My Spice Sage for instant mulling spices recipe

January 24th, 2012

There’s no need to brew up a huge pot of mulled cider or wait until next holiday season to breathe in the wonderful spicy aroma. Revive holiday memories of mulling spices throughout the year, by making your own instant mulling spices recipe.

I ordered 2 ounce bags online from My Spice Sage to try this recipe. I was happy to discover the hard-to-find ground orange peel. I smelled the richness of each spice as soon as I opened the bag. Their customer service was fantastic!

Instant Mulling Spices Recipe by Chica

  • 6 cups brown sugar
  • 3 tablespoons ground cinnamon
  • 2 tablespoons ground orange peel
  • 2 tablespoons ground cloves
  • 2 tablespoons ground allspice
  • 1 tablespoons ground nutmeg

Mix all ingredients together with a whisk and store in an airtight container. For a single serving, add 3 tablespoons of mixture to 1 cup of hot cider, juice, or wine.

If you want more, add 1/2 cup of mixture and 1 cup of water for every 2 cups of cider, juice, or wine. Bring to a boil, stir until dissolved, then reduce to a simmer. Pour into a teapot, cover with a cozy and leisurely sip your way through a good book or a fun hobby.

As the weather warms, stir 2-3 tablespoons of mixture into a glass of cranberry juice and add ice. Use a Kup Kollar to slow down the melting of the ice so your drink won’t water down and lose its taste.

Posted in Kup Kap, Kup Kollar, Other beverages, Recipes, Tea Tabard | No Comments »

Winter Solstice Tea from Peet’s Coffee & Tea

December 30th, 2011

For tea drinkers who want the convenience of tea bags, try Peet’s Winter Solstice Tea*, their most complex blend ever. The whole leaf and broken leaf black teas come from Darjeeling, Yunnan, and Sri Lanka. Mellow cinnamon, earthy allspice, pungent whole cloves, chopped Madagascar vanilla beans, bergamot and zesty orange peel add layered flavors. Winter Solstice Tea will brighten your winter day no matter how short it is!

Included in the directions on the side of each box, Peet’s writes, “Bring the water to a rolling boil, pour immediately onto the teabag, and cover with a lid to retain heat while steeping.” After using your Kup Kap for brewing, continue using it while drinking your tea to further retain heat from your first sip to your last!

*Also comes in a beautiful tin full of loose tea.

Posted in Coffee & Tea shops, Kup Kap, Tea | No Comments »

Harrisons & Crosfield Christmas Tea

December 21st, 2011

Harrisons & Crosfield Christmas Tea is imported from England. The whole leaf blend contains hand-plucked black tea leaves with pieces of aromatic clove, tangy orange peel, almonds, and fragrant rose flowers. The spices are cardamom, cinnamon and marzipan. The festive tea tin has brewing directions on the side. This Christmas Tea is very flavorful hot or cold.

You’ll find the best selection of high quality specialty teas in tea shops. I bought my tin in the House of Commons teahouse in Denver, Colorado. This is a wonderful place to enjoy tea anytime of the year!

We brought our holiday Kup Kaps to the House of Commons so we could enjoy our hot teas longer. Next time I might take tea cozies for their teapots!

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Coffee Ornaments, Coffee Talk-The Game, and Crazy Shirts

December 9th, 2011

It ‘tis the season for catalogs to arrive in your mail box. Whether you shop from a catalog or the company’s web store, brew your favorite hot tea or coffee before you start browsing. I found the following unique items for coffee lovers in three of many catalogs I’m receiving daily!

Sur La Table is offering an exclusive line of food and beverage ornaments handmade by artisans in Poland. Each ornament is made in glass. You’ll find an espresso machine, French press, and a coffee beans bag.

One of my favorite catalogs to browse is Crazy Shirts – “It’s not just fashion – it’s a cool way of life.” The company was founded in our coffee producing state of Hawaii in 1964 amid beach party movies and a rising interest in surfing.

The beautiful designs are purchased from freelance artists for $1000. The clothing’s color comes from specially mixed dyes using Kona coffee, beer, volcanic ash, hibiscus flowers, key limes, or one of several other unique sources.

There’s a new game in town called “Coffee Talk – The Game” from Pressman, making games for 85 years. The game is for 2-4 players and is stored in a resealable coffee package. It promises a whole latte of fun!

Posted in Coffee, French press, Gift Ideas, Hawaii, Kup Kap, Tea | No Comments »

Macadamia nuts from Smithfarms in HI for cheesecake recipe

July 17th, 2011

A Rainbow Kup Kollar soaks up condensation on the cold glass.

Macadamia Nut Cheesecake 

Crust

Cream in small bowl with electric mixer until light and fluffy:

  • ½ cup butter
  • ¼ cup sugar
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla
  • 1 cup flour

Press onto bottom of 9″ springform pan; prick bottom with fork.

Bake at 325 degrees for 25 minutes or until edges are light brown. 

Filling

Beat with an electric mixer until light and fluffy.

  • 4 (8-oz) packages Philadelphia Brand cream cheese, softened
  • ½ cup sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 4 eggs 

Blend in melted 12-ounces white chocolate. Stir in ¾ cup chopped macadamia nuts into batter. 

Bake 325 degrees; 55-60 minutes or until center is almost set.

Run knife or metal spatula around rim of pan to loosen cake; cool before removing rim of pan. Refrigerate at least 4 hours.  

From ”Favorite Brand Name Best-Loved Recipes – Collector’s Edition”, copyright 1997, page 240.

A majestic macadamia nut tree grows among lush tropical plants and coffee trees on Smithfarms in Hawaii, the Big Island. Unfortunately for their nut loving customers, 2011 is the last year Bob and Cea will sell macadamia nuts. Go now to order. The delicious recipe and the nuts are worth it!

A macadamia nut has a very hard shell. Bob’s luscious lime sits beside it.

You’ll find a hapuu (tree fern) frond growing among the Smiths’ coffee trees. It has nothing to do with macadamia nuts or coffee. I had to share because it’s so unusual!

Posted in Coffee, Hawaii, Kup Kollar, Recipes | No Comments »

New Orleans coffee and tea at Lucile’s Creole Café in Denver, CO

July 10th, 2011
The Kup Kollar on the glass keeps my hands dry while I knit.

While Perry enjoyed his full-bodied private blend Southern Louisiana style Chicory Coffee, I enjoyed New Orleans Spiced tea. It was one of the most full-flavored teas I’ve ever tasted. The secret is using cinnamon oil and orange oil instead of dried cinnamon and orange pieces.

After eating only half of the huge bowl of buttery long-cooked grits, I sipped the tea and knitted while the others finished their breakfast.

I bought a tin of New Orleans Spiced Tea to brew at home. The tin comes with directions for brewing.

Feeling full after our family breakfast at Lucile’s, Sean and Pam rode home on a Denver city bus and we drove south to our home.

Posted in Coffee, Denver, Great places to dine, Kup Kap, Kup Kollar, Tea | No Comments »

Breakfast at Lucile’s Creole Café in Denver, CO

July 3rd, 2011

 

The next morning Sean and Pam suggested we meet at Lucile’s for a mid day breakfast. We gathered in the cool shade under a tree while waiting for a table inside. Pam passed the time learning how to use her new camera and taking close-up silly photos of the rest of us!

Everything Pam and Sean told us about the melt-in-your-mouth beignets was correct!

I ordered Eggs Benedict – a Thomas’ English muffin, ham, poached eggs and hollandaise sauce served with potatoes. The eggs were perfect and the creamy sauce was delicious.

Perry ordered Eggs Sardou – creamed spinach, Gulf shrimp, poached eggs and hollandaise sauce served with grits and a homemade buttermilk biscuit. A decorative dish of strawberry rhubarb jam sat on the table. His breakfast disappeared, becoming a fond memory!

Thank you, Sean and Pam, who ate tasty vegetarian breakfasts!

Posted in Denver, Great places to dine, Kup Kollar | No Comments »

Thinsulate insulated Cup sleeves for Colorado Rockies baseball

June 28th, 2011

On a warm Friday night Perry and I joined Pam and Sean for a Rockies baseball game at the 76 acre Coors Field in downtown Denver. We needed water bottles not only for the altitude and dryness in Colorado but also for the salty peanuts!

We also used our Rockies cup wraps for hot tea and an icy coke. Because they fold flat to fit in a pants pocket, the cup sleeves are easy to carry with us.

I recommend you buy tickets for July 1 or 2, 2011 and enjoy the fireworks show after the game. It’s a great way to support the Rockies and celebrate July 4th with family and friends!

Posted in Coffee, Denver, Entertainment/Events, Kup Kollar, Other beverages, Tea, Tisane | No Comments »

Use the Rule of Three for recycled coffee bags

May 29th, 2011

Enjoy your favorite iced coffee drink while you repot new house plants. Use a cup sleeve on the glass so the ice won’t melt as fast. Next gather everything you need including empty coffee bags. I always move to the deck because it’s easier to clean up outdoors. 

Before spooning the potting soil into the coffee bag, cut off the top of a small box. Put the box inside the coffee bag to reinforce it and maintain its shape. I found a Lactaid 60 caplets box fits perfectly.

When I set my plants in the bay window, I applied the Rule of Three for room accessories which requires grouping in threes or odd numbers. The accessories are tied together by color, finish, or theme. Arrangements are more interesting when you use different heights.

Tea drinkers can use their tea tins for plants. Cups and saucers make pretty planters also. I added silk flowers to a teapot to make an attractive grouping using the Rule of Three.

Posted in Coffee, Guest & Entertaining Ideas, Kup Kollar, Tea, Tisane | 2 Comments »

Coffee cup sleeve fits a variety of drink containers

May 15th, 2011

From our roving reporter Colleen: 

“Jay and I bought a mixed drink each at Priscilla, Queen of the Desert on Broadway at The Palace Theatre in NYC. The drinks came in these cute, little travel cups that hold hot and cold drinks. I’ve been using the cups for coffee on my commute. I put the cup under the Keurig automatic coffee maker, and voila! Coffee to take with me.”

Colleen slips a Kup Kollar onto the cup before pouring. While commuting to work, she remembers her wonderful trip to NYC while she enjoys hot coffee!

Posted in Cities to visit, Coffee, Entertainment/Events, Kup Kollar, Unique Product Uses | No Comments »

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