Don't throw that coffee out!

  I am really guilty of this and I did it again today.

  I made coffee. Half a pot. And forgot it.

  Sacrilege.

  If you find it at the end of the day, I hate to say it, all is lost. But if it was only a couple of hours, like what happened to me, find a container, fill it, and toss it into the refrigerator. Now you have the beginnings of iced coffee! Or coffee milk!
  OR, wait for it to chill after your morning cup or two, let it cool down, then chill. I do that a lot now if I don't have time to brew coffee before school and will just make iced coffee instead.
  Something I like to do with the coffee grinds is to let them dry, collect it in a container, and use it as a growth booster for the garden. Yes, caffeine does have an effect on plants. I have seen enough high school experiments on it!

Art Talk at Mill Mountain and Discovery of a new blend!

  I have posted before about the Art Talks that I attend at Mill Mountain Coffee and Tea. Last night was a lot of talk about how art influences stereotypes, expectations, and how they  popularized our current view of Pocahontas and Native Americans. I could go into great detail about the conversation but I can say that I was greatly influenced by the light crispy Christmas Blend that Mill Mountain offers.
  It was magical and light. I was hoping that the brew would be available today but I will have to wait another time. Same bean and same roast as the rest of their coffees but with cinnamon hazelnut and toasted almond flavorings. Normally, I shy away from flavorings but this blend is exquisite and the syrups are probably not the artificially sweetened kind that normally activate my migraines. Yes, this blend has my approval.

Folger's Vanilla Biscotti

  So I purchased this a couple of weeks ago when it was on sale. I am surprised that it tastes as good as it does! You know me, I don't do negative coffee blogs much so if I am recommending something it is because I have spent some time with the flavor/brand. Another plus? I can drink it without milk or sugar, the way you should really drink your coffee. I can't wait to try their Mocha Swirl!

Coffee Comedy... Reloaded!

 Once again... here are some pics flying around Facebook and other parts of the internet. I wish I knew who did these pics but things get passed around and stolen so much! If you do know, leave a comment. Heck, leave a comment if anything else pops into your head! Enjoy!

Percolating Interpretations: Art Talks in a Coffeehouse

  I know there are people out there who are not into the Saturday night club scene. We usually spend our Saturday nights in a coffeehouse thinking about the world and listening to a random musician perform acoustic covers of familiar songs. But what about an art talk on a Saturday night in a coffeehouse?
  Mill Mountain Coffee and Tea on Starkey has been playing host to a once a month, Saturday night event called "Percolating Interpretations." These are presented by local art historian, B. Scott Crawford and The Arts Authority. What I like about Scott's talks is his vast background in art and how he studies the symbolism in art that may have been used in that time frame. You are bound to learn something new!

7-11 Pumpkin Spice Coffee

This is the second week I have stopped in to 7-11 for their pumpkin spice coffee. For the standard roadside fair, it is really good! Plus they have pumpkin spice flavored creamers to boot. Yeah, it is worth it! I have not tried the latte version simply because most of those are filled with syrups with artificial sweeteners that cause migraines for me. This was a welcome treat along with the Apple Danish this morning.

My other obsession... Tea!

  It's no surprise that I am a tea drinker considering my extensive British background. My absolute favorite teas are green, black, and white teas. My new passion is collecting tea sets, either as a set or one cup serving. Here is what I have gathered as a start. I may hit up yard sales and consignment stores for more unusual styles. 

Single serve tea set looks like a purse!

Chinese tea set obtained from an import store in Virginia Beach.

Sunday morning coffee funny!

  Who couldn't use a complimentary coffee first thing in the morning? I have an idea! Get a chalkboard coffee mug, Vandal-Eyes it, and write messages on it that will keep you smiling all day!

  Speaking of which, I have a meeting and it is going to take all day! Oh, how I wish! There are the outskirts of a hurricane rolling through the next few days and I have a lot of homework to do! Ugh! 

Coffee and candles

  Would you like your home to smell like French Vanilla Coffee? Stick a vanilla scented candle in a clear glass container with whole bean coffee and light it up! The heat from the candle flame will deliver a wonderful scent throughout your house!

How to Make Your Favorite Coffee

  This is probably the coolest info graphic I have come across yet on Pinterest. Brought to us by Design You Trust. While there are no real measurements, the fun is in experimenting, right? Enjoy!

Half caffeine coffee. Am I nuts?

 

 I love my coffee. There is no doubt about that. But I am learning that too much caffeine is not good for people with anxiety issues. I had decaf coffee at one of my favorite breakfast places. Uhm. It was absolutely disgusting. It tasted like a strained pinto bean. But at home, I have been drinking a lite coffee put out by Kroger. I am hoping I can expand into the decaf range of the better brews. I'll have to stop back at CUPS and try their decaf blends again. For now, this will do. At least it still tastes like coffee. *sigh*

  But I really want to hear from my audience. What is your experience with decaf or half caffeine blends? And why did you try them? For health reasons? Or for other reasons? 

Oh my! Chai-der!

  As my usual Saturday activity, my mom and I went to the South County Library in Roanoke, VA, this afternoon. Since my anxiety diagnosis, I have been reducing the amount of caffeine I consume every day. But I love my coffee shops and scoped out Mill Mountain Coffee and Tea while I was there.
  They were offering something delectable, something new, something I have never had before. It was called Chai-der. It is a combination of hot spicy chai and apple cider. Their sign said tastes like apple pie. Oh no. It tastes like Fall. The ginger goodness from the chai mixed with the warmth of apple transported me into a forest of gold, yellow, red, and orange colored leaves. Ok, so I have an overactive imagination. But if you get a chance to be in a coffee shop that serves similar, try it!

Caffeine: the molecule

from coolinfographics.com

  I am taking Organic Chemistry this term which means we are exploring compounds that are carbon-based. The majority of our consumption of caffeine is derived from coffee, tea, and chocolate. As with any drug, there are positive and negative side effects. The question is, does the benefit of consuming caffeine outweigh the risks? There is no clear cut answer for that and has to be left to the individual to decide. I know when I have had enough because too much will trigger small anxiety attacks for me. Therefore, I have to limit the quantity and the times that I indulge in my favorite drinks. There is a benefit to drinking a cup or two in the morning. There is increased alertness or awareness. Find your limit that allows you to enjoy your favorite beverage without heavy risks!

From e-infopages.com

Confessions of a Caffeine Addict II

  Good morning and Happy Tuesday, y'all! So much excitement and I am still nursing the first cup! Today's blend is leftover Blonde coffee from Starbucks and Mocha Latte from Kroger. Followers of this blog know that I love my flavored coffee and detest syrups. It's been some time since I blogged, so I figured I would gently remind you of that fact. My first blog post was how I became addicted to coffee. Today, I will tell you how I prefer to drink coffee when I decide to drink it all day long. It looks like one of those days. See below.

The view of the mountains from my back porch. What mountains???

  At any rate, this is how I drink coffee all day... 

• 6 AM - 11 AM: First half pot since I am the only one who drinks in my house. Although my Mother-In-Law loves it when I make coffee in the mornings. She won't drink any but loves the aroma. I usually make a light flavor or roast. One must break themselves in for the bolder stuff. 
• 11 AM - 5 PM: This is where I dip into bolder tastes. This is the type of day that I will head to Starbucks and try something new. But I don't do Venti, only Tall. I would eventually like to get to sleep tonight. Speaking of which, I have $10 burning a hole in my Starbucks card. Hrmmmm....
• 5 PM - 9 PM: Dessert coffee. Here is a recipe from allrecipes.com I would like to try soon. However, since I am out of rum, I will have to settle for a kid-friendly recipe later. Something to do with a hot cocoa mix. 

  Now, mind you, I am not walking around all day with a cup in hand. Well... almost... 

Almond Milk in Coffee

   I have made a switch recently. Actually, I have made a similar one before but decided to take it a step further. A few summers ago, I stopped eating meat and dairy that had hormones and antibiotics in it. I also began eating whole foods and reduced the amount of items that I ate that had preservatives in them. I dropped 8 pounds in two weeks! And, I felt great! So why almond milk? Why not non-dairy creamer? Once again preservatives, plus non-dairy creamer reminds me of a Organic Chem Lab experiment. So, I have the two milks side by side this morning, two percent and almond, and this is what I see.

                               2%               Almond 

           Calories       130                   35

           Sat. Fat           3                   2.5

         Cholesterol    200                    0

           Sugars           12                    0

           Calcium         30                   45

           

Plus, Almond Milk has 50% Vitamin E, 25% Riboflavin, 50% B12, 4% Magnesium and Manganese, 10% Zinc, and 2% Copper. Very important elements for people who suffer from mild fibromyalgia. The only areas that Almond Milk falls short on is protein and potassium. Which are readily available in other sources of food. So far, it is a delightful switch for me. 

Source: The Great Awakening

Starbucks has a new mild flavor!

  They did it again! Starbucks has introduced a light flavor blend that is perfect for early mornings! As much coffee as I drink, I prefer a very mild Breakfast Blend in the mornings. The more bitter brews I prefer in the afternoon or as a dessert coffee. 

  As usual, I was out of coffee at home. When I went to the store, there was this gorgeous new package! Starbucks Blonde. BLONDE?!?! Meaning light? I lovingly snuggled my pound of Blonde Willow Blend and immediately brewed a cup despite the fact that it was already 7 PM. 

  The blend is very delightful! I know a lot of people who complain how dark and bitter the normal Starbucks brews can be. If you fall into this category, give the new blends a go!

Olive Garden and Coffee

So good! I almost forgot to take a picture of it before drinking! 

 Back in May, I had the opportunity to stop in to Olive Garden twice at Valley View. I have been to Olive Garden before but it had been awhile since I had taken a really good look at their menu. I had completely forgotten that they served specialty coffee! Right down near the drink listing is a small listing of their offerings. I know, they would like to sell more of the liquors and wines from their full bar, but why not highlight these delicacies as well?
  On the two separate occasions I had a hot mocha. It was perfect every time. No liquor flavorings that Sheetz likes to use or some of the other coffee shops that I have been to that no longer exist. This was the real deal. Pure. Simple. Mocha. With whip cream. And a mini biscotti.
  So the next time you happen to be at Olive Garden, surprise your waiter and order an espresso or a mocha!

CUPS A Go Go!

  My favorite coffee hangout has expanded! Now this is month old news to the locals, but I finally had time to stop by there recently. Previous to Michelle Bennett obtaining the space, several coffee shops had opened and closed in the same location. Michelle knew that in order for the expansion to be successful she would have to do something different. She added a drive-thru! Now coffee lovers can get their favorite CUPS to go! Another issue, location. Having the extension mere minutes down the road is a boon to both storefronts. Then she added a third leg to this success wheel, she hired the person who runs Kneadful Things as a manager to make delicious goodies for everyone! And they cater!

  The general structure of the building has not changed much since the last time I was in there before CUPS expanded. One thing that they learned from their Grandin location, add lots of outlets for computer users! They also added their own "Leave Your Cup" shelving unit and some of the bobbleheads found a new home. Now I wish I could talk her into a Salem location! 

Strawberry Shortcake Flavored Coffee!

    I went to Kroger the other morning because I was out of coffee. It was painful to be without coffee. ;-)
Gazing the shelves of coffee section, my nose picks up a scent. I could smell strawberries. In the coffee aisle? That is when I saw this...

Wow! Strawberry Shortcake flavored coffee! Are you kidding me! I had to try it! And, I am not disappointed! The aroma that fills the house is scintillating. It is like coffee candy for the tongue. Why can't Kroger Private Selections do this in Banana Nut flavor? 

Star City Coffeehouse

 
   I don't know why it never occurred to me to write a mini-blog about this great anytime restaurant! I have been meeting a friend of mine there for breakfast once a month. They have excellent service, good clean food, and delectable treats that are made onsite! Their coffee blends are on the same line of taste as Starbucks and it is Fair Trade, organic, and locally roasted. You will spend a little more here than at Starbucks, but it is a full breakfast and free coffee refills during your time there. I would not label this place as a place to do your homework or make it your second office. However, it is one of the best places to bring out-of-town friends and family. However, I would not try to visit on Mondays. Everyone needs a day off! So the next time you are driving down Brambleton Avenue in the morning, stop by and bring your appetite!

Listening to Music and Drinking Coffee

  I like to try to recreate a coffee house aura in my own kitchen. Right now, it's French Provincial with a white and blue as the main colors with warm woods and punches of reds. Part of that aura is music you can groove or listen to. This video is one of my favorite short instrumentals and very jazzy. It's Phil Collins with his tune "Saturday Night, Sunday Morning." Depending on the mood that strikes me, I may begin with jazz or classical and end with some rock and roll before I get my day started. The song above is a great representation of how coffee makes me feel as the caffeine begins course through my veins. Since caffeine and coffeehouses are being linked to creativity, here's a few more pieces I can't seem to live without lately during my coffee sessions.

Coffee Cozies!

   I have noticed something recently, there are a lot of coffee cozies out there! Why not? Your favorite joe from your local coffeehouse may still be hot to the touch when you carry it! The patterns are pretty simple to put together, even for novice sewers. And if you can knit or crochet, why not make a statement with your very own design? Here is a pattern and a few inspiring photos!

Green Tea: Perfect Cup for Fighting a Head Cold

     I love green tea. I don't need sugar or cream in this tea when I drink it. Green tea is no longer stuck in the cabinets of Asian Food stores and restaurants, but available on your grocer's shelf. Green tea is known to be high in antioxidants. What is an antioxidant? It is a compound that binds with free radicals (usually oxygen) in our bodies and removes them, allowing the cells in the body to heal damage faster. I drink green tea regularly, but drink a lot more of it when I have a head cold. Why? The steam from a hot tea soothes my throat and helps break up the crud lodged in the nasal cavity so you can breathe easier. The added benefit is the antioxidant from the damage the virus causes. Here is a short video about green tea!

Mill Mountain Coffee at South County Library

  A few weeks ago, I happened to be at the new Roanoke County Library on a Saturday afternoon. I felt a little hungry and checked out Mill Mountain Coffee and Tea. While the barista was very nice and cheerful, it seemed to be too hectic for only two people to run on the busiest library day of the week.
  I went back to the library yesterday and I gave them another shot. With less crowds, two people can very easily run the little place. The food was good the first time I went and it was still good yesterday. Nice consistency. I did not get to try another coffee, but went with a hot chocolate instead. Their hot chocolate it superb!
  I only hope that they can figure out a way to support a third person to help out on Saturdays and I think you will find this little library cafe to be another destination spot!

Funny Coffee Pics II

I used to make filters out of paper towels all the time!

Mill Mountain Coffee and Tea in new location on Starkey Rd.

  As a student at a community college, you would think that there would be more places to study. Well, not at my school. That's why a head to local coffeehouses to study, think, relax. Mill Mountain's new location has much more space and is not anywhere near as dark as the old location. Plenty of natural and ambient lighting. And it's not noisy. This location has a full menu along with their coffee specialties. It is also filled with Mill Mountain merchandise and whole beans that you can purchase for roasting at home. If you have never tried Mill Mountain before, why not try them now? I wonder if they know that I am sitting in their establishment writing this? :-)

Mill Mountain Expands into New Library in Roanoke County

  Well, I am excited. Excited at the prospect that a library will finally house a cafe, mixing my love for the roasted bean and for books. I'm a bit nerdy like that. The new Roanoke County library will open tomorrow at 11 AM. Locally-owned business, Mill Mountain Coffee, won the contract to be the featured coffeehouse for the next three years. A total win-win situation for local municipality and local business. You know where I will be tomorrow afternoon! 

Crazy Coffee Mugs

  I was trolling the internet looking for cool coffee related items, when I stumbled upon how clever coffee mugs designs are becoming! Take a look at these gems!

This one tells you how hot your coffee is!

Who couldn't use a USB mug warmer?

For your favorite Chemistry teacher