Good Morning, Beautiful!

Good Morning, Beautiful! by eegrego160 featuring ceramic mugs

I am a morning person - an EARLY morning person. So early, in fact, that many times I beat the birds up!

I think I have always been the type to go to bed early and wake early. There is something about the brightness of a new day that I love. All of the new possibilities for the day - just waiting for me.

I know that not everyone is a morning person. So, I got to thinking - What would be some things that may get a person moving in the morning?

• This Good Morning, Beautiful mug is so cute. Who wouldn't want to wake up and have a cup of joe in this?
• My new favorite coffee drink is a latte with whip. No flavors. I am going to miss having a Starbuck's in my building. 
• Chocolate croissants. I first had one while we were in NYC.  The second one I had was in a little French pastry shop in Paris. Both were heavenly! Hopefully, you have a great bakery near you that serves chocolate croissants. 
• Omelets - love, love, love an egg white omelet. My fave items to put in my omelet? Onions, green pepper, mushrooms, chicken and cheese. Awwwww......................
• Breakfast at Tiffany's. This doesn't happen nearly enough - lol. On our first trip to NYC, my husband grabbed some pastries and coffee and we headed to Tiffany's. Mind you, it was 9AM and the store wasn't open, but we were able to walk around and have our goodies. 

What gets you up in the morning?  

Salted Caramel

Source: love-luck-kisses-cake.blogspot.com via Love.Luck.Kisses&Cake on Pinterest

I have found a brand new favorite food item to add to my ever growing list - Salted Caramel. Salted Caramel - ANYTHING! Well, just about.

Source: freshnewengland.blogspot.com via Sheila on Pinterest

 I've had it a couple of different ways. Starbucks has a Salted Caramel Mocha. So, I had to try it - right? Thing is, when it was my turn to order, I realized that it was a Mocha drink. I am not a big fan of chocolate (gasp!). Thankfully, the barrista talked me into trying it with White Chocolate. It was actually pretty good.


 I am planning to have a small dessert gathering/open house for the ladies during the Christmas season. Probably on a shopping day so they can stop by for a snack or two and take a break from the crowds!  I am thinking the recipe for Salted Caramel Shortbread just may make the list of goodies. Of course, I'll have to try it out before hand - smile.

Source: ericasweettooth.com via Heather on Pinterest

Here is the recipe from Erica's Sweet Tooth (great name!)

Source: ericasweettooth.com via Mel on Pinterest

Salted Caramel Shortbread 
Recipe adapted from What's Gaby Cooking

For the shortbread layer:

10 tbsp unsalted butter, at room temperature

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 tsp salt

1 egg yolk

1-2/3 cups flour

For the caramel:

1 cup unsalted butter

1 cup light brown sugar

3/4 cup light corn syrup

2 tsp sea salt, plus more for sprinkling on top

4 tbsp sugar

4 tbsp heavy cream

1-1/2 tsp vanilla extract

- Line an 8x8" pan with parchment paper, leaving some hanging over the sides to make removal easier.

- In a large bowl, combine the butter, sugar, and salt with a pastry cutter or fork.  Add the egg yolk and continue mixing.  

- Add the flour and use your hands to combine the dough until coarse crumbs form.  Transfer the dough into the prepared pan and press it down into one even layer.  

- Refrigerate for 30 minutes.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees and bake for 25 minutes, until slightly golden brown.  Set aside to cool.  

- For the caramel, combine the butter, brown sugar, corn syrup, salt, sugar, and heavy cream.  Bring to a boil and stir for about 5-10 minutes until caramel reaches the "soft ball stage" at around 230 degrees.  

- Remove from heat, stir in the vanilla and pour caramel over the shortbread.  

- Refrigerate for at least 3 hours, then sprinkle with sea salt and cut into squares.  Store caramels in the fridge until you're ready to eat them.

Friday Fave - coffee

 

Photo Credit: Pinterest via google.com

 This weeks Friday Fave is my wonderful Tassimo single serve coffee maker.  This guy is like a member of my family. Honestly, I'm not sure what I ever did without him. I've had it for about two years now.  My husband doesn't drink coffee so it really doesn't make sense to make a full pot of coffee each time. Even the smaller pots went to waste because I only drink one cup at a time once a day.

 People who know me, know that I am a huge Starbucks fan. I'd go all the time to get my single cup fix. All for $4.45 a pop - more or less depending where you live.  Now, my cup of coffee costs less than .80 a pop.  No brainer!  It tastes just the same to me especially when I use the Starbucks Breakfast Blend discs.

I typically prep it for work in my Kate Spade thermos and use one of my Crate and Barrel coffee cups.