Spanish Coffee

Have you been enjoying your infused water? We have.  As we told you, we started with blueberry. orange and rosemary flavored water. Then we moved on to lemon strawberry water for a few days, and now we have some refreshing cucumber water infusing.  It has encouraged us to drink more water, and it is certainly tasty!

This week we are sharing a recipe fit for a cold winter day or evening – Spanish Coffee.  Spanish coffee combines the flavors of rum, coffee and espresso to create a delicious cocktail fit for a brunch, after dinner drink or an evening cocktail.

Many countries enjoy a little something extra added to their coffee.  Ireland enjoys a splash of Irish cream in their coffee. (We shared our version of Irish Coffee with you in February of 2018 with our Gold Medal Coffee recipe.)  Italy has Caffe’ Corretto which adds grappa or sambuca. In Spain they like to add a little rum to the mix!

To make Spanish Coffee you will need rum, triple sec, Caffe’ Borghetti espresso liqueur and  freshly brewed coffee.  We also used whipped cream and grated nutmeg for garnish.

If you are viewing this post via email, visit us at http://www.theblindpig.blog for a complete recipe for Spanish Coffee.

The delicious combination of the rum with the espresso was a surprise to use.  We will definitely be enjoying Spanish Coffee more often.  Perhaps tonight when our beloved Chiefs take on the Bills.

 

Disclaimer: Beverages on this site are meant for adults 21 years of age and older.  We do not condone underage drinking.  Drink responsibly.

Bottoms Up to Infused Water

This week we continue to cleanse and rejuvenate by sharing some great ideas to encourage you to drink more water.

Up to 60% of the human adult body is water. According to H.H. Mitchell, Journal of Biological Chemistry 158, the brain and heart are composed of 73% water, and the lungs are about 83% water. The skin contains 64% water, muscles and kidneys are 79%, and even the bones are watery: 31%. — https://www.usgs.gov/special-topics/water

We always feel better when we drink more water, but we face the issue that many non-water drinkers face.  We need more flavor! There was a time when Craig worked for a water company that sold flavored water and we drank a lot of it.  When he changed companies our habits changed too. But in 2022 we are going to drink more!  Our solution is to add some flavor to God’s perfect liquid.  Here’s how we do it.

Choose any fresh fruits, vegetables, and herbs that you like to combine for a flavorful water.  We have tried single ingredients and ingredient combos.  Slice or dice up your ingredients and place in a container with ice. Containers that can be used are water bottle, pitcher, mason jar or a carafe. ( We like to be fancy and treat ourselves, so we used the carafe.)  Fill the container with filtered water and let it sit for 2-4 hours to give the flavors time to mix.

Here are some helpful hints for successfully infusing water.

  • Use cold water rather than hot water.  Hot water breaks down the fresh fruits and herbs quicker.
  • When using citrus ingredients, the rind makes the water tastes bitter after 10-12 hours.
  • Most waters can be kept fresh in the refrigerator for 24 hours.
  • Make the night before and fill up your water bottle before heading to work in the morning.

There are lots of great flavor combinations or you can be adventurous and try your own! We made Blueberry/Orange/Rosemary.

  • Lemon/ Strawberry
  • Lemon/Strawberry/Mint
  • Cucumber/Mint
  • Blueberry/Orange/ Ginger
  • Watermelon/Basil
  • Cherry/Lime
  • Cranberry/Mint (This combination is great for the holidays.)
  • Pomegranate/Basil
  • Strawberry/Basil
  • Jalapeno/Cucumber/Lime
  • Cinnamon

We have found that using infused water for entertaining is a perfect idea to keep the mood festive while still providing guests with a water option.  Serve the water in a fancy cocktail glass to highlight the occasion.

Want more water ideas?  There are lots of ideas and combinations posted throughout the internet.  What flavor combination are you going to use first?

 

 

 

Welcome to 2022!

What are your resolutions for 2022?  Not much of the resolution type?  According to DiscoverHealthyHabits.com, in 2019, eight percent of participants failed to keep their resolutions and 57% refused to make a resolution at all. At The Blind Pig Blog, we fall into the camp of resolution makers.  We believe the new year is a time to reflect on accomplishments and set goals to be the best version of yourself.  We have used Jon Gordon’s One Word Challenge, to help keep us on track. (Rhonda’s one word this year is health.) A new motivation that we will be using this year is from James Clear’s book Atomic Habits, which encourages you to have an overall goal with a mantra or question attached.  For example, “What would a healthy person do?”  Your key question is supposed to help you make choices that stay on track with your goal. When faced with eating a piece of chocolate cake or choosing a banana for an after-work-snack, one should ask themselves, “What would a healthy person do?”

After more than a month of enjoying delicious cocktails and eating rich foods through the holidays, we are ready to give our bodies time for a little cleansing and rejuvenation.  For our first post of 2022, we will not be sharing a tantalizing cocktail or a sugary dessert, we are going to share a hack that Rhonda has used for years.  A cold January day is the perfect time to try this out.

We are DIYers to an extent.  Craig has replaced our whole fence around the backyard on his own (2021 goal), and Rhonda is not afraid to improve a room with a roller of paint and a weekend to spare.  However, there are certain things that we will not cross the line.  For example, we are not in to the rigorous process of making our own marshmallows.  Buying the Kraft marshmallows from our local Kroger works for us. But we do make our own vanilla extract, and believe it or not…it’s quite simple!

First you need to have vodka or bourbon on hand.  Vodka makes a more pure extract, but bourbon can give the vanilla a richer flavor.  Another thing to keep in mind is that premium vodka goes for about $50 and bourbon prices can go for much more.  If price is of interest to you, you may want to use vodka as your base. (We used vodka.)

Purchase vanilla beans from your local grocery store.  We found ours at Kroger in the spice aisle.  Stores like Sprouts and Whole Foods also have vanilla beans on hand.  Cut the vanilla bean in half crosswise and place into a clean jar or bottle.  Make sure that the jar or bottle you plan to use has a lid or cork that will have a tight seal.  We found our bottles at World Market.

Cook vodka in a saucepan for 5 minutes over medium heat.  Make sure not to cook longer and keep an eye on the saucepan.  Cool vodka slightly and use a funnel to pour about 1 cup into each bottle.  Cover jars tightly and let stand at room temperature for 1-2 weeks.  You can keep your vanilla for up to a year.  If you start to run low, you can add more vodka to the jar to replenish.  The vanilla extract gradually turns a darker color as the vodka becomes infused by the vanilla.

If you are viewing this post via email, visit us at www.theblindpig.blog for a recipe for Homemade Vanilla Extract.

Make a bottle for yourself and a couple to keep on hand as a hostess gift.  The homemade gift will be extra special. Enjoy the start to your new year.  We would love to hear what new goals and hopes you have for the year.