London Ritz Mulled Wine

January 1, 2011 by mymateriallife

The New Year is beginning with a cold and grey day which should make for a perfect “mulled wine night” by which to contemplate the holiday season that is now drawing to a close – made all too apparent by our brittle Christmas tree.  I clipped this recipe from the San Francisco Chronicle a while back and finally made it for the first time in December 2009 when we had a few neighbors in for dessert (best if your guests […]

Categories: Beverages, Christmas • Tags: london ritz book of christmas, mulled wine

Spiced Coffee

November 18, 2010 by mymateriallife

The coffee shops started serving their special holiday drinks as soon as November hit, but I won’t start on the eggnog lattes until after Thanksgiving.  I love eggnog lattes, but they are much too rich to indulge in for two months out of the year, let alone one.  I have been enjoying a completely guiltless coffee treat for the last couple of weeks though.  I’ve simply been adding cinnamon to the ground Guatamalan coffee grounds I buy at Peet’s.  This […]

Categories: Beverages • Tags: penzey's, spiced coffee

Loverly Liverpool

July 12, 2010 by mymateriallife

I like Liverpool.  I didn’t expect much besides the Beatles history, but it’s got great architecture, friendly people, duck boats and the Hope Street Hotel which I would revisit in a heartbeat.  You can see a photo of the exterior below.  It’s the building with the very modern facade and it’s situated right next to The London Carriage Works which might be the best place to eat in Liverpool.  To tell the truth, we didn’t sample the food much anywhere […]

Categories: Beverages, Places • Tags: albert dock, duck boat, hope street hotel, liverpool, pimm's, the london carriage works

A Fancier Arnold Palmer

June 19, 2010 by mymateriallife

I didn’t plan to tell you about this so early in the season – it’s not even summer yet – but two things happened this week that made me change my mind.  First, we went to see the practice round of the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach on Tuesday and second, we saw Mr. Arnold Palmer himself (actually sat down at the table next to his) at the Inn at Spanish Bay after we left the golf course.  If that’s […]

Categories: Beverages • Tags: arnold palmer, iced tea, lemon sorbet

A Nice Cup of Chai

April 28, 2010 by mymateriallife

The problem with your Starbucks and even Peet’s chai is that it is too darn sweet.  Here is a recipe (see page 3) you can make at home and sweeten (or not) to your own taste.  I found this in the San Francisco Chronicle food section five years ago.  It was referred to as “the best chai this side of Bombay” and comes from Raman Bechar who owned a coffee and tea shop in Half Moon Bay which I believe […]

Categories: Beverages • Tags: chai, penzey's

Irish Coffee Float

March 17, 2010 by mymateriallife

I can’t help but think of my mother, Celia, on St. Patrick’s Day.  She just loved Irish Coffee (and Bailey’s Irish Cream and grasshoppers – the green cocktail, not the bugs).  So whenever I have one, I drink it in her honor.  But this year I’m onto something a little different – the Irish Coffee Float. Ever since I saw Juliette Binoche pour coffee on her ice cream in a French film a while back, I’ve tried to do the […]

Categories: Beverages, Other Holidays • Tags: irish coffee, st. patrick's day