Sumac Tea

 

 Sumac Tea of Summacaid is a lovely and refreshing drink to make in the late summer early Autumn. It is made from those lovely red plums of berries you see on top of the Red Sumac, blooming in the early fall. YOu will want to harvest them before the rain washes away all the tartness. TO test a plant for tartness rub your fingers over the berries and lick your fingers, if it's still tart, it's still good. Clip off 8 bunches or so, shake well (lots of spiders love to hide in these) and bring home..

 Put then in a pitcher and pour COLD water over the tops of the berry clusters. ( Hot water will pull out the tannins and make the drink bitter). Place in your refrigerator overnight.

In the morning take out the berry clusters and drain the rest through a sieve or fine material like an old T-shirt to strain out the tiny hairs of the berries and other particles. 

Add sugar or another sweetener to taste (I like it unsweetened) add a sprig of fresh mint and serve over ice on the last dog days of summer. Enjoy!

Crockpot Pot Roast

I made this for Bear last night and it was absolutely wonderful. It's quick to throw together but takes all day to cook so plan ahead. Tastes of Autumn.

You will need:

1 Teaspoon of Basil

1 Teaspoon of Black Pepper

2 Teaspoons of Garlic

1 Teaspoon of Italian Seasoning 

1 Teaspoon of Onion Powder

1 Teaspoon of Sage

2 Teaspoons of Sea Salt
1 Teaspoon of Tarragon
5-7 oz beef

1 small bag of peeled baby carrots

1 small bag of red potatoes

1 yellow onion

1 cup of hot water

1 cup of Apple Cider

Take the seasonings and mix them together on a plate. Next stab the meat several times with a fork and then rub and press the meat into the seasonings. Make sure to coat it well and work the seasonings into the meat. Next cut up the onion and lay it on the bottom of the crockpot, place the meat on top of the onion, place the carrots to the sides of the meat, and the potatoes on top. Pour the water and cider over the top, cover, and heat on low for 5 hours. The meat should be tender, juicy, and cooked when the timer is up. Pull the meat apart slightly to check for doneness and Enjoy!