Magic Coffee

Once upon a time, in a town called Madison, WI there existed a lovely cafe named Cafe Soleil. This cafe had beautiful quiche and daily soups and the best damn almond croissant I've ever had. In my whole entire life. But what really set it this place apart, more than anything else, was the magic coffee.  

Yes, they actually called it that. Though Cafe Soleil has sadly vanished, Graze on the capitol square (another baby of awesome, recent James Beard Award Nominee Chef Tory Miller) does still offer magic coffee (and those equally magical almond croissants). I had the good fortune of learning a little bit about the secret recipe behind magic coffee from a source who shall remain unnamed, and-although I don't make it exactly the same-I think my version is pretty. darn. good. Seriously people, who couldn't use a change in their daily coffee routine? Give it a try--it still gives you quite a kick, but it tastes...well...magical. There's also a cocktail based on this, wait for that, because I promise when I post that cocktail recipe, it will be legendary. 

Magic Coffee
By Alexandra Rogers
Inspired by the Magic Coffee at Graze


Ingredients
1-1/2 cups freshly brewed coffee
1/2 cup milk (you choose--I like skim but the fattier the milk the creamier the drink)
1-1/2 Tablespoons brown sugar (do 2 Tablespoons if you like your coffee to taste more like sugar than coffee)
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
dash nutmeg


Recipe
Combine all ingredients in a jar or tightly sealed tupperware container and shake. Place in refrigerator for about 1 hour. Serve over ice on a hot summer day! Serves 2.

Halloween Special Edition: Sailor Apple Cider

Happy Halloween! This weekend, whether your plans are trick-or-treating, causing mayhem in your local celebration or staying in to hand out candy, you are bound to have a bit of a sweet tooth. I am no exception and as you may have guessed, my favorite part of "trick-or-treat" is the treat.

This apple cider should keep you warm & toasty inside and out. It is called Sailor Apple Cider because...well, it has rum in it and I'm spending my Halloween weekend with a bunch of sailors who love rum. (I'm not kidding.) For best results, quadruple the recipe and share with friends!

Sailor Apple Cider

Alexandra Rogers

 

Ingredients:

{Cider}

2 cups Apple Cider

1/4 cup spiced rum 

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/4 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice

dash nutmeg

dash cardamom

{Whipped Cream}

1 cup whipped cream (I, shamefully, went for the stuff from the can today)

1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

Recipe:

{Cider}

Mix all ingredients (except the rum) together in a small saucepan and heat to desired temperature. Take the saucepan off the heat, and pour the rum into the saucepan. Mix well and pour into a mug--leaving a bit of room for whipped cream at the top.

{Whipped Cream}

In a medium bowl, combine all ingredients and whisk together. You may use an electric hand held mixer to get the best results. Top your cider with the whipped cream and top with a bit of cinnamon. Enjoy.

Fun fact: I finished the extra whipped topping by scraping it out of the bowl with Stacey's Cinnamon Sugar Pita Chips. Even though it is probably awful for your waistline, it is great for the soul--and that definitely counts for something!