Coffee Time Treats to Entice Your Guests

For decades and beyond coffee has been enjoyed through good times and bad. Friends, fellowship, get- togethers, relaxing times, shopping trips. I mean, who doesn't pair shopping at the Mall without stopping for coffee?

It just seems to mellow everything out. But, there are so many ways to have your coffee. My daughter's school had yearly International Fairs where each student would have a country for a project. Everything about the country they were assigned like, food, traditions, culture, dress, language and surprisingly along with the food was coffee! The native coffee and the way they serve it in their country. It was quite amazing and interesting at the same time to know that, even though, in a different time zone and setting, that they get up every morning and have their start to the day all around the world and there were so many flavors!

Coffee can be really special around the holidays because it goes so well with pumpkin pie as well as chocolate pie. One of my daughters favorites.

It's the little touches, though, that can make it so special. For example, sometimes when I want a little something special for my coffee time, I add just a touch of cinnamon to the grounds in my pot. When I pour it into my cup and add the cream it makes it taste special! Just that one little simple touch always reminds me of special days and it enlightens my spirit. I actually learned that little trick when I used to work retail. A coworker of mine that worked in the HR department was always in charge of morning meetings and her coffee always tasted so special and I always thought she used the gourmet coffee that we sold in the store, turns out, that's all she did was that one little touch! I promised to keep her secret if she would give me the recipe for those delicious scones she always made for our meetings.

SPICED COFFEE RECIPE

2 cups water

1 tbsp packed brown sugar

2 three inch sticks of cinnamon

Peel of one orange

1/4 tsp whole allspice

1 tbsp instant coffee

Heat water, brown sugar, cinnamon, orange peel and allspice to boiling. Strain and pour liquid over coffee in a heat proof container and stir until coffee is dissolved.

Makes 6 servings, about 1/3 cup each.

**This makes a really nice Fall treat in front of the fire or for company.

Down below is a very nice video with a little different twist on spiced coffee that you might like to try!

There are so many treats you can have with your coffee because so many things go wonderfully well with coffee. One of those treats is scones! There are a lot of different types of scones but, in this video they show you the real basic way to make them and you can also freeze them. They are easier to make than you think.

Now here is a recipe you might want to try. I experienced this at a dinner party one Fall when I was still in school. Very tasty recipe you can serve for dessert or have it as a treat with coffee when you have visitors.

COCONUT CHEWS RECIPE

3/4 cup powdered sugar

3/4 cup shortening, half butter or margarine, softened

1 1/2 cups all purpose flour

2 eggs

1 cup packed brown sugar

2 tbsp flour

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp vanilla

1/2 cup chopped walnuts

1/2 cup flaked coconut

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix powdered sugar and shortening. Stir in 1 1/2 cups of flour. Press is ungreased oblong pan about 13x9x2 inches. Bake until golden brown 12 to 15 minutes.

Now, mix remaining ingredients. Spread over baked layer and bake for 20 minutes. Cool and cut into bars about 3x1 inch.

Makes 32 cookies

**Self rising flour can be used in this recipe.

**This recipe is also featured on my Blog http://cuisineforthought.simplesite.com/

IRISH COFFEE RECIPE

1 cup chilled whipping cream

1/4 cup powdered sugar

1 tsp vanilla

3/4 cup ground coffee

3 cups water

1/2 cup Irish Whiskey or Brandy

4 to 8 tsp granulated sugar

Beat whipping cream, powdered sugar and vanilla in chilled small mixer bowl until stiff and refrigerate. Prepare coffee and use 3/4 cup coffee and 3 cups water.

Heat 4 mugs or Irish Coffee glasses by rinsing with boiling water and drain. Place 2 tbsp whiskey and 1 to 2 tbsp granulated sugar in each mug. Top with whipped cream and serve immediately.

4 servings about 3/4 cup each

Below are three different ways to make Irish Coffee. The first one is the basic way, the second one is the professional way and the third one is a slightly new twist that might be interesting to try. So, enjoy!

Have you ever had a bad cup of coffee? Well, it's possible! If you have, It might have been because the coffee was not made from fresh coffee beans.

It is highly possible to have decades old beans lying around that get scooped up somehow to make the daily coffee.

There is also the possibility that the beans or ground coffee was not high enough quality. It does make a difference, more than you know. The cheaper the coffee is or not as fresh can make a big difference too.

Do you ever go to the store and get to the coffee isle and stand there for 2 hours trying to figure out which coffee to get? That's because now there are so many brands, different varieties, I mean, coffee shop brands are even sold in the stores now and there's about a million different kinds for that brand alone. Some of them are higher, some lower. Its not like buying food where you can find out everything you need to know just by reading the label. You can't always do taste tests all the time. No one has enough money to buy several different kinds just to take them home and try them. Not to mention K-cups or Kurig pods as they are sometimes called. They are a whole other level.

Last but not least, one of my all time favorites is "Mexican Coffee"!

This coffee will brighten any fiesta with a special combination of vanilla, coffee and spices it's a rich treat to sip for all occasions.

MEXICAN COFFEE RECIPE

1 cup water

1 rounded tsp instant coffee

1 cup milk

1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

1/4 tsp ground nutmeg

2 tbsp chocolate syrup and 2 tbsp sugar

1 tbsp vanilla

whipping cream, nutmeg or cinnamon

Add ingredients to a sauce pan to heat on medium heat stirring constantly until hot but, do not burn.

Pour into a cup or mug then top with whipping cream and sprinkle with nutmeg.

This recipe serves two but, you can double it.

Since this video has a recipe in it that can contain alcohol, please be responsible and if you have children remember this is not hot cocoa so you must take care of them with a drink more their speed, since children always want to follow what we are doing so, be thoughtful.

Remember if you are the host you need to stay aware of everything going on. Not that you can't have fun. But, as an adult you know how things can get out of hand especially when there's alcohol involved. In this time we live in where everything is uncertain and sometimes people are having a rough time wile some people may not, words would be said, not to intentionally hurt someone but, it does nonetheless. Have something in place for in case that happens. Maybe even someone you know that is very capable of handling altercations. That way they never get started.