For the Love of Coffee

 Ice Coffee from a French Press and cold brewed is my companion some most afternoons.  Last week I shared a printable expressing my love for coffee.  You can check it out here.  I was surprised at the number of requests for my recipe for French press cold brewed Ice Coffee this past week. So for the love of coffee I have snapped a few photos during the making of this last batch to share the process/recipe with my fellow coffee addicts enthusiasts.  So without further adieu,

I give you the the Nectar of the Gods...

 

Mexican Ice Coffee

We grind coffee in our kitchen.  For this cold brew Ice Coffee I am looking for a coarse grind in the coffee.

I/3 cup coarse ground coffee beans, 1 Tablespoon brown sugar, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon and 1 whole clove go into the bottom of my French Press.  Fill with cold water, cover and put in fridge overnight or for 12 hours.

Take the French Press out of fridge, plunge the plunger to press grounds to bottom.  Fill mug with ice cubes, yes I freeze leftover coffee so my Ice Coffee will not be diluted with water. 

Now we must make our sweet cream.  Combine one can of evaporated milk with one can of sweetened condensed milk.  Set the Sweet Cream mixture a side for use with future Ice Coffee Mugs.
 

Combine 1/4 cup of our just made Sweet Cream with chocolate syrup.

chocolate flavored sweet cream mix
I reduce some calories by cutting with milk mixed in after my first cup at "full" sweet cream.

Add French Brewed coffee over ice cubes to about 1/2 full of your mug.  Top with Chocolate flavored Sweet Cream you just made to fill your mug to the top.

 

Nectar of the Gods....

I WILL DRINK YOU UNDER THE TABLE

Ahhh, summer time dreaming.  Frosty endless mugs of ice coffee.  Or steaming mugs of hot coffee.  I promise you this, "I will drink you under the table."  I love coffee : )

Click and Print

Give me a french press for some cold brewed iced coffee and the sunshine to justify the refreshing brew and I will drink you under the table.  Of course, the same holds true with my morning hot brew coffee from a favorite mug.  Have I told you I love coffee?

 



God made rainy days so Gardeners could get the Housework Done

I have a serious case of the Mondays today.  Rain showers and "gasp" snow showers?  Whew, thankfully north of us. Nonetheless, I need to bring in some garden plants just purchased from the local farmer's market with the heavy frost prediction for us tonight.  This Gardeners Quote has made me smile more than once.  

Click and Print

I think I will print this quote and hang it in my entry with a few sunny flowers to remind me I need the rain, even on a Monday : )



Spring arrives in CNY

Biscuit Donuts

Childhood memories of my Mom making these for us make me smile.  I cannot resist the warm, cinnamon sugar coated Biscuit Donuts.  Mmmmm...

 

All that warm goodness starts with a tube of refrigerator buttermilk biscuits.

Punch a hole in center of each biscuit with your finger, heat oil in pan and add to donut to hot oil pan to fry.



Turn over to cook other side.  Drain on paper towels.

 

Coat in cinnamon sugar mixed together.

Sigh ; )  Mmmmmm.... Biscuit Donuts.  Thanks Mom

Soy Wood Wick Candles

It's a winter roaring fireplace or the summer open campfire sound effects that are packed into the convenience of this Soy Wood Wick Candle.  The Soy Wood Wick Candle has the subtle sounds of snap, crackle, hiss and the aroma of a well scented soy wax candle combined to make this candle irresistible.  It rivals a log fire as one of my all season favorites.

All the candles I make are made with soy wax because it is user friendly.  It's me being earth friendly green.  No soot to speak of when burned and super easy clean up with warm water and dish soap.  I love soy wax : )

To make a soy wax wood wick candle of your own gather the following:

 containers (I used a mason jar in photo)

*wax primed wood wicks (search candle wax suppliers for wood wicks)

*wax primed wood wick is a wood wick that has been dipped into you hot wax to coat and has been cooled. 

soy wax chips ( I used 6 ounces)

color dye chips ( soy wax produces muted tones not jewel tones)

fragrance oils

hot glue gun

thermometer

 

Directions:

• Clean your candle container. 
• Heat the container on a tray in the oven to 150 degrees Fahrenheit.  Pouring hot wax into a cold glass container may crack the container. 
• Heat your soy wax chips in the microwave to 185 degrees Fahrenheit
• While your soy wax chips heat, use a glue gun to adhere your wood wick to bottom of container.
• Add wax color chips to the melted soy wax and stir in well. 
•  Allow soy wax to cool to 110 degrees or lower before adding fragrance oil of your choice.  I used apple and balsam.  Too hot of  soy wax may evaporate your fragrance oil.  Stir fragrance into melted soy wax to evenly distribute.
• Slowly pour the soy wax into the container.
• Allow to cool and cure for 48 hours before using. 

Remember to keep wick trimmed to 1/8".    Burn only on a stable heat resistant surface. Keep from drafts. Do not burn candle when wax is less than 1/2 inch from bottom. Do not burn for more than 2 hours at a time. Do not touch or move candle while burning, or if wax is hot. Never leave candle burning unattended. Keep out of reach of children.

• Getting a Soy Wood Wick to light can take patience the first couple of times.  It is not unusual for it to take 3-4 attempts to light.



My Soy Wood Wick Candle looks inviting with it's slightly larger flame, smells soothing and the subtle snaps and crackles are what it is all about with a wood wick!