Easy Iced Coffee Drinks

Two trips to Paris in four months … can you say, “spoiled rotten?” I am. I know it full well. And yep, I’m headed to Paris in the morning. But this time, I won’t need an interpreter when I teach. That’s because this time, I’m heading to the other Paris … the one in Texas. 😀

I’m very excited to see my fiends — the mother/daughter duo of Pat Apple and Christy Duff. Pat is the pastor’s wife from Calvary Chapel Tel Aviv, just here for a quick visit before she heads back to Israel. I can’t wait to sit down with her and talk through the details of the retreat I’ll be doing for her ladies when I’m in Israel next May. And Christy is nothing but sunshine, all the time. So I’m excited to see them. What I’m not so excited about is getting up at 3:30 a.m. so I can leave at 4:30 for the airport. Ugh.

Still … it’s a gorgeous day in the Pacific Northwest, and some of the damaged trees in the back of our property are being felled as we speak, opening up even more of that spectacular blue sky for my viewing pleasure while I sit and finalize my teaching notes. I’m thiiiis close to being packed, which is a real feat for me, since I’m normally throwing clothes in my suitcase as I run out the door to the airport. Later we’re going to the home of some friends for a barbecue and fireworks. And I’ve got a big glass of iced coconut coffee sitting right here, helping me through the afternoon.

Iced coffee is my new hobby. Here are two I’ve come to love.

Easy Iced Coconut Coffee

• half a glass of coffee, freshly made or leftover from the morning (which is what I use … frugal me :))
• enough coconut milk to fill the glass another quarter of the way
• ice cubes you had the foresight to make with more coconut milk (mixed with a little agave nectar)
• more agave nectar, if needed (or sweetener of your choice)

This drink came about because I bought a big container of coconut milk last month, but didn’t realize until we got home that we only had about 5 days to drink it before it hit its expiration date. (And yes, I realize there are no expiration date police hovering about, but still … once you hit that date … ew.)  I knew we wouldn’t make it, so I mixed a little agave nectar in some of the coconut milk and froze a huge batch in ice cube trays, just tossing them in a gallon baggie as they froze. I now have a nice stash of sweetened coconut ice cubes, just waiting for coffee.

The thing I love most about this drink is that it just gets more coconuty as the ice cubes melt.

The second one came about in a similar fashion. One day, I couldn’t bring myself to throw out the coffee sitting in the pot from that morning, so on a whim I poured it my heart-shaped silicone ice cube tray. And there you go. I started freezing the leftover coffee most mornings, just so I could have a stash of cute heart-shaped coffee ice cubes.

It is true that I live in Seattle, otherwise known as Latte Land. But unlike most of the residents here, I am not a coffee snob. As you can see.

Easy Iced Coffee

• fresh or leftover coffee
• rice milk, almond milk, coconut milk, or milk milk–enough to lighten the coffee
• dash of agave nectar
• ice cubes you had the foresight to freeze out of leftover coffee. Any shape will do.

And that’s pretty much it. I’m sure there are dozens of other frugal and delicious ways to make iced coffee. I’m on it! Until then … Au revoir, my friends!