Museday

Hello dear readers. This is the first of a new series of posts, named...wait for it...Muse-day. Yes, I know, I'm cheesy. These Tuesday posts will point to several sources of inspiration I've found in the past week, from fellow food bloggers and other sources as well. Inspired by The Pioneer Woman's "Web Deliciousness" and Cupcakes and Cashmere's Five Things posts, I hope that these collections of muses will inspire you all as well.

Spiced Coconut Spinach recipe from 101 cookbooks. I'm looking forward to trying the Spinach and Coconut combo!

Quinoa. You may have noticed the beginning of my recent obsession with Quinoa, here. Now, the obsession is growing. I'm looking forward to trying the Quinoa Primavera recipe from Whole Foods.

Since the beginning of summer for students means sleeping in, I can think of no better source of inspiration than luxurious breakfasts. These Lemon Blueberry Pancakes from The Pioneer Woman would be a great reward for a semester completed. Totally drool-worthy.

I can barely wait to try these Cocoa Brownies with Salted Peanut Butter Frosting. The title says it all, and how beautiful is Not Without Salt?

Mother's Day Gift Ideas: for the chocoholic mother

Is your mother a chocoholic? Mine is.That might explain the prevalence of rich, chocolate recipes on this blog. (Wondering why I'm rambling about my mother? It is not only because she is awesome, but also because it's mothers day on May 8th. You should probably do something about that...I've come up with some ideas for you.)

1. Indulgent Chocolate Brownies--These are from a recipe perfected, fittingly, by my mother. Man, is she the queen of chocolate desserts...They've gotten stunning reviews from my followers, so I'd really encourage these. Plus, they're mailable.

2. Chocolate Cookies with Peanut Butter Chips--Never had a good reason to buy peanut butter chips before? (Seriously, do you need a reason?) Well, anyway, these are it. Also, they're mailable.


3. Double Chocolate Loaf with Peanut Butter Cream Cheese Spread--Peanut Butter Cream Cheese Spread + Double Chocolate Loaf Shaped Dessert? That, my friends = heaven. Simple math, really.


4. Chocolate Pots de Creme & Almond Wafers--This is a recipe from Just A Taste, by Kelly Senyei, and it is almost as adorable as it is show-stopping. Don't skimp on the almond wafers, you'll want extra. And check out Just A Taste, it is one of the blogs that inspired to me to get started. I made these on Mother's Day last year and they went over very well.


Now, you may be thinking--this is all well and good but my mother lives miles, hours, even continents away. Well, my good people, that is what the U.S. Postal Service is for. (or Fed Ex, or whatever is most painless for you). Options #1 and #2 are easily shipable and should stay good for quite a few days after baking. And think of how happy mom will be to receive a care package from YOU, instead of the other way around! Options #3 and #4 are recommended for close-by mothers, since they would be significantly harder to ship.

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.