Friday Things #482
1. This past week, we took the kids on an impromptu afternoon excursion to pick blueberries (if you’re local, it was at Soergels). They had so much fun! Each of the kids picked an overflowing quart of blueberries… you might wonder what I baked, but our kids are plowing through them, eating them by the handful! If some are left, I will probably make blueberry muffins or blueberry crumb bars.
2. When summer started, Joseph said he wanted me to teach him to cook a few things this summer. First on his list was tacos, which we tackled this week! He read the recipe himself, got all of the ingredients, measured, and did the actual cooking on the stove. He was SO proud!
3. Dominic has had a loose tooth for at least a couple of weeks now and last Friday, he woke up on the morning we were set to leave the hospital, wiggled it with his finger, and it fell right out. He was so excited! The nurse gave him a little cup to keep it in until he got home :)
4. I finally finished Demon Copperhead last week! So many of you said you loved it, and probably an equal number told me not to read it; it was too depressing. It started very slowly for me, but once I got about halfway through, I plowed through it. I’m so glad I finished it… It was a fantastic and wonderfully written story, albeit tragic, heartbreaking, and eye-opening. Next up: Malibu Rising! I needed something much lighter next :)
5. This article warmed my heart so much >> He Wanted to Pet Dogs for His 100th Birthday. Hundreds Lined Up.
6. You may have seen an email go out yesterday with the annual BEB reader survey. I would be so appreciative if you could take a minute or two to fill it out and share your input with me! You can do so here >> BEB Survey
7. One morning last week, while I was staying at the hospital, I literally woke up to the most wonderful smell of freshly brewed coffee. It reminded me of that old Folgers commercial (from the 80’s, I’m dating myself!) where the son comes home for Christmas and makes coffee after he comes into the house and the mom wakes up sniffing coffee, then comes downstairs, “Peter!” I swear every Christmas special we had recorded on VHS tapes when I was a kid had that commercial in it lol!
8. Speaking of coffee, can we talk about how you love to make yours? I just don’t enjoy black coffee; there are some cold brews and hot coffees that I’ve tried at coffee shops that I really like, but I just can’t seem to replicate anything at home that I think tastes very good. If you’re not a black coffee drinker, how do you make your coffee at home? What types of creamers or flavorings? Either cold brew or hot! I need guidance :)
9. Have you watched any new TV lately? We are catching the new episodes of Jack Ryan (Amazon Prime) and Endeavor (PBS Masterpiece), both really, really good!
10. TGIF! Judith always looks so comfortable and content when she sleeps!
I recommend “SToK cold brew Not too Sweet” with Italian sweet cream creamer over ice. This cold brew tastes like coffee smells – I think it’s way better than brewed coffee, which usually tastes burnt or bitter, and it is my daily go to. However, if you prefer hot coffee, I was recently visiting a friend who made the best brewed coffee I’ve tried so far – Folgers black silk.
The Chobani creamer was a game-changer for my husband. He always drank his coffee black, but didn’t really love it. Chobani has a ton of flavors and there are also oat- and plant-based options if you prefer.
We have a DeLonghi espresso maker, my husband makes us a latte every morning. He adds a pinch of Ovaltine Classic Malt and about a teaspoon of “Dave’s Coffee Syrup” (you can get it on Amazon) to the milk when he froths it. Its so good!!! If you like Coffee Syrup for ice cream or on anything else, you have to try Dave’s, it’s just coffee and sugar, no other weird added ingredients.
My favorite show is/was Endeavor, so sad it is done.
You might also like Unforgotten another PBS show that I believe is on Amazon.
My wife and I have also been watching The Recruit on Netflix.
And of course Jack Ryan
For current PBS shows I typically watch them on the PBS website. One of the things I do not like when watching an air (e.g. TV) is that out here they put the station id in the right corner for the duration of the show and I have also had promotions for other PBS shows get displayed on the bottom during the show. The worst is when you have a movie with foreign language captions on the bottom covered by the advertising. Watching on the web, you do not get that.
On the cooking front, I picked up a refurb Ninja Grill XL with temperature probe on sale and at first my wife hated it because it was so big. But both she and my son are now enjoying cooking in it and it hasn’t left the counter. Which is a big surprise for me. She likes the crispy vegetables and love’s the crispy frys. Tonight I made ribs and sweet potato frys and she really really wanted to make sure I wanted to make them in the oven. We just got our GE Cafe range/oven about 3 months ago and she said she wished she had the Ninja earlier. So my wife and son are having fun with it now.
Go Joseph go!! He looks like a natural at that stove!
I’m a big coffee drinker, but neverrrr black. At home, I really like the CoffeeMate hazelnut and vanilla creamers, and the peppermint mocha one around the holidays. I add a splash of half and half too to make it a bit richer/lighter.
Try some sweetened condensed milk in your coffee, hot or cold. I read this in an ancient EagleBrand cookbook long before the internet. The book also mentions to use it in tea. ENJOY!
Have you tried Stumptown coffee? It’s the only coffee I’ve been buying for several years and it is so smooth I could drink it black (although I prefer it with milk). I started drinking it when I visited Portland, OR which is where it’s from. You can buy it on Amazon, at target, and at Whole Foods.
I drink my coffee black. I love my own coffee that I make at home in a plain old percolator.
I love flavored coffee. There are some great companies that offer a myriad of flavors such as s’mores, chocolate covered strawberry, white chocolate (huge favorite), almond joy, chocolate lava cake, kahlua & cream, tiramisu, orange creamsicle, buttercream and more. With some cream & sugar they are so delicious and a far cry from black coffee (ugh!)
I’m in the “I like a little coffee in my cream, please” group! Not totally. I do add collagen powder, coconut oil, and Italian Sweet Cream creamer to my morning cup! We brew our coffee strong and with my additions, I can never get as good a cup at a coffee shop or restaurant as what I have at home.
Looks like the kids are having a great summer so far!! Love to go berry picking! Being the dog lover you are I think you’d really like The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein as an easy read.
I can’t offer you any advice on the coffee but I relate to how it never tastes the same at home!!! I keep trying though!!!
I enjoy cold brew (made with an inexpensive cold brew maker from Amazon) because it is smoother and less acidic. I also make a homemade vanilla simple syrup using a vanilla bean, and then make my own version of a vanilla latte with the cold brew! It’s simple, delicious, and inexpensive!
Gosh, I envy Judith’s totally oblivious sleeping posture.She looks completely relaxed and content.
Your kids are looking so grown up. Isabelle is as tall as Dominic!
Good for Joseph…wanting to learn to cook. You might have a future Master Chef Junior on your hands!
My summer reads have to be mindless and fun. Have you ever read any of Elinor Lipman’s books? She is such a witty, fun author. Her latest book is titled “Miss Demeanor” but two other favorites are “Isabelle’Bed” and “Then She Found Me”.
Have. great week. Enjoy those blueberries.
Coffee…I have a coffee-maker but I never use it unless guests are here. I only have 2 cups a day so I can’t be bothered with it. My go-tos are my plunger and my Tupperware cold brew maker. Both make delicious coffee. The cold brew is supposed to be smoother (but uses a lot more coffee per cup) while my plungers (I have 2, one large from IKEA and one small Bodum) make delicious coffee using one scoop per cup. I have my coffee with 1 Splenda tablet and some whole milk. I’m having one now 😉.
I am loving the final season of Jack Ryan.
It’s wonderful to see that Joseph is following in your footsteps with cooking!
PS I use Kirkland coffee from Costco.
SIMPLY… ELATED TO SEE LITTLE DOMINIC SMILING AND BEING WITH HIS FAMILY…SOON HE’LL BE COOKING TOO….
BLESS YOU MY SWEET BOY!
Isabel & Dominic have the same tooth missing – so cute! Glad to see Joseph has the cooking gene.
Perculated medium roast coffee with a tiny bit of heavy cream :) Love the smell of coffee
1. You choose FUN and different activities for your kids!! Blueberry picking!!
2. Your son sees you cook so often, love that he wants to learn. He, and you, are brave to be cooking in WHITE clothing!! 😉
4. ‘The Sweetness of Forgetting’ . I read a lot of WWII realistic fiction. This one was a little bit far fetched, but sweet!!
5. Love love love this story!! Thanks for sharing . I hope some of these dogs still visit!! He would LOvE your dogs!!
7. I LOVE that Folgers ad!!!
8. I’m a black brewed coffee drinker, BUT, 2 suggestions: *Nespresso machines makes the coffee foamy like a latte!! Delicious! *for a more healthy gut I started drinking the following: 8 oz coffee, 4oz milk, 1 scoop collegen, 1/2 tsp cinnamon, 1/8 tsp vanilla, 1tsp coconut butter, 4 oz coffee optional. Blend. I’ve enjoyed it hot or iced…🤷♀️
Your dogs are great!!
Brew coffee with good water. Use natural coffee filters. We prefer 1/2 and 1/2 as our creamer
French press also makes good coffee
RE: cofee…I’m addicted to drinking instant coffee now! there’s this mexican brand called “ORO”, it is the best, full flavored instant coffee; I prepare it as follows: I put in my cup 1 generous tablespoon of coffee , add 1 or 2 grains of sea salt, powdered cinnamon, a trickle of evaporated milk, and about 4 tablespoons of whole milk; I mix all of that,put it in the fridge and that’s next day’s coffe cup, yeah, I prepare it almost 24hrs before drinking, every day; I like letting the flavors get to know each other…oh, and no sugar since I’m a diabetic; delicious!
Love “The Window” in Dominic’s smile!
Happy to hear Joseph is beginning to develop his culinary skills. He is about the age My sons started, too. To help beat boredom one very hot and rainy summer, I had each one plan a meal, help shop and help cook each week. They actually started to plan another night together. It was fun. Now, both in their forties, they are great cooks (worked in restaurants during college) and still remember those summer meals.
Coffee- My favorite brands are New England, Dunkin’ Donuts and Eight O’Clock,. I favor the mild roast with a little half and half. I have a Cuisinart coffee maker.
Hope you have a great weekend!
I make a cold brew concentrate (350 g of coffee in 2 L of water for 24 hours). I mix it about 3 to 1 with water, either cold or hot – for a 16 ounce cup, I use about 4 ounces of concentrate and 1.5 ounces of half-and-half cream, then fill it the rest of the way with water. my sweetener of choice is Equal.
Such an adorable family! Buy this little gadget for Joseph to help break up his taco meat. This might be one of the most used tools in my drawer, and it is so inexpensive!
https://a.co/d/5ptcCa0
The pictures of Joseph and Dominic show how they are growing. Can’t believe they are getting more handsome! Your children keep you busy but you are are a great Mom.