Cold Brew Chicory Coffee

For years I've sipped herb tea and infusions, with occasional forays into drinking coffee. My mom was fond of green tea, and for a brewed drink, choose Sanka (instant decaf, 'sans caffeine'). With recent studies promoting health benefits of drinking a cuppa daily, I've been drinking some, usually black (! I was fond of flavors, which were also pretty sweet!) 

Råskog cart (mine's cream)

Saturday I went on a field trip to Ikea with a couple of friends, seeking a Råskog cart for art supplies. We played a grand game of shop-till-we-collapse, ... getting the cart and other goodies, eating dinner, shopping a bit more, ... and I picked up a little French press and some organic whole coffee beans. 
I have a little electric mill I generally use for spices, and wanted to grind my own. My friend suggested making iced coffee concentrate, and so I looked up some recipes for proportions 

I liked the idea of adding chicory, which I have from Mt. Rose Herbs, and checked out their site, finding this article. I decided to go half and half, so got out the grinder, and did a course grind of 1/4 cup coffee beans, adding 1/4 cup roasted & ground chicory at the end for one more grind.

The next step was putting the mix in a quart jar, and covering with filtered water. The last addition was a teaspoon of powdered Reishi mushroom, then capping the mason jar, and setting

Cup from Alyssa

it on the counter to steep overnight (6-12 hours, at room temperature.)

Reishi and other tree fungi are considered adaptogens, beneficial for daily use. Studies have shown Reishi to have potential for protecting the neurological system, inhibiting tumor growth, and aiding liver regeneration.

In the morning, I poured 1/2 of the cool coffee blend in the French press, and after pressing, filed with 1/2 cup filtered water. Mmm.

I left the rest to steep longer, then pressed and refrigerated it. I covered the grounds with 4 cups of water, and steeped a second time. After pressing, I poured some of that into my new "water bottle" ice cube tray (long and slim) 

My cup of choice was my Christmas gift from my granddaughter Alyssa, which she made in her HS pottery class! Didn't she do a great job? I love the glaze and the round belly! She made her mom a matching vase, which is equally lovely and loved.

Last week I cleaned up and rearranged my front porch, and painted my front door a yummy Cosmic Cowgirl Magenta!  We had a long, cold and wet winter and spring, it's lovely to have a temperate spell, and I'm enjoying sitting out in the morning with my journal.

I think I'll add turmeric and a dash of pepper tomorrow ... 
What's in your cup??

Time Matters!

Today Jamie's prompt is "How do you wish to spend your time?"

Yesterday I spent the morning with my 9 month old grandson (so adorable!) & received a massage from a co-worker in the afternoon. Later I gave another friend a massage (GC from her hubby)
I had lunch with my daughter, & treated a friend to my new Reishi Mushroom Tea* in the afternoon ... all nice ways to spend my time!

I do like 'adventures,' I'd enjoy spending some time in the mountains again, & some at the ocean. Mostly, the ways I do spend my time match what I like to do.

As a self-employed person, who is a bit of a grasshopper, I don't have a lot salted away for 'retirement,' so though many around me are retiring, or have already done so, that's not in my immediate future!! I do enjoy massage, think at times of shifting foci, but to what? Nutritional counseling tweeks my interest, especially as I learn more about going Gluten Free in todays world ... art, dance, reading, .... these I do in fits & spurts, as the mood strikes!

Time, such a precious gift .... how do you wish to spend yours?

* Reishi Mushroom is one of the Longevity Herbs of Chinese Medicine
Recently, a FB friend commented on drinking her "healthy coffee," which is formulated with an extract of Reishi. Hmm - I'm NOT a fan of multi-level marketing (her product is sold that way), so I asked my herbalist LAc friend Ethan his favorite form - & received a lovely 'care pack' in the mail last week which included "Ling Zhi" or Reishi mushroom mycelium in powdered form "Current clinical studies reveal this impressive mushroom to be a highly effective therapy for nearly all major disease states and to confer "nonspecific immunity" through longterm regular use. Just a few of the disorders Reishi has proven itself beneficial for include allergies, cancer, liver disease, Alzheimer's, heart disease, AIDS, radiation exposure, external wound healing and chronic bronchitis."

The company warns: "The mushroom mycelium powders have a mild malty, chocolate-like aroma and flavor due to the caramelization of the polysaccharides during the drying process. This is normal, we have not sent you cacao powder by mistake!"
So I made some into 'chai' with ginseng, schizandra, chicory, cardamom, fresh ginger, licorice, ginkgo leaves, carob powder & a few other herbs & spices - simmered it on the stove for ~ 20 minutes, & poured a cup - yummy!!! Especially with some coconut or chocolate hemp milk for cooling! I simmer each batch several times, & have been drinking several cups daily.