Coffee Technique - Aeropress

I don't use my Aeropress for every cup I brew. But I do use it several times a week. I have modified my recipe a little closer to what is suggested in this video. It helped only a little for me. I'm not always patient enough to wait very long.

Making Candied Orange

Tried making candied orange peel today. It turned out really good, though I think I could have let it cook just a little longer. I think it is supposed to be set just a little more.

I want to try it with some other fruit like Jacques Pépin does in this video.

I also think I would like to make some caramel candy. SUGAR COMA!!!!

Thai Dye Pizza

We tried a Mellow Mushroom Thai Dye Pizza copy cat recipe tonight. I over cooked the crust a little bit, but overall it turned out great. Almost spot on. Lisa said it was her new Favorite. :) - Her freaky vegan cheese version not pictured.

Whats up with Coffee

For the longest time I did not drink coffee at all. I drank soda, I enjoyed tea, but I didn't like coffee. I would watch everyone line up at the coffee maker in the morning, and wonder why they liked it. I told myself it was just addiction driven consumption. Certainly there is some of that, but obviously I was being silly.

Over the last few years I started getting the occasional sweet drink at StarBucks. I would get the occasional lattes, mochas, and Frappuccinos. And, eventually I decided to try a cappuccino. That was the thing that finally got me. I started to love the creamy, rich, sometimes chocolatey drink. As I slowly reduced sugar in my diet, I increased the number of cappuccinos I would get. In the before times, I was getting a small cappuccino almost every day of the week at lunch.

Around the time we started working from home, I started making coffee at home. I started with the Hario V60, a hand grinder, and an electronic scale.

I normally make some version of a pour over, or I'll make French Press, and lately I make the occasional AeroPress. I make one cup at a time. I have 2-4 cups a day, probably too much.

I find that I prefer medium roast blends of coffee. I really like a Harris Teeter Kona Blend and my current favorite is Charleston Organic.

Now I need another cup.

Homemade Pizza Pic

SodaStream - Replacing Pepsi.

I have been trying to kick the pepsi / coke habit for years, with limited success. Most recently this has taken the form of drinking seltzer water drinks.  We purchased a SodaStream and I have to say it's very cool, and I'm doing better than I would have expected.

The first thing to realize is not to bother with any of the drink syrups. If the samples are any indication, they all taste like ass. You can also get the SodaStream on Amazon, but it's probably the same price at your local Bed, Bath and Beyond.

I haven't managed to enjoy a plain glass of Seltzer water yet.  I need flavor.  My current drink of choice is the following:

• Open one package of Citrus Splash crystal light and add the powder to empty glass.
• Add 1 tbsp or less of water  to the glass.
• Swish around trying to dissolve all of the crystal light in the water.
• Add carbonized water to glass slowly. There will be some extra fizzing, but if you're slow it will settle down.
• Add ice.
• mmmmmmm enjoy.

Other flavors of the Crystal light also work well with seltzer water. There are a bunch of recipes on the net that involve natural fruit juices that we plan on trying.  I'd like to cut out the artificial sweeteners that  are used in Crystal Light.

If you try it out let me know, curious to know if you have any good recipes.

PG tips

Started drinking PG Tips special blend tea. I kept hearing people talking about it on various podcasts and what not. To be honest its just a good black tea, but I wouldn't say its great or hugely better than anything else. It can be pretty strong depending on how long you let it brew, which I like. My friend introduced me to blending it with Double Chai, which is double yummy.

PG Tips Wikipedia article

Trader Joe’s

A new Trader Joe's opened recently here, and we have gone a few times now and are starting to figure out which things we really like.  The price's are great and so far everything we have tried has been very good. Here are a few of our favorites:

• Mandarin Orange Chicken
• Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
• Tandoori Nand
• A Fig walks into a Bar Breakfast Bars
• So Delicious Creamy Orange Ice cream Bars

Lisa - Adding a few of my favs....

• Hawaiian Style Salt & Vinegar chips
• Maple Pecan Granola cereal
• drool creamy orange soy ice cream bars

Yummy Food

We ate dinner at a little hole in the wall deli and grill for dinner tonight... The food in this place is fabulous! They serve mediterranean and american food... greek gyros and lebanese food.

The first time we ate there, I got a chicken sandwich... the BEST I've ever had... anywhere! This time we both tried the lebanese "Shawarma" sandwiches... yum yum yum!!!!

They have a fava bean dish I'm going to have to try some time.

The only problem is, this place never seems busy... so haul you and any one you know over to Ghali's Deli and Grill... it's cheap and oh so good!!