From the category archives:

Coffee

Make Starbucks Drinks at Home

by Joi on March 5, 2010

I’m a Starbucks fanatic and a green tea addict – so it’s only logical that I’d be a Starbucks Green Tea Frappuccino fanaddict. When the weather’s cold, I almost always go with Chai Tea Lattes, Skinny Caramel or Mocha Lattes, or hot tea – but when the weather begins to warm up, they know what I’m there for.

My youngest daughter, Stephany, and I are completely hooked on the Green Tea Frappuccinos made with whipped topping on top and drizzled with raspberry syrup. Some people like the syrup mixed in with the green tea, itself – but it’s much prettier and much tastier if they just drizzle some on top. We both threw ourselves into one yesterday while out enjoying every single digit of the 49 degrees. That may not sound too warm, but it is when your weather’s been in the 20’s longer than my aunt was. She outsmarts the rest of us. She spends about 20 years in each decade.

While driving along slurpping, ooohing, and ahhhing, I thought how outstanding Starbucks Raspberry Syrup would be on smoothies, ice cream, pound cake, white cake with white icing, cool whip covering strawberries or hot green tea, my hand… This stuff is that good.

I jumped online and found that you can order some of your very own. In fact, you can order any of their remarkable syrups and get all kinds of remarkable in your kitchen. Think about the possibilities with each of these:

Starbucks Cinnamon Dolce Syrup

Starbucks Caramel Syrup

Starbucks Hazelnut Syrup

Starbucks Vanilla Syrup

Click through any of the flavors listed for more information – there are also Sugar Free versions available. My mind just doesn’t spend much time with the words sugar free. Sometimes when I’m huffing and puffing on the treadmill I wish it did. But, there you have it.

I’d recommend each one of these perfect syrups for flavoring coffee and/or using in the seductive manners I described. Whatever you do, you MUST grab a bottle of the Starbucks Raspberry Syrup and a bottle of the Starbucks Caramel Syrup.

You can have a lot of success making Starbucks-like drinks at home, but having great coffee, great tea bags, and these flavored syrups are essential. And delicious!

Burger King to Serve Seattle’s Best Brand Coffee Starting This Summer

by Joi on February 18, 2010

Wow, I didn’t see this one coming. As you know, I am the epitome of a coffee expert. My husband and our oldest daughter (Emily) are the same way. What can I say, we know our java. We always have a fresh pot of coffee brewing in the kitchen and we certainly know the spots around town with the best coffee when we need a quick fix away from home.

Emily and I are completely wild about Burger King’s coffee. For some reason, it is just always tastes outstanding. Apparently it’s about to get even more outstanding, if that’s possible. Starting this summer, new coffee will be served at Burger King’s nationwide.

Burger King will roll-out Starbucks Corp.’s Seattle’s Best Coffee to more than 7,000 of its restaurants in the United States. Burger King’s brand, BK Joe will be forced into retirement. Emily and I will miss it something fierce.

John Schaufelberger, senior vice president of Burger King’s global product marketing and innovation, told The Associated Press that coffee switcheroo is part of a continued effort to improve its breakfast business. He called Burger King’s morning menu one of their “top strategic priorities.”

Seattle Best Brand, which I love by the way, is one of coffee giants Starbuck’s babies. Starbuck’s acquired the Seattle’s Best brand in 2003. Seattle’s Best Brand is already served at 9,000 Subway franchises.

Fidalgo Bay Coffee – You Can Taste the Class

by Joi on February 9, 2009

Fidalgo Bay Coffee

There are certain things in this world that I consider myself to be an expert on: Raising daughters, cooking, Dean Koontz books, herbs, chocolate, polar bears, and coffee. Definitely coffee. The girl knows her coffee.

Whenever my husband (Michael) is near Murray, Kentucky, he stops for a cup of coffee at the Fidalgo Bay Coffee Shop. One morning, however, the cup proved too flimsy for the lid (or his “golf grip hand” was too strong) and coffee went all over him and his ipod. Not a completely happpy ending.

He mentioned it on his business blog. I believe it was more of a “Watch out for this type of thing before it happens to you” type of thing than a gripe fest.

Months later, he had actually forgotten about it. We had been back to the coffee shop quite a few times and always enjoyed their delicious coffee and friendly baristas.

A few weeks ago, however, Michael got an e-mail from someone with Fidalgo Bay. She told him that they had seen his post, were very sorry, and would like to send him something to make amends. She asked for his address, but he was thinking that everything was cool and that she didn’t need to send anything. THEN, the man that I love so dearly realized that she would probably be sending coffee and he coughed up our address.

I didn’t even have to hit him on the back.

I’m here to tell you that when Fidalgo Bay makes amends, they make amends. In addition to two gorgeous travel mugs featuring their beautiful logo, they sent:

12 oz. bag of Organic French Roast Whole Beans
12 oz. bag of Daybreak Blend Whole Beans (What I’m drinking at the moment!)
12 oz. bag of Organic Cafe’ Selvanica Whole Beans
12 oz. bag of Sunset French Whole Beans
Box of Numi Breakfast Blend Organic Full Leaf Tea Bags
Box of Numi Gunpowder Green Organic Green Tea Bags

It was Christmas in January!

My oldest daughter and I are huge fans of the Fidalgo Bay Breakfast Blend tea (a black tea with a personality so strong he can substitute for a cup of coffee at a moment’s notice). The caffeine is higher in this tea, so when we do grab a cup of Breakfast Blend instead of coffee, our body doesn’t seem to realize the switch. It’s brilliantly convenient when we simply don’t want to make a whole pot of coffee.

I’m equally thrilled with the Numi Gunpowder Green Tea. I’m already a huge fan of green tea, but I’ve had trouble getting my husband to drink it. Whenever I offer some to him, he just crinkles his nose and makes a face like I just offered him pickled squid. But get this: He tried the Gunpowder Green tea and now even requests a cup of this green tea! It does have a extra special taste and can win anyone over to team Green.

Speaking of green, I LOVE that these teas, as well as many of Fidalgo Bay’s coffees are organic. Just what does that mean, you may ask? I’ll let the words on the bag of Organic French Roast explain:

Beans are allowed to ripen slowly under a canopy of shade trees, which provide a natural habitat for animals and migratory birds. No chemical fertilizers or pesticides are used. Each harvest is hand-picked and sundried in the open air to preserve the natural character and earthy flavors of these special coffees. Even the pulp residue reproduced during the drying and milling process is composted and recycled into organic fertilizer for future plantings.

This is a costly process. That’s why we pay a premium to farmers who are dedicated to preserving these high quality, socially responsible farming traditions. It’s a commitment you’ll savor with every cup of our Nature’s Crest organic coffees.

Fidalgo Bay Daybreak Blend Coffee Everyone’s a winner – the farmer’s, the farmer’s families, the coffee drinkers, and Fidalgo Bay, of course, who secures some AMAZING coffee and a stellar reputation.

Fidalgo Bay coffees are very, very special. They have a spirited personality, an intoxicating aroma, and a remarkably delicious flavor. I just ground the last of the Daybreak Blend this morning. Fidalgo Bay Daybreak Blend has a fresh, rich, nutty flavor. It’s easily one of my favorite coffees I’ve ever enjoyed.

I also love the Fidalgo bay Sunset French Coffee. It’s a bold, rich, coffee with a strong sense of itself. Before I brewed a pot of this beautiful coffee, I read on the bag that it had a “Smokey Finish.” A million question marks marched around my head – A smokey finish..what??? After I tasted my first sip, though, the question marks turned into exclamation marks and they stopped marching and started dancing. There is a delightfully delicious smokey finish and it’s one you and your own dancing exclamation marks would have to experience for yourself.

Actually, you’ll want to experience all of Fidalgo Bay’s coffees because, I can honestly tell you they don’t seem capable of making a disappointing or even average coffee. I only wish they were available in grocery stores! However, they do have a website, which means you can buy online – and we all know how easy that is.

Visit Fidalgo Bay Coffee today and order a couple of bags of their rich, delicious coffee. Then watch for your delivery and prepare to be blown away. You don’t drink Fidalgo Bay Coffee, you experience it.

Coffee Beans

Gorgeous Starbucks Global Mugs Would Make a Great Collection

by Joi on January 18, 2009

Nobody loves Starbucks like I love Starbucks – I’m totally comfortable with that claim. Not only do I frequent each of the three Starbucks in Owensboro (I like to spread the love), my kitchen echoes my sentiments. You can always find several bags of Starbucks coffee beans on the counter, Starbucks mugs in the cabinets, tumblers, and (of course) the full or half full coffee, tea, or latte that I’ve recently snagged.

I just found these gorgeous mugs online, at the Starbucks website – yes, I even stalk them online. It occurs to me that they’d make a great collection, so.. um, yeah… I’m going with that idea. Click through to see the rest of the gorgeous mugs they have. Starbucks is the reason, you know, that drinking coffee is so vogue, classy, and even sexy.

Starbucks Coffees 12-oz. NY Global Series Mug

Starbucks Coffees 12-oz. Chicago Global Series Mug

Starbucks Coffees 12-oz. San Francisco Global Series Mug

Starbucks Coffees 12-oz. Hawaii Global Series Mug

Starbucks Coffees 12-oz. Seattle Global Series Mug

Starbucks London Fog Latte and Apple Chai Tea are Darn Good

by Joi on January 2, 2009

Back to back Starbucks posts? A new personal best.

The husband and I went to Owensboro’s main Starbucks tonight to see if they had the new teas yet. They did – they’re just marvelous like that. I tried the London Fog because if they’re clever enough to come up with such a great name, I’m game. The London Fog is a Latte that uses Earl Grey tea as the main ingredient. It’s like a Chai Tea Latte, but at the last minute Earl Grey substitutes for the Chai. I love Earl Grey tea dearly, so I loved the London Fog dearly. It’s really, really good.

My husband got the Apple Chai tea and it was fantastic, too. It tasted like a cross between Starbucks’ Apple Cider (which is Heavenly) and Chai Tea (also Heavenly). Both drinks were as good as I’d hoped they’d be.

Starbucks Turns Over a Couple of New Tea Leafs

by Joi on December 31, 2008

Starbucks Logo Starbucks is doing their part to help all of us keep those healthy New Year’s Resolutions. Tuesday, they announced that they’ll offer three new tea-based lattes and two nondairy tea drinks on Saturday as part of a campaign for giving customers healthier choices.

All but one of the new drinks is less than 200 calories for a “tall” drink (12 oz). The new varieties include the Black Tea Latte, the Vanilla Rooibos Latte and the London Fog latte. These will join the Chai Tea Latte, which I enjoy several times a week – including last night!

Starbucks will also launch new Tazo Tea Infusions – nondairy drinks made with Tazo black chai tea and fruit juice. One will be a Berry Chai Infusion, made with berry and black currant juices, and the other will be an Apple Chai Infusion, made with apple juice.

“The same way we transformed American coffee culture, we want to deliver an exceptional tea experience for customers with our new Tazo Tea Lattes and Tea Infusions,” said Michelle Gass, executive vice president of marketing and category, said in a statement.

Thisi is another delicious effort that Starbucks is making to give its customers healthier options. They’ve already introduced more whole-grain, low fat breakfast offerings, including an instant oatmeal that has been hugely popular…. and Heavenly!

Starbucks Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate will Stupify You in a Delightful Way!

by Joi on October 3, 2008

Starbucks Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate Your orders for the day: Find the Starbucks nearest you and get thyself to it Godspeed. Walk in like you own the place (that’s my M.O. anyway) and order a Salted Caramel Signature Hot Chocolate. Don’t let the word “salted” trip you up. It’s just a little perfectly Heavenly salt ground on top. It compliments the whole shebang in a way that ought to be illegal in 49 states. We’ll let Texas get away with it, they’re bigger than we are.

Starbucks regular Hot Chocolate is completely delicious, itself. In the fall and winter, I go back and forth between Hot Chocolate, Apple Cider (delicious!) and one of my greatest addictions – Chai Tea. But since I tried the Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate, I’ve kind of been stuck. Funny, but I seldom actually get coffee at Starbucks. I guess it’s because I always have coffee made at home (and often with Starbucks coffee beans), so getting it out doesn’t make a lot of sense.

Of course, my husband would say I don’t order coffee at Starbucks because it’s cheaper than the other drinks, and that goes against something I stand for.

*Sniff* I love how he knows me so well.

By the way (or “Buy the way”), the link below will take you to a site called Coffee For Less. I’ve used the link that’ll hook you up with one of my favorite coffee beans: Starbucks Caffee Verona. It’s bold, aromatic, and makes you happy to be alive.

Try the Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate! – It’ll blow the roof off your mind.

Oh! Nuts and Oh! Candy and Oh! My!

by Joi on May 6, 2008

Ohhh man! Have I got a website to tell you about? Well, actually it’s not so much the website that has me purring Ohhhh man as much as it is what the website can hook you up with.

How do Pecan Caramel Chocolate Clusters sound to you? How about Roasted Cashews? Or Toffee Pecan Cinnamon Buns. I hate to brag, but I have a Pecan Caramel Chocolate Cluster in my mouth right now and I’m not even lying. Mmmmm, if this candy were any better I’d….. Never mind, it couldn’t be any better.

You’d think that the rich, delicious caramel or the always perfect pecans would steal the show with this candy, wouldn’t you. That’s what I thought, too, until I took the first (of many!) bite. The chocolate is some of the most amazing chocolate I’ve ever tasted in my life. I have no unearthly idea why it’s so spectacular, but I’ve never tasted any better. It is just unbelievably delicious – it tastes exactly like chocolate was meant to taste.

I just went back to scour the website for more chocolate goodness and it didn’t take me long to find EXACTLY what I’m ordering next: Chocolate Covered Pretzels! Click the link to see all of the glorious varieties. I also was amazed to see that my newfound heroes have Gourmet Coffee Beans as well. Into the shopping cart, caffeine!

If I can get my mind off of Chocolate for one minute (notice I said mind and not mouth), I want to also tell you about their roasted cashews. They’re amazingly delicious fat little bits of Heaven. They’re perfect right out of the bag, but if you need a chocolate fix…stat!…. they’re danged amazing dunked in melted milk chocolate. Just melt the choclate in a crock pot on low, then carefully dip each fat little cashew in the chocolate bath (I’m so jealous..). Place them on waxed paper and allow them to “set.”

So good you won’t believe it.

Last but not least, I’ve also tried the Toffee Pecan Cinnamon Buns candy. These little devils are unlike anything you’ve ever had, this I promise you. Personally, I love mine alongside a great cup of coffee – the flavors just go together in such a way that my head gets all swimmy. The cinnamon flavor on the candy compliments the coffee and the coffee returns the favor…or should I say, flavor. Halfway into the experience, you’d swear you were enjoying a Toffee Pecan Candy with a cup of gourmet cinnamon-flavored coffee.

You HAVE to check this website all the way out and jump in with both hands and mouth open. Do like I’m doing, trying a few things out at a time. I WILL make my way through everything connected to chocolate, nuts, and coffee. Sure, it’ll take me a while because they have so many varieties, but I don’t mind – really, I don’t.

Did I tell you how unbelievably amazing this chocolate is? I did? Oh, okay, then I’ll just take my candy and head to the deck….

*** If you want the best chocolate imaginable, or roasted cashews that’ll take your breath away, and/or candy that that’ll make you happy to be alive, check out Oh! Nuts.com - talk about delicious Mother’s Day gifts! You might want to go ahead and get “Dad’s” too while you’re there, Father’s Day isn’t that far off.

Also, be sure to keep this website in mind when other holidays and special days roll around: Christmas, Halloween, Valentine’s Day, Easter, Anniversaries, Birthdays, Graduation, Weddings, Showers, Fourth of July picnics, my birthday… I’m just sayin’…first day of school, last day of school, big games, small games – oh! nuts, you get the idea.

PHILADELPHIA 3 STEP Cappuiccino Cheesecake

by Joi on April 24, 2008

2 pkg (8 oz each) PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese, softened

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 tsp vanilla

2 eggs

1 TBS milk

2 TBS MAXWELL HOUSE Instant Coffee

1 ready-to-use chocolate crumb crust

Mix the cream cheese, sugar and vanilla with an electric mixer on medium speed until creamy and well blended. Add the 2 eggs and mix well.

Microwave milk on high for 15 seconds. If you don’t have a microwave, of course, you can simply heat it on the stovetop in the tiniest pan imaginable! Stir instant coffee into milk until dissolved. Stir into batter and pour into crust.

Bake at 350 degrees fro 35 to 40 minutes or until center is almost set. Cool. Refrigerate for 3 hours or overnight. (You’ll barely make the 3 hours before diving in, so you’d better go with that one.)

This delicious, yet simple, recipe is from a little recipe booklet that I got YEARS ago in a Dollar General Store for, like, $3. It’s a “PHILADELPHIA” Cream Cheese Cookbook called, “A Little Taste of Heaven: Appetizers, Cheesecakes, and More.” It was put out in 2003, so it might be a little tricky to find (think e-bay!), but if you can get your hands on it, it’s pure gold. Cream cheese is one of my favorite things to bake with; like buttermilk, it just makes everything better.

You’ll love this recipe! Coffee combined with chocolate AND cream cheese?!?! I could eat this every day for the rest of my life.

Starbucks Coffee and Earth Day

by Joi on April 22, 2008

As if we NEED another reason, using our Starbucks Card today makes a lot of “cents.” In celebration of Earth Day, Starbucks will donate 5 cents to Conservation International each time a card holder makes a purchase.

If you don’t have a Starbucks card or if, like me, yours stays maxed out – you can make a woderfully appreciated donation by clicking the link below. The Conservation International website points out that for each $10 raised, 10 trees are planted in Chiapas, Mexico.

The earth loves that!

http://www.conservation.org/campaigns/starbucks/Pages/default.aspx

From a CI Press Release:

“Since 1998, Starbucks and CI have collaborated to demonstrate that coffee can be grown in ways that support communities and preserve the environment,” said Ben Packard, Starbucks vice president of Corporate Social Responsibility. “Through this next phase of our relationship, we hope to extend our leadership in coffee sustainability and to invite our customers to join us in promoting the protection of forests as a solution to climate change.”

CI and Starbucks recently announced a five-year global commitment to support farming communities, encourage the protection of their land, water and forests, including a three year multi-million dollar financial commitment. By taking conservation beyond coffee farms and into surrounding landscapes, CI and Starbucks are addressing the most pressing environmental issue of our day—climate change. Beginning in Mexico and Indonesia, Starbucks and CI will pilot projects that create climate solutions through the protection of standing forests and restoration of degraded landscapes.

“The issue of climate change is everyone’s issue, and by engaging Starbucks customers in one of the solutions to climate change is very encouraging,” said Glenn Prickett, Senior Vice President and Executive Director, Center for Environmental Leadership in Business, Conservation International. “Buying a cup of coffee may seem like too small an action to make a difference, but simple changes can be multiplied to reach a scale never before realized – and we are saving thousands of acres of tropical forests in the process.”

Almost 20 percent of all carbon dioxide emissions result from the burning and clearing of forests, nearly double the emissions from all of the world’s cars, trucks, and trains combined. Starbucks investment in and support for local coffee growers and the communities that help keep forests intact will help ensure that every cup of coffee brewed produces tangible benefits for both local and global communities.

Coffee, Tea, or a pastry? I’ll have all three. (I’ll need to get another Starbucks card first, though.)

Click HERE to learn how easy it is to live green!

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