Showing posts with label coffee. Show all posts
Showing posts with label coffee. Show all posts
Monday, February 27, 2012
We made it!
Howdy!
Sorry, I had to. It's only fitting now that we are living in Texas, right?
The good news is - we made it!! It was a long and stressful process - moving day was less than stellar and the bronchitis that I have been fighting for the last month didn't make it any easier. BUT! We are here now and everything has been going well (in the last 48 hours that is). We are all set up in our temporary housing and are anxiously waiting to close on the house we put an offer on the last time we were in Houston. Only a few more things on our To-Do list (OK that's a lie, there are definitely more than a few) and we will be all settled in!
The first item on our agenda once we got to Houston (and got a good nights sleep)? BREAKFAST! We were in desperate need of a good, solid American style breakfast. I'm talking french toast, waffles, American style breakfast sausage, bottomless filter coffee - the works. We did a quick google search and all reviews pointed us in the direction of The Breakfast Klub in the Fourth Ward. The reviews warned of long lines so we high tailed it there as soon as we were conscious on Sunday morning. We managed to get there right before the rush, and in no time had hot coffee in our hands and these plates of deliciousness in front of us -
We were more than satisfied with our Texas French Toast and Pecan Waffles - it was basically heaven on a plate (or, three plates if you want to get technical). The Breakfast Kulb is also known for their Wings and Waffles and Catfish and Grits breakfast plates - which we will surely be back to sample soon!
By the time we managed to roll our full bellies out of there the line was wrapped around the front of the restaurant! It was well worth the hustle to get down here nice and early.
I'm looking forward to discovering a whole new type of cooking down here in Texas. The first place I am going to start is with the markets. Houston has a wide variety of weekly farmers markets that I am anxious to take part in. I can't wait to see what kind of season goodies they have to offer here - I bet it's a world of difference compared to what is offered at the London farmers markets in February!
Sunday, December 11, 2011
Weekend Wrap-up
In case you missed it, here's what I've been up to!
Winter Warming Drink - Irish Coffee
For those cold winter days when regular coffee just isn't enough! This is guaranteed to warm you up from the inside!
Look at my belly!
Week 17 - my belly have officially popped! I say that now...I'm sure I'll be saying it again as I get bigger and bigger! Also, check out my NEW Week by Week page to see my belly grow from 15 to 40 weeks!
Gingerbread Cupcakes
I made these awesome Gingerbread Cupcakes by La Casa De Sweets after I saw her post on Twitter. Every Christmas season I become obsessed with all things gingerbread, and have had an even stronger obsession with them this year (maybe the baby loves all those yummy spices!). I brought them to work this week and they all disappeared!
Cute Kid Alert!
I am continuing my photo project that I started back in September of exploring childrens and baby photography. I have had a blast so far and I am learning A LOT! I had a photo session a couple of weeks ago with these two cuties - and the sun actually came out for once! Which means we were able to get some great shots. How much cuter could they get?!
Pregnancy Pains
Sure, you read and hear about all the normal aches and pains that are associated with pregnancy, but what about those that you DON'T hear about?? Check out what pain in the...belly...threw me for a loop! While you're there, share you own weird pregnancy pain story with us!
Bacon Caramels
Oh yeah...you read that right! I wanted to make an extra special birthday gift for one of my closest friends here in London, Adrienne, and I knew these would do the trick! Chewy, sweet caramel married with crispy, salty bacon. How could it get any better?! A big thanks to Not without Salt for the recipe - go on over to her site and check it out!
I hope you all had a great week and are gearing up for the holidays! In one week we will be off on our Christmas market adventure (more details on that coming up this week). What do you have planned for the holidays?
Monday, December 05, 2011
Winter Warming Drink - Irish Coffee
I don't know about you, but around these parts winter has landed. Sure, we will have the odd day here and there where it gets up to 50*F (for ten minutes at 2pm in the afternoon, if the sun is out). But mostly the temperatures are hovering in the single digits (Celsius that is) during the morning and evening commutes, and the wind has reared its ugly head knocking those temps even further down.
What better way to warm up from the cold than a classic winter warmer. Some of my favorites include hot cider, mulled wine and even classic hot chocolate (with as many marshmallows as I can fit in that glass). But for today, I thought I would kick it up a notch and share a boozy winter warmer - Irish Coffee.
I have had my fair share of Irish Coffees (some better than others), but the best one that I have ever had was in the mother land herself - Ireland - at the Jameson Distillery. Last February when we went to Dublin for Brians birthday the girls ordered hot chocolate with Jameson and the boys ordered Irish Coffees. Lets just say the boys won big time.
The taste of Jameson is front and center but manages not to be overpowering. And this is coming from a girl who does NOT like Jameson at all. Like, not even a little bit. But this, this was pure heaven. The rich, bitter coffee was perfectly balanced by the spicy Jameson and topped with thick layer of cream.
We were recently back in Dublin and made another trip to the distillery to share the joy of Jameson Irish Coffee with our friends who were in town. Although I had to sit this round out (that's twice now that I haven't had my own mug of this amazing drink!) I managed to steal a drink from Brians mug. I'm sure this baby will have a taste for Irish Coffee when he/she grows up ;)
Jameson Distillery Irish Coffee
This drinks works best if you have a glass Irish Coffee mug, but if you don't have those hanging about then feel free to use another favorite mug or heat proof glass (for the best results use a glass so you can see the pretty layers). These measurements are straight from the distillery but can be adjusted to suit your taste!
2 oz Jameson Irish Whiskey
2 tsp brown sugar
Fresh brewed strong black coffee
Heavy whipping cream
- In a warm mug add 2 tsp brown sugar (one heaping teaspoon will be fine, no need to measure exactly). Add a measure (2 ounces) of Jameson Irish Whisky and stir briefly to melt the sugar. Fill the mug 3/4 of the way full with hot, black coffee.
- Carefully pour a thick layer of heavy whipping cream on top of the coffee. You will have to pour this slowly to make sure that the coffee and the cream don't mix together. To get the best tasting Irish Coffee the coffee and whisky mixture should pass through the cream layer on the way into your belly - so don't even think about taking a spoon and mixing everything together!
Drink and watch the cold melt away!
Tuesday, August 09, 2011
A love letter to my Nespresso machine (and a recipe for biscotti)
My darling Nespresso,
When we were first introduced I was really quite hesitant. You seemed so phony and unsophisticated (trust me, this letter gets better). How could you give me what I really needed, how did I know what you had to offer was real?
I had been hurt in the past. My previous commitment had left me luke-warm and flaky. My only other option was to turn to the evil Big Daddy down the street. He was inconsistent and dark, too dark for me but I had no place else to go.
So when you came into my life, all vintage-y cream and silver like, thinking that you were all that and a bag of chips, I was hesitant. You were so suave and said I could call you anytime and you would be there for me overnight. How could I believe that you could fully commit yourself to me so quickly.
But then. Oh, but then. You offered yourself to me in perfect portions, and you let me decide how much I wanted each day. Your milk, so smooth (or frothy, depending on what I wanted). I could have you hot, I could have you cold. You left it in my hands.
I could decide how strong I wanted you every day. Sometimes I like it when you're a little weak, sometimes I like it when you're strong. But no matter what I do to you, your performance is always flawless. And for that, I love you.
Forever yours,
Tracy
Disclaimer: this is NOT an advertisement. Nespresso has no idea who I am and I'm pretty sure they never will. I just have an unnatural attachment to my coffee machine and I had to tell the whole world (or the 20 people that read this thing). the end.
Almond Biscotti
Inspired by Food Blogga
1 cup of whole plain almonds (unsalted)
1 cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar
1/4 tsp cinnamon
2 tsp baking powder
3 - 3 1/2 cups flour
3 medium eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract (go on, use the good stuff!)
1 tsp orange flower water*
- Preheat oven to 350*F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. In a small bowl lightly beat one egg and set aside. In a dry pan, tip in the almonds into a single layer and roast over low heat until fragrant, about 10 minutes. This is a simple step but please don't overlook it! It really enhances the flavor of the almonds and gives them some depth.
- In a large bowl combine the toasted almonds, sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon, baking powder and 3 cups of flour.
- In a medium bowl whisk together the eggs, vanilla and orange blossom extract until combined. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and stir together. You may need to get in there with your hands at the end to get it to form into dough. Add remaining 1/2 cup of flour if needed, the dough should be sticky but you should be able to form it into a ball without falling into pieces.
- Divide the dough into two pieces and form each piece into a log, approximately 3" x 12" and brush the tops with the egg wash that was previously prepared. If you want smaller pieces of biscotti, break the dough into three or even four pieces and use two baking sheets.
- Bake in the over for 35-40 minutes until the tops are golden on top and are set all the way through. The dough should still be slightly soft in the middle. Cool on a wire rack until they are cool enough to handle. One loaf at a time, move to a cutting board and slice with a serrated knife on an angle (if you want to be fancy). Make sure you slice while the loaves are still warm, but cool enough to touch.
- Take the sliced pieces and lay out on their sides onto two baking sheets, be careful not to cram too many on to one sheet! Turn off the oven and put the sheets back in for 40-60 minutes. The longer you leave the biscotti in the warm oven the crisper they will become! I left mine in there for over an hour (oops!) and they are perfectly crunchy - though you definitely need a cup of coffee to enjoy them at their best! I suggest leaving them in there for 30-40 minutes if you like a slightly softer biscotti.
Notes:
- If you want to get fancy, melt some chocolate in the microwave in 30 second bursts until smooth and drizzle over the cooled, sliced biscotti. Or dunk the biscotti in the chocolate to get more of the sweet stuff and leave to dry on parchment paper.
- If you don't have or can't find Orange Flower Water you can use almond or orange extract, use slightly less depending on how concentrated they are. Otherwise, you can omit this completely and they will still taste great!
- Get creative! Feel free to substitute your favorite nuts, and even add some dried fruit or chocolate chips!
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