Relaxing Day - Erie Island Coffee Company

Today, instead of sitting the in living room or on the balcony reading a book like I would normally do I decided to take a nice leisurely walk down to Erie Island and have a nice cup of tea there and read.

Iced Mochas at Erie Island
7-13-2010

The Hubs and I had been there before and we got Iced Mochas and he also tried their Peanut Butter Mocha and those were great, and I noticed they had a bunch of loose teas available too, so I thought I would try that out today since its getting closer to fall and I love a hot cup of tea. They have many different kinds from plain green tea, to a "tummy tamer" and a summer berry, but I was interested in the Strawberry White Tea. Let me tell you it was good choice!

Strawberry White Tea, a good book and great atmosphere
what more could you want?

It was a nice light tea with great strawberry flavor, I wish they sold it in tins or something, I would have grabbed some for home. I mean you can't beat $1.90 for a large mug with as many hot water refills that you want, you can't go wrong! I had a nice relaxing time people watching, reading my book and looking over at the cliche' coffeeshop blogger sitting next to me...I love that stuff! So fun!

But anyway! If you are ever in the Rocky River area, or down near E. 4th downtown, you can hit up an Erie Island Coffee Company for your favorite coffee or tea. They have the latte artists at the E. 4th location, you know, they when the pour in the milk to your latte the can make hearts or leaves with the foam...so fun! I want to go there just to get a latte with a freaking heart on it! I am so lame.

They make their teabags for each cup of tea at Erie Island

Just wanted to share my nice day that I had for myself and I hope you get to check them out and relax with a good book and nice cup of coffee or tea. Its so fun!

-BellaRosa

*Update!!
I concocted a new drink at Erie Island today...and fun enough the sign outside said "Please come in and we'll help you make your own signature drink" They knew I was coming. I made a Cinnamon Mocha. They just add cinnamon syrup to your mocha but it made it nice and warm and earthy, very fall-like! They should totally put it on their menu!

Cinnamon Mocha and the Hubsie's Peanut Butter Mocha
Enjoying the lovely cool weather on their outside patio
September 6, 2010

Caribou Coffee and Chicken Alfredo

One of mine and Dan's favorite things to do when the weather is nice is to walk over the bridge to Caribou and get coffee and talk. It was a bit chilly today, like in the 30's but we trekked over to Caribou for some nice hot mochas (his a Campfire Mocha mine a Turtle Mocha). It was really nice, cause it's been forever since we have been able to do that. Plus I didn't have the best day so it was nice to spend time with my hubsie and talk. We did this after he got out of work so after our coffee it was time for me to get home to make dinner. Tonight it was Chicken Alfredo.

First off let me give you a great way to make chicken where you don't have to constantly watch it and it's gets cooked through and it still juicy.

The best way to cook chicken:

1. Get a skillet nice and hot with olive oil.
2. Season up your chicken on one side and place that side down in the skillet. After it gets nice and brown on the side flip it and cooked one minute more.
   
3. Place the skillet in a 350 oven for 15 mins (depending on the size of your chicken it could take more or less time). If your skillet doesn't have an oven safe handle cover the handle with foil before placing in oven.
   
4. Remove from oven and let sit a few mintues to let the juices redistribute and then slice or serve whole. For the alfredo I sliced each breast and placed it on top of the pasta.

For this alfredo I used penne pasta, because that is what I had on hand, but you can use fettucini or whatever pasta you prefer. But alfredo sauce is thick so you want something that can hold that sauce well.

Alfredo Sauce

2 T butter
2 T flour
2 - 3 cloves garlic, grated
1.5 - 2 cups milk
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
salt, pepper and parsley

Melt the butter in a saucepan and grate in your garlic. Once melted and fragrant with garlic, add the flour to make a roux. Once thick add your milk, stirring it in. Salt and pepper and let it come to a bubble, it will thicken. Add the parmesan cheese and the parsley, stir to combine. Check for seasoning, sometimes you can add more cheese or pepper. Add over your favorite pasta and you are good to go!

I will say I sometimes have issues with the sauce thickening up, either I have to wait it out or sometimes after I add the cheese it thickens a bit.

So for my finally dish, and since I want fun pictures for this blog I made my plates look fancy. I plated the pasta and sauce and added the sliced chicken on top, and it looked quite nice!

I know, I know, I still need to work on my pics...they are gonna be the death of me, but I will learn how to take nice food pics eventually...*sigh*

That's all for today!!

Eat, Drink and Be Merry!