Sea Salt Caramel Popcorns

Caramel popcorn is another popular flavor in our house.  It takes longer time to make.  But it is well worth of every second you spend waiting for it to be ready.   O(∩_∩)O~ 

Ingredients：

1/2 to 2/3 cup popcorn kernels
2 tablespoons oil
4 tablespoons butter
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup of packed brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1/4 cup corn syrup
1/4 teaspoon baking soda

 

Directions：

Heat the popcorn pan over medium high heat.

Add oil and popcorn kernels. Cover with lid

Soon corn kernels will begin to pop.

Swirl the handle on top when corn kernel s are popping.  It will help them to heat and pop more evenly.

Preheat the oven to 250F/121C

Time to make sea salt caramel sauce now

Add brown sugar, corn syrup and butter to a small sauce pan.  Heat the pan over medium high heat until it comes to boil.  Continue to cook for another 4 to 5 minutes.    Stir with a whisk or wooden spoon from time to time.

Remove from heat.  Add sea salt, vanilla extract and baking soda.  Stir with a whisk until everything is well combined.

Pour the caramel sauce into popped corns. 

Swirl the hand on top so that the caramel sauce can evenly coat the popcorns. 

This pop corn pan works so well that all the popcorns are evenly coated in no time! 

Line up a big cookie pan with silicone baking mat or parchment paper.  Spread the popcorns on top with a wooden spoon.

Bake in the oven for 45 to 60 minutes.  Stir with wooden spoon every 15 to 20 minutes.

And now we can finally enjoy them O(∩_∩)O~

Espresso Float with Chocolate Ice Cream

Somebody ordered an espresso float with ice cream when I was standing in line in a cute local coffee store.  I copied his order.  And guess what?  I was hooked immediately!  How come I never thought about pairing ice cream with espresso together? 

It is really easy and simple to DIY it at home too. 

Ingredients：(1 serving)

2 shots of espresso
1 to 2 scoops of chocolate ice cream
caramel sauce (optional)

Directions：

Make double shots espresso with espresso machine.

If you find double shots are too strong, switch to single shot.

Add a big scoop of chocolate ice cream.  You can use any other flavor ice cream too.  I think chocolate ice cream is a better choice to go with espresso than other ice creams.

There is no way I am going to stop at 1 scoop.  I must have 2 scoops of chocolate ice cream！O(∩_∩)O~

I made my own chocolate ice cream too so that I can make sure I get real dark and intense chocolate flavor in the ice cream.  Top it with homemade caramel sauce.  It goes so well with freshly pumped espresso coffee.

Thin Vegetable Pancakes

中文菜谱： 马齿苋杂粮煎饼

Portulaca oleracea might be considered as weed by most people in America.  But it is served as edible vegetable in Asian countries.  

 

It has a slight sour taste.   When cooked, it has similar sliminess like okra.  So I usually chop it up and add to pancakes.

Ingredients：

1 egg
2/3 cup whole milk
1 teaspoon oil
1/4 cup of multi whole grain flour (I grind my own multi grain flour:)
1/4 cup of all purpose flour
1 handful of portulaca oleracea
freshly ground black pepper
salt to taste
sriracha sauce  (optional)

Directions：

 

Rinse the portulaca oleracea under cold running water.  Drain well and chop coarsely. 

In a medium bowl, add egg, milk, oil, multi grain flour, flour, salt and pepper. 

Whisk everything together and add chopped portulaca olerace

Mix well again with a whisk

Heat a cast iron skillet over medium heat.  Spray with oil and add 1/4 batter.  Spread it as thinly as possible with a crepe spreader or spatula. 

When the bottom side is golden brown, flip the pancake over.  Cook until the other side is golden brown too

I usually make 4 to 5 pancakes out of the ingredients listed above.  They are perfect for a quick and nutritious breakfast.

Sriracha sauce pairs well with almost everything! O(∩_∩)O~ 

Light Espresso Caramel Frappuccino

This is my own version of light espresso caramel frappuccino.  It is really quick and easy to make; takes less than 2 minutes to make.  And what is important is it is totally as tasty as the ones you can get from coffee shops. O(∩_∩)O~ 

Ingredients： (for 2 servings)

3 shots espresso coffee
1/4  to 1/3 cup caramel sauce (use more if you have sweet tooth)
2 cups ice cubes
1 cup whole milk

 

Directions：

I start with making fresh espresso shots.  What I am using is Breville 870XL .  FYI, it is a good home use espresso machine. 

It is gridding coffee beans

Tamper a little bi

The espresso shots come with beautiful thick crema on to

Add espresso, ice, caramel sauce and milk to vitamix blender . 

Blend until everything comes together and the coffee is smooth.  

The tamper can help it blend more evenly. 

Pour into a glas

This one is min

Top with extra caramel sauce.  I make my own caramel sauce.  O(∩_∩)O~ 

All you need is a straw!  

Cold Brew Coffee

中文：冷萃冰咖啡

Cold brew coffee has suddenly popular in my area.  For a couple times I stand in line in Starbucks to order a Grande cold brew coffee but only to be told they are sold out.  Really?  For the third time, I finally got one.  I was hooked as soon as I took a sip.

Cold brew coffee is milder than regular coffee due to its non heat process.  Also because of that, it has brighter, lighter, smoother, and a hint of citrus flavor.   What I love about it the most is that coffee has a strong chocolate note.  With lot of ice cubes to cool down in hot summer time, I now understand why they are always sold out. 

So I decide to make it at home.  It is easy and simple to make your own cold brew coffee.  It takes between 12 to 24 hours.  So you just got to be patient.  In the end, you will see the wait is worthy. 

Ingredients：

85 g coffee beans
2 1/2 cups cold water
ice cubes
whole milk (optional)
simple syrup, maple syrup, or caramel sauce(optional)

 

Directions：

Coarsely ground the coffee beans with coffee grinder.  Add to a large glass jar.

Add cold water while whisking.  Cover the jar with its lid.  Allow it to sit on countertop for 12 to 24 hours.  The longer it sits, the better flavor it will develop. 

Drain through coffee filter.  Now you have a bottle of coffee concentrate. 

Fill your glasses with ice cubes.

Add cold brew coffee

The smell is great.  

Now you have two cups of cold brew coffee O(∩_∩)O~

I love adding whole milk and syrup to my cold brew coffee.

The moment when milk hits coffee, it is so beautiful.

Sometimes I use simple syrup.  But caramel sauce is always my favorite.  BTW, I make my own caramel sauce too. O(∩_∩)O~

Now it is time to enjoy a cup of great cold brew coffee.

Grab a good book, you will have a nice relaxing afternoon. O(∩_∩)O~