Coffee and Walnut Pie

@ mirandablue

I admit I'm a nutty person...I like all kinds of nuts, that is.:p  I finished my errands early one afternoon, and I returned to Icing's Bakeshop for coffee with the delightful accompaniment of their walnut pie.  Visualize me in the couch with a book.


Ah, being my own boss can be overwhelming but I'm loving the schedule.:p

@ mirandablue

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Addiction [Photo-Hunt]

Hello, my name is Luna, my blood type is coffee, I was bottle-fed with coffee when I was a baby, and I am a recovering coffee addict. It's been 1 hour, 14 minutes and 43 seconds since my last cup.

Enjoying a cup of coffee is one of my life's pleasures, but people who live with caffeine addiction are not able to appreciate this in the same fashion that a non-addict can. Instead of savoring the aroma, sight and taste of coffee, coffee addicts have coffee jitters, a nervous condition resulting from too much caffeine.

Coffee produces a caffeine high, usually combined with sugar for an even greater high. Like any high, the resulting lows are present and cause depressions and mood swings. Depressions associated with coffee addictions are often misdiagnosed and simply add medications to the addict's life.

Coffee has health risks and benefits. Research suggests that coffee consumption can reduce the chance of acquiring liver cirrhosis, a reduced risk of oral, esophageal and pharyngeal cancer. But it can also damage the lining of gastrointestinal organs, causing gastritis and ulcers. Some studies say that coffee reduces the incidence of dying from heart disease but caffeine as a mild addictive stimulant has modest cardiovascular effects such as increased heart rate, increased blood pressure, and occasional irregular heartbeat. It reduces the risks of Alzheimer's Disease, dementia and Parkinson's Disease; it's also anti-diabetic.

According to Wiki, caffeine does not act as a diuretic when consumed in moderation, contrary to popular belief. Current evidence suggests that caffeinated beverages contribute to the body's daily fluid requirements no differently from pure water.

I am a coffee-lover, and for the past 3 years or so, I've been doing my best not to exceed 2 cups of coffee a day. A huge improvement from my usual 6-8 cups a day. My mantra these days is--moderation is the key.

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Spotted [Photo-Hunt]

Spotted this napping Bengal tiger at the Subic tiger safari. The sound of his snores made my hands shake as I snapped this photo. His paws are huge!

It was nap-time, too, for the spotted civet cat or alamid, as it is locally called. The civet cat is a nocturnal omnivore that is usually active between 6 pm and 4 am, less active on nights when the moon is bright; and its favorite diet is chico, rambutan, mango and coffee.

Coffee Alamid, the world's rarest brew, is coffee prepared from coffee beans harvested from droppings of wild civet on different forest floors of Philippine mountains. A 100-gram pack of coffee alamid costs US$100...a kilo is US$500. I haven't tried it yet but I was told that coffee alamid makes such a sublime cup. When roasted, it exudes a fruity aroma, and has a strong, sweet, dark chocolaty taste.

nocturnal civet cat

It looks like this spotted deer missed his nap. This nocturnal creature is listed by IUCN (International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources) as an endangered species. Scientists call it the "world's rarest deer" and it is one of the three endemic deer species in the Philippines. Surviving population of the Visayan spotted deer still roams the rain-forests of the Visayan islands of Panay and Negros, specifically in the protected habitats of Mt. Kanlaon National Park, North Negros Forest Reserve, Mount Talinis and Lake Balinsasayao Reserve and West Panay mountains. This deer species is protected under Philippine law.

Visayan spotted deer in captivity

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Litratong Pinoy: merienda [snack]

flavored suman

Na "discover" ko itong masarap na merienda kamakailan lang---flavored suman. Meron silang 8 flavors, tulad ng macapuno, mangga, langka, coco-mas (latik), mais, ube at iba pa. Tita Lynn's ang brand ng flavored suman at may stall sila sa Market! Market!, Tiendesitas at Rustan's Supermarket. Hindi ko nga pala kamag-anak si Tita Lynn. Kakaiba lang talaga ang linamnam nitong flavored suman n'ya---masarap ipares sa kape o hot choco, kaya ko pina-plug.:P

Katulad ng maraming Pinoy, mahilig din ako sa merienda. Kapag weekend at nasa bahay lang ako, pagkatapos pa lang pananghalian, nag-iisip na ako ng kakainin sa merienda. Kung sinisipag, nagluluto ako ng merienda---madalas pasta at kung ano-ano pang naiimbento ko. Kapag wala na talagang maisip, meron banana-cue, turon at mainit-init pa na "paputok" at may pantulak pang Coke.

Like most Filipinos, I am fond of snacking in the afternoon. On weekends when I'm not going anywhere, I would start thinking of an afternoon snack right after lunch. When in the mood, I would cook pasta or whip up some invented dish. But when all else fails, there's banana-cue (deep-fried bananas with caramelized sugar), turon (banana spring rolls), and hot cracked, crisp-surfaced "paputok" (bread) drowned with a bottle of Coca Cola.

I recently discovered this delicious snack---flavored suman (sticky rice cooked in coconut milk). They have about 8 flavors such as macapuno, mango, jack fruit, coco-mas, corn, ube (purple yam). Tita Lynn's flavored suman has stalls in Market! Market!, Tiendesitas and Rustan's Supermarket (Tita Lynn is not a relative, by the way :P). I love this traditional suman with a twist---great with coffee or hot choco.

Cinnabon Stix and brewed coffee

Sa opisina naman, medyo umiiwas ako sa mabigat na merienda katulad ng pansit, pasta, iba't-ibang kakanin, burgers at pizza. Pero paminsan-minsan, may craving ako sa cinnamon rolls kaya napapalakad ako sa Cinnabon kapag coffee-break.

In the office, I try to stay away from heavy snacks like pancit, pasta, various rice cakes, burgers and pizza. But there are times when I get cravings for cinnamon rolls that make me walk to the nearest Cinnabon during my coffee-break.

Ito naman ang merienda namin ni Che no'ng bumisita ako sa Seattle kamakailan---creme puffs na may vanilla and chocolate fillings. Bumili kami ng isang dosena, bitbit namin papuntang Starbucks sa Pike Place Market kasi yon pala ang pinakaunang Starbucks sa kasaysayan ng kape. Kape at creme puffs---sarap!

Shared these creme puffs with my friend Che when I was in Seattle recently. We bought a dozen and brought it over to Starbucks at Pike Place Market, the original Starbucks. It was a one-time must-do for all pilgrims who love the dark brew. Coffee and creme puffs---perfect snack!

More tasty snacks at Litratong Pinoy

UCC Cafe - Ruby Tuesday

Another delightful find during my stroll at the new Terraces in Ayala-Cebu was the UCC Cafe. It's one of my favorite coffee shops---I love their espresso and desserts! When my friends and I need some peace and quiet while having our dessert, we go to UCC Cafe at Forbes Town Center in Global City. The branch at The Terraces is a good location, too...far from where shoppers and mall rats usually go. It's near The Spa and Belo Medical Clinic, and exit to Marriott Hotel. Oh, and the red umbrella is for Ruby Tuesday.

Here's a cup of my espresso cappuccino...

...and the rich and sinful choco fudge.

Espresso yourself...

Black as the devil, Hot as hell, Pure as an angel, Sweet as love.

Surrendering to coffee is one of my life's pleasures, and sharing a cup of coffee with friends fills me with nostalgic sentiments. Sometimes a cup of coffee is more than just a cup of coffee. Its familiar taste and aroma can take one back to childhood, to a place of comfort where a mother, aunt or grandparent served up kindness along with a rich, steaming mug of barako.

I always believe that I was bottle-fed not with milk but with coffee when I was a baby. Coffee molecules stir up my blood, stimulate my mind, and warm my heart. And what's office and showbiz gossips would be like without cups of coffee being shared in the pantry?

I remember the air of quiet anticipation in my grandmother’s kitchen when I was a kid. Native coffee was brewing 24/7…aunts and uncles and their friends were having coffee at all times. Passionate debates took place at my grandmother’s dining table over mugs of hot, black coffee. Plans were concocted, ideas expounded, tempers cooled and fears were calmed. I loved the fever of it all---voices rose and dissolved into sounds of hot steaming liquid being drank, all punctuated by hums of conversations.

Lola Fanny served us kids with a lighter brew and not without a warning that strong coffee would stunt our growth. My brothers and younger cousins would add steamed rice into their coffee while my sister and I would dip pandesal into our mugs. The warmth and essence of my Lola’s espresso was one of my childhood’s flavorful indulgences.

Note: the photo is not mine

Photo-Hunter: favorite

My Favorite -
A quiet Cafe Mocha in a porcelain mug at my desk before a busy workday begins.

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Black Coffee

I'm feelin' mighty lonesome
Haven't slept a wink
I walk the floor and watch the door
In between I drink
Black coffee
Love's a hand-me-down brew
I'll never know a Sunday
In this weekday room...

kd lang, Black Coffee

“Black Coffee” is one of those songs I love to sing when I’m a bit sad and on my way to getting helplessly inebriated. One of my oldest friends takes his clue from this song---it’s time to give me black coffee to lift my mood. Is it the caffeine or the sugar he puts in my coffee that cheers me up?

I'm talkin to the shadow

One o'clock till four

And Lord, how slow the moments go

And all I do is pour

Black coffee

Since the blues caught my eye

I'm hangin' out on Monday

My Sunday dreams to dry

This everyday elixir has a colorful history, not to mention a long journey across continents. Some coffee aficionados say an Ethiopian goatherd discovered coffee around 800 AD. The goatherd, the story goes, noticed his flock frolicking from one coffee shrub to another, munching on the cherry-red berries containing coffee beans. He chewed on a few himself and was soon romping along with his herd. Then a monk (there’s always a monk behind the bushes :D) saw the goatherd cavorting with his goats, got curious and plucked some berries for his brothers. That night, the whole monastery was incredibly euphoric and vigilant to divine inspiration. The magic beans later crossed the Red Sea to Arabia and it was there where things really got brewing. By the 13th century, Muslims were drinking coffee religiously. It kept worshippers awake and wherever Islam went, coffee went, too.

Coffee was regarded as a passion in those days and the beans were tightly guarded. Until an Indian pilgrim-cum-smuggler left Mecca with fertile coffee seeds strapped to his belly. The Indian’s seeds bore fruit and reached Europe’s colonies (Source: National Geographic)

Now man was born to go a lovin'

But was a woman born to weep and fret

And stay at home and tend her oven

And drown her past regrets

In coffee and cigarettes

I'm moonin' all the mornin'

Moanin' all the night

And in between it's nicotine

And not much heart to fight

Black coffee

Feelin' low as the ground

It's drivin' me crazy

This waitin' for my baby

Might maybe come around

Come around...

Caffeine has been the focus of research for decades...it's a stimulant and had been linked to heart disease, gastrointestinal problems, insomnia, anxiety, to mention a few. And as one of the sources of caffeine, coffee has been maligned for years, but it's undoubtedly a beloved drink all over the world. What used to be as an elite indulgence has become a staple of our modern life and culture. Despite coffee's bad rep, researchers believe that it has a number of health benefits---aside from lifting our moods and treat headaches, coffee lowers the risk of diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, and color cancer. There is a significant presence of antioxidants in coffee beans to help mitigate the chances of heart disease and cancer.

I remember my Grade 4 teacher who warned the class about the hazards of drinking coffee. She said that coffee would stunt our growth, cause ulcers, infertility and mental illness. My father's family was [and still is] a bunch of coffee-drinkers so I announced my teacher’s warning at lunch. My aunts and uncles find it funny, teased me that I would never grow taller than 4 feet and that I'd inherit the "bad genes" from drinking "weak" coffee. My grandfather winked at me and remarked that Miss O’s (my teacher) father was thickwitted, he probably didn’t drink coffee. :D My grandmother always made sure that kids would drink the "weak" coffee, not the strong brew drank by adults.

I grew taller than 4 feet---thank God, but not as tall as I wished I'd be. Blame it on some genetic anomaly. As for the "bad genes", that remains to be seen (hehe). But before you panic that you’re going to die a premature death from drinking coffee, check out The Coffee Science Information Center. In the meantime, enjoy your coffee in moderation and sing with kd lang.

Over a cup of coffee

On Sunday afternoons, while waiting for my friends attending the 5 pm mass, I would sit at a coffee shop in Greenbelt and watch people. I would sit there contemplating the expressions on their faces, their fashion sense, their body language, the way they walk. People pass me by in all shapes and sizes, from dull to colorful...some with sure, quiet strides, some with aimless saunter, some with anticipation, a couple in a hurry, teenagers bickering. A young man with sad eyes made me ask myself if we all harbor great sadness in our souls, an old man at peace with life, a woman walking lost in her thoughts, maybe in order to find herself again. Another seems to wander, looking for something...maybe a smile or a wave; some stroll without a care in the world. I'm sitting there with my coffee, thinking of a place where love had hidden itself away.

Sometimes, in the silence of my heart, I would wish for someone to invite him/herself at my table for a conversation. A stranger, looking for someone to talk to, would decide to rest at my table. Hot coffee and good conversation...what a lovely way to spend a Sunday afternoon. But that would never happen. Because people don't talk anymore, they don't sit down to talk and listen. They go to the movies, watch TV, listen to the radio, read books, but they almost never talk. If we want to change the world, we have to go back to a time when warriors gather around the fire and tell stories.

coffee with Sienna and friends, Starbucks-Eastwood

All the really important things in my life had risen out of long conversations---with my sister, with my aunts and cousins, with my closest friends. I miss the brilliance of face to face conversations where souls are unveiled, where you can gaze at each other's eyes, connected by energy, express each other's thoughts and perspectives on the human condition. Or convey a comforting touch from a friend to another. "A single conversation across the table with a wise man is worth a month's study of books", somebody quoted that to me. When I have a real conversation with somebody, it's a marvel of sustained revelation.

Some Sunday when you're free...let's talk over a cup of coffee.

cafe in London