I hope you all are having a wonderful Saturday! If you have a few minutes to whip up a cold drink and put your feet up, sit in the shade or soak up a little sun, treat yourselves to this cool and refreshing Iced Coffee Caramel White Russian, and maybe have a little afternoon snack with that. You've worked hard this week. You deserve this. :)
Jamie's coming home today from Sturgis and I couldn't be more excited since I haven't seen him in five days! And for his special welcome home dinner, here's what I have planned:
- Appetizer - Roasted Artichoke with Spicy Aioli
- Main Course - Rack of Lamb with Sage and Red Wine Cherry Sauce, and Baby Red Potatoes with Herbs
- Dessert - Nectarine Blueberry Crumble
- To Drink - 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve, from the winery at Holy Cross Abbey (we bought this in the summer of 2009 during my birthday weekend)
So this morning, I went to three of my favorite stores to pick up a few items (and also to just do some fun browsing): The Container Store, World Market, and Tony's Meats and Specialty Foods. It amazes me how every time I go to The Container Store, I manage to find something that I didn't even know I needed, and somehow don't think I can live without! Jamie doesn't seem to harbor the same excitement about containers that I do (organizing something in the perfect container just makes me happy), and he made me promise never to make him go to there again, although I think it's a pretty fair trade after I go to Men's Wearhouse with him, which is right next door. :)
He tolerates World Market, and of course, he loves Tony's and introduced me to the store when we started dating. It's not a place you can buy many of your groceries, unless maybe you're a celebrity, because it's very expensive. But it's a great place to get some high quality meat and specialty items that you may not find at your regular grocery store. I bought the rack of lamb there this morning, as well as a jar of vanilla bean paste which caught my eye. I have a feeling it will be a good, and much cheaper, alternative to whole vanilla beans when I want that vanilla bean flavor.
By this stage of my morning shopping, it was nearing lunch time, and I gave in to the temptation of buying a carrot streusel muffin from the bakery to have as an afternoon snack when I got home.
Isn't this a gorgeous muffin? It was so delicious, full of cinnamon and cloves, raisins and nuts, and after tasting it, I wish I had the recipe so I could make these. Everything is better with streusel topping, don't you think?
To go along with the muffin, I made an Iced Coffee Caramel White Russian. Yes, I know it's only 2:00 in the afternoon, but don't judge me. :) It is Saturday, after all, and I don't have to go anywhere else today. Although, come to think of it, I forgot to get ice cream, and Jamie's going to want ice cream on top of the nectarine blueberry crumble tonight... I may have to run back out again.
This icy drink was also the perfect way to use up the rest of my coffee that I didn't drink this morning, since I hate just dumping it down the drain. And, it's low calorie, since I make White Russians with skim milk instead of cream. I made it in a big mason jar, to accommodate all the ice, and to have something cool to sip throughout the afternoon on as I finish up some cleaning and do a little prepping for dinner tonight. It's delicious! But I have lots more to do today, so I better pace myself...
Iced Coffee Caramel White Russian
- 1 1/2 cups crushed ice
- 1 cup coffee, room temperature
- 1/8 cup skim milk
- 1 ounce vodka
- 2 ounces Kahlua liquor
- 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla or vanilla extract
- 1 heaping tablespoon caramel topping
Combine all ingredients in a large glass or jar and stir until combined. Or, puree in a blender for a slushy treat.
