Non-Alcoholic Drinks Posts

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Basic Cooking: How to Make Espresso on the Stove

Wednesday February 18th 2009

Now, I know that I’m treading on hallowed ground for some, discussing how to make espresso.
Like beer and good wine, espresso is one of those things that folks are very particular about. (Espresso afficionados out there, please be kind!)
I’m not an expert barista—or a super fussy coffee person—by a long shot. I’m just a [...]

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Oreo & Irish-Cream Milkshake

Friday February 6th 2009

OK, I have no excuses for this one. It’s evil—and oh-so-delicious.
It’s rich. It’s creamy. It’s packed with crushed Oreo cookies and laced with booze. It’s one part dessert and one part cocktail. (And kind of ridiculous. I can admit that.) It’s also one of my favorite treats.
One drink. Two straws.
Make one and share it with [...]

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Basic Cooking: How to Make Simple Syrup

Tuesday January 13th 2009

We’re kicking off our Basic Cooking series with a toast! (The makings of a toast, to be more precise.)
Simple syrup is gloriously useful stuff. It’s one of the building blocks of many cocktails—from classic to contemporary—and, really, it couldn’t get any simpler to make.
Also known as “sugar syrup,” “simple sugar syrup,” and “bar syrup,” it’s [...]

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The Tea Drinker’s Handbook, A Review

Tuesday December 16th 2008

The Tea Drinker’s Handbook

By François-Xavier Delmas, Mathias Minet, and Christine Barbaste
Published by Abbeville Press

The Tea Drinker’s Handbook: Think reading about tea sounds kind of, well, bland?
Think again.
The Tea Drinker’s Handbook is an insightful, educational, and thoroughly delightful read.
I liked it so much, in fact, that it’s earned a place of honor in my library. [...]

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How to Make Your Own Hot Chocolate Mix

Sunday December 14th 2008

Did you know you can make your own hot chocolate mix?
As in, grind cacao nibs to a fine powder, then mix them with milk and sugar for an out-of-this-world hot chocolate-y experience?
You can. And surprisingly, it’s not that hard. I’m going to show you how. All you need is a bag of cacao nibs, a [...]

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