Simple Dessert: Affagato

I'm going to start this week off with how some meals should really start - dessert first.  A few weeks ago some of my girlfriends (and a select husband and fiance) and I celebrated a quick visit of one of favorite former NYC gals, Ashley, at Intoteca on the lower east side.  The food is delicious there & is great for large groups.  I've eaten there on several occasions and each time when the wait staff brings out the affagato it's like the first time for me all over again and I love it all the same.  Affagato literally means drowned in Italian per my knowledge of the language... I mean according to Wiki.  In the case of this simple but decadent dessert it's referring to the ice cream drowned in espresso.  Yep that's pretty much all you need for this dessert - a scoop of your favorite ice cream with hot espresso poured over it. It's that simple and completes the coffee/dessert portion of your meal in one spoonful.  It's super easy, so easy that I've been tempted to make it for breakfast - but I haven't… yet.

Sassy Sipping

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Recently inspired by a photo my gal pal Amanda posted on facebook of her little girl having a tea party with her baby brother, I thought it would be fun to dream one up for myself. Of course at my tea party there would be coffee as well as tea (both hot & iced).

I really think I need these latte bowls in my life - they are just so cute & I'm in love with the idea of wrapping my hands around a little bowl of a frothy latte.  Then for the really hot days I would need these coffee bean shaped ice cube molds for  my iced coffee cubes (to drink with these pretty straws of course!).   And who doesn't love honey in a little pot like winnie the pooh or this teapot set that  reminds me of my cousins.  Naturally there would have to be a cute outfit based on this cute apron two of my best friends gifted me for my bridal shower that I wear in real life not just in my tea party dreams.

What will you have? Coffee? Tea? Me?

P do S: Happy Wedding Anniversary to my parents & Mr. & Mrs Watson!

Iced Latte Made With Coffee Iced Cubes

When Chris and I were on our honeymoon we stopped at a small cafe in Kauai where we have since been in awe of the simple yet smart idea of using coffee ice cubes for iced coffee! So when the ice or coffee melts the iced coffee doesn't get watered down it just gets more coffee! It's so easy to do and keep on hand too! How brilliant is that? Check out my photo tutorial on how you can make them yourself at home after the jump!

A Pot of Gold

a creamy golden froth at the top of your espresso is a tell-tale sign of a good one!

Rituals are all that and more.  Each morning I have a cup or two of coffee.  As of late, I've been trying to savor the moment (plus save a buck or four) by making my own espressos and lattes.  My barista skills have stood the test of time and I proudly say that I still make a mean latte.  Some mornings I run out of time to wash my hair or iron that shirt but I still need my caffeine fix [insert shot of espresso here].  Thank GOD for espresso or rather, thank you Italian  (...errr Irish - isn't everyone Irish on St. Patrick's day?) forefathers for espresso or as think of it - a little pot of gold.

Happy St. Paddy's* Day!  Hope you find yourself a little pot of gold!

*apparently it's Paddy not Patty. True story - courtesy of Rose & her ginger  :)