Showing posts with label coffee. Show all posts
Showing posts with label coffee. Show all posts
Mar 20, 2013
A couple things about me – I love a good coffee. I’m not a coffee snob, I embrace what I like and experiment with things I don’t know. I worked retail for a while in a mall with a Starbucks and it was there I developed a costly addiction to Starbucks coffee.
Not really an addiction – it was just part of my routine and habit. See, the mall opened its public doors at 8am (let’s say) but the stores opened normally at 9am. Retail workers were there at 8:30am to get everything set up before the doors opened so there was this feeling of comradery and calm between 8am-9am where only retail workers and some mall walkers were around.
And the Starbucks was open.
I liked the guys that worked there – I actually had a crush on this one guy. Since I worked across from the Starbucks, I could see him and there was a playful competition as to who could win his affections between the girls I worked with. I didn't win.
I started digging the flavored coffee and that big sugar cookie they had. Sometimes they had different shapes – like flower for spring – but it was always this awesome sugar cookie. I loved the lemon or whatever with the taste of the coffee.
I did end up really cutting back when I did the math and found out I was spending a couple hundred dollars a year on coffee. I also gave up everything but a tall, regular coffee for lent one year and then I sort of never went back to the other stuff.
Fast Forward
When my sickness began winning more than the medical industry’s denial that anything was wrong with me, my big weekly outing was going to the local Starbucks for a sugar free Vanilla latte. It was the one thing I could look forward to, plan around and pretend like I was a normal person.
Getting myself together and remembering how to get to the Starbucks was pretty exhausting. I would have to take a couple naps afterwards. But, it was a victory. Always a victory. Again, the guys at the local Starbucks were pretty cool and even asked me about my PICC line and treatments once they got use to seeing me and weren't afraid to ask me questions.
Fast Forward Again
With all my medical expenses and general loathing of moving, I did actual miss my coffee. It can be expensive to get a raspberry latte every day. Or almond. Normally when I buy a flavored coffee I pretty much regret it and then I am stuck with a pound of some type of over-sweet coffee.
Solution? Season your own coffee with blends of cocoa, cinnamon, nutmeg or whatever flavors you like. This doesn't just go for coffee – use these extracts in hot chocolate, tea, lemonade or your favorite mixed drink. You can even add them to salad dressings and meats if you are adventurous.
Play around with flavors you like.
Here are the items I use:
Trader Joe's Grinders
I get a lot a TJs, and, these grinders made getting a sweet fix easy. I have a feeling that these grinders are available only during the holiday season - as in the fall and winter rather than all year long.
However, once you know how to make this stuff, you can buy the ingredients.
This stuff is a perfect blend of sugar and flavor. For example, that cinnamon-sugar grinder makes your coffee taste like a snickerdoodle.
This means, I don’t feel the need to eat a bunch of snickerdoodles. I still will, might I add. I just don't don't feel the need to eat them. Or I just eat donuts. And basically everything. I really commit to gaining those 5lbs during the winter.
Essential Cane Sugars
Essential Cane makes a line of flavored sugars that are quite good. I do know how to make my own flavored sugar, but, it can take a while.
Patient I am not.
Try a little raspberry sugar or even habanera to give your coffee a kick. If you make lemonade, add a little blueberry. I actually make sugar cookies and spice them up with this sugar.
Extracts
Good olde fashion extracts are another way to go, you just have to be careful because they can be very strong, contain alcohol and be less sweet than what you think. An extract is the pure flavor without anything else.
Translations: It's strong. I dare you to drink directly from a extract bottle.
You can get fake extracts or pure ones depending on your personal beliefs and tastes. Most people who have ever baked have at least a vanilla extract hanging around. They can be expensive so you might as well use them in your beverages. And pancakes.
Anyhow, with the right balance of sugar, a nice almond or mint extract can be delicious. Not for me. I hate mint. Almond I am all for.
Be Part of the Adventure
Do you have a suggestion or want to see me attempt something? Drop me an email at AdventuringAmanda@gmail.com with your suggestion.
Not really an addiction – it was just part of my routine and habit. See, the mall opened its public doors at 8am (let’s say) but the stores opened normally at 9am. Retail workers were there at 8:30am to get everything set up before the doors opened so there was this feeling of comradery and calm between 8am-9am where only retail workers and some mall walkers were around.And the Starbucks was open.
I liked the guys that worked there – I actually had a crush on this one guy. Since I worked across from the Starbucks, I could see him and there was a playful competition as to who could win his affections between the girls I worked with. I didn't win.
I started digging the flavored coffee and that big sugar cookie they had. Sometimes they had different shapes – like flower for spring – but it was always this awesome sugar cookie. I loved the lemon or whatever with the taste of the coffee.
I did end up really cutting back when I did the math and found out I was spending a couple hundred dollars a year on coffee. I also gave up everything but a tall, regular coffee for lent one year and then I sort of never went back to the other stuff.
Fast Forward
When my sickness began winning more than the medical industry’s denial that anything was wrong with me, my big weekly outing was going to the local Starbucks for a sugar free Vanilla latte. It was the one thing I could look forward to, plan around and pretend like I was a normal person.
Getting myself together and remembering how to get to the Starbucks was pretty exhausting. I would have to take a couple naps afterwards. But, it was a victory. Always a victory. Again, the guys at the local Starbucks were pretty cool and even asked me about my PICC line and treatments once they got use to seeing me and weren't afraid to ask me questions.
Fast Forward Again
With all my medical expenses and general loathing of moving, I did actual miss my coffee. It can be expensive to get a raspberry latte every day. Or almond. Normally when I buy a flavored coffee I pretty much regret it and then I am stuck with a pound of some type of over-sweet coffee.
Solution? Season your own coffee with blends of cocoa, cinnamon, nutmeg or whatever flavors you like. This doesn't just go for coffee – use these extracts in hot chocolate, tea, lemonade or your favorite mixed drink. You can even add them to salad dressings and meats if you are adventurous.
Play around with flavors you like.
Here are the items I use:
Trader Joe's Grinders
 |
| I tell people this is pepper |
However, once you know how to make this stuff, you can buy the ingredients.
This stuff is a perfect blend of sugar and flavor. For example, that cinnamon-sugar grinder makes your coffee taste like a snickerdoodle.
This means, I don’t feel the need to eat a bunch of snickerdoodles. I still will, might I add. I just don't don't feel the need to eat them. Or I just eat donuts. And basically everything. I really commit to gaining those 5lbs during the winter.
 |
| No sugar in Pixi Stix, either |
Essential Cane makes a line of flavored sugars that are quite good. I do know how to make my own flavored sugar, but, it can take a while.
Patient I am not.
Try a little raspberry sugar or even habanera to give your coffee a kick. If you make lemonade, add a little blueberry. I actually make sugar cookies and spice them up with this sugar.
Extracts
Good olde fashion extracts are another way to go, you just have to be careful because they can be very strong, contain alcohol and be less sweet than what you think. An extract is the pure flavor without anything else.
Translations: It's strong. I dare you to drink directly from a extract bottle.
You can get fake extracts or pure ones depending on your personal beliefs and tastes. Most people who have ever baked have at least a vanilla extract hanging around. They can be expensive so you might as well use them in your beverages. And pancakes.
Anyhow, with the right balance of sugar, a nice almond or mint extract can be delicious. Not for me. I hate mint. Almond I am all for.
Be Part of the Adventure
Do you have a suggestion or want to see me attempt something? Drop me an email at AdventuringAmanda@gmail.com with your suggestion.
Mar 4, 2013
Mission Level
Using the PressI really wanted to get into the French press of making coffee because, well, really, I have no reason. I think it worked out when I didn’t like the coffee at work and I could brew my own with this fascinating piece of equipment.
It works pretty simple, you pull up the plunger, put in your coffee, put in the water, wait and then push the grounds down and pour.
Get a good quality coffee and grind your coffee with a nice grinder for the best results. For a French press you want larger particles of ground coffee. This is why on ground coffee bags it will say things like “For drip coffee” or “for espresso” or “French press.” The size of the coffee particles is key in making a good coffee. You can also purchace the coffee.
Here is the best step-by-step I ever found – which I cannot take credit for. Mark Prince – the friendly Canadian photographer came up with it.
Final Thoughts
I don't use my French press as much as I use to, it is a special treat. I enjoy the coffee where I work so the last times I used my press when I was working from home at my old job. I have actually not used my press since my doctor passed away in November 16, 2010.
Image Credit
French Press from ign.com
Other from theblaze.co
 |
| Not this type of press |
Success!
French Press Coffee
When you are sick for any period of time and you eat certain foods during this time, it is more then likely you will be unable to eat that food again because it will remind you of how you felt.
When you are sick for any period of time and you eat certain foods during this time, it is more then likely you will be unable to eat that food again because it will remind you of how you felt.
I believe this is because things like sound and smell are deeply places in our brains. It’s why when you hear a song from your first school dance or during a very sad time, you can remember it very well. For example, the smell of car exhaust reminds me of ice cream because when I was growing up, in the summer, my Dad would take us to get ice cream in his 1969 Mustang.
I use to say that I escaped my sickness unscathed by these sick -food demons, that is untrue. I found I avoid:
- Peanut butter protein bars: These were a staple of my at-deaths-door diet.
- Ham and potato casserole: Can’t do it. Can’t even think about it. Don’t even like a ham omelets next to hash browns.
- Water from my parents’ bathroom: I’ve been getting better with it, quite honestly. However, I do not live with my parents anymore.
- Oreos: I never liked chocolate and because of this, I ate Oreos every time I had to take a medication with food that I knew was going to incapacitate me.
Oddly enough, there are foods I have had horrible experiences with that I still can chow down with:
- Banana: Taste the same going down as they do coming up.
- Ice cream: Once, it was all I could eat. I would eat this if I knew I was going to be puking because a good quality ice cream tastes the same going in and coming out.
- Meat: If you think you are going to be sick, don’t eat meat. I have and I still eat meat.
- Coffee: Staple.
 |
| A real French press |
Not the caffeine addicted omg-I-luz-DD type love - an appreciation of the science and chemisty behind brewing a fine French Roast. I enjoy a mellow breakfast blend on the weekends but a darker roast during the week. This is the type of coffee you don’t find in Dunkin’ Donuts or Wawa. Sometimes you might find the grounds, but, certainly not the right way to make it.
Also, don’t put your coffee in the freezer or fridge. It’s not good for it.
It works pretty simple, you pull up the plunger, put in your coffee, put in the water, wait and then push the grounds down and pour.
Get a good quality coffee and grind your coffee with a nice grinder for the best results. For a French press you want larger particles of ground coffee. This is why on ground coffee bags it will say things like “For drip coffee” or “for espresso” or “French press.” The size of the coffee particles is key in making a good coffee. You can also purchace the coffee.
Here is the best step-by-step I ever found – which I cannot take credit for. Mark Prince – the friendly Canadian photographer came up with it.
 |
| Proper Instructions |
I don't use my French press as much as I use to, it is a special treat. I enjoy the coffee where I work so the last times I used my press when I was working from home at my old job. I have actually not used my press since my doctor passed away in November 16, 2010.
Be Part of the Adventure
Do you have a suggestion or want to see me attempt something? Drop me an email at AdventuringAmanda@gmail.com with your suggestion.
French Press from ign.com
Other from theblaze.co
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
