French Press Coffee

Today is Native American Day/Columbus Day and I was thinking about some of the things that may have been brought over or shared.  That got me thinking about all those westerns where they are sitting around the fire drinking coffee and eating some sort of stew.

Ever go camping and want coffee but don't want to take the coffee pot?  Or in your early morning haze broke the coffee pot? Or maybe you like to do things the old fashioned way.  Well today's recipe is how to make coffee without a coffee pot. 

French Press Coffee

1. Fill a pan with water and turn on the heat. Use a little more water than you would normally use when making coffee, since some of it is going to get left behind.

2. When the water's boiling, add your coffee. The amount of coffee you need will vary, but aim for two tablespoons of coffee for every six ounces of water you use.

3. Kill the heat immediately, cover the pan, and wait until all of the grounds settle at the bottom — it will take four to five minutes.

4. You're done: Just slowly pour the coffee off the top or ladle it into cups, and you're all set.

http://m.pandawhale.com/post/20360/making-coffee-without-a-coffeemaker

Not ONE, but TWO coffee mixes!

I used to make these coffee moxes all the time when my kids were little. I haven't in years, but now that they are preteen and teen I need more energy and all the help I can get!

Fireside Coffee Mix
1 cup instant coffee (dry not made)
2 cups instant cocoa
1/2 cup powdered sugar
3/4 tsp cinnamon
3/4 tsp Nutmeg

Mix well and store in an airtight container. For each 6 oz of water add 4 tsp of mix or more to your liking.

Mocha Coffee Mix
1/4 cup powdered mocha flavored creamer
1/3 cup sugar
1/4 cup instant coffee (dry not made)
2 TBSP instant cocoa

Mix well and store in an airtight container. For every 3/4 cups hot water add 1/2 TBSP mix or more to your liking!

I think I'm going to make up both today, my son turns 14 this weekend and I am going to need coffee and whiskey to get through this weekend...

Beverages!

Before I get started just wanted to point out some changes to the blog!  On the left hand side you will see an About Us button.  For those of you who started with us that is just our intro from the beginning.  If you are new here, go check it out and see who is in charge of the Asylum!  Also, if the search box doesn't work for you, scroll all the way to the bottom of the page and you can see all the labels we have for our recipes!  Maybe you will find inspiration there!  Thanks again to everyone who has come to hang out at the Asylum table!

Now on to the fun!  We had a reader request for low calorie coffee drinks or teas, something different to get you through those hot summer days that are already here!  We would like to again apologize to our reader for your comment slipping through the Asylum cracks!
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Water and Tea

I just bought myself a cute pitcher at Target that looks like an old cream can.  It will be used a lot this summer.  We usually keep lots of drinks ready so we are not going to the soda fridge and our kids are only able to have them once in awhile.  We keep that fridge in the basement so we have to really want it to go all the way down there to get it!

Our go to is plain old water with fruits in them.  Fruit infused water, that's what it is called!  You can buy pitchers that have a separate area that the fruit goes into, or like so many on the internet use mason jars with lids!  They are portable, ready to go and can be thrown in a cooler for a summer trip!

Some ideas:
Lemon and or lime slices
Strawberries and kiwi
Cucumber
Orange and Lemon (my favorite)
Apple slices and a stick of cinnamon
Strawberry jalapeno

If none of those sound good to you, head over to Infused Waters and get some ideas!

My new pitcher will be filled with Tazo Iced Green Tea most of the summer and I like to add lemon slices and a little honey to make it sweeter, but I have been know to add whatever fruit is in my fridge!  Any tea that you make hot can be made cold as well, just follow the directions on the box.  Watch your sweeteners that is where we tend to get into trouble!
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Coffee

If you are a coffee drinker just make your favorite coffee and let it cool completely.  The better quality coffee you use the better the results!  Add ice to your cup and add your milk, this is where the calories and fat come from, so choose wisely or skip it all together!  Then add your flavoring, I have used everything from flavorings made specifically for coffee drinks and coffee creamers to what ever I find in my fridge.  The flavorings can be found in your coffee aisle.  They have plenty of sugar free or low calorie flavorings to choose from!  You can add a zero or low calorie sweetener to your drink as well, but I would stick to raw sugar-it worked for our ancestors!  Add whip cream-it is low in calories and fat!

If you want your coffee drink to be a more slushy/frap consistency, throw it all in a blender and give it a spin!  You can even add protein powders to make it a healthy choice!

If you are a Starbuck's customer HERE is a link showing you how to order your drinks low calorie!
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Lemonade

Why do I always picture a 50s housewife taking lemonade out to her husband that is mowing the lawn?

Ever tried Carrot Lemonade?  A friend made this for me once and I found the recipe HERE!  It was very yummy! 

I don't know where I found this recipe--

Fresh Mint and Ginger Lemonade1/2 c (packed) chopped fresh mint leaves
1/3 c Chopped fresh ginger
1/3 c Honey
2 c Boiling water
1/3 c Fresh lemon juice
1 1/2 c (about) cold water
Ice cubes
Fresh mint leaves
Lemon slices
Combine chopped mint, ginger and honey in medium bowl. Add boiling water. Let steep 30 minutes. Strain into 4-C glass measuring cup, pressing on solids to extract liquid. Add lemon juice and enough cold water to measure 4 C total. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate.) Fill glasses with ice cubes. Add lemonade. Garnish with mint leaves.

One of my favorite blogs-Alice in Wonderland has a great homemade low sugar lemonade!
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This isn't a low calorie drink, but it is one of my favorites in the summer time.  Right up there with Chocolate Cherry Cokes! 

June Bug

Better Homes and Garden

 

Ingredients

3 cups ginger ale

4 tablespoons grenadine

4 tablespoons orange juice

3 scoops orange sherbet

Directions

1. Blend together ginger ale, grenadine, orange juice, and sherbet. Pour into ice-filled cocktail glasses. (To make a version with alcohol, add white rum.)

Note: If you are a alcohol drinker, you can add a flavored rum to this!

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I hope that helps and didn't make you even more confused!  It has been a crazy day here at the Asylum as I write this! Summer vacation is in full swing!  Do you think they will make my white jacket a pretty turquoise one?