Showing posts with label Summer 2015. Show all posts

Cold Brew Coffee - Recipe Monday

This week on Recipe Monday I will be sharing with you my Cold Brew coffee recipe.

Cold brew coffee is when coffee grounds are steeped in room temperature, filtered water for an extended period of time. It is then strained and stored for up to two weeks. This method of making coffee has multiple benefits as it lasts a long period of time and the coffee has a sweeter taste due to its lower acidity.

What You'll Need - Ingredients


How To Make It - Directions

The steps to make cold brew coffee are really easy. For every cup of ground coffee you will need one litre of filtered water. If you want your coffee to have any flavour, such as vanilla or hazelnut just add a few tablespoon of your choice flavour extract. This step is completely optional but it adds a different dimension of flavour to your morning cup.

And that's it! Stick that jar on the counter with a cloth or light lid on it and wait 18+ hours. I wait about 24 hours so the cold brew coffee is a little stronger.


After the coffee has steeped for the amount of time you want it to it's time to strain it. I strain it twice - once to get rid of the big stuff and a second time through a paper towel to get the little stuff out. It may seem silly to strain it twice but trust me once you see the paper towel covered in coffee grounds you'll appreciate the second strain.

After you strain your cold brew coffee pour it into a sealable container, such as a mason jar, and store your new coffee in the fridge.    

This recipe will make one and a half mason jars of cold brew coffee. You only need about 4-5 tablespoons for a cup of coffee in the morning and fill the rest of your mug with hot water. This will be the first time your coffee will come in contact with hot water and because of that you won't have the acidic taste. You may find that you don't need any cream or sugar with this since the coffee's natural sweetness will be shining through. 


Now pour yourself a cup of coffee and enjoy your amazing, homemade cold brew coffee! 
(And if you are looking for something to eat while drinking your morning cup of coffee, why not try some homemade donuts!)
2015, coffee, Recipe,
Share:

At The Cottage - A Summer Playlist


As you might have guessed by the title of both this post and my blog, I love music. And considering I have yet to discuss music things on this blog I felt it was about time to do so and what better way to start by sharing my go-to At the Cottage Summer Playlist!

This playlist is split into two sections - the upbeat and the laid back.

The Upbeat

1. Shut Up and Dance - Walk the Moon
This is the song of the summer. I'm calling it now before Ryan Seacrest does. It's catchy, sounds like a song from the late 80s and makes you want to get up and well dance.

2. You Make My Dreams - Hall and Oates
If you can listen to this song without picturing yourself dancing in a music video then you must not be that fun at parties.

3. Uptown Funk - Mark Ronson feat. Bruno Mars 
See my notes on number 2.

 4. You And I - Lady Gaga
Lady Gaga is actually a really great vocalist and this song is super upbeat and gets your foot stomping.

4. Uptown Girl - Billy Joel
It's Billy Joel, no explanation needed.

 5. Sugar - Maroon 5
Maroon 5 is always a good choice but this song is a good swimming at the lake kinda song.

6. Southern Comfort Zone - Brad Paisley
Brad is the King of Country music. Enough said.

7. Kerosene - Miranda Lambert 
Laura and Sydney reintroduced me to Miranda last year and this song is the perfect driving down a backroad with the windows down.

 8. House Party - Sam Hunt
An upbeat party county song.

9. Daft Punk - Pentatonix
Pentatonix. Avi's low notes. Enough said.

11. Bloodstream - Ed Sheeran
This song is awesome and performed solely through looping and that fact alone makes my little music major heart really happy. Also, my little sister surprised me with tickets to see Ed this summer and this is the one song I'm the most excited to hear performed live.

12. Riptide - Vance Joy
Honestly, this song could probably fit either section of this playlist. It's a nice summer song and makes me smile.

The Laid Back

1. Go - Grant Terry 
This song is the segue song from upbeat to laid back. It has a beat but not super upbeat to make it on the first half of the list.

 2. Overdue - Jillian Jacqueline 
Country but classic sounding country. Jillian Jacqueline is about to get real big in the country music scene and this song is why.

3. Caroline - Jon Forman
Harmonica, acoustic guitar, and Jon Forman's voice. Enough said.

 4. Please Don't Say You Love Me (Studio Session) - Gabrielle Aplin
This song is probably my favourite song. Her voice and the guitar is so calming. She's also British and that makes her voice even enjoyable to listen to.

 5. Fast Car - Tracy Chapman 
This song reminds me of listening to the radio driving to grandma's in the late 90s though I don't actually know if that scene actually happened. But it did. In my mind. My lovely friend Laura reintroduced this song and Tracy Chapman to me about a year and a half ago and I'm so glad she did.
(I'm learning how to play it on the guitar)

6. Slow Dancing in a Burning Room (The Village Sessions) - John Mayer
It's John Mayer. But this version is super relaxing, only John Mayer and his acoustic guitar. It's perfect for an evening watching a sunset over the lake.

7. Let it Go - James Bay
Like John Mayer this song is guitar driven and beautifully rhythmic and James voice is so calming. Basically you just need to listen to it.

8. Naive - Sleeping At Last
Ryan O'Neal's voice is calming and the piano is the perfect background music when reading on a porch.

 9. Holocene - Bon Iver
Bon Iver is always a good choice for any occasion but during a campfire by a lake he's the perfect choice.

10. Forever Blue - Kina Grannis
If you haven't heard of Kina Grannis then you need to listen to this song. Her voice is so calming and her soft acoustic guitar playing is lovely.

 11. Chasing Cars - Sleeping At Last
Again Ryan O'Neal's voice is so relaxing that he needs to be on this list twice.

 (Two Honorable Mentions)
Fast Car - Boyce Avenue feat. Kina Grannis 
This cover is needs to be mentioned because it's almost as good as the original.

 All About Me - Hilary Duff
Yes Hilary Duff gets an honorable mention. Yes I know Hilary Duff is not considered by most to be "real music" but this song is actually pretty good. Maybe it's just the banjo but it sounds summer-y.

Did I miss any of your favourites? What songs are on your summer playlist? Comment below and let me know.
music, Summer 2015
Share:
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)