Friday, July 11, 2014

DIY Coffee Sugar Scrub

I’m a huge fan of coffee, especially my new found love of cold-brewed coffee. After cold brewing, I am left with a ton of coffee grounds after. I wanted to find a way to re-purpose my leftover coffee grounds. I was researching ways in which to use them and stumbled upon a great scrub idea from The Kitchen on the Food Network.
Coffee, and caffeine in general, do amazing things for the body. Coffee intake has been studied on its affects, and drinking coffee helps prevent certain types of cancer! It is also an antioxidant. The grounds, when used as a scrub, are excellent exfoliates. They diminish the appearance of cellulite and tighten and tone your skin. Plus, you get to smell like coffee after! I love the smell of coffee.

DIY Coffee Sugar Scrub~ The Dreams Weaver
What you will need:
3 TBSP coffee grounds
1 TBSP sugar (any one will do, I used brown sugar)
2 TBSP olive oil (or coconut oil)
½ tsp vanilla extract (optional)

DIY Coffee Sugar Scrub~ The Dreams Weaver
Mix up all of the ingredients in a jar or some sort of seal-able container.
It will last up to 2 months in a sealed container. 


Enjoy!


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Monday, July 7, 2014

How To Make Cold Brewed Iced Coffee

No morning is complete without my coffee fix! No matter what season, my coffee of choice is always over ice! I grew up in a coffee family {maybe that’s why I’m on the shorter side!} Coffee is connected to so many moments in my life: the smell of coffee at family breakfasts on the weekend, hanging out at Starbucks with friends, midday iced coffee with my mom and sister, and finally getting my husband to share my love of coffee with me. 

However, when I try to make my own iced coffee from hot brewed coffee, it never tastes quite as good as the iced coffee I get at Starbucks or any other good coffee shop. Hot brewed coffee over ice always tastes watered-down and slightly burnt. 

I think I have found the answer to my problems. I am going to share my secret, an at-home cold brewed iced coffee that is bold and flavorful. 
How To Make Cold Brewed Iced Coffee~ The Dreams Weaver
First, you need to choose a coffee. You want to use a good quality coffee, as the taste will really come through. I used one of my favorites, Starbucks Dark French Roast. 
How To Make Cold Brewed Iced Coffee~ The Dreams Weaver
Once you have course ground your beans, {if you are starting from whole coffee beans like I am} measure out how much coffee you will need and pour it into you container. I used a mason jar since it closes airtight. You are going to want 4 ounces {1/2 cup} for every 1 quart {32 ounces} of water. 
How To Make Cold Brewed Iced Coffee~ The Dreams Weaver
Pour in your filtered or spring water. 
How To Make Cold Brewed Iced Coffee~ The Dreams Weaver
Give the coffee mixture a good stir to combine everything. 
How To Make Cold Brewed Iced Coffee~ The Dreams Weaver
Screw the cover back on to your mason jar. You want it to be air tight, if using a container without a lid cover with saran wrap. Let the coffee sit for at least 12 hours and up to 24 hours. 
How To Make Cold Brewed Iced Coffee~ The Dreams Weaver
After 12 hours it's time to strain the coffee grounds out. {If you let the coffee sit longer, the final result will be more bitter and bold.} You can use a cheese cloth or a fine strainer like I did to strain the coffee. 

To strain, place your strainer over a bowl or a pitcher and pour the coffee mixture through. The cold brewed coffee will filter through and the coffee grounds will stay in the strainer. 

The cold brewed coffee will last in a sealed container in your fridge for up to a week!

Save those coffee beans!  I have an easy DIY coffee sugar scrubyou can make with them later in the week! 
How To Make Cold Brewed Iced Coffee~ The Dreams Weaver
Now it's time to pour some of your cold brew over ice.

Tip: Make some coffee iced cubes so your coffee never gets watered down! 
How To Make Cold Brewed Iced Coffee~ The Dreams Weaver

You can drink it black, as cold brewed coffee is naturally sweeter than hot brewed coffee, it will naturally taste sweet. 
How To Make Cold Brewed Iced Coffee~ The Dreams Weaver
Or, add some milk and sugar for even more decadence.
How To Make Cold Brewed Iced Coffee~ The Dreams Weaver
Enjoy!

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Friday, July 4, 2014

Easy Summer Iced Tea

 Happy 4th of July!  So happy that there are blue skies and no more humidity today for the holiday!  4th of July is like the unofficial start of summer for me, and nothing says summer like a cold glass of iced tea!
Easy Summer Iced Tea~ The Dreams Weaver
What you will need:
4 tablespoons of your favorite tea 
3 cups of boiling water
1/2 cup sugar
Cheesecloth
String

Measure out 3 cups of water, I used a mason jar since it fit perfectly, and microwave for 3-4 minutes until bubbling.
Easy Summer Iced Tea~ The Dreams Weaver
While the water is coming to a boil, you want to prepare your tea bag.  Cut a square of cheesecloth and place your tea in the center. Then, bring up the corners of the cheesecloth and gather together.  Secure your tea pouch with a long piece of string. {your want it long enough to hang out of your mason jar}
Easy Summer Iced Tea~ The Dreams Weaver
Measure out a 1/2 cup of sugar.
Easy Summer Iced Tea~ The Dreams Weaver
 Once the water has come to a boil, add the sugar and stir.  Then place your tea pouch into the jar, leaving the string hanging out, and seal the jar.  Let the tea steep for 2-3 hours.
Easy Summer Iced Tea~ The Dreams Weaver
 When the time is up, the tea will look nice and dark.  This tea will be very concentrated, perfect for a tall glass of ice on a hot summer day.
Easy Summer Iced Tea~ The Dreams Weaver
I removed the tea pouch and transferred my iced tea to a glass bottle. {totally not necessary but I think it pours better}
Easy Summer Iced Tea~ The Dreams Weaver
Enjoy!
Easy Summer Iced Tea~ The Dreams Weaver
 What is your go-to summer drink?

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