The 10 Hottest Coffee Houses

According to Forbestraveler.com this is a list of the 10 hottest coffee houses in the U.S.:

1.) Zoka Coffee Roaster and Tea Co.- Seattle

2.) Ritual Coffee Roasters- San Francisco

3.) Stumptown Coffee Roasters- Portland, OR

4.) Blue Bottle Coffee- San Francisco

5.) Gimme!- New York City

6.) Cafe Grumpy- New York City

7.) Alterra Coffee Roasters- Milwaukee

8.) Intelligentsia Coffee and Tea, Inc.- Chicago and Los Angeles

9.) Victrola Coffee Roasters- Seattle

10.) Albina Press- Portland, OR

PIE

Last spring, my friend and I, were walking around Chicago and came across this funky bakery called PIE. We walked in and were pleasantly suprised. It had freshly baked pies- not only regular size, but individual sizes as well. We sampled all the goodies, and since we were walking, settled on some brownies to go. They were amazingly good!!
In July, I met my cousins downtown, and I made sure we went back. This time we got an individual blueberry pie, and went to the back, where we found an adorable courtyard to eat our pie. So good!! They have all sorts of fruit pies, cream pies, brownies, coffees, etc. Plus, in the back is this really cool floral designer called Epoch Floral.
Recently, I went on their website and found out they deliver! That could be dangerous!
If ever in the area of Hard Rock Cafe, Uno's, Ed Debevic's- check this place out. It's near the corner of State St and Ohio. And... right next door is a place that sells French antiques! Adorable and not that expensive.

PIE
615 N. State St.
Chicago, IL 60610
1-312-642-4192
PIE@PIECHICAGO.COM
www.piechicago.com

Baking Snickerdoodles

Today is just a gross day. It's gotten to 51 and it's raining and foggy. Not a good day for doing much- except baking! The kids and I ran to Starbucks, where I enjoyed an Eggnog Latte. If you havent tried one yet, you really should- they wont be around much longer.
Before we left, my daughter brought out her cookbooks so we could make something when we got home. We looked through them and decided Snickerdoodles sounded good.
It was really easy and fun to bake together, plus the leftovers in the bowl were wonderful!


Snickerdoodles

1 cup butter
1-1/2 cups sugar
2 eggs, beaten
1 tsp. vanilla
2-3/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 tsp cream of tartar
1 tsp baking soda
2 T sugar
2 tsp cinnamon

Mix butter and 1-1/2 cups of sugar together in a large mixing bowl. Add beaten eggs and vanilla.
Combine flour, cream of tartar and baking soda in another mixing bowl.
Add flour mixture to the butter mixture a little at a time until the dough is blended and no flour is left in the bottom of the bowl.
Combine remaining sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl.
Roll dough into balls and toss in cinnamon-sugar. Place on an ungreased baking sheet.
Bake at 400 degrees for 8-10 minutes, or until they're puffy and edges are golden. Cool on a wire rack for 5 minutes.


(Recipe from "Kids in the Kitchen" from Gooseberry Patch)

A travel auction site to check out!

I love to find new and exciting places to go. So far I've only gotten to travel in North America, but there is plenty to find here. Whenever we get to travel to a place, we've never been (even Iowa!), I get so excited to discover what's in store there. I have yet to be disappointed.
So, if you're looking for adventure, and on a budget, check out this travel auction website: www.Generousadventures.com

(From ShopSmart magazine)

"This interesting Web site combines travel with good causes: Profits from most purchases are donated by travel companies to nonprofit groups. Beneficiaries have included Habitat for Humanity, Rainforest Action Network, and Doctors Without Borders. Many, but not all, of GenerousAdventures offerings are outdoorsy or sports-related, and include trips from Micronesia to Maui. A recent trip, for example, was a hotel and spa package in Napa Valley, Calif., valued at $479, that went for $250.

TIP: The selection can be skimpy, so you should check back often. "

Merry Christmas!

He did not use a silvery box

Or paper green and red;

God laid His Christmas gift to me

Within a manger bed.


-Prentice

A Quick and Easy Punch

If you are in a hurry and looking for a quick way to make punch, try this:

frozen strawberries
gallon of vanilla bean ice cream
ginger ale

Tastes so good and looks pretty for this time of year!

Merry Christmas!!

French Press Coffee

This morning it's snowing again and I'm inside enjoying a cup of French Pressed coffee. I have wanted a French Press for a while now, and a couple days ago, my sister gave me one for Christmas. I absolutely love it!
If you havent tried French Pressed coffee, I highly recommend it. It has a wonderful, rich flavor- add a little tirimisu coffee creamer, and you have an amazing treat!
You can find a French Press just about anywhere. Mine is by Bodum and can be found at World Market.
Also, if you love to read, I have been reading the Coffee House Mysteries by Cleo Coyle. They are filled with mystery, coffee tips and recipes. Very fun!!

Smells of Christmas

I love this time of year, because I love the way Christmas smells. Each smell has a such a wonderful memory attached to it: like pine and how it did, and still fills the house with it's amazing aroma. I love the smell of fresh fudge and how my father in law so lovingly makes it every year for us. I love the smell of crisp icey air because I'm reminded of doing last minute Christmas shopping with my dad. And, I love the smell of Christmas Eve dinner because I know the night will be filled with fun and the love of my family. This year there will be 27 of us around the table.
I'm sure you have you own memories of this time of year, and I hope there are many more to be made.


Christmas Scent Mix

1 whole lemon 6 bay leaves
1 whole orange 1/2 cup whole cloves
3 4-inch cinnmon sticks

Cut unpeeled lemon and orange into quarters. Combine fruit, spices and 2 quarts of water in a saucepan. Bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer as long as desired, continuing to add water as needed. Cover any leftover mixture; may be refrigerated for several days and reused.

(from Melissa Dunlap- Indiana, PA)

Family Gift Exchange

Tonight is the annual gift exchange for my side of the family. We do it the Saturday before Christmas and it's such a nice time of being together. It's tradition that when a granddaughter turns 10, she gets her first American Girl doll. Tonight is my daughter turn- she cant wait. I love this time together because I am so thankful for the family God has given me. We have a good time and they are tons of fun.
Our night begins with appetizers, then pictures of individual families, gifts and finally dessert and looking through what we got. I'm already giddy!
I decided to bring a Reuben Dip Appetizer to add to the appetizers tonight. It's super easy and tastes really good. I hope you like it as much as we do!

Reuben Dip

1/2 lbs corned beef
1 cup grated swiss cheese
8 oz. cream cheese, softened
1 cup sour cream
3/4 cup sauerkraut, drained

Mix all together and heat it all in a pot on the stove. Stew until bubbly and serve with small rye breads or crackers.

Snow Day

Today is a snow day. I love days like today, where no one has to go to school and I didnt have to go to work. The snow is falling so beautifully and I get to enjoy it!
So, I am going to treat myself and my kids today. First, I infused my coffee grounds with cinnamon, for a wonderful, cozy flavor and then we are going to make Snow Ice Cream. I hope you have a wonderful, warm day with your family!


Snow Ice Cream

1 cup milk
1 pasteurized egg, beaten
1/2 sugar
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 tsp. cinnamon
8 cups of clean, fresh snow

Blend first 5 ingredients together. Add snow until absorbed. Pack into a freezer- safe container and freeze until firm. Serves about 4.

(Found in the Cozy Country Christmas by Gooseberry Patch)

Tim Tam

My daughter came home from school one day, raving about a cookie called a Tim Tam. She learned about it in Social Studies class.
It's a cookie from Australia and it's a chocolate covered wafer cookie. BUT, (here's the great part!) if you bite off a little of one end and then bite off a little of the opposite end, you can put the cookie in hot chocolate and and use it as a "straw". It get's all gooey, but it's really good.
We found them at Target in the cookie isle. They are made by Pepperidge Farm.
Happy Snacking!!

Welcome to my blog!

Thank you for coming to my blog! It's here that I share my thoughts, different recipes I've found, places I've been, books I'm reading and whatever else comes up!
I hope you enjoy your time here!!