About Me

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Recent retiree--35 year's experience teaching reading, English, adult basic education and volunteer leadership skills. Started this blog to exchange ideas and commentary with friends and others having an interest in joining the discussions. Greatest life accomplishments include: 1.organized my 3rd grade class to check out library books for me to get around librarian's weekly limit--Amazon.com, the Mullins Elementary 3rd Grade Class of 1956 is still waiting for "thank you" notes; 2. volunteered in the Peace Corps, island of St. Kitts, West Indies; 3.taught adults to read, earn their GEDs., and speak English as a second language; 4. bought a border collie puppy for $6, got evicted rather than give him up, and began a life-long love affair with all things "Dog"; 5. joined a physical fitness boot camp in my mid-50s--don't mess with someone who's been doing regulation pushups in wet grass at 5:30 a.m.; 6. walked across Northern England with best friend Sally--over 80 miles from the Irish to North Seas; and 7. travelled to many foreign countries for pleasure and work.

Sunday, November 3, 2013

November Gratitude Mosaics - C for Coffee


click on image to enlarge

November 3

Continuing with the alphabet of gratitude for November - today it's coffee made my own way.  For many years I've used this odd coffee making contraption, the Toddy Coffee Maker, to ensure that I can have a fresh cup of my favorite brew any time of the day without resorting to instant (yuk!) or brewing a pot and then wasting if I'm only in the mood for one cup.

Here's how it works (starting kind of at the bottom left) 1. insert the rubber cork in the bottom of the white "jug" and then place that round "buff" pad in the little well inside the jug.  2. next add about a pound of your favorite coffee and then fill the jug with cold water and cover.  3. let steep about 24 hours, either out on the counter or, when it's really hot, in the fridge.  4. After the steep time, pull the plug and allow the "coffee extract" to drain into the glass container.  As the extract drains through the "buff pad" all the bitter oils are captured so you have incredibly mellow coffee.  5.  Store the coffee extract in the fridge for over a week.  6.  When you're ready for a cup of coffee deliciousness like the one in the big photo, just mix equal parts coffee extract, water, and milk.  Microwave for about 3 minutes.  Of course, if you don't use milk or cream, just tinker with the ratio of extract and water to get the right strength.  And there you have it--a perfect cup of coffee any time, no fuss, no waste!

You may not be surprised that a coffee lover would also have a thing for the perfect coffee mug or cup.  Mugs are my souvenirs of choice when I travel or go to arts and craft fairs.  The lower right I bought at the Saint James Art Fair, and the brown at the Te Papa, the national Maori museum in Wellington, New Zealand.

Linking to the November Daily Blog at Myanderings .

10 comments:

Brian King said...

I love coffee, but I don't think I'd have the patience for that. I'm more of a Keurig kinda guy. I do like mugs and glassware. I'll often pick up a new mug on vacation. I'd rather have something like that than a t-shirt.

jp@A Green Ridge said...

I too love coffe but not all that work...and waiting. I grind my beans fresh at home, put them in my one cup pot ($ 19.95) and add cold water. Hit the putton and VOILA!!!...:)JP

karisma said...

Wow, sounds like a long process. I usually just boil the kettle and add instant coffee. If I want a nice coffee I use the machine. Although I have issues with our machine. The coffee tastes great but I dislike the plastic pods that are inserted. Hubby loves it as its easy, I think it creates too much rubbish. Lately I am thinking I just need to cut it out as I drink too much of it.

Jo's World said...

I love the mugs and my favorite is a souvenier of Italy brought back by my son and daughter in law. Its from Verona and says Romeo and Giulietta under two hearts.

It is my favorite tea drinker!

Jo in MN

Jan n Jer said...

Jer is my coffee maker every morning..he likes to make his own blend of regular and different flavors...so each day it's a surprise. I love my mornings with Jer's special blends! :) Love that mug!

George said...

This is the first I've heard of this method for making coffee. I'll bet it does make a mellow cup of coffee. We have some special mugs that we've had made pictures we've taken at places we've visited.

Carletta said...

I've never heard of the coffeemaker but I'm going to google when I finish this.
I think I'd like a Keurig but don't want to pay for one. Hubby and I both drink coffee and the Mr. Coffee we have keeps it warm when it's finished brewing without making it strong so we do ok. He won't drink it of an evening though and sometimes I want a cup.
Love your mugs!

Swampwitch said...

I LOVE coffee. My favorite is French press but don't take the time very often. After two Keurigs bit the dust, I gave up being lazy and make it the old fashioned way.
Hey ! I know you are working on your ABC's, but someone suggested, I think Sandy, that we resurrect Fun Monday. It will probably happen again next week, maybe. Want to join in ? Maybe we could post about the Letter of the Day ???

Swampwitch said...

P.S. I went ahead and linked you on my post just for the fun of it. Mosey on over. :)

EG CameraGirl said...

I've never heard of making coffee this way. I may have to give it a try. I usually make two cups of coffee at time in my little drip coffee maker. Nothing like that first cup of coffee in the morning!