This morning I received wonderful news that I won the Royal Foodie Joust(RFJ) with my Apricot and Pistachio cake.
I would like to all of you for your comments and especially those that took the time to join www.leftoverqueen.com/forum and vote.
I would also like to congratulate Marija and Anniepooh, who were the other two finalists. After looking at both these gals’ blogs and their food, it’s only a matter of time until they win the coveted honour.
As the victor, I am to choose the three ingredients that must be included in this month’s dishes in the competition.
Being a guy that enjoys the savory side of things, I’ve chosen cilantro (coriander), seafood and sesame (seeds, oil, etc). If you have a blog and want to test your creativity, try your hand at the RFJ…you’ll improve your cooking, learn a thing or two and make some new friends!
Speaking of friends, may I offer you some iced tea? With July here, summer’s finally arrived in Toronto. It’s 30C, sunny and the deck out in the back never felt better!
To help cool things off, I made an iced tea made from lemon verbena. The leaves come from a shrub and the aroma and flavour of this tea is undoutedly on the lemon side.
For this iced tea, I used dried leaves but if you’re lucky to know someone with a lemon verbena tree, ask for some leaves and try out this refreshing and delicious iced tea.
Lemon Verbena Iced Tea
12 cups of water
1 cup of dry lemon verbena leaves
1 cup of sugar
1/2 cup fresh lemon juice
- In a large pot, bring a large pot of water to a boil and then add the leaves in. Simmer the leaves for 5 minutes and take off the heat. Allow the leaves to steep for 15 minutes then strain and discard.
- Add and stir in your sugar and lemon juice. Allow to cool to room temperature before refrigerating.
- Serve cold on a hot day with a lemon slice and lots of ice cubes and what the Hell…throw in a splash of vodka.
Peter, thanks so much for your kind words! Again, congrats to you. Your cake looked so moist and wonderful.
I adore lemon verbena, that tea has to be delicious!
Congratulations on the win. . .the cake looks delicious!
Man, I can use a refreshing glass of iced tea now.
Congrats on the win! And the tea looks refreshing…if only I could find the leaves to make it
Congratulations Peter. Well deserved.
This sounds like a perfectly refreshing drink to beat the heat.
Congratulations Peter! And the iced tea looks so refreshing…let see its 102 degrees F here so yeah, I need one of these about now.
Congrats mt friend. You deserved this.
congrats!! interesting choices for 3 ingredients! every time i try to get my ass in gear to join the RFJ and never do. i gotta get my shiznit together.
I love ice tea and this one seems to be really delicious Pete! I’ll try to find out if lemon verbena is available in Herbalist’s. And congratulations for your RFJ victory!!! Nice choice for the next one, you do know how to enjoy the summer… ;-) xxNat
Congrats, Peter! You deserved the win. That was an excellent cake!
That iced tea looks pretty good too! I used to grow lemon verbena in my garden and it was so lovely. Of course, the heat eventually kills everything here.
Congratulations on the win! I love pistachios, so that was definitely a tasty sounding dessert!
Good ingredient choice, too, I’m running through possibilities, but I love cilantro, so this should be a fun one.
Congratulations! Your cake looked absolutely amazing. I love your choices for this month, as well.
Congrats Pe’er – now go say thank you to your mother who taught you everything you know but not everything she knows.
Congratulations re! I like your choices for next month too! That iced tea with the lemon verbena looks really refreshing. Great idea!
Anne, thanks to you and I know that RFJ apron will get to you soon!
JS, come get a tall glass O’ ice tea…it’s hot over here.
Mike, a health food store might carry some.
Lisa, it’s most refreshing.
Chrissy…yeah…summer’s finally here.
Courtney, thanks ‘hun.
Never Full, fer shizzle, on the Jizzle, mo’fizzle…get on it!
Nat, that’s a good place to look, thanks!
Sticky, ours didn’t make the winter and I couldn’t find a new one at the nursery….good thing we have lots of the dried leaves left.
Peter, thanks and I hope you bang out a great dish with the 3 ingredients.
Jen, thank you so much…I’ve made the cake 2X’s now.
Giz, very true. My mom’s Greek and a great cook and I’m lucky to be able to learn and run with such an experience.
Pete, I hope you’ll be in the Joust again, you were missed last month with you tweaking your blog.
To everyone who’s commented thus far, thank you so much…I’m humbled.
congrats, you totally deserved it; it realy was a wonderful entry.
Congrats, Peter! This iced tea looks great. You would not believe how much iced tea I can down in a night if I told you… ;)
Congrats, Peter! How fun to win:) With your creations, no wonder you won:) I also loved Marija’s rolls. She is super creative! Congrats to all of you!!!
And thanks for the tea:)
Congratulations Peter! Your dish looked delicious and the ingredients you chose for the next Joust sound perfect for summer. I can’t wait to see what everybody comes up with.
Congratulations Peter on your win!!I have already made my dish for the Joust..better get over there and post it…it just fit:D
Congratulations, Peter! :)
Of course you won, that cake was amazing! Congrats to you Peter!
Congratulations, Peter! Your cake certainly looked terrific and I bet it tasted amazing.
This tea is just the thing that I could have savored today. I’ve not tried anything with verbena leaves, but since I’m a fan of sweet tea as well as all things lemon, I bet this could be quite addictive for me on hot summer days!
I knew the cake was a winner when I first saw it on your site. Well done, my friend! I’ll skip on the ICE tea for now, but come summer, I will give it a go!
30 degrees! I won’t survive! Already suffering here in Vancouver.
Congrats on the Food Joust win!
Ever tried tapioca pearls in your iced drinks (a la bubble tea)? Go make one and blog about it! =)
Congratulations, Peter! Well deserved! I’ll have a glass of that iced tea, while I write down a recipe for those ingredients! Right up my alley, they are. :)
Congrats Peter! And your refreshing beverage is so picture perfect and tasting for summer!
you totally deserved the win. that cake is phenomenal. kudos!
whoa! congratulations, peter! and i am always partial to iced tea ^_^
Congrats on the win Peter – well deserved!
And yay yay yay on the ingredient selection – you know I’m a savoury gal!!
Congrats again Peter!! Time to think of what to make for the RFJ now!
Maybelle, thanks – I was so glad to have won with a dessert entry.
Elly, thanks – I’ll be going thru alot of it today…hot & humid is the forecast.
Farida, thank you as yes indeed, Marija’s rolls were dangerously good!
Thanks Ben, I think the ingredients choice will offer up some great dishes.
Arundathi, thank you!
Marie, I was a little nervous – it was close.
Paula, lemon verbena’s not the easiest thing to find but when you do – snap it up!
Nina, thanks my dear…you’re allowed to eat lots of chilli now.
TS, I’ve yet to have bubble tea despite seeing them on offer all around the city…soon!
Nikki, thanks and welcome back…so glad to hear your computer woes are almost over.
White rice duo…we’re gonna have a HOT one today.
Grace, thank you…I have good friends too! ;)
Rita, come fetch your ice cold glass…^_^
Kittie, I know you’ll be all over this month’s ingredients…be well.
Dharm, the ingredients are exciting and not too restricting.
Congrats Peter, I do remember that cake :).
This iced tea would so fit in the 38C muggy summer day we’re having.
when i saw your cake entry..i knew its gonna be you heheheh :-)
congrats peter!! nice choice of ingredients for the next months joust
Congrats Peter, well deserved, you really cook wonderful!!!! xxxGloria
Peter my friend CONGRATS again – that was a great entry and thanks so much for choosing such perfect ingredients for this month! Can’t wait to see what everyone comes up with!
Oh and I simply ADORE lemon verbena!
Congratulations! And great choice on the next three ingredients!
Congrats kid! That’s what I get for being missing for a few days.
Congratulations on your win Peter! Can I have some alcohol in that please? It does look lovely and cooling, but hey!
Congrats on winning the joust! And great selection of ingredients for the next one…
Peter, kudos on the win! I know you earned it! You always inspire us.
I love iced tea with a few mint leaves in summertime.
And I’m trying your amygdolata (did I spell it right?) tonight. I love almonds; I’m excited!
Congratulations – and I love the ingredients you’ve chosen. Now if only I can rememebr to take part…! Also, lucky you with that summer weather. I’ll trade you a chocolate raspberry muffin for some sun – how about it?!
Congrats and YAY for your savory ingredients, I think I’ll join in the fun.
Lore, I now have some Sangria…want some?
Dhanngit, thanks ‘hun…it was an immense honour.
Gloria, gracias!
Jenn, the entries already pouring in the the dishes look fab!
Pam, I hope to see an entry from you.
Maryann, thanks for your cheerleading squad!
Holler, Grey Goose vodka do the trick for ya?
Thank you Panda…I hope you’ll submit a dish.
Marjie, the lemon vebena is similar to mint ice tea and thanks again!
Jeanne, you must enter the Joust…it’s a great challenge.
Lori Lynn, I’m delighted…your food rocks!
Congratulations on the big win!! :-)
And thanks for the ice tea too!
Congrats Peter! Nice going. Boy, do I wish I had a glass of that ice tea right about now, exactly as it is in the picture! :)