Archive for May, 2009

This oh-so-yummy and deliciously coffee flavored toffee bars recipe comes from Good Cookies Plain and Fancy, by Annette Laslett Ross and Jean Adams Disney, published by Doubleday in 1963. Though a classic recipe, it’s sure to become a new family favorite in your home – especially if you have a bit of coffee left over from this morning.

Ingredients:

1 cup flour

¼ cup butter

1 egg

1 cup brown sugar

1 tsp baking powder

¼ tsp salt

¼ cup strong, cold coffee

1 cup chocolate chips

1 tsp vanilla

Directions:

1. Grease a 9-inch square baking pan and preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2. Melt butter in a heavy pot. Stir in brown sugar until dissolved. Cool and then add one egg.

3. In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking powder, and salt.

4. Add this to the butter mix alternately with vanilla and coffee. Blend well.

5. Stir in chocolate chips and then place batter in baking pan.

6. Bake for about 30 minutes. Serve with your favorite cup of coffee or a glass of milk.

Daniel Young’s new book, Coffee Love – 50 Ways to Drink Your Java, is for coffee buffs who love to debate the merits of their favorite beans while analyzing brewing and serving methods.

According to a book review in the El Paso Times, Young does not take sides; he recognizes that coffee preferences are personal. His goal is education – in a delicious fashion – and he’s served up 50 simple recipes for coffee drinks from baristas around the world. Plus, there’s great passages on the love of coffee, cafes, and coffee bars.

Here’s a passage from the inside cover:
Throughout the book, Young’s engaging profiles and evocative photographs bring the coffee experience to life. You’ll visit fabled coffee shrines such as Café Sperl in Vienna, you’ll meet Bologna’s most accomplished barista, and you’ll learn the secrets of the world’s most distinctive coffee drinks. If you love coffee and want to explore many great ways to enjoy it, this book is your indispensable guide.

Well brewed, Young. Well brewed.

Numerous studies have reached a consensus: coffee is good for us! It’s true; brewing some fresh java every now and then can have a positive impact on your well being, and as the authors of the Coffee Lover’s Blog, we at Zaccardis.com couldn’t be happier to hear the news.

Why is coffee so beneficial to our health? According to Sandy Procter, a specialist in human nutrition at Kansas State University, it could be due to the beverage’s anti-inflammatory properties and wealth of antioxidants. “Coffee contains four times more antioxidants than green tea — and brewing adds 300 more antioxidants to the 1,000-plus found in green coffee beans,” she says. “Roasting those green coffee beans adds even more healthful benefits.”

In one study, researchers found that people who drank three to five cups of joe per day were two thirds less likely to develop various forms of dementia such as Alzheimer’s disease, and as noted in one of our blogs, coffee has also been found to lower the risk of stroke. Other studies have reported similar findings, including a staggering 80% reduction in cirrhosis of the liver.

Of course, this doesn’t mean that we should go overboard, and more research is needed in order to confirm these findings. However, things are certainly looking up, and that makes Zaccardis.com proud to support our fellow coffee lovers!

Perfection is an ideal that is seldom ever fulfilled, but that doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t strive for it.  After all, a failure to perfect something can still yield positive results.  While you may never be able to make a cup of coffee that’s “just right,” a quality blend is far from impossible, and if you follow these tips (courtesy of the Chicago Tribune), you’ll see that this is true.

1.Ensure that your coffee beans are fresh.  This way, you’ll get the most flavor out of them.  Since exposure to air will significantly reduce their freshness, it’s a good idea to keep them in an airtight container.  Don’t store them in a freezer, however; the resulting condensation can compromise their integrity.

2.When brewing, stick to simple, non-electric methods.  This will allow for the most even extraction.

3.Consider investing in a good burr grinder and use it before you brew.  Propeller grinders are thought to produce uneven grinds.

4.For every six to eight ounces of water, use 2 tablespoons of coffee.  Measure carefully!

5.Don’t use water that you wouldn’t drink.  Filtered and bottled water should do the trick.