Coffee and Tea Recipes
Vanilla and Caramel Iced Coffee (or caramel vanilla!)
A café-worthy drink comes together in minutes – faster than a Starbucks drive-thru and more economical too. You can use this recipe as a guide, choosing an easy-to-make syrup, and adjusting the coffee strength, sweetness, and creaminess to taste. A recent New York Times article asked the following question: Does anyone drink hot coffee…
Pumpkin Spice Chai Latte
There may be no shortage of pumpkin spice lattes in this world, but now you can make them at home, with tea or coffee, iced or hot, and with several other customizable options. You may even find that the homemade version tastes fresher…and at a fraction of the usual price! I adore coffee and pumpkin, but…
Elderberry Iced Tea
Thirst-quenching tea doubles as a refreshing home remedy thanks to elderberries and their natural ability to fight cold and flu viruses. I’ve been taking a teaspoonful of homemade elderberry syrup before breakfast every morning for about a year now. I fear I will jinx myself by saying this (!), but I have…
Elderberry Syrup
Elderberry syrup has become my go-to remedy for fighting colds and flu and is very easy to make. For best relief, take it at first sign of a virus. A spoonful a day also works well as a preventative measure. (As a bonus, this all-natural remedy tastes far better than conventional, store-bought syrups－and is less…
Homemade Bailey’s Irish Cream
Quick and easy to make at home and every bit as delicious as the store-bought bottle－less expensive, too. Irish cream is delightful in coffee, on the rocks, or in a variety of baked goods. It’s a novel treat for holiday and hostess gifts and perfect for St. Patrick’s Day! A reader from France kindly…
Matcha Smoothie
A deliciously filling meal replacement that’s loaded with superfoods and quality protein－plus it’s perfectly sweet but the sugars are kept in check. You don’t need to like matcha to love this smoothie! 💚 You may THINK you’re not a matcha fan, or perhaps you’ve never tried it. (But stay with me!) This vibrantly green smoothie…
Meadow Tea
This Lancaster County staple is summer in an ice-cold glass. Crisp, clean, minty and utterly refreshing, it’s also the perfect way to use an abundance of mint. If Lancaster County had an official summer drink, it would surely be Meadow Tea. For years I threatened to rip out the mint that has a way…
Homemade Frappuccino (healthy, creamy & dairy-free)
Frappuccino fans rejoice! This healthy, dairy-free coffee smoothie is creamy and decadent like a Frosty but naturally sweetened with dates－and because not everyone loves them, no bananas! Dessert-worthy but loaded with enough nutrients and staying power to be a meal. If you have yet to dream about coffees smoothies, you surely will after…
Healing Ginger Tea
Simmer a potful of this delicious elixir at the first sign of a sore throat or stomach woes. Healing Ginger Tea is soothing, therapeutic, and caffeine-free and can be easily adjusted for those who enjoy a little extra zing. Once a week, I take a Pilates class with my dear friend Carrie. We’ve been doing this…
Overnight Cinnamon Pecan Coffee Cake
Classic yet super simple, this longtime family favorite tastes just like a good coffee cake should. The prep-ahead option offers added convenience! Dinner has always been the focal point of our extended family celebrations on major holidays and, fittingly, where much of the time and effort is placed. Breakfast, however, has always been…
Homemade Chai Concentrate (for iced or hot chai lattes)
To all the coffee drinkers out there, stay with me! 😀 When my teenagers took a liking to iced chai lattes from our neighborhood coffee shop a few years ago, I figured it was time to come up with an economical DIY version. While it may require a trip to the market in…
Sweet Tea Brined Chicken
Sweet tea provides unexpected magic in this incredibly easy, marinated chicken that takes mere minutes to prep. Rest assured, the finished chicken is tender and juicy but doesn’t actually taste like iced tea! When Mitch Nugent made a point by connecting two things I love—live theater and ice cream–I perked up.…
