Coffee!

Coffee is very important in the South, especially in Cajun culture.  It's almost a way of life.  Whenever anyone comes by to visit, you put on a pot of coffee.  That's just the way it is.  I can't remember one single time that my Mama didn't greet guests with a cup of coffee.  Not one time.  Ever.

When I was a little girl, she used to give me "coffee milk", which is essentially milk and sugar with a touch of coffee for color.  But I remember feeling so grown up drinking from a little demitasse cup.  It was my very own "Cajun tea party".  I did the same thing for my kids and I hope they continue the tradition with their own some day.

The smell of coffee brewing is my favorite smell in the world.  I'm usually the first one awake in my house, but on those few occasions when my husband makes coffee and I get to wake up to that glorious smell, well that's just like a little piece of heaven on earth.

Here are a few recipes that either feature coffee as an ingredient or go great with a cup:


The first recipe has to be a coffee cake.  Classic and universally loved, the coffee cake is a great dessert to serve to guests while enjoying a cup of coffee.  This is an easy and inexpensive version.  I have a small bundt pan (1/2 size) but if you don't have one you can use a regular 9 inch cake pan.

COFFEE CAKE

1 stick butter, softened
1 cup sugar
1 egg
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup all-purpose four
1/2 TBS baking powder
1/8 tsp salt
Cinnamon mixture:
1/8 cup sugar
1/2 TBS cinnamon
1/2 TBS brown sugar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Spray pan with cooking spray.  Mix together butter and sugar with a mixer.  Add egg, sour cream and vanilla.  Mix until well blended.  In a separate bowl, mix flour, baking powder, salt.  Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients and gently mix until combined.  In a small bowl, combine ingredients for cinnamon mixture.  Pour half the batter into prepared pan.  Sprinkle cinnamon mixture over batter.  Pour remaining batter over top.  Bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.


QUICK CAPPUCCINO

vanilla ice cream
coffee
sugar, if desired

Melt some vanilla ice cream in the microwave.  Add as much as you like to a cup of coffee.  Put in a blender and blend it well (this will make it frothy).  Pour into a mug and microwave until hot.  Add sugar to sweeten to taste.


COFFEE FREEZE

1 cup milk
1 cup frozen cool whip
1 pkg instant vanilla pudding mix (or chocolate)
1 TBS instant coffee
ice

Put 1 cup milk in large measuring cup.  Add ice to make it measure 3 cups.  Pour into blender.  Add the rest of the ingredients.  Cover and blend until smooth.  Pour into glasses.  Makes 4 servings.


CAKE BROWNIES

1 box chocolate cake mix
3 eggs
1 stick butter, softened
1 cup chocolate chips
1/4 cup coffee (leftover from morning)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Mix cake mix, eggs, butter and coffee until well blended.  Stir in chocolate chips.  Spread batter into a greased 9x13 pan.  Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes.  Do not over bake.  Let cool completely before cutting into squares.

These were so cakey, fluffy and delicious.  The coffee just kicks up the chocolate flavor.

This recipe make so much, that I needed to come up with another way to serve them.  So I made this:

TRIPLE CHOCOLATE TRIFLES

leftover cake brownies
1 pkg instant chocolate pudding
1 3/4 cups milk
1/4 cup whipped cream (readywhip or cool whip)
chocolate chips
whipped cream for garnish

Mix instant pudding mix, milk and 1/4 cup whipped cream.  Let sit 5 minutes to thicken.  Cut leftover brownies into small cubes.  In small, clear dessert dishes (or juice glasses) layer small cubes of cake brownies, some chocolate pudding, a few chocolate chips.  Repeat layers.  Top with whipped cream.  So yummy!  These look elegant enough to serve at a dinner party, but easy enough to make anytime.

So, enjoy your morning coffee, then use it as inspiration to make some delicious treats!