywhere else, and your well-being should be your first priority!

Just a small warning: If you are pregnant or nursing, it is not recommended that you consume this product. Also, do not use if you have GERD or if you suffer from any auto immune disorders. 

Go Get Your Truffle Oil!

Hey Everyone! The sale is now open! Go get a fantastic deal on Black Truffle Oil at FoodSherpa!

Once you get it, don't forget to try out my recipe for Truffle-Scented Sweet Potato Gnocchi! Enjoy!

Truffle-Scented

La Tourangelle is a wonderful company that makes a line of sophisticated, gourmet oils. I have numerous bottles in my pantry, including walnut and hazelnut oil, both wonderful for making seasonal salad dressings. However, my favorite in their collection has to be the Black Truffle Oil. Even better, our friends at FoodSherpa are going to be offering a special deal on this wonderful oil on September 14th! Keep your eye on their site for the sale!

I decided to get creative again this evening, and yet again, not a cookbook cracked. The second recipe in my would-be cookbook? Hmm...it's all coming together, isn't it? I decided that I liked the idea of concocting some sweet potato gnocchi, and incorporating the truffle oil into the recipe. To make truffle-scented sweet potato gnocchi, I slowly added the oil at different steps of the process to build on the flavor without becoming overbearing. While cooking the potatoes, I added a bit to the water. When I mixed the dough for the gnocchi, I added a bit more oil. I've made gnocchi before, so I won't go into detail, but I had to use more flour than I normally do because the consistency of a sweet potato is a bit less starchy. The dough became a bit goopy until I worked extra flour in, but it all came together. Like any dough, you just keep adding flour if its sticky, and water if its dry until you get the right consistency. If you don't want to make your own gnocchi, I happened to see sweet potato gnocchi for sale in the refrigerated section at Whole Foods the other day!

Once the gnocchi was made, I boiled some water to cook it. While I was waiting for the "watched pot," I  added a stick of butter to a large saute pan, and a few sprigs of sage. I was going to make a sage butter to saute my gnocchi in once they were boiled. After the butter was melted, and had simmered for a few minutes, the aroma became very sage-y. At this point, I added some sliced sausage to the pan and allowed it to fry a bit in the butter. I had pre-cooked the sausages separately, pulled them off the heat before they were fully cooked, and allowed them to rest and cook the rest of the way. That way, they were still really nice and moist when I sliced them and added them back to the heat. I pulled the sage sprigs out at this point.

Once the gnocchi was all boiled, I added it to the sage butter and sausage and allowed all the flavors to meld and heat together. I poured just a dash more truffle oil in the pan and threw a large handful of arugula on top, as well as some chopped sage. After tossing things together, the arugula quickly began to wilt and I seasoned the meal with salt and pepper. Right before serving, toss the dish with a good heaping spoonful of Parmigiano-Reggiano. Plate and add a touch more Parmigiano (because you can never have too much!)

To recap, all you'll need is some salt and pepper, sage sprigs, a stick of butter, a handful of arugula, Parmigiano-Reggiano, a couple of nice quality sausage links, sweet potato gnocchi (truffle-scented, if you make it from scratch) and of course, TRUFFLE OIL! The oil really took this dish from delicious to decadent. Each ingredient added it's own bit of flavor to the dish and everything melded together really nicely. The sage added an earthiness, the arugula added some peppery bite, the sausage added some heartiness and the oil, well...the oil added decadence. I can't stress this enough...Definitely...try this at home!

There's a New Sherpa in Town!

I'm always looking out for the newest culinary trend, or a great deal on a rare ingredient, or even, an ingredient I've never used before! This is why I am so excited about a website that was recently brought to my attention: FoodSherpa.

The website offers a daily deal on a specific food item, and some of the past deals are nothing to scoff at! Great prices on truffle oils, exotic teas and fancy dips and marinades is a very exciting prospect for me. I promise you I will be taking full advantage of this brilliant idea for a website.

I will make an effort to post the especially special deals on the blog, so that all of my faithful readers can take part, but I certainly suggest signing up for the free email-a-day so you can participate in this amazing concept!