Slow Sunday Afternoon

I sat out on the front porch late yesterday afternoon, soaking up the last of the sunshine. You never know in northwest Ohio when the sun is going to make it's final showing before chilly rain starts to fall. It seems like only weeks before that rain turns to snow and we won't feel the sun for many long months.

These are the mums decorating our front steps.

Every fall I start to crave warm things to drink. When I was a kid my mom used to make us a drink mix called Russian Tea. It was basically Tang – I'm old enough to associate that with astronauts and breakfast! – instant lemonade, unsweetened tea and spices that you mixed into hot water for a flavored tea drink.

This weekend I had a more grown up hot beverage on my mind – Chai.

I love a cup of something warm in the afternoons at work. Traditional chai is brewed, strained and then added to warm milk. I don't have the capacity to do all that at work, so I came up with a recipe that only needs hot water.

1 C. nonfat powdered milk

1 C. non-dairy powdered creamer

1 C. french vanilla flavored powdered creamer

2 C. white sugar

1 1/2 C. instant, unsweetened tea

2 t. ground ginger

2 t. ground cinnamon

1 t. ground cloves

1 t. ground cardamom

1 t. ground nutmeg

1 t. ground allspice

1/4 t. white pepper

Place all ingredients in a blender or food processor. Pulse or blend until it's a fine powder. Mix 3 tablespoons into a mug of hot water.

Fall flowers. Sunshine. Warm drink. I'm ready.