Beverages

How to make flavored coffee:  Layer dried fruit, whole spices, chopped or sliced nuts (you see chopped pecans here), or edible flowers with instant coffee, ground coffee, or coffee beans.  Put in a cool dry place for at least two weeks before using.  This works just as well with decaffeinated coffee as with regular.

Dry Coffee Creamer:  Equal parts powdered milk and sugar.  Add dry, ground spices to taste.  You can also layer this mixture with sliced or chopped nuts, whole spices (like vanilla beans), dry fruit, or edible flowers.  If layered with other ingredients, store in a cool dry place for two weeks before using.

You can make instant flavored coffees similar to International Cafe coffees by combining 1 C instant coffee, 1 C powdered milk, and 1/2 C sugar, along with a total of 1 T any combination dried spices you desire.  If only using dried spices, the mixture can be blended in a blender or food processor for a few minutes and used immediately.  If layered with other ingredients, again, allow to sit for two weeks in a cool dry place.  Blend in a blender or food processor for a few minutes before using.

For drink syrups, use equal parts liquid and sugar.  The liquid can be 100% juice or water.  If using juice, it can come from any sort of concentrate as long as it is 100% juice and has no sugar added.  You can also get fruit flavored syrup by using water and sugar and cooking with whole or sliced fruit.  When the syrup has bubbled for 3 to 5 minutes, removed the fruit pieces.  This technique can also be used with whole spices and chopped or sliced nuts.

If you combine equal parts water and sugar and add molasses, you get a pancake syrup so similar to store-bought that most children will be fooled.  I use 2 cups each water and sugar and 1 Tablespoon molasses.

Chocolate Syrup:  1 1/2 C sugar, 1 C dutch process cocoa powder, 1 C water, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract or 1/2 vanilla bean, a few grains salt.  

Whisk everything together in a sauce pan.  Bring to a boil over medium heat.  When the syrup bubbles, turn the heat to medium low and allow to simmer for at least 3 minutes.  This is a very kid-friendly syrup made with regular dutch process cocoa.  For a more grown-up treat, use "special dark" cocoa powder and also add 1 teaspoon chili powder.