The ongoing Mid-Atlantic power outage got me thinking about what I would miss most during a blackout. Air conditioning, hot showers, refrigeration, Internet access, gasoline, and use of my cell phone would be at the top of my list. Other, smaller deprivations would include working light bulbs, use of my bang-straightening wand (my head is one giant cowlick), and my daily tall glass of cold tea, lemon and ice.
Ask any Texan, and they’ll tell you that the key to a good glass of tea is the perfect level of sweetness, but many people these days eschew traditional white table sugar. While waiting for a prescription to be filled at People’s Rx this week, I browsed their grocery section. (I’ve only just recently discovered this holistic, friendly and funky convenience store/compounding pharmacy/school of nutrition.) Because the space is quite small, there’s room for only one brand of each product — one olive oil, one vinegar, etc. I got the feeling that I was picking through a carefully curated selection. Janet, a wellness consultant, wandered over and asked if she could be of assistance, so I asked her about coconut vinegar. She seemed much more excited about coconut nectar, with its low glycemic index, so I bought a bottle thinking it might be a more healthful way to concoct my precious iced tea.
The following morning, I tried it on hot oatmeal instead of my usual maple syrup.
It was delicious! Although I prefer the flavor of maple with cereal, Continue reading
