Monthly Archives: December 2009

I have to admit that I am glad glad glad to see 2009 go. There are some good things that happened this year, like the birth of my 3rd grandchild and my book being published, but those things are blessings in the midst of a year that was full of ick and culminated with the break up of my 30 year marriage. So forgive me if I seem a little happy to see the New Year take over…fresh and clean.

I don’t know what your favorite Kettle and Cup  posts of 2009 were. I had several and I thought I would share them with you in a look back at Kettle and Cup 2009. Enjoy!

1. Why Good Coffee Shops Will Never Go Out of Style (Feb) I believe in this as much now as I did then.
   
2. Just Keep Your Legs Crossed. Forever. The effect if caffeinated pee on coral.
3. Interview with a Jazzy Bird I loved doing this interview with Jazzy Bird Coffee.
4. Cupping Terms, My Way Take the mystery out of cupping terms. Right here, Right now.
5. I loved Getting to Know Kohana Coffee in this post.
6. Coffee Shop Commandments. This is still one of my (if not my) very favorite.
7. Homemade Tea Bags

I know that is a weird number to stop on but those are my very favorite posts of 2009. Have a wonderful New Year’s Eve, stay safe, and hey, thanks for being a part of my life in 2009! Here’s to an awesome 2010 for us both.

image:marye audet

Just about everyone makes resolutions for New Years. I thought it would be a great to share some of my resolutions for 2010. Yep…I do have them!

1. Clean the coffee pot regularly. The mineral deposits change the flavor of coffee and it just isn’t as good. Cleaning it regularly will help you have the best coffee ever.
2. Use filtered water. Same reason as above.
3. Try at least one new coffee every month. I need to be more adventurous and I need to plan ahead better. I want to order coffee from a variety of different roasters this year.
4. Use more ethical coffee. Organic and Fair Trade are important. So is local and independent. I try to get it but I need to try harder.
5. I want to get a roaster and learn to roast my own coffee.
6. I want to try different teas …so my goal is one new tea a month.
7. I want to get back in the habit of afternoon tea with my kids. We used to do this and it was a tradition that we all enjoyed.
8. Just like with coffee I want to do more Fair Trade, more Organic.
9. I want to get some pretty tea cups so I have a selection.
10. I want to have full fledged tea parties and invite a few friends more than I do. I am going to set a goal of at least 5 a year.
11. AND…I guess this is the bonus resolution… I want to try some of the local tea rooms that I haven’t tried. I am setting a goal of 6 this year.

So there you have it. My resolutions for 2010. What are yours?

image: SXC

I don’t know if ANY of you are old enough to remember Fizzies but for those of us who are…well let’s just say it is a fond, fond memory.

Basically Fizzies were little tablets that you dropped in water and they made created a somewhat weakly flavored but carbonated beverage.  Imagine flavored alka-seltzer and I think you’ll have it. Well Kraft Foods has announced that they are coming out with a drink additive for kids. No they aren’t Fizzies per se but they are drink drops that will do much the same. Called Kool Aid Fun Fizz the drops are added to 8 oz of water to turn it into a flavorful and colorful drink with 5 calories.

Flavors are:

• Gigglin Grape
• Laughin Lemondade
• Partyin Punch

Obviously they will be using sugar substitutes and that does not thrill me a whole lot. Hopefully I will get a chance to try them out. I will let you know what I think.

What do you think? Do you remember Fizzies? Is this a great idea or another ploy to get your money?

image PRNews Wire

O.k..I have been sitting on this post for a couple of days. I emailed the blog  owner and asked if I could use an image but there was no response  :::sobbing::: so I will just link to it, give you a boring picture, and you will have to head over to the blog for the

Poor cup without the cute gingerbread house.

instructions and images. Trust me..these are worth leaving the comfort of Kettle and Cup for!

Imagine coffee mugs, filled with steaming coffee and adorable tiny gingerbread houses balanced on the rim. I LOVE these. They are the cutest things ever. These are from Not Martha and they are truly brilliant.

I think that they would be great for any winter party…and I am thinking that you could do a version for Valentines Day as well. I mean you could either decorate them to look like sweetheart cottages or you could add a notch to heart shaped cookies and decorate them. Either way it is a brilliant and adorable idea.

image:marye audet

This cup is for those of you with lots of stress or short term memory loss. Anyone who “might” forget what they are drinking. O.k…it is also for those of you who are groggy in the morning before that first cup of coffee.

Ready?

Yep…there it is. Complete and utter awesomeness. I found it on Amazon.

image via amazon

I wanted to wish all of you a Merry Christmas. I know I am a bit late here but I hope that your CHristmas has been full of wonder, miracles and blessings.

When I picked up coffee the last time I mixed chocolate fudge flavored coffee with caramel. The combination is excellent. If you are buying bulk flavored coffees think about mixing beans to create an individual flavor. You can mix two or three flavors with good results..just make sure you shake up the bag before grinding.

We had a bit of a Texas blizzard - the first white Christmas in Dallas sinc ethe 1920s. It was an incredible blessing but I am ready for summer now, thanks! Now, with weather like that you need a cup of coffee!

I hope this last week of 2009 is full of blessings and fun,  laughter and love. Merry Christmas to each of you!

image: Marye Audet

As I said in a previous post I was sent some samples to create adult hot chocolates for National Cocoa Day. The samples got here a little too late to post for that day but I think you will find that they are as good any day of the year. These are drinks to sip while you are contemplating the fire, or watching it snow, or cuddling and watching your favorite Christmas movie.

There are just times that coffee is not quite right, tea is not deep and intense enough and you  just need a little more. Here it is. Your little more.

I used the bittersweet hot cocoa mix from Bittersweet Cafe. It handles the addition of alcoholic beverages beautifully due to its intensity. Try adding whipped cream and a cherry on top for a perfect finish.

Mt Gay Choco Cherry Toddy

• 1 oz Mount Gay Eclipse
• 1 oz Monin cherry syrup
• ½ oz dark crème de cacao
• Hot cocoa to fill mug ( I used bittersweet)

Image: Sxc

One of my favorite movies is the Grinch (the cartoon version). I  heart these cups! check it out:

Are those not the cutest ever? Youc an find the Grinch Mugs on Amazon

image via Amazon

The Bittersweet from Bittersweet Cafe is a rich,, deep chocolate hot cocoa. It contains no dairy so you can make it with water for a pure chocolate experience or you can mix it with hot milk or half and half. This mix is intense with a slight citrus flavor with nutty overtones. There is the classic bittersweet flavor at the finish.

The cocoa is a good base for flavorings. It is strong enough to handle almost anything you want to try putting in it. I will be sharing a recipe I used with it that was sent to me for National Hot Cocoa Day, December 13. Sadly I received the samples after the fact..but dont let that stop you! Every Day should be Cocoa Day!

This would also be perfect to use in my Starbucks Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate Wanna-be recipe. It has the intensity and depth to handle the other flavors in the drink.

In the cup it is dark and creamy with a slight crema on top. This is not going to be a cocoa that most children will like. Save it for a special occasion, an adult moment.  If you are a fan of bittersweet or dark chocolate this hot cocoa is going to be one you love.

Disclaimer: Bittersweet Cafe provided the cocoa at no charge. They will not require it back and no money exchanged hands. They did not teach me the secret handshake, either. My opinion of this cocoa is purely my own. You may hate it. Marye Audet, nor Kettle and Cup, accepts no liability for addictions that occur as a result of drinking this cocoa.

image: Bittersweet Cafe

Bittersweet Origins Faultline Blend is a combination of Sumatran and Guatemalan coffee beans in a city roast. This whole bean coffee was sent to me by Bittersweet Cafe to try. I looked on their site for the coffee and they didn’t have it so all I can say is that if you are interested in trying it you should contact them directly.

Bittersweet micro-roasts their coffee beans to maintain more control over the finished product. The coffee beans are small and plump and very fragrant with a classic cocoa mocha aroma. Once brewed the aroma takes on a floral perfume, light and delicate with  citrus top notes. This is one tricky coffee!

The flavor is a little acidic for me…Keep in mind that my heart belongs to intense, dark roasts. But beyond that it has a sparkle that is very light and fresh.  This coffee would be especially good with citrus flavors: orange and chocolate cake for example.

I think this is a good San Francisco Hippie Chick kind of coffee. Think white gauze peasant tops, flowers in the hair,  and bare feet.If you like a light city roast you may like this. I would not buy it but I did enjoy trying it.  The Bittersweet Cafés are located in San Francisco on Fillmore Street, College Avenue in Oakland and the Rose Garden Shopping Center in Danville.

Discaimer: This review is unbiased. The coffee was sent to me for review and no money changed hands. They don’t want the coffee back.  No animals were harmed in the writing of this review. thank you.

image:marye audet