REMEMBERING WHEN COFFEE WAS COFFEE

Remember the good old days when a cup of coffee meant just that … a cup of coffee.  And your choices were simple.  It was Maxwell House or Folgers at our house.  My Dad was a coffee nut and that’s where I get it.  But he only drank his coffee black, straight out of the pot.  I’m not that adventurous.  I have to add a little cream and sweetener. 

But today, the possibilities are endless.  And some are so far stretching that there is basically no resemblance to regular old coffee.  But in an effort to keep up with the times. I’m adding these new coffee house concoctions to my blog.  Although if you come to my house, Maxwell House better be okay!

CAFÉ MOCHA

Mocha is the marriage of coffee and chocolate.  Simply put, Cafe Mocha means either adding chocolate to your coffee, or adding a shot of espresso coffee to your hot chocolate.  The best Cafe Mocha is not made with drip-brewed coffee but rather Italian-brewed espresso.

Don't have an espresso machine? That's ok. If you can make a coffee at home, you can make a Cafe Mocha from home.

2/3 cup Mocha powder or hot chocolate mix
2 T. Dark-roasted coffee beans
1/2 cup Skim milk
Whipped cream, to taste

You want to time the coffee and mocha syrup being ready close together so that the mix of powder and milk isn't too cold.

Start preparing your coffee the same way you normally would. Heat the milk on the stove, but be careful not to let it burn. Pour the mocha powder or hot chocolate mix into an oversized mug. Pour the skim milk into the mug, and quickly stir until the powder dissolves into a mocha syrup.

When the coffee is ready, pour it into the mug with the mocha syrup and stir them together. Add whipped cream to taste, and sprinkle some more powder on top of it.

Cafe Caramel

Stir caramel sundae sauce to taste into a mug of hot coffee until blended. Add a drop of vanilla extract and top with whipped cream.

CAPPUCCINO

A cappuccino is an Italian coffee which is traditionally prepared with espresso, hot milk, and steamed-milk foam. The name comes from the Capuchin friars, referring to the color of their habits.

The cappuccino is one of the most difficult espresso-based drinks to make properly.  Therefore, here’s  recipe for Cappuccino mix that you can make for yourself or give as a gift!

1 cup powdered non-dairy creamer

1 cup instant chocolate drink mix

3/4 cup instant coffee granules

1/2 cup white sugar

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

In a medium sized glass jar, combine the non-dairy creamer, chocolate drink mix, instant coffee, sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg; mix well.

To prepare, place 2 tablespoons mix in a mug, pour in 3/4 cup boiling water, and stir until dissolved. Serve hot.