LatiDoe at Onsen For All Spa

Photo credit: Onsenforall.com 

Yesterday I visited Onsen For All Spa located in Kingston NJ. They were kind enough to invite me in, give me a tour of the beautifully renovated building, and feature some of my work in their boutique! If you are in need of some relaxation -- be it a hot water soak, aromatherapy massage, or meditation, Onsen will do the job. 

Onsen offers a ton of great services in a friendly, comfortable and calm setting. I especially love the interior (and exterior) designs of the building -- the bamboo plants being one of my favorite touches. The meditation room is also a plus -- the shop owners said themselves they never want to rush their customers out of a place meant for relaxation and reflection. 

I definately want to return sometime soon for a Restorative Yoga Workshop or a Hot Water Soak in the zen garden. 

LatiDoe Items at Onsen For All: 

Beautiful Bamboo soaks and Saunas in Onsens Japanes style Zen Garden: 

Photo credit: Onsenforall.com

Photo credit: Onsenforall.com

YUM: Blue (whale) Berry Pie

The other day I had to drop off a tea pot set to a women who had put it on hold at the art show. She thanked me with a bundle of corn, blueberries and tomatoes fresh from the farmers market in New Brunswick. Raw blueberries aren't my favorite...so I turned them into a pie. It was pretty, YUM, and simple to make. I used Jiffy pie crust mix from a box -- so all I needed to do was add water and roll into dough.

(Recipe adapted from ASHESP on allrecipes.com)

Ingredients

3/4 c. white sugar

3 tbs. cornstarch

1/4 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

4 c. fresh blueberries

1 recipe pastry for a 9" double crust pie

1 tbs. butter

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Directions

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F

2. Mix sugar, cornstarch, salt, and cinnamon and sprinkle over blueberries.

3. Line pie dish with one pie crust. Pour berry mixture into the crust and dot with butter. 

4. Cut remaining pastry into 1/2-3/4 inch wide strips and make lattice top. Crimp and flute edges. (Or roll flat and cut out shapes with cookie cutters instead).

5. Bake pie on lower shelf of oven for about 50 minutes or until crust is golden brown.

The Fluff Floral Collection

My newest Etsy addition. Add some color and curiosity to your ravishing curls, luscious locks, or whispy waves.

Shop @ etsy.com/shop/latidoe

Recipe: Coconut Cream Pie

My tried and true, favorite coconut cream pie recipe:

Old Fashioned Coconut Cream Pie

By Carol H. on allrecipes.com

You will need:

1 c. sweetened flaked coconut

3 c. half-and-half

2 eggs, beaten

3/4 c. white sugar

1/2 c. all-purpose flour

1/4 tsp. salt

1 tsp. vanilla extract

1 (9 in.) pie shell, baked 

I c. frozen whipped topping, thawed

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

2. Spread the coconut on a baking sheet and bake it, stirring occasionally, until golden brown, about 5 minutes.

3. In a medium saucepan, combine the half-and-half, eggs, sugar, flour and salt and mix well. Bring to a boil over low heat, stirring constantly. Remove the pan from the heat, and stir in 3/4 cup of the toasted coconut and the vanilla extract. Reserve the remaining coconut to top the pie.

4. Pour the filling into the pie shell and chill until firm, about 4 hours.

5. Top with whipped topping and with the reserved coconut.

Enjoy

** I normally pour the whole cup of coconut into the custard mix and make extra to sprinkle on top. Just to make it more coconutty.