Single-Serve Coffee

Brewing a perfect mug of single serve coffee

couldn't be easier. 

You don't need a big expensive machine

 and those costly coffee pods. 

Those pod machines are like a microwave, 

big space hogs that may be quick and 

convenient but ultimately not giving you

the best coffee. 

The ritual of slowly brewing fresh coffee

is a great way to start your morning. 

No hitting a button on a machine. 

In just a few minutes you can brew

a mug of rich, flavorful coffee. 

The "pour-over" method is incredibly easy

giving you one great cup of coffee. 

Anytime you want. 

You'll need:

a cone coffee dripper 

(less than $4)

#2 filters

your favorite coffee 

(Of course grinding your own is best)

boiling water 

All you need to do is grab your favorite mug. 

I rotate my mugs seasonally. It's a cheery, 

fun welcome to the day.  

Bring water to a boil. I love my electric

water kettle, but you could also micro

2 C of water. 

Place the coffee filter in

 the cone and put on top of your mug. Pour

 a little of the hot water into the empty 

filter to saturate the paper. This also 

warms the mug which is nice. Swirl the 

hot water in the mug and pour it out.

  Don't forget that. 

Add 2 level scoops of coffee to the filter. 

Another plus with this method is you can 

adjust the coffee to your liking. 

Slowly pour a little

water over the grounds to moisten. 

Then slowly pour the water into

 the center. 

Let drip through and add more water

if needed. Slowly pouring into the center 

until your mug is filled to your liking. 

I fill mine about ¾ full 

so there's room to add  frothed milk. 

It's environmentally friendly too, 

just toss the used filter and 

rinse the cone or put it in the DW.

This is great for travel. 

I bring the plastic cone, filters, and

coffee on road trips. It's also good when 

I'm visiting non coffee drinkers. I can easily 

make a cup of single serve coffee myself. 

The clear Melitta cone at the top pictures 

is one I've had for probably over 30 years.

I just bought the new brown one for travel.  

You can find them at BB&B or in the 

grocery store. 

Cheers!

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Between Naps On The Porch

Redneck Margaritas ~ Only 3 Ingredients!

These margaritas have a secret ingredient-BEER! 

Who would have guessed that beer was the 

perfect solution to a well-balanced margarita. 

You'll never know it's in there. It gives it

 a little fizz and a refreshing taste. I don't
 even drink beer and I love these. Everybody 

is surprised when I tell them it's in there. 

Use the limeade can to measure the 

ingredients. Adjust with extra water if 

the mixture seems too sweet. 

Redneck Margaritas

1 can limeade 

1 can tequila

1 can water

1 can beer

lots of ice

1 lime for garnish

Pour 1 (12oz) can frozen limeade concentrate
into a large pitcher. Fill the empty can with
 tequila, then again with water. Stir to
dissolve limeade. Stir in a 12oz can of beer.
 Add plenty of ice. Garnish with

lime wedges. Pour into glasses filled with

more ice and add a lime to the rim.
 *If you want first rub the rim of the 
glass with the lime and dip the rim in salt.

Cheers!

Links: Between Naps On The Porch,
Dwellings, Facebook, The Scoop,
Coastal Charm, 

2 Ingredient Sparkling Sangria

Here's another one of my favorite summer

 cocktails, sparkling sangria!

This is the fast and easy version.

That means you can enjoy one anytime!

 Just 2 ingredients!

 Red wine and orange soda. About 50/50.

Adjust to you taste preference.

 Fill your tall glass with ice. Fill about halfway 

with red wine and top off with orange soda. 

Give it a stir and garnish with fruit on 

the rim if you like. I've also been adding a 

sprig of mint from my garden. BTW, I found 

these footed glasses at a thrift store for 25¢. 

It so refreshing and tasty! 

I discovered this sangria at a local tapas
restaurant. Couldn't be easier.
I may try it next with

San Pellegrino Pomegranate Orange. 

Check out my 2 Ingredient Margaritas too. 

Cheers!

Links: Facebook,
Under The Table and Dreaming,
Dwellings, The Scoop,
Between Naps On The Porch,
A Stroll Thru Life, Designs  by Gollum,
My Romantic Home, The Charm Of Home
French Country Cottage

Coffee In A French Press

In a push-button world of coffee it's nice to 

slow down and enjoy the the ritual of making 

coffee in a French press.  I enjoy the whole 

process that goes into making it. 

Especially on a weekend morning.

Here's how to do it.
1. Bring a kettle of fresh water to a boil.

2. Grind your beans on coarse grind setting.

 3. Add the coffee to the carafe.
(1-2T per 5 oz cup of water, usually
1 coffee scoop per cup)

 When the water just comes to a boil, bring

 it off the heat for 1  minute. 

4. Pour in just enough water into the carafe to
 saturate the grounds; wait 30 seconds to let
 them soak and bring out the 'bloom'.
Now slowly pour in the the rest of the

water. Give it a stir then place the plunger
 on without depressing it.

5. Let brew for 4-6 minutes.

While you're waiting you can

pour some of the excess hot water
 into your mugs to warm them. 

 6. Slowly and steadily press down on the plunger.

 7. Now, pour yourself a good cup of coffee 

into your warmed mug. 

 If not serving all the coffee right away, 

decant it into another server; like an 

insulated coffee carafe.

You can tweak the amount of coffee and 

brew time until it's just the way you like it.

Optional:

A warm croissant with jam

A comfy robe

A little soft jazz playing

(or THIS. Edith Piaf singing

La Vie En Rose with just the 

right amount of scratchy sound)

A chair outside, or by the fire

(depending on the season)

A no-place-to-go attitude

Now...slow down and enjoy your weekend.

Bon Jour!

Links: 
Facebook,
Between Naps On The Porch,
Design By Gollum

Rita's Margaritas ~ Just 2 Ingredients!

This is my speedy summer cocktail!  

I love it because I can have a margarita

 anytime with no fuss. 

I cheat and use Simply Limeade, 

(all natural, not from concentrate)

found in the refrigerated juice

section at the grocery store. 

I like to use jars for this cocktail.

Lots of ice, a splash of however much

 tequila you want and a pinch of salt.

That pinch of salt is the secret to making

it taste authentic. 

Rim your glass with salt first, if you like.

Add a slice of lime for a very refreshing 

drink. Of course these are great with

any Mexican food; tacos, enchiladas, but we

 like them with grilled meat and BBQ too.

Larry usually makes our drinks at the

end of each day while we hang out and

I'm cooking dinner. 

Enjoy and Cheers!

Tip: If your tequila came in a pretty bottle,

save it and use it to fill with bubble bath.

Just click on the picture to see that post.

Bubble Bath and Tequila

15-Minute Iced Tea

I love ice tea and we drink a lot of it.

Most of the time I have tea leftover in
my teapot that has cooled.

I use that for iced tea. But that doesn't
keep up with the demand in the summer.

~~~~~~~~~~~

That's when I need to brew a big Pyrex jug
of tea. But that takes a while to cool. 

If you pour it over ice too soon, the ice melts
 and I get watered down iced tea....not good.

So, I've found a short-cut.

Fill the container with only 2 C of boiling water
 and the usual amount of tea bags. I use two
tagless bags. Then let it steep for about
10 minutes until it's nice and dark. Give it
 a stir then remove the tea bags.

That keeps it from getting bitter.

Here you can add 2-6 T sugar if you like.
More if you really like sweet tea.
Stir to dissolve the sugar.

I don't use sugar anymore.

Now, fill the container the rest of the
way with cold water, about 6 C.

Stir tea and pour into ice filled glasses.

Viola!
As easy as boiling water.
Cost per 1/2 gallon of iced tea is 2-4 cents!!
Cost per 1/2 gallon if you buy ready made tea
is $2.59!! versus 4¢
Big Savings Tip
Always buy tagless bags.
100 tagless teabags = $1.59
(sometimes on sale for  99 cents)
100 taged teabags = $3.09
Why are you paying as much for tags as
for the tea? CRAZY!
Even better when you get BOGO.
then I get 200 teabags for about $1.00.
Save big bucks!
Spend it on something more tea, 
not more tags.

Cheers!