Coffee, conversation, a little knitting refresher, too. She came bearing gifts of pastry from La Gourmandine. thanks Jen.
A Friend Stopped By This Morning
Tag: coffee
Mug Shots
The title of today’s post was created by my friend Joanne in Florida . We were talking on the phone about the different types of mugs people have in their homes. Think about the clunky white mugs in a diner, sometime decorated with a single stripe near the rim. What do your mugs say about you?
One afternoon my friend Vincie made a cup of tea. She asked me “ Do you prefer a thick lipped mug or a thin lipped mug?” Hmmmmmmm. I can tell you I had to think about it. Here’s what I learned about my preferences.
When I make a cup of coffee with a paper filter in a cone, I’m choosing a thick lipped mug. When I make a cup of tea I find I’m reaching for a think lipped China mug. I’d never really thought about my preferences before she asked me. I usually choose a family picture mug in the morning.
So I asked a few friends and family, who follow the blog, to send me some photos of their mugs. Mug racks snd mug trees seem out of style although there are hundreds of stock photos of them available .
What kind of mug do you choose? Do you have matching mugs or a hodge podge, mismatched collection? thin lipped, thick lipped, white interior, or whatever is on hand?
Joanne can’t abide a dark interior to drink from.
(Don’t put photo mugs in the dishwasher!)
There are small replicas for Charlie.
Could not drink coffee out of this 😂
Perfect for a hot cup of tea
I think I need a cup of tea.
Perhaps you’ll join me….
Colleen
Blue Bottle Tree
Keeping evil spirits out of the garden and home- bottle trees were created to catch those evil spirits. Here’s an article about the American Bottle Tree on Smithsonian Gardens blog.
I photographed this blue bottle tree in Lenox CT as we went for early morning coffee in November. The bottle tree has African origins and has now spread across the country but was primarily evident in the South. Now you can order a bottle trees online from you know where.
Coffee, Earl Grey Tea Bread and a Remembered Poem
After our walk, my friends Jen snd I Went to have a coffee. There was a slice of of Earl Grey Tea Bread in the case and she’d had it before. Encouraged me to order snd try it . It was brought to the table with a generous amount butter and lemon zest on top.
We were at de Fer Coffee in the Strip District. And she was right. It was delicious. The butter slathered on top reminded me of the A.A, Milne poem the King’s Breakfast when the Dairymaid asks the Alderney “Don’t forget the butter for
The Royal slice of bread.” I’d say the cow did the butter spreading royally!
Remembering how my mother read aloud to me, this is a poem I can hear her voice recite the verses. Another she’d read with great expression was Milne’s poem Disobedience. I’d not thought of either in years.
Until the slice of bread arrived at the table in the coffee shop.
Funny how a slice of bread with lots of butter sparks a childhood memory of a poem being read aloud and the cadence and tone of a mother’s voice can come alive in your head, decades later.
Once my cousin John B wrote that my mother’s voice was mellifluous. I had to look it up!
Wordless Wednesday
La Prima Espresso in the Strip District
Pandemic adjustments for serving La Prima Espresso customers delicious coffee.
I had my first cup since the beginning of 2020. You can’t go inside now but they’ve found a way to offer safe service.
The coffee as wonderful as ever!
Carrie, you would LOVE it!
Wordless Wednesday
Cannelés from Gaby et Jules Bakery
My friend R came for coffee on my front porch Saturday morning. She brought lovely French pastries. And a box of……
Cannelés from Gaby et Jules French bakery In Squirrel Hill, Pittsburgh.
(Click here for a recipe if you don’t have a French bakery nearby)
(pronounced “can-eh-lay”), also spelled canelés. They come from the Bordeaux region of France..” from Chef Iso website “ basic ingredients–milk, flour, eggs, butter, sugar, and vanilla. But baking them at high heat in ridged fluted molds transforms them from a liquid batter to deep golden brown treasures. The outer shell is crunchy and crisp while the inside is delicious custard.”
Danish Dough Whisk Put to Use
Early in the Pandemic my friend Debbie shipped scone mix and an unusual kitchen tool. A “brodpisker”in Danish or a Dough Whisk.
Here’s an Epicurious article all about this wonderful tool.
(Of course, you don’t want to overwork you’re scone dough!)
Thanks, Deb.
Baking Scones
A friend sent three boxes of Scones mix.
When the surprise arrived, I didn’t have one of the essential ingredients- a stick of butter.
Today I followed the directions and baked them.
Mmmmm Thanks Deb.
They were delicious.
