The Perfect Iced Coffee

Iced coffee is truly my guilty pleasure and now that temperatures are starting to finally get warmer, I am embracing every opportunity for a refreshing and creamy iced coffee. Ahhhhh.

For some reason, retail stores think it’s OK to charge $4 for a simple iced coffee and I always cringe when buying one. This iced coffee recipe is perfection and will be sure to make your taste buds and wallet happy all through spring & summer cold coffee cravings! My personal secret is to freeze some coffee into ice cubes so your iced coffee is never watered down. You’re welcome.

You can use a Kuerig (or any other single server coffee-maker) or traditional coffee pot if you want to make more than a single serving. I use my Kuerig since I am usually making just a cup for myself. However, the wonderful thing about iced coffee is since it’s refrigerated, you can make it for the whole week without it getting stale-tasting.

Directions: Place desired amount sugar (or any sweetener you like) in cup first. This way the coffee will melt the sugar & won’t be “crunchy” when you sip (one of my pet-peeves). Brew your coffee as directed and make a little extra coffee for your “coffee ice cubes.” Once brewed, put coffee in large mason jar and let sit to cool. If you have time, refrigerate for about 10-15 minutes and if not, add cold milk or creamer and serve over the coffee ice cubes. I usually try to make a big batch of this overnight so it’s cold & ready for the morning.

Ever After,

Jamie

Chocolate Covered Peppermint Oreos

In Connecticut, it is a beautiful snowy day which can be fun when there are Christmas movies on all day. The snowy scenery and festive movies made me want to whip up a holiday treat that was yummy yet not too time consuming. I remembered I bought these amazing Peppermint Oreos which taste like candy canes & chocolate (who can resist?). This recipe is no bake and takes only a few ingredients and makes for the perfect holiday treat to share.

Ingredients:

• Your favorite oreo flavor (I used peppermint for holidays)
• Chocolate bark or discs to melt (I used milk and dark chocolate)
• Sprinkles of choice (I had mini gingerbread sprinkles & multi-colored)

Directions:

1. Melt chocolate. I did it in the microwave. Stop every 30 seconds and stir.

2. Set aside several sheets of wax paper. When your oreos set, they will peel off easily!

3. Once the chocolate is melted, use a spoon or tongs to dunk oreos in the chocolate. Make sure they are completely covered. Set on wax paper.

4. Decorate with sprinkles before melted chocolate sets.

5. Let sit in fridge for about a half hour.

6. Once chocolate is hard, place in fun jars and decorate to hand out as holiday gifts!

Ever After,

Jamie

Sunday Night Zucchini "Pasta"

Ingredients

• 2 large Zucchini
• 2 tomatoes on the vine
• chicken sausage
• 1 small jar of capers
• Extra Virgin olive oil
• 1/4 cup parmesan cheese
• garlic to taste
• 1/3 cup mushrooms

Directions
1.Use a julienne peeler, like this one I bought from Amazon,  to slice the zucchini into noodles, stopping when you reach the seeds. Set aside.
2. Cook chicken sausage.
3.  Heat a skillet with olive oil.  Add Zucchini, capers, tomatos, parmesan cheese, mushroom, chicken sausage and garlic.
4. Sauté over medium heat for 4-5 minutes.

Ever After,

Jamie