Peach & Sour Cream Gratin and Key Lime Iced Green Tea
If I were to select the contents of a perfect day, the lineup might look like this: an early morning visit to the coffee shop, then Jupiter for a still-warm grainy blueberry and white chocolate muffin almost the size of a small cantaloupe to nibble on as we stroll down the beach. The bulk of the afternoon spent on the beach at Tonquin park running in the waves, digging channels to the ocean in the sand, building castles and dragons, watching bald eagles and finding starfish. (W has a sunburnt plumbers’ butt from bending over to dig and examine things in the sand, exposing a wedge of pale 4 year old flesh between his shirt and swimmers.) I didn’t bring my camera. I attempted a Julie: unplugged sort of afternoon, and tried not to cringe at every missed photo op.
After, a famished late lunch of crispy cod clubs (thick slabs of fresh fish coated in Panko, with crispy bacon, rock shrimp, guacamole, tomato, onion and lettuce, served with fries cut and cooked as we wait at tables fashioned from old ship spools and driftwood) at Wildside Grill. Later, an evening around a beach fire, roasting marshmallows and making real s’mores. Idyllic, no?
My mom has invented a new drink to help wean her off Diet Coke (which she used to wean herself off real Coke): iced green tea with a key lime squeezed in. Unsweetened, because she’s diabetic, but I’d add a drizzle of honey. Because we came back from the Saturday morning Tofino market with a fresh basil plant and a bag of basil, she tossed a couple leaves in the glass too. Here’s how she makes it: brews green tea using 2 teabags, then chills it in the fridge. Pours herself a glass over ice, and adds an entire key lime – those are the little ones, the shape and size of ping pong balls – and she says it’s not the same with different types of tea, nor with plain old green Persian limes. I like the fact that it’s real green tea, not one of those bottled green tea beverages with tea coming in last on the ingredient list after the artificial flavours and preservatives.
At the end of the afternoon when everyone curled up with their books (and Mike with his iPod) I pulled out the laptop and popped in to check on a few of my favourite blogs. A Russian Gratin with Raspberries reeled me in instantly, and seemed the perfect thing to do with the disappointing (pulpy and flavourless but nevertheless brutally expensive) peaches we bought at the Tofino Co-op. I made it with wedged peaches, roasted for ten minutes first to get them softened a little, but they released too much juice and it wound up a beautiful but ultimately soupy, curdled-looking mess.
We picked at it anyway while playing Scrabble, but decided we needed a dessert do-over. I may attempt to follow instructions and use raspberries next time, but I have Big Plans for tomorrow. Hint: it will include plums.
July 25 2010 12:15 am | leftovers
Recipe for Delicious on 25 Jul 2010 at 7:47 am #
I am an iced mint tea JUNKY. That stuff is amazing. I’ve never thought of adding lime juice, but it certainly makes sense. Thanks!
bellini valli on 25 Jul 2010 at 8:34 am #
I am sure memories are being made in Tofino Julie:D
LisaMer on 25 Jul 2010 at 9:41 am #
Deb’s recipe reeled me in, too!! The raspberries at the Bearspaw Market don’t stand a chance!
Thanks for the updates from heaven.
Cathy N on 25 Jul 2010 at 11:11 am #
Mmmmmmmmm… I wonder if strawberries would work? I might try them as my hubby hates raspberries!?! (don’t ask)… thanks for all your great ideas, Julie – you are my inspiration! from Cathy in Inglewood, Calgary wishing I were in Tofino right now!
Andi on 25 Jul 2010 at 7:00 pm #
The iced green tea sounds like a relative of the “Arnold Palmer” I learned to enjoy last summer in Iowa -a half iced tea and half lemonade mocktail. At home my Alberta variant is sun tea (made with half green, half Murchies or earl grey, or even half earl grey & lapsang souchang – put tea and water in large bottle and leave on the deck railing all day before refrigerating – never gets bitter this way!) with a dose of the lemon syrup from one of your earlier recipes and half a key lime per glass.
Erica B. on 25 Jul 2010 at 10:10 pm #
Oooh your ideal day sounds like bliss (although maybe with a smaller muffin?) Totally have to try your Mom’s iced tea too – love green tea.
Can’t wait to hear about your Big Plan involving plums…(quietly wishing for a certain plum tart recipe!) I have a surplus right now and could use some inspiration
Anonymous on 26 Jul 2010 at 12:29 am #
I’m a tea fanatic. I love that your Mom is using this to get off the Diet Coke. My partner is doing the same and so I started making him iced teas too (he said he still needed the cold fix – thus why we didn’t use warm teas). I use a lot of teas from Silk Road in Victoria. I brew them the night before (2 or 3 scoops of white, black, red or green blends) and then add some chopped up lemons, limes, oranges, strawberries. Whatever I am in the mood for. I usually add a tiny bit of maple syrup as well (honey and tea have gag sensation for me).
I got these last week at Community for on the go and work. They have a couple different flavours. Lots of unsweetened options too. I prefer homemade, but they may be useful in a pinch.
http://www.stashtea.com/products/Lemon+Ginger+Green+Iced+Tea+Powder.aspx
Love the key lime idea. Must try.
Thanks.
M. on 26 Jul 2010 at 12:30 am #
I’m a tea fanatic. I love that your Mom is using this to get off the Diet Coke. My partner is doing the same and so I started making him iced teas too (he said he still needed the cold fix – thus why we didn’t use warm teas). I use a lot of teas from Silk Road in Victoria. I brew them the night before (2 or 3 scoops of white, black, red or green blends) and then add some chopped up lemons, limes, oranges, strawberries. Whatever I am in the mood for. I usually add a tiny bit of maple syrup as well (honey and tea have gag sensation for me).
I got these last week at Community for on the go and work. They have a couple different flavours. Lots of unsweetened options too. I prefer homemade, but they may be useful in a pinch.
http://www.stashtea.com/products/Lemon+Ginger+Green+Iced+Tea+Powder.aspx
Love the key lime idea. Must try.
Thanks.
Honey on 30 Jul 2010 at 4:31 pm #
I made this lovely concoction last night, but I have a confession to make. I made it as you suggested with honey to taste, but when my husband crawled in from work and wanted a cocktail. I muddled some fresh basil with a key lime, poured in the chilled green tea with honey, added a shot vodka, some crushed ice, shook the shaker and poured. My hubby says it was the most refreshing cocktail he’s ever had. His grumpy exterior was transformed and we had a lovely dinner and took a long walk.