A SHARED CUP OF COFFEE...or TEA

This morning, I read an interesting question...

    "If you could share a cup of coffee with any woman in the world, who would it be?"

The answers were quite interesting... Most said they would love to share a cup of coffee with their mother or a special friend.

As I pondered this question, I had a similar answer...

I would love to share coffee with a friend. 

Sharing coffee time or tea time with friends has been a huge part of my life. These special friends have lived through each and every stage of life with me...

 This was especially true when I lived in Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Arkansas, and Texas. At least one day a week, I met with a friend...at her house or mine...and shared a warm cup of friendship. This was a time of sharing...of dreaming...of encouragement...a break from the rigors of a job and motherhood.

 And it was a time of hospitality!

My friend, Josephine, taught me a lot about sharing tea...and time...with a friend. She was married to a Brit and learned the importance of taking time out of her day to spend with a friend and a cuppa. In the spring, we often set a table under the blooming lilacs, using lovely linens and china. She always made me feel special. It didn't matter if the cookies were store bought...or if we nibbled on PBandJ sandwiches (cut into triangles and without crusts, of course). It was all about friendship.

My neighbor, Betty, and I would just pop into each others' kitchens whenever we needed a moment...coffee was always ready. And in the summertime, there was always a pitcher of iced tea. She is the friend who got me through the early stages of motherhood...and she was my "family" in that far off land of UP NORTH. We laughed...we cried...we SHARED life! 

Ann's kids and my boys were the same age, so we shared many a cup of coffee while watching the kids play...or while they were in preschool. We talked about our dreams...for our kids, our husbands, and ourselves. She also helped me live through my last pregnancy with lots of joy and laughter.

Muffy and Louisa were there to encourage me when I began home-schooling my boys. They were always ready with tea and tissues. These women taught me so much...They encouraged me in my Christian walk...in motherhood...in being a wife...through devastating circumstances...They were always there, no matter what time it was. They were...and still are the sisters of my heart.

For the past few years, I sadly have not continued spending time over coffee with my friends. Maybe it's my new stage of life...grown kids, work, or just being comfortable with myself... I definitely MISS it! I guess time just slips away, along with my good intentions.

Well....that's going to STOP.RIGHT.NOW! I'm going to stop and smell the coffee...and invite my girlfriends to join me.

We women NEED to have these coffee times...these woman-to-woman connections. It's part of our DNA (not literally, but it sounds good).

Pick up that phone and invite a special friend over for coffee or tea next week. Start a new tradition!

Ask yourself...

  "If you could share a cup of coffee with any woman in the world, who would it be?"

Recipes for my favorite...Cafe con Leche

1/3 cup fresh ground coffee, such as a French Roast ( or Cuban coffee, if you can get it)

1 cup boiling water

1 cup whole or 2% milk

1.  Place coffee in bottom of a prewarmed French press. Add boiling water, replace lid (without lowering the filter) and allow to brew for 5 minutes.

2.  While coffee is brewing, place milk in a small saucepan. Bring just to the boiling point, then reduce to barely simmering. Simmer gently for a few minutes, stirring occasionally, until the coffee is done.

3.  After the 5 minutes are up, depress the plunger on the press to strain the grounds. Divide coffee into 2-4 cups (depending on the size of your cup) Add hot milk to each cup...a ratio of 1/2 mug/cup coffee, 1/2 mug/coffee milk

4. If desired, sweeten to taste (I prefer my without sugar)

*You can also make this with Fresh Brewed Coffee from your coffee maker...again, a dark roast is preferable. And you can heat your milk in the microwave, then pour your coffee over the milk.

I do this in a "venti" Starbucks mug...half milk, half coffee.

For a REALLY QUICK CAFE'...

     Heat 2 cups milk...on stove or in the microwave. Do not bring to a boil. Add 2 tsp. instant coffee (or more, if desired), preferably a dark roasted instant coffee, and stir. Sweeten to taste.

***I like to froth my milk a little, using a hand-held frother. 

AND...for a REALLY, REALLY QUICK CAFE'....order a "Misto" at Starbucks. It's pretty close!

Jane

Visit Foodie Friday for some wonderful "goodies" to go along with your Cafe'