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coffee

Spectacular Way For Serving Brownies To Kids

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Love baking brownies? They are a big favorite with my family for sure.  We adore classic brownies, or frosted brownies and, my favorite,  marble aka cheesecake brownies.  But, I never send brownies to school for kids parties.   Why? 

 

spectacular brownie serving idea

Well, because brownies are sticky and get little hands so very messy.  I was trying to be thoughtful toward the teachers.  I am a teacher, myself,  and I know what big messes in the classroom do. It takes a lot of work to clean them up!

So, the week that one of my preschool moms sent brownies for her daughter’s birthday celebration, I was just thrilled to see this genius idea she came up with for serving brownies!

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You are going to love the simplicity of what she did….

She made individual “holders” by simply placing each brownie in a disposable paper cupcake liner.  They looked so very special and, above all, no mess!  Great idea, huh? I will never hesitate to send brownies as a treat ever again!

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This blog contains Amazon affiliate links. ❤️

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marble cheesecake brownie

Ever try marble cheesecake brownies?

They are super simple to make and are the BEST EVER if you love cheesecake and chocolate!   Just click on over right now to get the recipe or you can pin it from here for later!

Marble Cheesecake Brownie Recipe

Pin it Here

 

 

brownies in cupcake papers lined up in a container to take to a party

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Enjoy!

OK, so we were talking “kid treats” here but adults love brownies, too! ❤️ Yes, we do.

So, pick out a stylish assortment of cupcake liners, like these Wilton Elegance Cupcake Liners,  to use and serve them for your friends with some “donut shop like” coffee beverages to make the moment REALLY special.  
wilton cupcake liners for adult occasions

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Wait till you see what this can do!

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premiere coffee maker

Philips 4400 Expresso Machine makes all of these specialty beverages with ease!

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Happiness is Homemade Party

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houseplants

 

Welcome to the Happiness Is Homemade Link Party #579 – this is Katie from Love My Messy Messy Mess and I am hosting for the month of April which happens to be my birthday month!  Spring has sprung at my home and I cannot wait for my gardens to really start popping up.
 
We are so glad you stop by.  Please take a moment to visit our features, pin any you like, and browse all of the NEW shares at our party (below.)
Miss the party last week? Click here to check it out!
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This blog contains Amazon affiliate links.❤️

convection air fryer

 

BELLA Touchscreen Convection Air Fryer, 5.3 Quart, Stainless Steel

This Week’s Features

 
 

I’ve recently discovered just how perfect a sweet treat a date can make!  A much healthier option with lots of fiber, check out this quick recipe for Chocolate Dip Peanut Butter Stuffed Dates  from Cindy’s On Line Recipe Box.

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DIY Outdoor Plant Stand Ideas
I’ve got so many indoor plants that need to be brought outside in the summer and I’m always looking for neat and resourceful ways to display them.  Check out this cool post for DIY Outdoor Plant Stand Ideas.
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Stratos style Shark
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Cheeseburger Pasta
Does anyone else have a household with picky eaters, always looking for the next recipe to try out on those little critics?  The Lou Lou Girls never disappoint – I think Cheeseburger Pasta is going to be a winner.
 
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Of course you need to have a functional rolling pin in your house, but there’s nothing wrong with having one for beautiful aesthetically pleasing purposes as well.  I love how this Magnolia Painted Wooden Rolling Pin turned out.
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latte

Doesn’t this easy cinnamon churro iced coffee with protein look yummy?  I think it is an eating adventure that I would love to try!  It comes to us from Cook Eat Go!

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Let’s Get To The Party!

Did you know we have a Pinterest Board where all features are saved to?  Save our pins to your own board for your future reference, easy peasy!
Thank you for joining us this week whether you are a blogger sharing your latest posts OR a reader enjoying all of the inspirational shares!  
Don’t forget to drop by and say hello to all our hostesses, they always appreciate your visit!
 
Here are all of our hostesses at Happiness Is Homemade!


This party is published on 6 different blogs so, bloggers, the posts you share get lots of exposure! Many thanks to our hosting blogs for giving us all this opportunity every week!

Linda @ A Labour of Life

Sinea @ Ducks ‘n a Row

Beverly @ Eclectic Red Barn

Katie @ Love My Messy Messy Mess

Mel @ Décor Craft Design

Niki @ Life as a Leo Wife

 

Would you like to be a part of Happiness Is Homemade? We are looking for hostesses to join our team. If you are interested, please email any one of the Happiness Is Homemade hostesses and let them know. We would love to have you join our party!

 

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Coffee Lovin’ Glass Display-Storage Containers for the kitchen counter or, maybe the office?

coffee bar glass storage

 

GMISUN Coffee Canister, 3 Pcs 50 fl oz Coffee Storage Canisters with Airtight Lids, Black Glass Coffee Tea Sugar Container Set with Scoop/Shelf/Labels, Ground Coffee Jars for Coffee Station Countertop

 

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Do you have furry pets???  If you do, I’ll bet you also have a pet hair problem.  Yep.  I know from experience. 

With 2 big 100 yellow Labrador retrievers, I had a BIG pet hair problem. 

Then I found Shark vacuum cleaners, my pet hair vacuum DREAMS COME TRUE!  What a delight!  

Shark navigator vacuum with LED headlights

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Happiness is Homemade Party

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Wintertime woman enjoying hot cup of coffee

Happy New Year Everyone, hard to believe another year has passed us by and 2025 is upon us.  There have been so many great features shared with us every week and I truly hope y’all continue sharing into 2025.   A fresh start, January is back… to me, A Labour of Life.   So, let’s see what you have been up to. .

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This blog contains Amazon affiliate links. ❤️ .  

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happiness is homemade 566

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Elote Crispy Chicken Tacos

First off, surprise, I am not starting my year off with a pretty Tablescape. Guess it is time for new directions. Kicking the year off with a foodie edition to really change it up. Homemade on a Weeknight is kicking this week off. Sometimes you just want a good ole chicken taco – and sometimes you want to make take taco night on an adventure and combine it with some bacon and elote style corn. And that is how these Elote Crispy Chicken Tacos came to be. With super simple ingredients and a little bit of time, you can make these flavor packed soft tacos any day of the week.

chicken tacos

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The Easiest and Spiciest Air Fryer Orange Chicken

The Hungry Mountaineer is sharing something fun and actually quite simple to try to create Orange Chicken from scratch check out this easy recipe. You may want to just throw some Trader Joe’s Orange Chicken nuggets in the air fryer and call it good. Or if you are anything like me you may want to get a bit bougee with your Orange Chicken delight.

orange chicken

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Make The Best Holiday Cookies Ever – 10 Classic Recipes For You

Do you love making cookies for the holidays?  Sinea does, too. Thinking ahead we are sharing 10 of the most popular types of Christmas cookies with their recipes. Pick out the ones you like, click and go right to the recipes! Be sure to pin your favorites, too. You might even want to start a board for them. .

10 cookie recipes

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Peanut Butter~Chocolate Krispy Bites

Shoestring Elegance is sharing a tasty treat. Starting things off this year, were these Super-Yummy, Super-Easy twist on the all-time favorite, guaranteed to leave an empty plate, Rice Krispy Treats. Here’s the twist: I use less butter, add a good dose of peanut butter and top them with a chocolate ganache! That’s it! Simplicity at it’s best!

peanut butter treats

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Slow Cooker Bacon Cheeseburger Soup

Rounding out our Foodie week is tasty soup from The Painted Apron. This soup is easy to make, family friendly, and comfort in a bowl!

slow cooker soup

 

Happiness is Homemade 566

Thank you for joining us this week whether you are a blogger sharing your latest posts OR a reader enjoying all of the inspirational shares!  Don’t forget to drop by and say hello to all our hostesses, they always appreciate your visit!  .

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Here are all of our hostesses at Happiness Is Homemade! 

Linda @ A Labour of Life  Sinea @ Ducks ‘n a Row  Beverly @ Eclectic Red Barn  Katie @ Love My Messy Messy Mess  Mel @ Décor Craft Design  Niki @ Life as a Leo Wife  , Would you like to be a part of Happiness Is Homemade? We are looking for hostesses to join our team. If you are interested, please email any one of the Happiness Is Homemade hostesses and let them know. We would love to have you join our party.

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. . VitaCup Mushroom Coffee Pods – Boost Focus & Immunity with Lions Mane, Chaga, Vitamins, for Memory & Clarity, Recyclable K-Cup Pods, 16 Ct

Mushroom Focus Coffee

 

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

 

Keurig K-Express Single Serve K-Cup Pod Coffee Maker, 3 Brew Sizes, Strong Button Feature, 42oz Removable Reservoir, Black

      These little guys are wondering if you got what you wanted for Christmas this year? They have been feeling bad about all the fur they have been leaving lying around!  

best pet hair vacuum

Treat yourself to a wonderful gift — a Shark upright vacuum cleaner!  It works great for all kinds of cleanup but especially PET HAIR pickup.   . .

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Do you brew your coffee with K-cups?  If you do, take a look at this nifty little coffee pod storage drawer for K-cups that you can even keep underneath the coffee maker!

coffee pod storage drawer

 

Mother’s Day Gift Card Giveaway 2021

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Do you know what to get for your mom [or grandma] for Mother’s Day this year?  My mom is in heaven now but it wasn’t long ago that gift buying was a dilemma. Each year I struggled looking for the exact right gift to give her. To add to the pressure, mom’s birthday was in May, as well. Somehow, I did come up with two gifts every year that she loved.

Well, wherever your search for the perfect gift may lead you, be sure to enter our Mother’s Day Gift Card Giveaway 2021 [below.] You could be the winner of a $215 gift card that will help you with your shopping!

This blog contains affiliate links ♥

Amazing gifts for coffee loving moms

Amazing Gift Ideas for Coffee Loving Moms   #MothersDay

Back to your search for a gift for you mom. If the solution isn’t obvious then start with assessing the things she loves to do.  Is she a collector of things?  You know, nicknacks,  jewelry, purses / handbags and the like.  Or, does she love gardening? You could buy her plants for her garden or how about planters and vases for her to be surrounded by the horticulture she loves. Is she a coffee enthusiast?  I am.  I love a lot of things but coffee and its accoutrements is always a winner. Whatever it is, I know she will love it … because she loves you!

Enter the 2021 Mother's Day Gift Card #Giveaway. Two people will each win $215 in gift cards. #entertowin #MothersDay2021 #giftcards Share on X

Now on to the giveaway!

Mothers Day Giveaway 2021

We are so excited to be giving away $430 in gift cards for Mother’s Day to two lucky readers. The giveaway will run from April 22 – May 7.

The prizes are:

  • 1 – $215 gift card
  • 1 – $215 gift card

Each winner will choose the gift card they want. Please choose a gift card that comes from an online store and can be paid in US dollars. EX: Amazon, Target, Walmart, Macy’s, Kohls, etc. You may ask for more than one gift card but must add up to your prize amount.

Now it’s time to meet our co-hosts who have made this giveaway possible.

 

Tammy – My Life Abundant | Habiba – Craftify My Love | Heather – Super Mom Life | Carrie – Curly Crafty Mom | Dana – Create to Donate | Karen – Mamma Bear Says | Megan – The Stephen 3 | Kristin – White Arrows Home | Debi – Life Currents | Linda – A Labour of Life | Kathleen – Our Hopeful Home | Meredith – The Mom of the Year | Gladys – Mom To Grandma | Lisa – Blogghetti | Lauren – Shooting Stars Mag | Sinea – Ducks ‘n a Row | Danielle – My Slightly Chaotic Life | Ahna – Hammers n Hugs | Lois – Walking on Sunshine Recipes | Melissa – Deliciously Savvy | Shana – Our Sutton Place | Donna – Blog By Donna | Zan – At Home with Zan | Lindsay – Paperclips and Confetti | Denise – This is My Everybody | Books and DIY Home Ideas

Please stop by and say hi to these wonderful co-hosts and their blogs.

The giveaway will end at midnight on Friday, May 7th, a few days before Mother’s Day. The winner will have 48 hours to respond to the email claiming their prize. If we don’t hear in 48 hours, we will choose another winner. The giveaway is open to anyone over 18 years of age and able to receive e-gift cards from the U.S.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Enjoy!

Handmade ethically sourced butterfly wing necklace

Blue forget me not necklace

Easy Way To Keep A Cup Of Coffee Hot Longer

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Hey, coffee lover, this tip is not going to set the world on fire (pardon the pun) but it sure will brighten your day if you are not already doing it. This is an easy way to keep your cup of coffee hot, longer.

How to keep your cup of coffee hot

This blog contains affiliate links. ♥


How To Keep Your Cup Of Coffee Hot Longer

A very simple way to keep a cup of coffee hot longer is to put it into a pre-warmed cup. All you have to do is fill the mug with hot water, right out of the tap, let it sit for a moment or two:

  1. Turn on your tap water to “hot” and let it run till the water steams.
  2. Fill your coffee mug with the hot water and wait one minute.
  3. Pour out the hot water and repeat.
  4. Pour out the hot water for a second time and fill your mug with hot coffee. Now that your mug is pre-heated, the coffee will stay hot much longer.

Another nifty idea, put a sweater on your coffee mug!  You can make your own or buy a handmade crocheted cozy for your mug ☑️ CROCHETED COFFEE MUG COZY 

 

Handmade crocheted coffee cozy #ad

 

Easy way to keep your cup of #coffee hot longer! #tips Share on X

 

How to keep your coffee hot #ad #coffee #tips

 


 

Enjoy!

 

 

 


How To Cool Super Hot Coffee For Your Friends

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How do you cool super hot coffee for those who do not like it very hot and not ruin it for everyone else? This BEST answer is so easy – you will love it!

I love my large capacity coffee maker!
It makes deliciously hot coffee, the best coffee I have ever had. Who knew that some people might consider that coffee to be too hot? Certainly, not me!

This blog contains affiliate links. ♥

How to cool down super hot coffee #tips

I found out, quite by accident, that some of my family did not like how hot my coffee maker makes (and keeps) the coffee. I love it that way but, being a good host, I felt compelled figure out how to fix the problem for their sake. I needed to cool down the super hot coffee quickly for those who want it cooler, while keeping it piping hot for the rest of us. You may be surprised – as I was – to hear this amazingly simple solution.


I like my coffee hot, so I have no desire to turn the coffee maker off to let it cool after brewing.  How was I to I solve this dilemma for all of us? My brilliant friend, Stephanie, had the perfect answer. She said “make coffee ice cubes.“ Wow. What a great idea! I can have them sitting in a pretty bowl by the coffee maker and anyone who wants a cooler cup, without diminishing its strength, can pop a delicious coffee ice cube into their coffee mug!


Before recommending it to anyone else, though, I decided to make some to be sure that the coffee will turn into ice. Of course, it does. What I had not anticipated was the amazing coffee aroma from coffee ice cubes! It smells even better than the coffee did when it was first brewed.

Personally, I won’t be using an ice cube of any kind in my coffee (I love mine hot, as I said before) but I just may make iced coffee for myself so that I can use them. They are perfect for hot coffee and for cold.

Ice cube trays filled with coffee. Coffee ice cubes cool hot coffee without diluting the taste. #tips

How To Make Coffee Ice Cubes

Brew some coffee in your regular coffee maker and allow it to cool.*

Pour the coffee into an ice cube tray.

Pop it into the freezer for 2 or more hours.**

*Tip: try to make the coffee for the ice cubes similar in strength to the very hot coffee that will be prepared in your big coffee pot. 

**Time may vary depending on the freezer.

So, you can now provide coffee ice cubes for each guest to put in their super hot coffee to cool it or you can even use those coffee ice cubes for cold iced coffee beverages! This is my kind of win-win as I do NOT want to give up the wonderfulness of the hot coffee that my large capacity coffee urn produces. It is perfect.

A fun-feature of coffee ice cubes – besides the lovely rich coffee scent – is that they are pretty!  I wouldn’t have expected it but they catch the light and glisten.

Have you ever made #coffee ice cubes? Oh, you have to try it! They actually SMELL even better than freshly brewed coffee and they look really pretty, too! #tips Share on X

Coffee ice cubes glisten in the light

 

Of course, large capacity coffee makers are most often used for parties or in an office setting where you will have many coffee drinkers during the day. My Hamilton Beach 45 cups large capacity coffee maker brews quickly, considering the volume of coffee that it is producing.  It takes one minute per cup; so, if you are making a full pot of 45 cups,  you will want to plug it in 45 minutes prior to when you want it to be ready. You can make smaller pots of coffee with it, which will reduce the brewing time accordingly.


Pretty coffee ice cubes on a plate all set for a party! #coffee #tips

How do you like your coffee?

Hot?

Cool?

Iced?

How to make coffee ice cubes! Use them to cool a hot cup of coffee or for iced coffee beverages. #tips #home #coffee Share on X


Enjoy!


How to make coffee ice cubes to cool a cup of very hot coffee #tips

 

https://amzn.to/2ni9b0U

Amazing Gift Ideas For Coffee Loving Moms

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coffee grinder still life

Got a coffee lover in your family? Give her a gift that will tantalize her tastebuds and decorate her space.  Some of these gift ideas are DIY crafty, others are “get out the credit card and click.”  All of them say “You are LOVED Mom!” the way only a coffee lover – like me – understands!
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This blog contains Amazon affiliate links.❤️
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DIY, scrub, Mother's Day gifts
 Give her a luxurious coffee scrub!  DIY Coffee Scrub – Skinny Ms.
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washable DIY sharpie coffee mug gifts
Take  oil based paint pens and go to town!
She will love these WASHABLE DIY SHARPIE MUGS … from Kaleidoscope Living.
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4 coffee mugs w 4 spoons set

Set of 4 different colored café Americano coffee mugs with spoons!  

 
DIY, coffee lover, Mother's Day gift ideas
Make her some elegant coffee bean candle holders!
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coffee pod holder
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coffee, gift basket, moms
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jewelry, gift idea, mom, Mother's Day
This unique coffee bean gift will stay dear to her heart!
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Keurig’s are so convenient!   I have this one and I LOVE it!

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Make her a delicious coffee-flavored dessert with a nice hot cup of java on the side! 
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Get her a coffee bar!

buffet cabinet coffee bar
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Ever heard of “pour over” style of coffee brewing?
pour over coffee maker by AGOGO
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Got some great gift ideas for the coffee loving woman in your life?
antique coffee grinder
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Enjoy!

Shark liftaway vacuum for carpets and floors

 

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Amazing gift ideas for coffee loving moms!

Great Coffee – Save Time & Money, Enjoying Great Coffee All Day Long

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coffee, coffee lover, gift ideas

Coffee lovers: don’t you just love a great cup of coffee? Hot? Flavorful? Robust with aroma?

This blog contains affiliate links. ♥

Coffee lovers: don’t you just hate the rest? Tepid. Tasteless. BURNT!
It’s no wonder that so many have opted for spending big bucks at the drive-up window.  Starbucks, Dunkin’ Donuts, Tim Horton’s…even McDonald’s is preferred over homemade.
Please forgive me for bursting your bubble but the drive-up isn’t nearly the time-saver you may think it to be. It definitely is a money maker — for Starbucks, Dunkin’ Donuts, Tim Horton’s and McDonald’s! It’s a money sapper for you and for me. Time and money lost.
Quality decision: thinking frugally, let’s first put our favorite Carmel Macchiato into the “very special purchase” category. We will only buy it “once-in-a-while”.
But we MUST have COFFEE! 
A GREAT cup of coffee, every time.
I totally agree.
The dilemma: to save a fortune, I had already accepted that I was going to make the coffee myself but I was finding that I was making partial pots 3-5 times per day. This was the case when I worked in an office full-time and now as I write freelance at home. Why so often? It went bad all too soon. The heating element underneath the pot would do damage on the flavor. Given enough time, it smelled burnt and tasted bitter. Forget that! So, again and again I would make fresh.
But that wastes coffee, costing more money.
And, it takes more time.
Then I received a gift. A wonderful gift from my sister-in-law: a coffee maker that pours the freshly brewed coffee into a carafe! The coffee stays hot without constant heating. The “burning” stopped. Took me a little while to realize that I no longer had to make new pots again and again all day.
How To Save Time & Money and have GREAT COFFEE All Day Long.
Even if your coffee maker doesn’t have it’s own carafe, you can do this. 
It will save TIME and MONEY and you’ll have great coffee all day long!
 
Here’s how:
  • The Carafe: get an insulated carafe that keeps liquids hot.
  • Keep it Clean:  clean your coffee maker. Can’t get good coffee out of one that is dirty.
  • Throw ’em out! Establish the habit of discarding the coffee grounds and filter soon as it’s brewed. That way no latent drippings (bitter)  will be added to  your coffee as the day goes on.
  • Use filtered water. Brita water pitchers are very affordable – under $30 and as low as $12. They are well worth the investment for coffee making as well as providing good tasting water for your family.
  • Brew the coffee and then pour it into your preheated, clean carafe. Keeping your carafe clean and preheating it first with hot water will help keep your coffee tasting good all day long. (see “heat your cup”)
  • Heat your cup. When serving, preheat your coffee cup so that the coffee stays hot longer, just like you did with the carafe. Simply put very hot water in your cup and let it sit for a minute. Pour out the water, pour in the delicious hot coffee and enjoy!
  • Microwave. Late in the day, you may find that you will need to stoke up the heat a little bit. Preheat your cup, pour your coffee and then “nuke” it for 30 seconds. It will taste wonderful.

 

coffee lover, how to make great coffee at home

 

Got any coffee making tips to share?

How do you do it?

Enjoy!



Simplify

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Sometimes we just need to take a break and relax.

Concentrate on something simple, lovely or fun. Something that makes us feel good inside.
Take a moment and think about things that brighten your day.
These are some of mine…

Yellow Labs
freedigitalphotos.com by luigi diamanti

A Great Cup of Coffee
freedigitalphotos.com by nuttakit

The Marx Brothers
Mmmm…chocolate cupcakes!
examiner.com
A Sweet Little Baby
photo by Sarah Alston from Thundafunda
A Breathtaking Sunrise
freedigitalphotos.com by M-pic

Now…build this “thinking project” into your daily plan…and maybe even take some time to watch that old movie, play with your dog or take in a sunset!  Concentrate on the things that are good, pure and lovely…and then go about your day.  
Enjoy….

But, before you go…let’s keep in touch.
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