Simple And Delicious Frozen Coffee Drinks

Posted on 19th May 2011 @ 6:17 AM

Making frozen coffee drinks is not only fun but gets the creative mental energy flowing as well. Because of the virtually endless possibilities of flavors, add-ins, toppings, and extras, whipping up a batch of these delicious delicacies is easy and satisfying.

People who own coffee makers are well aware of the myriad recipes for cool concoctions. While some of the entries are old standards, newer, wilder varieties are popping up every day.

First things first. To begin, you will need a batch of your favorite coffee blend, made double strength. That's because nearly every frozen delight calls for strong brew. Coffee makers are an important tool for this first step, due to their precise measurements and automatic capability. While the coffee itself is brewing, you can prep all the other ingredients, thereby saving significant amounts of time.

Without listing all the frozen coffee permutations here, which would take at least five large volumes, the following should get you started, since nearly all cold coffee drinks have a similar foundation.

Mix your double strength, brewed coffee about three-to-one with milk, after having let the warm coffee sit for at least an hour. Of course, the milk is your call, whether you want to use skim, whole, organic, generic, goat's milk, you-name-it. Most amateur coffee chefs avoid skim, though, because it tends to weaken the final result.

Add real or artificial sweetener to suit your taste. In Africa and Japan, it is common to use no sweetener at all. Indeed, variety makes the world go around. As for ice, a good rule of thumb is to use about two-thirds as much ice as you use coffee. Now toss everything into a blender, along with one or two teaspoons of vanilla extract per quart. Again, this effort is always a matter of taste.

After mixing to a frothy smoothness, the real fun begins. Pick your favorite spices, fruits, soft candies, or something nobody else has ever thought of, and add them to the mix. Cinnamon and chocolate are widely popular. Whipped cream, flavored or not, is another winning idea.

In Asia, marshmallows and sweetened fruit slices are favorites of the business set, while African farmers prefer raw chunks of sugarcane or carob.

Caffeine avoiders can use decaf as the base liquid and still enjoy the countless variations of this timeless, and tasty, treat. Historians tell us that cold coffee has been a popular beverage for perhaps 4000 years. Therefore, maybe Stone Age people were actually the first "coffee makers."

I Love Coffee: Over 100 Easy and Delicious Coffee Drinks - Book Review

Before going to college the only way I really knew how to prepare coffee was just the regular automatic drip brewer with the pot. If I wanted anything else other than just a regular coffee at home I would just venture out to a Starbucks, Dunkin' Doughnuts, or a local coffee place. When I got to college and money got tighter, going out for coffee often was no longer a reality. So I figured that if I want a latte, an iced coffee, or a cappuccino it would be much easier, and more cost efficient, if I made it myself. After looking at some books and websites, and toying around with different things, I started to catch on how to make good coffee at home. I eventually got my grinder and French press and was able to make even better things; however I am still learning. I have reviewed a few things that you can read through so that if there is anything I am not really covering in my blogs or website, you can easily find what you are looking for.

The most valuable reading material that I have yet to come across is a book called "I Love Coffee: Over 100 Easy and Delicious Coffee Drinks" by Susan Zimmer. This book teaches you step by step how to make delicious drinks such as classics (such as a vanilla latte), holiday drinks (using things like peppermint and eggnog), and even some more unusual drinks (such as a Vietnamese Iced Coffee and a mocha with a twist of orange in it). Not only does this book cover different drinks, but it also covers different brewing methods, including ways to make things like a cappuccino without the big expensive equipment. It also teaches you about the different parts of things like an espresso maker and how to use them. Susan Zimmer doesn't just cover ways to make things based on her tastes, but she provides different ways to prepare her beverages to help suite your own personal taste.

Susan Zimmer, not only provides the basics, but she also goes in a little bit more depth in things such as latte art. If you have ever seen a latte with a leaf or heart shape inside of it, you know what I am talking about. Some other more advanced things she covers is the option to roast your own beans at home to create your very own fresh flavors. I really have no complaints about this book since it is extremely well rounded and a great wealth of information. So from the great colored pictures to her tips on everything to do with coffee, Susan Zimmer provides a great book for both newbies and coffee enthusiasts alike. So be sure to check this book out soon and I hope it will be as valuable to you as it is to me.

Lemongrass Tea: Simple, Delicious and Healthy

Lemongrass tea comes to us from Asia where the plant is grown. It is popular in cooking there and can now be found in larger supermarkets.

It is known to reduce stress and calm down the body so it is good for people suffering from stress and insomnia. It is really good for any chest congestion, including coughs, colds and similar ailments. It is also a good choice if you are nauseous. It can be a good for detoxifying your body, particularly the liver, kidneys and pancreas. It is a good tea to use if you want to do a colon cleanse as well as it is good for the whole digestive tract. It is also known to be good for your skin. Many people with arthritis also feel that this tea helps with their arthritis pain.

Having said this, make sure you don't drink a high amount. One or two cups a day is fine, but don't go overboard with this, especially if you don't feel good afterward. In that case, stop taking it for a few days and then try one cup again.

The herb is also known as citronella grass as well as fever grass and comes originally to from India. It is also used in traditional Chinese medicine. You can also use it externally for cuts and sprains and also to put on sore areas from arthritis. Simply let the tea cool and dip in a fresh cloth and apply to the area in question.

It's easy to make lemongrass tea when you know how to treat the lemongrass. It is now available in most large supermarkets, Asian supermarkets or local Chinese stores. I know it looks a bit forbidding and is not 'your normal herb' where you simply pluck a few handfuls. When you get it home, peel off the outer leaves and throw them away. If you use them, the tea will have a bitter taste which most people don't like. With the lemongrass now remaining, cut it into slices.You will need about one tablespoon of the slices per cup. Boil some water and pour over the slices and leave to steep for about five minutes. Then strain into a cup or mug.

Of course you can use a teapot and many have built-in strainers. As weird as it sounds to me, you can add milk to this drink. Naturally, you can sweeten it too but please use the healthier variety of sweeteners like argave, stevia or honey. You will find it has a mild lemon taste.

Although most people drink it hot, it is a great summertime drink. Simple cool the tea in the refrigerator and then add ice and a slice of lemon, which will bring out its lemony taste to perfection.

As you can see, lemongrass tea is definitely a good herbal drink to have on hand in your kitchen cupboard.

Find out the more about Lemongrass Tea and why it deserves a place in your home. For more resources visit http://best-tea-talk.com/