Super Bowl [TEA] Snacky!

By Danny on Feb 2 Filed In Austin, Texas, Food & Beverage, teasnacky Add a Comment

Super Bowl 46 is coming up this weekend, and if you are like me, I like to watch the game with a few friends, couple of teas, and most importantly, a great snack! I don’t just want popcorn from a bag or store bought chips. I need a new treat that will keep me going through the game to get me to the commercials. If you are in the same boat and don’t have any new ideas to please your crowd……

YOU’RE IN LUCK!

I’m going to share with you one of my favorite snack ideas that wil rock your house and fight D-fence against snack boredom! Plus, it pairs fantastically with an ice cold Sweet Leaf Tea.

SUPER kale chips BOWL!

This quick, cheap, easy, and healthy snack will keep you coming back for more! It’s full of great flavor, fiber, and takes 20 minutes from start to finish.

NOTE: This snack’s earthy taste goes great with our Original Sweet Leaf Tea!

{makes about 4 servings}

What you need:

- 2 bunches of Kale

- 1.5 tablespoon EVOO [Extra Virgin Olive Oil]

- Seasoned salt or sea salt

What you do:

1. Preheat oven to 325º F

2. Wash kale in warm water and dry, preferably in a salad spinner

3. Tear kale into chip sized pieces from the stem and place in a large mixing bowl

4. Add olive oil to kale and mix by hand until all leaves have been coated

5. Place on a non-insulated cookie sheet and sprinkle sea salt or seasoned salt over lightly (about 2 to 3 teaspoons)

6. Bake for 15 minutes or until edges are brown but not burnt

ENJOY!

If you have any great #TeaSnackys, let us know in the comment box below! We’d love to hear from you!

- @SweetLeafDanny

Sweet Leaf is headed EAST!

By Danny on Nov 10 Filed In Activities, Events, arts & crafts Add a Comment

In Austin there are many events throughout the year that capture your heart as being one of the great events that makes Austin what it is. ACL, Austin Film Festival, SXSW, and East Austin Studio Tour [EAST]. EAST is one of my favorite events Austin has to offer. Basically, starting this Friday through next Sunday, EAST is a city-wide open house for all the Austin Art Studios for you to see what these artists have been baking throughout the year!

Thanks to Big Medium for coordinating this event for 10 years and producing a eye catching catalog that presents a bird’s eye view of the city’s studios, so you can outline your path through the emerging studios and creative spaces of Texas.

Sweet Leaf Tea has been a part of EAST for a couple years now, and to continue this tradition, we’ll be supporting some of the BEST studios the east side has to offer! Check out the list below, see the sites, and grab a nice cold Sweet Leaf Tea!

- Super. Alright! – This creative agency is a hot spot for great installations and a guaranteed awesome time!

This opening party to kick off the EAST spirit in Friday at 8pm through 1pm. Click through the name for event details!

- Pump Project

The warehouse, with an infamous pump, houses over 30 artists producing art in all forms from jewelry to wall art to sculptures. This location truly has something for everyone! Open Saturdays and Sundays during EAST [November 12, 13, 19, 20]

- Big Medium – Being the “Brain Studio” of this event, this gallery will hold top talent in the art community and ALWAYS has wonderful installations that will make your turn your head and contemplate for minutes. Open Saturdays and Sundays during EAST [November 12, 13, 19, 20]

- Art Post

This old airplane hanger is called home by 20 + welders, sculptures, poster printers, wood workers, and more in a big community atmosphere. Be sure to stop in and wander around for a couple hours and check out the metal tree pictured above!! Open Saturdays and Sundays during EAST [November 12, 13, 19, 20]

- Obsolet e Industries

Billy Bishop, Obsolete Studios founder, travels the US going from Festival to music Festival, including ACL and Lollapalooza, producing QUALITY posters for Conan’s US tour, Sonic Youth, Pearl Jam, and many more! Be sure to hit this spot on Saturday and Sunday the 12th and 13th!

Personally, I love to get a group together, hop on a bike, and cruise the town in search of great art and a good time. One of my traditions is stopping in at Justine’s after a long days ride and settling down with a nice glass of wine and some steak frites! Ahhh, the life of Austin sophistication.

Come out and support local art!

-@Sweetleafdanny

Put a Fork in me, I’m Done! [TX Monthly BBQ Fest Recap]

By Danny on Nov 1 Filed In Austin, Texas, Events, Food & Beverage, Sweet Contests Add a Comment

Man! Sunday was a great day! BBQ, beer, Sweet Leaf Tea, and good music! How could it get any better?

It was a ton o’ fun! I grubbed till I couldn’t grub any more! We sampled Snow’s BBQ for the first time [DELISH] and met Tootsie [pitmaster] herself! She is the sweetest lady and a total hoot. She knows how to cook a MEAN piece of beef. Franklin’s BBQ was amazing per usual, we even got to snap a photo with him! [2011 BEST BRISKET winner]. Smitty’s, Opies, Lamberttttttttttgituuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu..

Sorry, passed out on my keyboard, every thing I tried was GRADE A. I’m still recovering from the mounds of BBQ I ate. Anyways, the whole Tea’m was out, we ate a ton of fantastic food, and had a great time doing it in true SLT fashion!

We were also, handing out the SWEET LEAF TEA Awards at the festival for serval different categories. Check out the photos and winner for this weekends festivities below!

- @SweetLeafDanny

: Franklin’s BBQ [Best Brisket!]

: Best Costume

: Best Line Etiquette

: Best Mushache

: Cowboy’ed Up

: Messiest Fingers

: Cleanest Plate

: Best Beard

: Slowest Eater

: Biggest Smile

: Best Manners

: Best Uniform

: Biggest Stain

: Best Family

ACL (in park) Food noms.

By Danny on Sep 12 Filed In ACL, Food & Beverage Add a Comment

We are on the count down… and my stomach is already growling. I already gave you top picks to eat on the way to the fest, but once you are in that musical jungle, where are you going to forage for berries, dig up your root vegetables, and hunt for your protein (Barton Springs Salamander sandwich?)

Luckily the good folks at ACL have not let you down this year. Crawl your way up the the Austin Eats food court and try not to spook the workers, and they’ll serve you up some true Austin grubbage!

Click here for the whole list, but see below for my top 3 choices! [Other than SLT of course ]

Odd Duck Farm to Trailer!

With local product leading their force, they’ll be serving up Pork Belly Sliders and BACON wrapped sweet peppers w Goat cheese (OMG). If that won’t make you hurt yourself, I don’t know what will.

Olivia

This friend chicken got me through ACL last year! Honey Butter Chicken…It’ll make you ask for a heart attack. Amazing. Put this on your must eat list.

The Mighty Cone

No need explaining what makes this friend chicken and avocado wrap with spicy coleslaw amazing. Eat it and be happy.

SweetLeafDanny’s Top Pick for ACL!

By Danny on Sep 9 Filed In ACL, Live Music Add a Comment

ACL is ONE WEEK AWAY! OMG! Then, I realized I’ve been so busy prepping that I haven’t written my top pick for the festival. Frantically, I scanned the line-up and LOW-AND-BEHOLD I found them!

TELEKINESIS!

I discovered this band at SXSW 3 years ago to the Austinist SXSW party. They were one of the opening bands that played before Kevin Devine (Personal Favorite). So I got there early and starting listening, and they caught my eye right off the bat. One thing that I was super impressed with, was the lead singer (Telekinesis! founder and brainchild, Michael Lerner) plays the drums while singing. It’s AH-mazing. I’ve seen them play SXSW a couple of time now and they have 2 albums and one EP out. They are all top notch records! BONUS they play at the Google + stage on Saturday at 11:45am! See them. It’s a great band to start your day!