Still Drinking!

I've been quiet lately but I'm still drinking! I love my espresso without a doubt (not a brewed coffee lover). I will write more again about alligator sightings in our backyard lake and the community search, for example. But for today some insightful (?) words for us coffee drinkers of all types. :-) Which one are you?

     • Espresso: Instant gratification, a quick hit, "the most grown-up of all coffee options," cynicism, sarcasm, even an aggressive cool hunter. Disdains healthy lifestyles, is moody, and sets high standards, aiming for the leadership position with little time for gossip.

     • Black coffee: No-frills, minimalist, cool adult, prefers one-on-one contact, competitive, quiet and moody, although capable of occasional bouts of extroversion.

     • Latte: Watering down danger with milk and foam, prefers safety, wants to be liked, cutesy but conceivably stubborn inside, avoid direct confrontation and delegates the dirty work, a loyal family person, enjoys comfortable surroundings and gabbing with trusted friends. Sex is more snuggly than extreme.

     • Cappuccino: Optimistic extrovert who appreciates style and nice stuff, although not unduly acquisitive. Prefers to start things rather than see them through with all that dull detail work.

     • Instant coffee: No frills, straightforward, cheery but in no hurry to get things done, which might come across as shallow. Highs and lows come easily; not so adventurous in career or sex, but ponders both.

     • Decaf soymilk: More of an eco-worrier rather than an eco-warrior. For those who aren't allergic to cow's milk, the choice may indicate a faux fussiness with a touch of sincere narcissism.

     • Starbucks Frappuccino (and presumably other frothy whips): It's all about the foam and the froth. Trendchaser more than a trendsetter and, ouch, characterized as a flighty poseur with no sense of irony.

     • Non-coffee drinker: The authors reserve the unkindest cut of all for someone who rejects the black brew as being frightened of life and a child (an insult followed by a perhaps conciliatory section on "What Your Tea Says About You").

I fall into the Latte category. As good as my coffee grinder is I still prefer my coffee with milk, not a lot but some. As far as the description goes, I guess I agree for the most part! Did you agree with yours?!
It's good to say hello again as I have my cup in hand. As I've mentioned before if the writing declines for a bit, it is because I'm processing. More to come. Hope you have a wonderful weekend.

I got this analysis from an article by Vera H-C Chan on Yahoo. You can go to the article here.

Coffee Grinding at its Best!

The name of my blog is Time for Coffee, as well you know. I have made no secret of the fact that I love coffee. It can be a wonderful comfort, distraction and/or energizer, all in one if need be. I was asked one time what my favorite coffee was. My response was, "Mine!" I realized she meant brand of coffee, but I always felt my espresso machine and I made a mean cup of joe, even though I'd used a few different brands over the years. And, if I do say so myself, I've been complimented numerous times by guests.

Well, I have to confess I didn't know what good was until my husband! ;-) He is good but I was referring to the gift he gave me (Christmas came early). Please remember that Brian hates coffee (though I married him anyway.) Despite his distaste for this delicious ambrosia, he spent hours researching coffee grinders unbeknownst to me. I hadn't complained about my grinder; I've just been thrilled the past month to finally have my espresso machine unpacked and back in use!

Where did he get this idea? I don't know, but I love him even more for it AND my coffee!! OMG! Who knew a grinder could make such a difference?! Sure, I was aware that grinding my coffee fresh for each cup was best. Although I have to admit I usually ground enough coffee for about 3 or 4 cups at a time. After all, I had to fill the grinder to a certain point to run it! I had a system down, a rather crude system but a system nonetheless. I would count off the seconds for the grind, coarseness level, I felt was best for my machine. Needless to say, this produced inconsistent results. In addition, my old grinder has blades which apparently is 'hazardous' to your coffee! They don't really grind the coffee as they are more like a blender, chopping the coffee. Do you want the details? Well, in brief, the blades produce friction and heat, degrading your coffee and the oils left in the grinder can become rancid, mixing in with your coffee. For a more extensive description between the two types of grinders see Gimme! Coffee.

My new grinder is electric but is based on the vintage one pictured here, using conical burrs to actually grind the beans. Now to the results! Can I just say - WOW! As a rule, I take my coffee with a splash of milk. I almost did my usual with the first cup utilizing the new grind. In fact, two drops of milk went in before I thought - Hey, let's really put this to the test. I took a sip of the black brew. Hmmm, this is good. Strong, not bitter and very smooth! Of the four cups I've had since the blessed arrival, only one had milk in it and I think I now prefer my coffee black. I NEVER thought that would happen! The difference is difficult to describe and needs to be experienced.

My life has changed! No, I'm not being dramatic!! I had no idea how vastly different it would be; now there is no going back! I would recommend doing a little research, too. Brian tells me that the high end of these grinders can cost as much as $800! Ridiculous! Trust me, Brian did not pay anywhere near that much. If research is not your bag, or you need the experience first, come on over and enjoy a cup!

Past the Time to be Thankful...or not!

Happy Day after Thanksgiving! I know other people call it Black Friday but to me that name sounds so depressing. How did a big retail sale day get labeled this? (I know it's because these sales put them "in the black" for the year but still...) Brian's comment when I wished him "Happy Day after Thanksgiving!" was "Happy Friday." He is a man who lives in the present! And he is NOT a man to get up early and spend hours in a line or online just to get great deals. So, today is just Friday!

Me, I rather enjoy stretching out holidays. Is it just a good excuse for not getting much accomplished? Perhaps. Today my coffee tastes particularly good, in fact, I'm on my third cup and it's not even three in the afternoon. Although I love coffee, I'm a two cup a day girl, usually around 9am and 4pm. But I have to say that three cups is still not very motivating for productivity, just enjoying the lanai and doing a bit of writing!

I'm a little late (strictly speaking) for any sort of dissertation on the attitude of gratitude. Well, dissertations remind me of school anyway, which is long past. However, it's never too late to be thankful. Thankfully (!) I don't have to think very hard to find a myriad of things for which I'm thankful. Brian tops the list, of course. From the spectacular to the mundane, there are wonderful things and people all around me. Although we are new to the area, we had two invitations for Thanksgiving dinner. We chose to drive 90 miles to be with Brandon, our youngest, and the family he is staying with at the moment. There were 25 people for dinner!! Yikes! And we only really knew Brandon. Yet, dinner was delightful, engaging conversation and delicious food!

I have friends and family in several countries (also giving me a reason to travel and open up my home)! I don't lack for anything I need and actually have many "wants." Brian is an awesome man, let alone a wonderful husband. I am content and very grateful. I hope you all can also find many reasons to smile in your heart!

National Coffee Day!

How can I not post on such an auspicious day!? I am compelled to commemorate National Coffee Day with a succinct love letter captured in a poetic photograph. :-)

I also have a treat for you! I found this amazing recipe for your day's ending or a coffee dessert. The Italian word, affogato, you should all know because of it's inherent heavenly combination - gelato and espresso. Yum! Needless to say, I'm a big fan. This recipe takes a wonderful pairing and adds other elements which will send your eyes rolling back in your head. Enjoy!

The original blog post is from Taking on Magazines One Recipe at a Time. I return to read The Mom Chef's blog not only for the recipes but for her wit and the glimpses into her life.

Affogato with Orange - print this recipe
from Every Day With Rachael Ray Magazine, September 2012

4 tablespoons orange liqueur, such as Grand Marnier
1 pint vanilla ice cream
shaved bittersweet chocolate, for sprinkling
freshly grated nutmeg, for sprinkling
4 teaspoons orange zest
1/2 cup hot espresso

Pour 1 tbsp. liqueur into each of 4 cups. Add 12-cup scoop ice cream to each. Sprinkle with chocolate, nutmeg and orange zest. Spoon 2 tbsp. espresso over ice cream. Serve immediately.

Old Haunts!

Writing has been on my list to do! With warm affection and relief I received a friend's comment today that she is glad I don't post too often. She can get overwhelmed when her inbox is inundated with update notifications from the blogs she follows. So when I finally do post, she looks forward to it and clicks immediately on the link. OK, she didn't say "immediately" but I'm sure that's what she meant!

So, I did return from Seattle and environs. We went in summer so I packed for the summer - a BIG mistake for Grays Harbor County which is out on the coast, about 2 hours from Seattle. That's where Brian's family is from so it's always a part of our itinerary. No matter the time of year I will never make that mistake again - bringing layers from this point forward. Westport, WA is making itself more of a destination location (for the summer months!). They already have a winery, where my my favorite is the Mermaid Merlot. We've been several times and for those of you who like sweeter wines their Duckleberry Grunt and Bog Berry Blush are dangerously drinkable! New additions have been added to the repertoire in this coastal town. This time we we went to a local brewery (out of someone's barn) with our daughter and her fiancé, Jeremy. Both Jeremy and Brian are into beer so there was much anticipation and enthusiasm about this outing. This was my first beer tasting event, and a very positive one!
I do have to say that after some tooling around town we then stopped at a coffee place - more my cup of "tea"! The Tinderbox was inviting, well appointed and had some killer caramel brownies!! Not to mention the necessary and invigorating espresso I relished. All in all, good family time and the younger generation also showed us new tips and tricks for our technology productivity! Always appreciated. :)

After a week, we were onto Seattle. Surprisingly, we were able to take a couple sightseeing opportunities! I had really hoped that this trip would allow for sometime downtown and it did on 2 occasions!! Naturally, we went to one of my favorite places - Pike's Place Market. There is a relatively recent addition to the area. Yes, it's the Gum Wall - absolutely disgusting! How the idea got started I have no idea. Unfortunately it, the idea, was well embraced and expanded beyond one wall. Much to the chagrin of many businesses I'm sure. Thankfully, this wall is not part of the main flow where people walk. The picturesque produce and colorful blooms are still in place, along with the creative eats and tasteful souvenirs, albeit a bit pricey.
We also made it down to the waterfront. An old haunt for both of us since we worked downtown is Ivar's Pier 54 fish bar, where the feeding of seagulls is encouraged! It was a must for lunch that day. Seattle has added a huge ferris wheel as one of the waterfront attractions. The area is still an awesome place for people watching, wandering the shops on the piers and great vistas of Puget Sound and the Olympics.

We had a wonderful time catching up with family and friends. However, whether or not you have family in this area, I hope you take a trip to Seattle at some point in your life. It's laid back, breathtaking, and has a ton of activities both inside and out. For the best weather go in May, August or September.

Seattle, Where Coffee is King!

In one of my more recent posts, East vs. West, I mentioned I was from Washington State originally - where coffee is king. Actually to be more specific, the castle and, therefore, throne room for this king is in Seattle. I was born and raised in Seattle - I love Seattle. With that being said, I'd like to also say Seattle is the best place to be from! It will always be one of my "homes."

Granted each city is unique; although being a coffee enthusiast, I so appreciate the coffee culture there. In this regard, Seattle is like no other. I found a blog post/article about this wonderful city that I'd thought I'd share in part.

Seattle, The Caffeine City of Gourmet Coffee.
For a lack of better description, Seattle is indeed Caffeine City. Hence it is no wonder that as an avid gourmet coffee drinker, I could not believe my good fortune on my first business trip to Seattle a couple of years ago. The impression is still so vivid, it is like just yesterday. I got up early morning and took a walk near the hotel. The moment I stepped out of the front entrance, a tantalizing, wispy, coffee aroma enveloped and welcomed me. The entire city seemed to permeate a strong coffee culture, perhaps due to the fact it is the birth origin of a certain large international coffee chain.

It does continue and you can read more as the author, Sarah Osborne, wafts her way through the aromas of my beloved Seattle.

In case you might take a trip to Seattle in the future, here are a few of my favorites around town. Pike Place Market is probably my top pick, but you have to be ready for lots of people. Nonetheless, the sites, sounds and smells are amazing! Maybe you'll see a flying fish, and that's no fish story! An added benefit to this area is the oldest location of that "certain large international coffee chain" - Starbucks and another great one nearby. Not far from Pike's Place is the waterfront area with all manner of shops, restaurants, an arcade pier, ferry docks, Ferris wheel, harbor tours and great people watching opportunities. If you want to get out on the water I'd choose a ferry ride to one of the islands and then explore the little town at the other end, getting ice cream to cap off the excursion. The Space Needle is a classic and not to be overlooked, like that's really possible! ;-) For the museum goers, my top three are the Seattle Art Museum, The EMP (music) Museum and the Museum of Flight.

Well, those are a few ideas. Enjoy your time! I'll be there in a couple of days, maybe I'll see you there?!

East vs. West

The battle of the coasts. Before I launch into a discussion about cultural differences, I hope everyone bears in mind that stereotypes are gross generalizations which have a basis in fact or they wouldn't have become a stereotype. However, no convention of this type is true across the board. There are always layers, derivations, and definite exceptions. The United States is big; we can't deny the "regions" within it. I have a friend who was born and raised on the east coast. In fact, she lives there to this day. When she heard I was moving to "her" side of the country (my term not hers!), she found the concept difficult to imagine. For her, it was easy and enjoyable to visit the west coast but she didn't think she could ever make the switch. And this comes from a woman who has lived in The Netherlands, Hungary, Greece and Albania to name a few places!

On the other hand, since it was Florida in particular, I reasoned the differences would be minimized. I never saw Florida as fully east coast, nor did I consider it part of the deep south. It was neutral in my mind and rather nondescript. Silly me!

The west coast has it's own stereotype, I know. California takes that image even further. Although I have to say that the typical image of California applies more generally to southern California - image obsession, plastic, tanned, and liberal. There is no doubt that I am a product of the west coast environs (Washington in specific), where the living is laid back, recycling is nearly an addiction, and coffee is king!! :-) Granted the coffee is needed to keep the chill off and give a little spark to another dreary day. (However, for me it'a a comfort drink wherever I am.) I would also say that although we are friendly, we are not a warm group of people. Northern climates don't lean in this direction - there are layers to us just like our sweaters and coats!

Now, on this (the east) side perceptions are a little different. I'm still learning about this area so my thinking could change in the future. At the moment, I see "the south" here in customer service - warm and personable, and going to church is a commonplace part of life. As far as "the east" goes, people are more pushy and passionate. Lastly, the driving is just schizophrenic. Either they are beyond aggressive or mighty pokey. Perhaps the "pokeyness" brings out frustration and therefore aggression.

Tomorrow it will be a month since my arrival. Let's face it - I'm a newbie!

Emerging...On the Other Side

The other side of the country that is! Well, it's been a month! When last I wrote, it's true - I was stressed out and in the midst of packing up all our household goods. My stressed out phase didn't last too long actually, but times were busy. Then, we were homeless and on the road.

After we left the keys locked in the house for the new owners to retrieve, we set off on our 11 day trek across the country. We stayed with family and friends part of the time but once we hit Texas it was hotels from then on. Along the way we encountered temperatures up to 113 degrees F, red dust storms that as we approached just looked like an imposing wall, sudden rain storms that would almost instantaneously cut your visibility to 40 feet and loooong dry patches without any decent coffee!

We got a rental 3 days before we arrived and put an offer on a house 4 days after we arrived! Life has been busy and quite an adventure. Only now, as a week has passed, do I stand on the fringes of becoming aware that this isn't a vacation. (Although I have learned that road trips are not my ideal vacation style.) It's all been a little surreal.

At this point we start the long, intangible process of settling in. I'm beginning to find my way around to the necessities like grocery stores, coffee shops and Target, although I can still get turned around. I have to say, it's a good thing I like Brian! I don't know anyone else here except one gal who is in the process of moving away, our real estate agent, our landlord (we met once) and we've had one lengthy conversation with a coffee shop owner. These things take time. There is no formula or checklist. Oh right, it's an adventure! :-)

I hope to keep you posted a little more regularly as life might be returning to some semblance of normalcy. Our rental is on a lagoon so I'll let you know if I see the elusive alligator. I have seen two armadillos - both flat as pancakes. But I hope to get a lot more connected to people rather than the wildlife!

How to Start

I've finished my morning routine - breakfast and reading. Naturally, coffee was included because how else would I move into the day? Is there some other way? Really? I M humble O, this is certainly the preferred method!

Gracefully?

There is talk about growing old... gracefully. I don't think there is anyone who would spontaneously comment that I was someone who is growing old gracefully. Hopefully, there are even people out there who wouldn't think I was even getting that old, yet! (If you are out there - I love you, whoever you might be!)

Nonetheless, age keeps adding up, day by day. It can creep up on each of us, at a certain point in life. Although I have to say, some days it doesn't creep; there are days it's more like slamming into a wall. Yesterday that wall was a little spongy, thankfully, but I couldn't move through the day at the pace or with as much progress as I would have liked. In fact, while grocery shopping I decided an espresso treat was just the necessary direction to take so I might continue on - with a spring in my step!? :-) At the cafe stop within the store, I made my order. Not my typical order of a double 12oz. soy latte. No, it truly was a day for a treat, the decision - a caramel macchiato. BUT there was a special going on, I could get a 16oz. for less than a 12oz. SOLD - give me 3 shots, please! I did feel much better by the end of shopping!

Beyond necessary amounts of coffee, for me, I have discovered that the whole "graceful" part revolves mostly around my attitude or perspective. In other words, my body is going to do what it's going to do. (Darn it!) Perhaps I can slow the process a bit by trying to take care of myself but...I can't stop the unfortunate (and inevitable) decline. However, I can adjust my thinking. Somethings are just better to let go. My energy comes in a finite amount. I choose to let many frustrations go because I don't want to waste my energy! Life is simpler and that's not bad. I'm really beginning to understand the phrase - don't sweat the small stuff. I thought I got it before. Well, I'm getting it more now. It's good to find some positives to this whole process. :-)

Coffee and the Expat (?) Process

As is my usual procedure, I discuss the locale's coffee situation wherever I travel. However, I have been unable to complete my sampling -- until I got home! Merida, in the end, did rise to suitable standards, despite the disparaging beginning of Nescafe instant. :( There was a very nice specialty coffee place, selling hot, iced, and blended coffee drinks, along with sandwiches and treats -- La Boheme. Some of the coffee drinks were too high in other flavors and over the top in calories, but I didn't have to order them! :) At a couple of other restaurants I received very good espresso, and as you know, learned how to order it with just a little milk -- "cortado."

Although, I had to wait until home before I could make some specialty coffee that I bought there. It is called De Olla and it is particular to the Yucatan, as I understand it. It comes ground with cinnamon and sugar. While chatting, I shared some with a friend. I have to say it was suspect even upon opening the bag -- the mixture was not remotely dark and rich as I like my coffee beans. Sure there is cinnamon added but... Neither one of us would really call it a coffee drink, even though there was a hint of coffee. There was a very pleasant sweet and spicy flavor that was really more tea like, in my opinion. So not objectionable but definitely not coffee!

We are so glad we finally made it to Merida after all the research we'd done. Even before going though, we had pretty much decided it would be too hot for us. Assumption confirmed! We loved the city and the people, so warm and welcoming. Unfortunately Brian did not feel well most of the time we were there. :( It's virtually impossible to know why, exactly. However, the experience alone spoke volumes to both of us. When this happens, and it will from time to time, do we want to be in a foreign country struggling to communicate, or just without our little conveniences that make life easier?

We really thought Panama was next on the list. Now we are looking within the boundaries of "home." Although, nothing is settled until we are settled. We are still in no rush to make a decision, but we hope the house is ready to go up for sale by the end of April. It's still an adventure even within the States. We just don't have to do it in another language.

Maximizing Energy

I came back and promptly caught a bit of a cold. If I really don't feel well, then coffee is the last thing I want. Even the idea of it will sound terrible. I'm still drinking coffee so that gives you some indication of my health status. I'm definitely dragging though, and I think this is in order:

Is there a station nearby where I can "plug in"? I mean, drinking can take so much effort! :D Enjoy your day!

Built In Flash Cards

We walked in to the downtown area this afternoon to get a little something to eat and a coffee for me. (Remember, Brian hates the stuff so it was quite magnanimous of me :) to marry him anyway.) All of the waitstaff we have encountered have been very kind, patient and helpful in regard to our seriously lacking Spanish. I learned the word for olives (aceitunas) and the way to order my espresso. I like espresso but with a bit of milk. To say, "espresso con leche" is possibly incorrect, not colloquial or just plain lame. It's hard to tell which category it falls in, as the subtleties of the language are WAY beyond me. Anyway, I should say, "espresso cortado" or at least that's how it sounded to me. I repeated it back and he nodded so I'm going with it, a very valuable phrase to learn in my book.

Even our walk around the central district in Merida gives us a Spanish lesson. As I understand, the story goes that pictographs were used to mark intersections. This was useful for both citizens and visitors, in days gone by, who could not read. In this way, they could know where they were and could arrange to meet at a certain intersection, like the intersection of "La Palma." Then, they didn't have to know the street numbers or have to read them.

Our Spanish "lesson" as we walk ranges from the basic to a bit more advanced. For example, the basics:

The Tortoise

The Lemon

The Palm

The Lion

The Ball

These are pictures and concepts that any age can recognize and understand. Then there are the ones that could challenge a bit more. For the intermediate level we have:

The Theater

The People (says Google)
I would say - The Village

The Hawk

The Vineyard

For the following ones, it's a good thing we have a camera so we can check google translator when we get back to our B&B. These are for the advanced. One of these, perhaps two, I think verge on the obscure. Can you pick which one(s)?

Prosperity

The Muscovites or
The Residents of Moscow

The Cane (says Google)
I presume - The Sugar Cane

The Duchess

In my opinion, the Muscovites is a bit obscure. Although they did a great job showing the typical cold weather clothing for Moscow. The Duchess is also a bit difficult to get from the picture. However, in those days it might very well have been extremely easy to understand. At any rate, my Spanish is improving! Of course it's at such a level it could only get better.

First Impressions

In brief after a whopping 48 hours:
1. The people are warm, honest and very gracious - especially with my appalling lack of Spanish!
2. Coffee - Nescafe is all too common! :( Instant coffee - can one really call it coffee?! I had mistakenly figured that the cafe con leche (coffee with milk) would be similar to what I had in Spain. Sadly mistaken. Although I have already found a wonderful coffee place, run by an expat as it turns out!
3. It's quite warm, hot even, and in the heat of the day I'm perfectly content reading, blogging or something sedentary in the shade!!
4. Loving the adventure!

A Foodie?!

I am not a connoisseur, plain and simple. (The closest I come, perhaps, is that I'm coffee snob!) Although I may not have a refined taste, nor am I able to isolate flavors to improve a sauce, for example, I do enjoy food. I can recognize an inspired meal and revel in it!

We have started a another journey and it began with a YUM! Our departure was early out of San Francisco so we decided to go up the night before. Some wonderful friends took us up and we enjoyed the evening together. Of course dinner time came around and looking at our options around the hotel we settled on Italian cuisine. This restaurant had one of those classic Italian names - West Coast Cafe! :) Honestly with a name like that I expected standard fare and "nothing to write home about." Certainly nothing to blog about!! However, I was in heaven from beginning to end. The bruschetta was perfect and perfectly messy with diced tomatoes piled high and olive oil running onto my fingers. The basil and garlic tantalized my taste buds, waking them up and they hungered for more! They and I were not disappointed! The marsala sauce for the main course was exquisite and had to be sopped up with delicious bread to get every drop. I could go on and on, continuing with the vegetables, polenta and on through dessert. Naturally dessert was accompanied with espresso done to perfection - rich, dark and smokey. An awesome, over the top experience along with the company!

The next day we were off to Mexico, a direct flight to Cancun. We made our way to downtown, found our hotel and settled in. Tired but needing food, we opted for the easy route - the hotel restaurant. Again, would the hotel restaurant across from the bus station be inspiring? I didn't hold any high hopes. Silly Me!!

Brian and I split two meals. One of them was "chicken fillet mignon" and the other was flank steak fajitas. I figured the name of the first meal was just some sort of translation mix up. We made our orders were asked how we wanted the steak cooked and then the waiter was off to make it all happen. A minute or two later he comes back to ask how we wanted the chicken cooked - medium or well. Confused having never ever been asked how I wanted my chicken cooked, I thought maybe it was supposed to be "beef fillet mignon." No, he was asking about the chicken so I definitely said, "Well!" The mystery was partly solved when the meal came. Yes, we had chicken for one meal and beef for the other. The chicken steak was wrapped around the edge with bacon! Often I have seen fillet mignon served that way so I think that is where the confusion in translation stemmed. In any case, both meals were wonderful and a delight. I know I was really hungry, however, the flavors were amazing. We topped it off with flan, the classic Mexican dessert!

As noted earlier in my blog, a big part of traveling for me is the food! I love trying new things. The notable exceptions have been octopus and beef tongue. There are a few items I just can't get past. Although, by and large over the years and the many places I've traveled, I've let my prejudices go, having enjoyed some delicious food adventures! It's been quite a beginning to this trip.

We are now in Merida, Mexico!

Caffeine clip

I have to say that being married to Brian has increased my intake of animated films, pleasantly so. After all, I would have missed Hookwinked, if it hadn't been for him! I just wish I had a quarter of the reaction Twitchy does to my cup of Joe in the morning! I hope you enjoy this clip!!

Hold On!

I continue to engage in my sedentary pursuit of foreign real estate browsing. I mentioned Panama and Ecuador before and Mexico is also on the list with Nicaragua trailing in distant fourth. I also talked in my last post about changes on the forefront. Put those two things together and Brian and I have come up with selling the house and moving somewhere warmer and cheaper. (A few places in the States are also in the running!) Surprising? I'm still a little surprised at how quickly and radically our thinking has changed in the last six weeks. Perhaps you ask - why? Boiled down, the financial upset towards the end of the year caused us to drastically rethink the direction we want to move regarding our finances. By the way, the financial upset is resolved, and more positively than we had hoped! Thank God!

No specifics. No decisions. This, too, is a process. During one of my browsing times, I did run across a coffee plantation for sale in Panama :-). It's located in the Chiriqui province. I know I don't know how to pronounce that name correctly, but in my mind it sounds vaguely like "cheery." So when I teased Brian that we could buy a coffee farm, naturally the name of our product would be Carol's Cheery Coffee. Does it get any better than that?!

I doubt that buying a coffee plantation is in our future, :-) but we are open to new possibilities. After all, life is an adventure!

Mornings Don't Always Come Easily!

I love being creative and the results of that creativity, whether it's mine or someone else's; however, like most people, I am not creative in all realms. I function best in the artsy arena but not the crafty one, for example. I also like words and perhaps craft a bit with them although the art of poetry is not my forte. I saw the following poem on another blog I follow, and although you'll never see any poetry from me, this captured the essence of many a morning for me. So I thought I'd include it for your reading enjoyment.  

I slept late.
I am a slug.
But now there's coffee in my mug.

I want to go back to bed.
The sleep won't leave my head.
But there is much to do today.
So I will drink coffee instead.

I was warm & cozy, all tucked up in my bed.
We should stay here all day long my body told my head.
But I refused to listen even though it begged and pled.
I arose, went downstairs and made coffee instead.


It's really perfect and makes me smile! Perhaps some of you can relate, too. The blog post I got this from originally you can find here. 

Perhaps a Different Kind of Drink!

Coffee in many forms is at the top of my list especially as a comfort drink. I don't suppose I can really call it comfort food but it certainly fits somehow in that category. It is that cup of Ahhh and a transcendent experience. This quote also puts it well:

Coffee is the common man's gold, and like gold, it brings to every person the feeling of luxury and nobility. - Sheik Abd-al-Kadir

However, even I realize that other drinks are more appropriate for certain occasions, moods, or times of day. My friend (mentioned in the last post) also gave me a recipe for Limoncello! How exciting!! I've heard of others making it, but I must confess that I bought the bottle I have now at Trader Joe's. Nonetheless, this could be a fun winter activity and thought I'd share it with you.

© 2011 ABC Television / the chew

easy

skill level

over 120min

time

more than 12

servings

$

cost

Mario Batali's Limoncello

Contributed by: Mario Batali

This thick sweet cordial dessert will hit the spot after a long and filling meal. Make a batch

today and enjoy it for weeks to come. Note: Mario Batali prepared this recipe differently on air

but for best results follow the procedures below.

4 Cup vodka zest of 10 lemons

2 1/2 Cup sugar 3 1/2 Cup water

ingredients

4 Cup vodka

zest of 10 lemons

Place vodka and zest in a sealable jar, like a mason jar and allow

to sit in a cool place for 4 days.

2 1/2 Cup sugar

3 1/2 Cup water

On the fifth day place 2 1/2 cups sugar and 3 1/2 cups water in a

saucepan and bring to a boil. Allow to cook 5 minutes, remove from

heat and allow to cool.

Add sugar solution to the vodka solution and allow to stand

overnight.

Strain through a layer of cheesecloth in a conical sieve, pressing

the solids firmly. Strain again through a second layer in the same

manner.

Chill and allow to stand 1 week. Serve very cold.

Coffee Granita Recipe!

Amazingly enough I came across another blog Philz Coffee Blog which talked about the same cold coffee treat that I had in Rome! (Part 1) The same cafe, evereything. He posted a recipe which I hope comes close to the original. With this recipe, there is a twist - cardamom in the whipped cream. I'm copying it here as well for your convenience. It's nice to know I'm not the only one on this side of the ocean who has enjoyed that wonderful taste.

OK, I just found another blog that reviewed the recipe at The Mom Chef. She is a self-professed coffee snob as well. I'll be sure to take her suggestions to heart as it sounds like this recipe might pale in comparison to the original. If you make it, let me know how it turns out!

Coffee Granita with Cardamom Whipped Cream
This recipe is from Bon Appetit’s April 2010 issue.

Ingredients
* 2 cups water, divided
* 1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon sugar
* 1 1/2 tablespoons instant espresso powder
(instead of using espresso powder, try making a really strong brew of Turkish or Philharmonic)
* 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
* 3/4 cup chilled heavy whipping cream
* 1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom

Preparation
*Bring 1/2 cup water and 1/2 cup sugar just to simmer in heavy small saucepan over medium heat, stirring mixture constantly until sugar dissolves. Stir in instant espresso powder and vanilla extract. Remove saucepan from heat; stir in remaining 1 1/2 cups water. Pour into 9x9x2-inch metal baking pan. Freeze mixture 1 hour; stir, mashing any frozen parts with back of fork. Cover and freeze mixture until firm, at least 1 to 2 hours longer and up to 1 day. Using fork, scrape granita, forming icy flakes. Return granita to freezer.
*Beat cream, cardamom, and remaining 1 tablespoon sugar in large bowl until peaks form. Divide granita among bowls or glasses. Top granita with whipped cream.

(photo from The Bitten Word)