Why Go Out For a Good Cup of Coffee? Home Brew Heaven Saint George Court, Governor Francis Farms, Warwick, RI

Day after day I sit and watch many of my neighbors go out for a morning cup of joe. Why? I ask myself again, and again. When such a good cup can be home-brewed for pennies a day...

Here is what I drink every morning, at home.

This cup, shown above, was just made in less than a minute, in my own kitchen. How?
Simple, the right equipment makes it easy enough for a sleepwalker to do.

The coffee maker is a Keurig. I bought mine at Williams-Sonoma, but now they are offering this Cuisinart,
I guess it should work fine.

The second tool is the frother, the Nespresso Aeroccino Plus. Again, from Williams-Sonoma, but they do still sell this one for $99. GRAB IT now, it is the bomb. I have had one since 2007 and could not live without it.
Secret Hint: SKIM MILK, only, makes the best froth.

My personal fave in the K-cups is Newman's Own Blend, available everywhere, but cheaper at Dave's Marketplace.
It goes without saying, mine is Decaf!

And lastly, the cinnamon. A natural boost to metabolism, ground cinnamon should be a part of every daily diet
and this is great way to take yours...

So, how to do it?  Start your froth and preheat your coffee machine. Pour the all of froth and milk into the bottom of a coffee mug, I like glass for the "show". Sprinkle liberally with cinnamon and place in brew position. Select the most concentrated brew your machine offers (the fewest ounce brew) and drip directly over the mug of froth. Viola!

Skinny Girl Cocktails for Refreshing Flavor - Food for Thought - Gaspee, Governor Francis Farms, Warwick, RI

Skinny Girl cocktails are a passion of mine. It seems to be a major injustice that all cocktails are not created calorie free.
Here you will find four of my summer faves, all "lightened" up on the sugar.

Most professionally crafted drinks are loaded with hidden calories, mainly from sugar. The sour mix is a major player in this game, responsible for nearly doubling the calorie count on our favorite summer drinks. I have toyed with sugar substitutes for years using my family for guinea pigs and many, many batches of very sour margaritas later I think I've found the solution. I start with Truvia.

Buy yourself a box of Truvia packets and use one as the base for your next skinny girl drink. I think you'll be very surprised at just how sweet and "saccharin-free" the flavor is.

My first recipe is for the Skinny Girl Mojito. A must have in every recipe file; this recipe is fresh, and not too minty. With it is it's partner in crime, the Skinny Girl Margarita.


                           

Skinny Girl Mojito                                          Skinny Girl Margarita

 1 Packet Truvia                                                1 Packet Truvia
 1/2  Oz. Lime juice                                              1/2 Oz. Lime juice
 1/2 Oz. Lemon juice                                            1/2 Oz. Lemon juice
 3-4 fresh mint leaves, torn                                3 Oz. 1800 Silver Tequila, or similar
 3 Oz. Bacardi Rum                                           1/2 Oz Triple Sec
 3 Oz. Club Soda
                                                                            Shake with lots of ice til frothy and
  Muddle Truvia, lemon, lime and                      then serve as desired. I like a tall glass
  mint in the bottom of a tall tumbler.                 with rocks, no salt.
  Add rum. Pour over rocks in a tall
  glass and fill with soda. Stir and sip.

The next drink on my list is a twist on the classic hurricane. Made with ingredients in every home kitchen, the low-sugar sweetener in this drink is Mott's for Tot's, along with rum, amaretto and more.

 Mobay (Montego Bay) Hurricane               

2 Oz. Gosling's Gold (Appleton's or Bacardi Gold) Rum

1 Oz. Amaretto 

1 Oz. Peach Schnappes

1/2 Oz. Lemon juice

2 Oz. Mott's for Tot's Apple Juice

Measure all ingredients into a tall shaker

with ice and shake to mix. Pour into tall glass 

over ice and garnish with fruit.

Lastly, is my recipe for Legal Seafood's Red Sangria, lightened up with sugar-free Sprite. This packs a big punch at parties and can be made ahead in jugs, just wait and add the soda to the pitcher as you serve.


Legal Red Sangria                            (Pitcher)          

3 Oz. Shiraz                                            3 Cups
1/2 Oz. Stoli Razz Vodka                       1/2 Cup
1/2 Oz. Bacardi Limon Rum                  1/2 Cup
1 Oz. Peach Schnapps                            1 Cup
1/2 Oz. Lemon juice                              1/2 Cup
1/2 Oz. Lime juice                                 1/2 Cup
4 Oz. Sugar-FREE Sprite                       4 Cups



Add ingredients in order of sequence, up to the Sprite.
 For a single cocktail add the Sprite now; for a pitcher
add Sprite just before serving.