Perkdup

This morning I woke up and dragged myself into the kitchen to find the nightmare of nightmares. The coffee canister was empty! Was this an evil trick someone was playing on me? I NEVER run out of coffee. Do I? Well, it seems today, I had. There were no samples in sight, nothing new to try and all of my favorites had been ground and brewed. Nada. Zip. Yuban to the rescue! I looked in the pantry and on the top shelf was an unopened can of Yuban. I mean, every cup can't be a micro-roast, right? I got right off my high horse and made a pot of Yuban. And guess what? It's darn good coffee. So, the next time you're pondering what your new coffee should be - there's a good chance, it might be right under your nose. It's going to be a wonderful day!

I emailed my old friend, Barbara, a few weeks ago. She's one of those people that you meet along the way and you never want them to leave your life. She's got a beautiful face and a warm smile and she's a great listener. We worked together over 10 years ago. Sometimes in the hustle and bustle of work and life, we don't take time to nurture relationships that are important to us. We just tend to get so busy and don't pick up the phone or God forbid we should drop a line or two in the mail. I'm talking USPS mail. I remember one year for my birthday she me brought a jar of the best homemade red sauce in the world. I think she also put a dish towel and a wooden spoon in the goodie bag. I forget. The sauce will stay with me forever. Which is why I wanted her to know how often I think of her and how much she means to me. She also extended an open invitation to her home whenever I happened to be in her area. She said, "Stop by when you are in the area....

Joan Rivers used to crack me up. She'd walk onto the stage of the old "Tonight Show" and say, "Can We Talk?" Well, can we talk about Starbucks? I am not one of those people who thinks that Starbucks is the corporate devil. I understand and appreciate change. I know that little coffeehouses sometimes go under because they can't compete. On the other hand, I see a lot of wonderful things that Starbucks is doing in the community. And what about those "Grounds for Gardens?" But, since it's Saturday morning and I can really appreciate taking my time while sipping my coffee and talking to you, I just want to say - Starbucks - what is up with this "15 second rule" in your financial district coffee bars? I know we're all in a hurry Monday through Friday, but really, really? Do you have to stack people on top of each other? Talk about being in another person's space. Before I can spit out my order as quickly as I can (I fee...

Sometimes I just want to ease into the day. On those mornings, I prefer a milder blend like Caribou's Honduras Blend . It's one of their Roastmaster's Reserve coffees which means you can only get it a few times a year. I think that's because the people at Caribou don't want to spoil you. Honduras Blend has hints of carmel and a smooth finish. If you don't live near a Caribou Coffee Shop , give them a call at 1-888-CARIBOU and I'm sure they'll be happy to hook you up. Have a great Monday!

This is a perfect choice for after-dinner. I had a cup earlier today and found the white tea to be so soothing,that instead of my after dinner cup of coffee, I opted for a pear instead. Revolution White Pear Tea . The flavor of this tea is so subtle. I was prepared to be knocked over by the fruit, but it's very "unimposing." I steep mine for about three minutes in the cup. This box comes in these "flow-through infusers" which I think of as fancy little mesh stockings. Very sophisticated. I haven't been able to find this particular flavor in stores, but I know that Safeway does offer a good selection of Revolution Teas. Box Description: Delicate and fragrant as a fresh-picked pear, this blend combines white tea, slivers of sweet pears, and natural pear flavor. It may be one of the smoothest blends you've tasted, providing a gentle lift any time of day. White tea, whose silvery buds are the least processed of all teas, contains the highest amoun...

My book club met the other night to discuss our latest read; Elizabeth Berg's "The Last Time I Saw You." The story centered around the character, Dorothy (what a "coinki-dink") who was preparing for her 40th and last class reunion. I won't give anything away, but there's a part of the book which talks about Orange Cake. Well, that got me to thinking about the old Orange Supreme Cake Mix from Duncan Hines . Yes, I said that seven letter bad word "cake mix." Meaning, not from scratch. Don't tell Martha Stewart, please. Anyway, I thought wouldn't it be fun to make an orange cake for our meeting? And since we're having retro cake, why not go all the way back and have instant coffee instead of gourmet? Guess what? Everyone loved it. It was a big hit! Maxwell House Instant Coffee has come a long way. I get the feeling my mother is smiling down on me. Her motto was, "Why bother with scratch when there's cake mix?...