Coffee Lovers Unite!

I started drinking coffee at the age of 26 when I was living in Thailand and there was nothing to do but hang out at the local Starbucks (yes, the real one). That and the fact that my coworkers drank it like water and they got me into it. Now I can't live without it. And I've gotten my husband hooked on his daily dose. So much in fact that sometimes he wants coffee morning AND night.

In my recent years as an accountant I met a coworker at my company who likes coffee, too. He liked it so much that he decided to learn about what makes a good cup of coffee. What is not a good cup of coffee? One that tastes burnt which you can find at your local name-brand coffee chain. He soon began to buy bags of coffee beans and roast them from his home. Roasting brings out the flavor in the coffee bean. Too much or too little can cause imperfection.

I, being the savvy coffee person that I am, started drinking his coffee. And now I can't stop. For those who live in the area where he roasts, he will hand deliver the coffee to your door. For those of us who worked with him, we would pick up the coffee at his cubicle. I made my way through the flavors to see which ones I liked best. I haven't decided yet so I have to keep drinking them.

But then a dilemma came. I moved to another office. Now my coffee was 30 miles away. I, being the cheapo that I am, decided not to pay for shipping. A couple of times I had to return to the main office to work so I would let him know and I would leave the office with a computer bag smelling of fresh roasted coffee. But then I didn't have to go there anymore. My beloved coffee and I were about to part ways.

Sure, I could go to the grocery store and purchase a bag of beans. Or I could go to Cafe Brazil and watch a guy climb a ladder to retrieve coffee beans from a bin mounted on the wall. But when have those coffee beans been roasted? How fresh are they or are they not? I don't know. I'm not a morning person and good coffee is my consolation for having to leave a comfy bed.

For my November wedding my hubby and I had bags of coffee beans to hand out as favors from my coffee guy. After the wedding, I was left with 3 pounds of coffee beans that I horded in my freezer. Then I ran out. Again. It was now January and news came that my coffee guy was leaving our company to pursue coffee roasting full-time. That's how good he is.

Now my coffee was even further away. But deliverance came in the form of a coworker who was still going to our old office every month. My coffee guy said he would still swing by our old office as part of his delivery route. Sigh...I can breathe again. And keep drinking my coffee. (We won't mention the fact that I bribe my coworker with cookies just so she'll pick up my coffee.)

Who is this coffee guy?

Places I Want to Go...

I love food and I've been wanting to go on a food field/road trip. Here's where and what I would get:

1. Jimmy's Food Store - I read that they have great Italian sandwiches. Plus, I could buy Italian cheeses and meats. And pizza dough so I don't have to make it. And homemade meatballs!
2. Lucky Layla Farms - This is a dairy farm in Plano. Here they sell cheese, butter, and yogurt. You can take your kids on a tour for only $2 for them and $3 for you. But why all the fuss over this place? Because Dean Fearing, former exec chef at The Mansion uses their products at his new restaurant. I figured it was worth checking out since I've never made it to The Mansion to eat. Plus, it's closer and cheaper!
3. Civello's Raviolismo - The root word here is ravioli. I read that their products are what's used in many local restaurants here in the metroplex. I figure their products would be better than any packaged ravioli I might buy.
4. Dallas Farmers Market - This is always a favorite place to go in the fall for me when the weather turns. But why not spring?

Chocolate!!

I'm a big fan of chocolate and anything made in TX. Here's a list of some local chocolatiers. I just might have to stop in Calvert! If the police don't stop me first (the Aggies understand).

Valentine's Day Dinner

I came across this link on Guidelive.com. It lists out all the restaurants in the metroplex that are having special dinner packages. If my hubby is reading this he can take me to LaDuni!

I've read about Fearing's. It sounds like a winner and my hubby already knows I want to go there. Maybe when we win the lottery! (Can you still win if you don't play?)

I've been to Tart Bakery. I have personally tasted a sampling of some of their items and find them dull, dry, and more along the lines of French pastries than American. But the place is super-cute. That's my review on the Plano location.

Here's the link: http://www.guidelive.com/feature/valentines09/dine.html

25 Random Things About Me

Noone has tagged me but I just thought I would volunteer for those who might want to know.

1. I met my husband on Eharmony.
2. I have lived in China as a missionary.
3. I have lived in Thailand as a missionary
4. I honed my cooking skills while living in China when you couldn't buy anything premade in a package.
5. I love to cook and bake. I'm a fanatic!
6. I love Food Network, American Idol, and sometimes watch Biggest Loser and the Bachelor.
7. I have to have my morning coffee every day.
8. I'm currently studying for the CPA exam. It got put on hold last year when Korey came along.
9. I have two dogs. They are Lacy's and most people have never heard of that breed.
10. I like to make lists and cross stuff off. At work I have tons of post-it notes with stuff written on them about whatever I need to do.
11. I hate wearing shoes in the house. It comes from my days of living in China. When I was single I usually had a big pile of shoes by the door. I especially don't wear shoes in my bathroom, at least here in the US.
12. Speaking of bathrooms, I know how to go to the bathroom in a squatty potty which means you don't sit. See #2.
13. I'm an accountant but don't consider myself good at math.
14. I love to travel.
15. I should be studying for CPA right now.
16. I was a spelling bee champ in elementary school. Even now it's a pet peeve to see words misspelled.
17. I once tried to write a Christian fiction book. I wrote 20 pages.
18. I hate to drive but I love road trips if I'm not driving.
19. I was pre-med in college but got weeded out the first year.
20. My favorite color is red.
21. I would love to open my own coffee shop/bakery place.
22. I'm a night person and love my sleep in the mornings.
23. If I ever get the chance to adopt, my first choice will be a girl from China. With their one-child policy, boys are valued. Girls aren't most of the time.
24. My favorite Asian dish is Pad Thai.
25. I sing in my car while I'm driving.

Grab Your Blender!!

To make soup of course!

I found this recipe on Allrecipes.com http://http//allrecipes.com/Recipe/Black-Bean-and-Salsa-Soup/Detail.aspx. It's simple to make and tastes delicious. I mixed all but one of the cans of beans in my blender on the Soup setting. I didn't even know my blender had a soup setting! I also added in some cilantro and some lime I think. Then after the soup was mixed in the blender I added back in the other can of beans. Serve with cheese quesadillas and voila - dinner is done!