After (Thanksgiving) Dinner Coffee

 

After your Thanksgiving feast, why not brew a fresh pot of shade-grown, organic coffee and add a personal twist to it.   Grind the whole coffee beans and add natural flavor by adding items you'll find in your pantry.   Toss some hazelnuts, cocoa nibs, dried peppers, or orange peel to the ground mixture.   Then brew like normal and the coffee will pick up the natural flavors.

Be sure to have several coffee add-ins on hand like regular organic milk, soy milk, agave syrup and sugar in the raw.

 

For those who don't drink coffee, set up a DIY tea bar for guests.    Here, I repurposed a Korean apothecary chest into a tea bar, but you can just fill up small bowls with loose tea to replicate this idea.   Keep a stack of tea cups, individual tea strainers and a big pot of hot water.    Fill small bowls with small lemon wedges, a pot of organic honey and a little creamer with milk.   Encourage guests to mix their own blends and have fun!

Comments

[Pam]

I'm glad you're promoting the idea of tea strainers rather than tea bags! So much more ecologically sound (and the tea tastes better too).

[Sherri S.]

Just chiming in to say how fabulous this idea is--and I covet that chest, also...

[Melissa]

Oh my. This is beautiful.

[Amy]

These are both awesome. I love the idea of making flavored coffee at home. Easy and I am sure much tastier than buying the expensive flavored stuff. You can spend more on better quality fair trade organic stuff. Danny I love all your ideas. Simple. Practical. Amazing.

[Condo Blues]

I grow mint in pots on my patio in the summer. This year I made a serious effort to pick and dry the leaves throughout the growing season. I'm loving that I can drink mint herbal tea these cold winter evenings from leaves I grew myself! I'm feeling very Little House (or should I say Condo?) on the Prarie (city)!

[V.]

I need me one of these chests...!!

[Bubbly]

wow nice ideas.. :)I love tea and this is great..

[grace]

i looooove the chest idea for coffees & teas...! it reminds me of all those chinese herbal stores in nyc's chinatown. soooo many little compartments for various herbs, etc.!

beautiful korean chest!
and great idea for an after-thanksgiving treat!

[Rebekah at Elizabeth Anne Designs]

Just picked up one of your books from the library and love it. :)

[t. miyashiro]

that tea bar is just the most genius thing i've ever seen!

[Katie]

that is such a beautiful idea. love it.

here's a question though; is there any special way to prepare the chest to hold tea? i guess i am a bit worried about proper cleaning & lining to ensure that no funky stuff ends up contaminating the tea, since some of those chests have who-knows-what's-in-it paints and such.