Current Coffee Concoction (4)

My latest current coffee concoction isn't mine at all. Thanks to the author of the Coffeehouse Mystery, Cleo Coyle (pen name for Alice Alfonsi), we can now all enjoy a Starbucks frappe without paying $5 each time! I've made this myself and can tell you it is fabulous! Below is the recipe for Cleo's Copycat Frappuccino a.k.a. Chilly Cleoccino. Click here for the original posting and a chance to win a free latte cup and saucer. Enjoy!



Photo and recipe from Mystery Lover's Kitchen Blog:

Serves: This recipe will make one 8-ounce serving.
For a larger drink, or to serve more people, you can easily double,
triple, or quadruple it.

Ingredients:

1/3 cup coffee (makes about 4 coffee ice cubes)

1/3 cup milk (low fat is fine)

2 teaspoons sugar (more if you like sweeter drinks)

1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/4 teaspoon unsweetened cocoa powder
whipped cream (optional)

Fill an ice cube tray with leftover coffee. Freeze the tray. Remove four coffee ice cubes (per 8-ounce serving) and place in blender. Add milk, sugar, vanilla, and (optional) cocoa for a chocolate frappé. Pulse the blender to chop the coffee ice cubes into fine particles.

You can create an icy drink with very small ice chips (like a frozen margarita) or you can run the blender full speed until the mixture is completely liquefied yet still cold and frothy. The drink is delicious either way and a great use of your leftover Joe. To finish, pour this frozen refresher into a glass mug, top with whipped cream, and…

Drink with joy!

Current Coffee Concoction (3)

Summer has officially arrived here in Colorado. Though it felt summer began back in May-we pretty much skipped Spring. Got to love Colorado weather! Anyways...

Because, on average, the daily temperature hovers between 95-99 degrees, I find that drinking hot coffee is torture. Therefore, I drink iced coffee. My current drink of choice is homemade iced coffee. I make a large, dark/strong pot of coffee and pour it in a pitcher. The reason I make mine strong is because when ice cubes are added, it'll water it down a bit. I add some sugar while it's warm so it dissolves better. Then I keep the pitcher in the fridge for easy access when I feel like an iced coffee. It's that easy!

When I feel like a cold coffee, I pull out the pitcher, pour some in a cup with ice, and add some cream! No cream? No problem. Add milk or ice cream. For an extra special treat I like to add chocolate syrup. Hmmmm. Delicious! Don't have chocolate syrup? Add some cocoa powder and a little extra sugar. Not a chocolate fan? Add some vanilla and sugar or a dash of cinnamon.

Hope you enjoy this latest tip. Grab an iced coffee, a book, sit on the back porch, and ENJOY!

Current Coffee Concoction (2)

Here in Colorado, it's beginning to get warm. Thank goodness-I've been praying for warm weather! The cold and I are not real close friends. :) So...since it's getting warm, let the drinking of cold beverages begin!

Although Chai (rhymes with fly) is not technically coffee, I LOVE it! Chai tea is basically a spiced tea. Some place have really spicy Chai and others have a smooth Chai. The amount of milk you add to the Chai will also determine how spicy your drink is. This drink can be consumed in the form of an herbal tea, a latte form, or a frozen drink. Personally, I enjoy iced Chai lattes with a touch of vanilla and occasionally I'll splurge and get a frozen/blended Chai.

The nice thing about Chai? You can buy it at the store and make it at home...quickly! It takes almost no time to make an iced Chai at home-just pour half Chai (I do less to stretch the Chai), half milk (using Half & Half cream or Soy makes it amazing!!!), and some ice cubes and there you have it!

Enjoy!

Current Coffee Concoction

Every so often I will be posting my Current Coffee Concoction. This may come in the form of my current favorite drink or tips and tricks relating to all things coffee! After all, the only thing missing from a good book is a good cup of coffee!

As of now-I say now because I like to change my coffee drinks randomly, without notice-I am enjoying a coconut breva (pronounced brev-ay). This drink is something I find myself going back to often. It consists of espresso (as in a latte) but instead of ordinary milk, a breva uses half & half cream. With a touch of coconut flavoring, this drink is simply heavenly. It's smooth and creamy, which helps distract from the increase of calories by using cream instead of milk. :)

To enjoy this drink, you most likely have to go to a smaller, more locally owned coffee shop in order to get coconut flavoring (at least that is my experience). Certain large chain/franchised coffee shops do not carry this flavoring. Of course, substituting other flavors such as vanilla or hazelnut taste just as good and can be found at just about any coffee shop! Enjoy!