A Nice Cuppa

Until last summer I had never been much of a fan of iced coffee. The coldness muted the subtle flavors in the coffee while accentuating the bitterness. By the time I’d get to the bottom of the glass, melted ice created a watery mess that barely resembled coffee. What was the point? I’d sweat through […]

Although the winter months are nearly over, there’s still time to relish that cozy, keep-warm feeling, and what better way than to put together this quick and easy centerpiece that was featured in a recent issue of Every Day with Rachael Ray?
Designer Mark Brunetz, from The Style Network’s show Clean House, used juice glasses and orange votive […]

I visited an exhibit at the Penn Museum recently called “River of Gold” about a pre-Colombian society that lived by a golden-laden river. I believe I have discovered a modern day river of gold: drinkable pumpkin pie.
I’m having trouble deciding on a name for this delightfully golden and incredibly healthy beverage. Liquid Pie? Fall-in-a-Mug? Hot […]

Once upon a time I received a Starbucks gift card and I used it diligently to purchase Grande White Chocolate Mochas and Venti Cinnamon Dolce lattes until the balance reached zero and I tossed it out. Unfortunately a few weeks later I received a note from Starbucks stating that they had added $5 to my […]

I just recently learned how to roast coffee beans. I have taken a job at a local coffee shop called Dunn Bros. The company is franchised in the States, and ranks very high in customer satisfaction, the main reason being that their coffees are all roasted on site for maximum freshness. It truly makes a […]

I may have found a new hobby. While thumbing through my copy of You Grow Girl the other day I came across Gayla Trail’s section that details the steps involved in making your very own Tea Garden. Since my mini herb gardens have managed to stay alive this summer I think I might […]

Last week’s Dining In/Dining Out section of the New York Times featured a short and sweet article about iced coffee. Turns out you can brew coffee cold. Who knew? Cindy Price writes that “without the bitterness produced by hot water, the cold-brewed coffee had hints of chocolate, even caramel.” And who […]

It was a summer afternoon when I was out on my bike in the hip town next to mine with a chai-fiend friend. I was really, really overwarm. I asked for a chai at the hip coffee shop and a very hip-looking man gave it to me. Looking back, he was probably […]

I recently came into acquisition of this unique little espresso maker through my stepmother. She works in a church thrift store in Florida in the winter, saw this and immediately thought of me. She also keeps her eyes open for antique style china coffee cups and saucers, as she knows I am fond of collecting […]

When I discovered a recipe underneath the box lid of my Chocolate Caramel Enchantment tea, I realized there was a treasure trove waiting to be found. A quick search for “cooking with tea” led me to several excellent sites. The Cat-Tea Corner website is a good set of guidelines for those just starting out. Celestial Seasonings, […]