May coffee warm your soul: Coffee Break with all the trimmings
My coffee maker is programmed to grind and brew coffee automatically. The noise of grinding coffee beans wakes me up in the morning and the aroma of coffee brewing gets me out of bed. I love coffee so much that I break for coffee pretty much throughout the day, diluting the caffeine in regular coffee with coffee made from decaffeinated beans. Recent studies claim coffee to contain more fiber than orange juice and more antioxidants than blueberries. Studies also assert that coffee drinking can prevent Type 2 diabetes and help protect against Alzheimer's disease. While consuming large quantities of coffee is not recommended for any of us, experts contend that drinking coffee in moderation, up to 20 ounces a day, is not harmful. Coffee is immensely satisfying all on its own and becomes a social event when taken with extras like biscotti, cookies and cake. And, as a party alternative, a "coffee" makes it possible to entertain on a budget. While an assortment of snacks is nice at a coffee, including any one of those mentioned here, they certainly are not required. All you really need is the coffee -- and a moderate amount, at that.
Sue Ade is a syndicated food writer with broad experience and interest in the culinary arts. She has worked and resided in the Lowcountry of South Carolina since 1985 and may be reached at kitchenade@yahoo.com.