It's A Recipe!

For all you coffee lovers like me, here is a recipe for a "Almost Famous Mocha Frappe".  Here's the recipe!

This recipe makes four drinks.

For the Coffee Ice:

3 tablespoons sugar

2 Cups of warm strong coffee

For the chocolate syrup:

2/3 cup sugar

1/2 cup unsweeted cocoa powder

1 ounce of milk chocolate, finely chopped

1 1/2 teaspoons honey

1/2teaspoon of vanilla extract

For the Frappes

1 cup of milk

whipped cream, for topping

1) Make the coffee ice: Stir the sugar into the coffeee until dissolved, then let it cool (it doesn't have to be cold because warm liquid freezes better anyway).  Pour into a 16-cube-icetray and freeze until solid, they say about three hours. ?

2) Make the chocolate syrup: Combine the sugar and cocoa powder in a saucepan and slowly whisk in 2/3 cup of hot water. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, whisking, until the sugar dissolves, 3 to 5 minutesl do not boil. Remove from heat and stir in the chocolate, honey, and vanilla until smooth. Transfer to a bowl and refrigerate until cool.

3) Make the frappes: "Puree" 8 coffee cubes, 1/2 cup milk, 1/3 to 1/2 cup of chocolate syrup and 1 cup plain ice into a blender utnil smooth. Pour into 2 glasses, then repeat to make 2 more drinks. Top with whipped cream and more chocolate syrup.

Enjoy!

Coffee

Mmmmm, you wake up to the delicious smell of coffee on a cold, blustery morning. Although, it smells good, to some tastes good, and looks good. Is it really good for you? I, who like coffee, and cappuccinos and things along those lines, decided to look into to see if it is good for you. Not that I'll stop drinking it, if it's really bad for you...

I am allowed a cup of coffee on special occasions. I'm hoping tonight will be a "special occasion!" :D

Coffee does have good "qualities". Here are the stats

• 1. Antioxidants. Coffee is rich in antioxidants like chlorogenic acid and melanoidins. Antioxidants help prevent oxidation, a process that causes damage to cells and contributes to aging.

• 2. Parkinson's disease. Regular coffee drinking reduces the risk of Parkinson's disease. A number of studies [1],[2] have demonstrated that people who drink coffee on a regular basis are significantly less likely to develop Parkinson's disease.

• 6. Kidney stones. Coffee consumption lowers the risk of kidney stones formation. Coffee increases the urine volume, preventing the crystallization of calcium oxalate, the most common component of kidney stones.

• 7. Improved mental performance. Caffeine in coffee is a well-known stimulant. Coffee promotes alertness, attention and wakefulness. The cup of coffee can also increase information processing.

Coffee really is good for you, if you take out the caffine, and drink it in moderation. Coffee helps one to stay awake, (because of the caffine) and can be very useful to drivers.

Although, there are good benefits for coffee, there are also some cons. :((

• Cholesterol. Heavy consumption of boiled coffee elevates blood total and LDL ("bad") cholesterol levels [7].Unfiltered coffee contains two cholesterol-raising compounds cafestol and kahweol.

• 8. Sleep. Most are aware of the stimulatory effects of caffeine. High amounts of caffeine taken before going to sleep can cause difficulty falling asleep, tendency to be awakened more readily by sudden noises, and a decreased quality of sleep. However, some people can drink coffee and fall right asleep.

• Heart rhythm disturbances. Coffee can cause rapid or irregular heartbeats (cardiac arrhythmias).

There you are, some facts about a very popular drink: coffee. Seeing there are two sides to the issue, (one good and one not), I can't say if coffee is really good for you or vice versa.

So in conclusion, to convey if coffee really is or isn't good for you, you would have to look at both sides of the information. :D One could consider it good, or very bad for you. You have to choose. :D

Happy figuring!

Kara

A Perfect Cup of Tea

A cup of tea can do absolutely WONDERS for a person..If the right kind, that tastes good...etc.

To "spice up" a cup of tea, here is a little tip that will make your cup of tea like none other.  After you  have made your cup of tea, pour in some rich cream, as much as you desire, and walah! A calming, cup of tea on a brisk fall morning that will cheer you up right away!

*hugs*

Kara