Coffee - do stupid things faster with more energy!

Stole this from that funny guy, George Takei.

Starbucks keeping it going with mobile...

To help get their impatient, often pushy, customers through the door even faster, Starbucks introduced a new mobile app this January for prepayment of their goods. In hopes that there might be less interaction between the jittery caffeine addicts and therefore, less chance of negative publicity, it seems they have embraced this new technology and are now the top company in the world when it comes to mobile transactions. Read more here, I'm going to go pour me a cup now: http://www.forbes.com/sites/limyunghui/2012/08/12/to-square-up-the-starbucks-experience-potentials-and-potholes/

Using Coffee as a Platform for Creativity

I know I'm not alone when I talk about how much coffee affects my life on a daily basis.  I use it as a motivation to get through each day.  A fresh pot of coffee gives me a good 4 to 6 hours of hope and lets me know everything is going to be alright.  Without that beautiful aroma in the morning, I'm often left wondering whether or not love exists and if tomorrow is really worth sticking around for.

Coffee inspires me to create in many areas of my  life.  Like for instance, when I finish a pot of coffee, I have created room for more fresh coffee in that pot.  Also, I find I ruminate more about the things and voices which plague my wandering mind when I have some coffee to hold close and cherish.

I will now create a masterpiece in the toilet bowl -- that Italian roast really moves me.

Banana Lemon Coffee Cake / Bread

So, here at home we got:

1. a freezer full of effin bananas because we have great intentions of eating fresh fruit.

2. a grocery bag of lemons from a friend and already made some fresh lemonade.

3. a hankering for something to go with my coffee in the morning.

Turns out that's not all you need to make some banana lemon bread. So I looked up a recipe and found one on food.com then I modified it and it is delicious.

Makes 2 Loaves:
4 medium bananas, extra ripe
1/2cup butter, melted
4 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
2 eggs
1/4 cup sugar white
1/4 cup sugar brown
1 tablespoon lemon zest (grated lemon peel)

For Lemon Syrup
2/3 cup lemon juice
1/3 cup sugar
1/3 cup brown sugar
1 tsp lemon zest (grated lemon peel)

Directions

• 1 Preheat oven to 350°F.
• 2 Puree bananas in blender or food processor.
• 3 Combine with butter.
• 4 Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
• 5 In bowl, beat egg, sugar and lemon peel.
• 6 Beat in banana mixture.
• 7 Beat in flour mixture. NOTE: BATTER WILL BE STICKY
• 8 Turn batter into 2 9 x 5-inch loaf pan coated with vegetable spray.
• 8.A. Sprinkle top with brown sugar.
• 9 Bake in 350°F oven for 35 minutes.
• 10 Cool in pan.
• 11 Meanwhile, in small pan stir together lemon juice and sugar over medium heat until sugar melts. Let sit on stove on low and dump in remaining lemon peel, for 5 to 10 minutes.
• 12 Poke holes in bread with skewer.
• 13 Pour syrup over top.
• 14 Let stand 10 minutes.
• 15 Remove from pan.
• 16 Slice when completely cooled.

Chillin with my iced coffee by the pool.

Coffee Shop Review: Barclay's Coffee and Tea Co.

Supporting your local non-national chain coffee shops is just one way you can help to stimulate the local economy. It's good for socializing and building morale within the community when the local shops do well. That being said, I would never suggest going to a local coffee shop I didn't like. Here in Los Angeles, there are millions of places to get your coffee. Not all of them are that great.

For example, I live right next to a Circle K. They have a wonderful selection of terrible coffee. It is usually old and often very acidic. I do not tell people to go there for coffee, because I regret it every time I do.

However, Barclay's Coffee and Tea Co. ( http://barclayscoffee.com/ ) located at 8976 Tampa Avenue
Northridge, California 91324 is one I can definitely get behind. Always friendly and serving up a delicious cup of coffee as well as some delicious treats, you'll be impressed with the edibles as well as the atmosphere.

They also are a wonderful source for new espresso and coffee machines. Check out their selection on their website and then stop in to see how their knowledgeable staff can inform you on what machine might be right for you.

But the coffee alone is worth the stop. Just ask Martha Stewart who is prominently featured on their website. Not sure how many other federal prisoners are featured on there, pretty sure she's the only one.

Great Coffee = Great Opportunity

Fellow Coffee Lovers! Great opportunity here:

I got a new sponsor. Reserve Your Cup!



If you sign up now, you get your foot in the door before there is a joining fee!

It's a coffee loving and drinking solution that you get paid for.

Check it out and sign up today!

Seriously, it's worth checking out for most people who have an email and love coffee.


Reserve Your Cup!