While TJ’s de-caf beans are good, they aren’t quite as good as the Rise & Shine blend from Jaclyn James & Co. Trader Joe’s also sells a caffeinated bean that is also good. Or, certainly feel free to use you favorite coffee bean. I know a lot of people enjoy a flavored bean, but, it’s just not my thing.

After multiple times of coming home from the grocery store and forgetting to grind my beans, I finally got a good grinder. The course grind on it is perfect for this cold brew and the capacity is large enough (I’ve seen many grinders with a very small capacity. 

You will need a full bag of beans (12-14oz) to brew this, but don’t worry, the cold brew concentrate will last in your refrigerator for a couple of weeks. 

Next up, after the beans and grinder, is the actual system to cold brew the beans into the Perfect Cold Brew Coffee. I use the Toddy system. It comes with great, easy to understand instructions. It’s also easy to clean when you’re finished, especially if you use the paper filter. Using the paper filter is optional, as there is also a re-usable filter (shown below next to the plug). I prefer to use the paper filter in addition to the disc filter. 

In the photo below, I’m ready to brew my de-caf concentrate:

• Place the plug in the bottom of the filter caddy
• Dampen re-usable filter and place in bottom of caddy
• Insert paper filter
• Alternate adding course ground beans and 7 cups of filtered water (ending with water)
• Using a spoon, very gently mix the water & coffee to thoroughly wet the coffee. Use caution not to disturb the plug& filter at the bottom of the caddy
• Fold down the paper filter and place a small plate over the top (I just feel like it should be covered). Set on a safe place on your counter and now you wait.
• Waiting, waiting, waiting………for 18 hours!!! (give or take a couple)

After it has brewed (for approx. 18 hours), gently pull the plug from the botton of the filter caddy. Let it drain until there is no more to drain! You can see that I’ve labeled a pitcher and also a small jar. Once the concentrate is finished. I make my first batch of “ready to drink”. The suggested ratio is 1 cup of concentrate to 2 1/2 cups filtered water. This “ready to drink” is still strong, since you typically add plenty of ice and milk to make your cold brew coffee. Feel free to adjust the coffee/water ratio to your own taste. I make a pitcher of “ready to drink” then the rest of the concentrate goes into the smaller jar and refrigerated until I need to mix up more “ready to drink.” The jar with the straw is my favorite glass to use every afternoon with my Perfect Cold Brew Coffee. 

I have the Breville Frother at my house, and the Nespesso Frother at our little condo (because heaven knows I need to cold brew coffee even when I’m away from home). The Breville is definitely my favorite, but the Nespresso Frother is a little smaller, less expensive and does a decent job. You can froth any milk of your choice (1/2 & 1/2, full fat, 2%, non-fat, and even non-dairy). I’ve tried both regular full fat milk and also 2%. You might get a little thicker of a froth with the full fat, but both are good. 

Once you have the “ready to drink” ready, it’s time to make your own glass of cold brew.

Here’s how I do mine:

• Begin by frothing the milk (following instructions that came with your frother). I sometimes add a packet of Stevia to the milk as it froths. 
• Add a lot of ice to a big glass
• Fill (to your desired taste) with “ready to drink” cold brew (I like strong coffee, so I fill my glass about 3/4 full)
• Add a pump of vanilla syrup (optional)
• Top with your frothed milk
• Don’t forget a cute straw!!
• Enjoy!!

Don’t you agree, isn’t this the best way to enjoy a sunny summer afternoon!?!

I really hope this post has been helpful and that you are new ready to enjoy your Perfect Cold Brew Coffee!! 

I love it if you’d share on Pinterest! 

Here are a few of my favorite Amazon products (affiliate links) that I enjoy using with my Perfect Cold Brew Coffee. The only real necessary items are the Toddy System and the Milk Frother. I love having the grinder (in case I forget to grind my beans at the store) and the Luminarc Pitchers for serving the “ready to drink” cold brew. And, a few fun straws and drinkware just add to the experience of it being a treat!! 

Enjoy my friends!!!

   
 

The post Perfect Cold Brew Coffee appeared first on Joy In Every Season.

We were recently in Waco, TX and of course, one of our stops was Magnolia Market. It was disappointing that on our first day there it was raining pretty hard, so our stay was short.  We went back the following day and it was HOT!! We not only enjoyed shopping at the market, but also enjoyed spending time in the garden, and browsing all they had to offer. Did I mention it was hot?? Hitting up the Alabama Sweet Tea food truck was an obvious choice for me!

Not only did I enjoy Sweet Tea while at Magnolia Market, but I think I ordered it in every restaurant I went to. I came home craving it!! 

Sweet Tea is incredibly simple to make and the best part is that you can control how sweet you want it. As I mentioned, I enjoy mine “half sweet.”

For my sweet tea, I used the following four ingredients:

• tea bags
• water
• ice
• sugar

**I’ve heard that adding about 1/4 tsp baking soda takes some of the bitterness out of the tea. I’ve never added baking soda to my iced tea. Let me know if you try it.

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Sweet Tea

Author Joy in Every Season

Ingredients

• 12 regular sized tea bags I used Lipton
• 6 cups water
• 4 cups ice
• 3/4-1 cup simple syrup sweeten to taste

Instructions

• To make your simple syrup, place 1 cup water and 1 cup sugar (equal parts) into small saucepan. Heat over medium heat. Stir until sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat and cool. Set aside.
• In medium saucepan, bring 6 cups water to a boil. Turn off heat.
• Add tea bags (dunking them a few times to submerge), cover and steep for 7-10 minutes.
• Remove tea bags without squeezing and discard.
• Cool tea slightly.
• Add 4 cups ice and stir until melted.
• Stir in simple syrup, starting with 3/4 cup (add more to sweeten to taste).
• Fill tall glass with additional ice and pour in tea.
• Enjoy!

Here’s a couple more refreshing drinks you might enjoy!

Strawberry Lemonade 

Watermelon Lime Slush 

The post Sweet Tea appeared first on Joy In Every Season.

Making Watermelon Slush is a breeze! A ripe sweet watermelon, a little sugar, fresh lime juice and some ice is all you need! Ok, you’re going to need a blender also. I love my Vitamix! 

I recently found that cute watermelon pillow at our local Marshalls, and for only $9.00 couldn’t resist it for the summer. It worked perfectly with the lime green pillows that I purchase months ago from Costco. I purchased the lime rectangle lacquer tray from World Market. I couldn’t find the lime online, but they may still have it in your local store. Here’s the link for the turquoise tray. They also sell it in red, white, and I believe black is available in store.  I have the black and lime, and use them all the time.

I roughly followed the recipe below, but feel free to adjust the amount of sugar or lime juice.

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Watermelon Slush

Author Joy in Every Season

Ingredients

• 1 medium seedless watermelon approx. 6 cups cubed
• 2 TBSP sugar a little more depending on the sweetness of the watermelon
• 1/4 cup fresh lime juice
• 1 1/2 cup ice

Instructions

• Cut watermelon into large cubes, removing rind (if it's not a seedless watermelon, remove the black seeds) and place into blender. Add sugar, lime juice, and ice. Blend until smooth.
• Serve immediately.
• Enjoy!

Here are a couple more summer time recipes that are sure to quench your thirst!

Strawberry Lemonade 

Watermelon Lime Popsicles 

The post Watermelon Lime Slush appeared first on Joy In Every Season.

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Strawberry Lemonade

Author Joy in Every Season

Ingredients

• 2 cups fresh squeezed lemon juice
• 1 1/2 cup water for simple syrup
• 1 1/2 cup sugar for simple syrup
• 2 cup fresh strawberry puree see directions below
• 8 cups water
• Lots of ice cubes
• **freeze extra lemon slices for adding to each glass and floating in pitcher or dispenser)

Instructions

• Begin by making simple syrup. Simple syrup is made by using equal parts sugar and water and heating in saucepan over med. heat just until sugar fully dissolves. Allow to fully cool.
• To make strawberry puree, rinse and hull approx 2 dozen fresh sweet strawberries. Add about 1/2 cup water and blend using a blender or food processor. Strain through a fine mesh sieve (for a smoother puree).
• Juice lemons using either a hand juicer or electric juicer.
• If time allows, cool in 'fridge the simple syrup, lemon juice, and strawberry puree.
• Mix lemon juice and strawberry puree together in large pitcher or dispenser. Add 8 cups cold water. Stir well.
• Add about half the simple syrup and taste for sweetness. Sweeten to taste.
• Add ice. and stir well.
• Serve garnished with fresh lemon slices and fresh berries.
• Enjoy!

The post Strawberry Lemonade appeared first on Joy In Every Season.

I LOVE everything about the 4th of July! First and foremost, to celebrate our patriotism to our country. Secondly, I am nuts about red, white, and blue. Third, I love to throw 4th of July parties! And, lastly, I love fireworks!! What’s not to love???

I’ll be doing another 4th of July post soon, but in the meantime, as I’m finishing up my decorating,  I think I’ll take some time out to enjoy a little fresh Strawberry Smoothie!!

I know that a recipe is certainly not needed for making a smoothie, but I wanted to share a tip with you………….FREEZE THE FRUIT! That’s right. Anytime I have any fruit that is a little too ripe, I put it into zip lock freezer baggies and stick it in the freezer. I love never wasting fruit. I even freeze leftover fruit salad. You name it, I’ll freeze it. Frozen fruit (especially bananas) make a smoothie extra creamy!!

I have to admit that I love my Vitamix Blender, but it’s certainly not essential to making a good smoothie. However, if you ever want a really, really, good blender, this is it. I can blend frozen fruit in seconds!

Depending on what fresh fruit I have on hand, I’ll make my smoothie using both fresh and frozen fruit.

It’s currently berry season around here, and I had some delicious fresh strawberries.

**If you like this recipe, please feel free to share onto your Facebook page, Pinterest, and don’t forget to hit the YUM & Stumble buttons (below)!!

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4th of July and a Strawberry Smoothie

Feel free to use any fruit you'd like, using a combination of fresh and frozen.

Author Joy in Every Season

Ingredients

• 1 cup coconut water
• 1/2 cup vanilla Greek yogurt
• 1 cup fresh strawberries
• 1 frozen banana
• 1 cup frozen strawberries

Instructions

• Add all ingredients to blender and blender on high speed until well mixed. If smoothie is too thick, add a little more coconut water.

The post 4th of July and a Strawberry Smoothie appeared first on Joy In Every Season.