Starting Mornings My Way With McCafé Coffee

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and it's advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #McCafeMyWay #CollectiveBias

One of the things I've come to learn about myself as I've gotten older is that I need my morning routine. I need to have quiet time for thinking, planning my day, and my yoga practice. But before I do any of these things, I need a great cup of McCafé coffee.

I'm a true coffee lover, and that first cup of morning coffee is really important to me. I recently discovered McCafé coffee pods that I can use with my Keurig machine to brew up a delicious cup of coffee in no time at all.

Since I live with my daughter and her family, which includes three of my grandchildren, I like enjoying my coffee before everyone else wakes up. I adore my grandchildren, but it's so nice to have some me time before everyone's busy day begins.

The Premium Roast coffee pods are my favorite for my first cup in the morning. They have a wonderful aroma, and taste. I also love the French Roast, too.

McCafé coffee is made with 100% Arabica Beans, and harvested from the rich soils and mountainous regions of the foremost coffee growing areas of the world. And as much as I like using the coffee pods for time saving convenience, it's also available in premium coffee bags as well.

Using my Keurig lets me have my cup of coffee quickly and easily. I love just popping the coffee pod into the machine, with no measuring, no coffee filters, and no mess. After my cup is brewed, I add a little creamer, and I'm good to go!

I want 2015 to be the year of change for myself. I would love to earn more money, seek out new opportunities, and find a charming little apartment in the city.

With my cup of coffee and my calendar notebook, and before I open my computer, I use that time to think and plan. And as much as I do love my computer, there is just something special about writing things down by hand.

When I was a busy mom raising my five children, there was no morning time for me. I know that is so true for many moms today. My daughter enjoys getting up before her kids wake up, and having that first cup of coffee in quiet. It's so worth losing a little extra time sleeping in, and can make all the difference in a mom's day.

My morning routine includes a thirty minute session of yoga a few mornings a week. Nothing terribly strenuous like this book cover, but enough to help me stay healthy and fit. I enjoy yoga very much, and I'm excited to start going back to a local yoga studio in addition to my home practice.

After yoga, it's time for a light breakfast and another cup of McCafé coffee. Using the coffee pods lets me have a freshly brewed cup of coffee each cup. For me, drinking coffee that has been sitting in a pot for an hour or two, is not my idea of a good cup of coffee.

I first tried McCafé coffee at a coffee demo at Walmart. I got hooked right away. I'm actually quite picky about the coffee I buy and drink, so this had to taste great to win me over.

I was a little early for the demo, but I'm so glad I stayed to try the McCafé. Walmart has lots of demos, and I've actually found a lot of my favorite products by sampling them this way.

You can find McCafé coffee pods and bagged coffee in the coffee aisle at Walmart. Look for several different varieties of each product.

McCafé coffee is part of the Kraft brand that includes many of our favorite and well-known brands available at Walmart.
If you need more inspiration, check out the Cooking Up Good website. It has recipes, sweepstakes, loyalty programs, coupons and more! What's not to love? If you're looking for a new dinner idea or a chance to win some awesome prizes, be sure to check it out!

How about you? Are you someone who would love a less rushed morning? Do you have a morning routine that helps you get a good start? And how important is a great tasting, convenient cup of coffee to you?

I'd love to hear your thoughts. Please leave me a comment below. And thanks!!

CA State Fair Red Cup Showdown Competition with Jeff Mauro and Seattle's Best Coffee

Over the weekend I had the most awesome fair experience ever! I had the chance to attend the Seattle's Best Red Cup Showdown Competition. My husband and I go every year to the CA State Fair to celebrate the anniversary of our first date. This year was 14 years since our first date, it was a wonderful and memorable way to celebrate. Our son is only 2 1/2 so my husband and son arrived at the end of the competition, just in time to hear the winners announced. I was there from the beginning. Even having a chance to chat with the adorable Jeff Mauro, the Sandwich King before the event started. He is so personable and funny. A perfect host for a fun competition like the #RedCupShowdown.

The Ribbons for the winners

The event was held in the grandstand of the Cal Expo Horse Track. We have been there a few times to watch the horse races. This was the first time I have attended a food competition. I love to watch the cooking shows on Food Network and of course Sandwich King is one of them. Seeing it in person was awesome. The jokes Jeff told, the stories the contestants shared about the inspiration of their drinks and the smell of coffee in the air made it just about perfect.

The contestants from all over California had 5 minutes to make their drink from brew to final touches. It was exciting to watch the contestants in action. Before the competition started I sat down with a contestant to ask her a few questions about why she was competing and little about her. Her name is Kathleen and is from Sacramento, born and raised. She told me her inspiration story for her Seattle's Best Coffee Red Cup Showdown entry.

Kathleen a contestant I was lucky enough to meet

Here is what Kathleen wrote for the inspiration for her drink:

"Coffee comforts me. Coffee is memories of laughing and sharing with my family, those here and those gone, holidays, and Sunday mornings. Coffee is home and all that that means to me."

Her drink is inspired by Black Cake, a story and recipe that New Yorker Laurie Colwin shared in her book, Home Cooking, A Writer in the Kitchen. Laurie Colwin wrote for the New Yorker and Gourmet magazines about cooking while she cooked and told family stories over a cup of coffee. Kathleen was inspired to recreate the Black Cake in a coffee cup. She named it Orange Spice Brulot, for the burnt sugar ingredient, the translation in French.

This is what Kathleen said Black Cake is and how it tastes:

"Black Cake is a traditional West Indian fruitcake. It is made with burnt sugar, spices, and fruit all soaked in wine and rum. Orange Spice Brulot has the richness of coffee, the mélange of spices, the sweet candied orange, and the infusion of orange scented cream. The result is dark, burnt sugar sweetness with the intensity of a Black Cake."

After having the pleasure of meeting Kathleen I asked her if I could share her recipe with the readers of my blog. The scent of her drink as she made it for the judges filled the air. Its was wonderful!

Here is Kathleen's Recipe for Orange Spice Brulot:

 Ingredients:
1-cup Demerara sugar crystals
2/3 cup boiling water
2 large oranges
1 ¼ cups sugar
6 cloves
4 ½ tablespoons Seattle’s Best Coffee Level 4
3/8 teaspoon cinnamon
1-tablespoon orange zest
½ cup Half and Half
3 cinnamon sticks

Burnt Sugar Syrup:
1-cup Demerara sugar crystals
2/3 cup boiling water
Place sugar in small frying pan and melt on medium heat, stirring constantly until syrup
forms, about 15 minutes. Add boiling water slowly and stir constantly on medium low
until bubbly, brown and foamy, about 15 minutes. Strain into a bowl. Cool.

Candied Orange Peels:
2 large oranges
¾ cups sugar + ½-cup sugar
1 ½ cups water
Zest one tablespoon orange and set aside for infusing Half and Half. Peel remaining
oranges into strips. Boil ½-cup water in saucepan, add peels and cook for one minute.
Drain, rinse peels in cool water and repeat boiling. Place sugar and 1 ½ cups water in
saucepan and bring to boil. Add cooked, drained, orange peels. Lower heat and simmer
for 15 minutes. Remove peels and place on parchment paper to dry for one hour. Place
½ cup sugar in small bowl and dredge peels in sugar. Place on new parchment paper to
dry for 1 hour. Store in container or plastic bag.

Orange Infused Half and Half:
Place 1 tablespoon of orange zest into ½ cup Half and Half. Let infuse overnight. Strain
peels out before using.

Coffee:
For each serving
2 cloves
1 ½ tablespoons Seattle’s Best Coffee Level 4
1/8 teaspoon cinnamon
Place in filter and brew with 6 oz. boiling water

In coffee cup, 1 teaspoon Burnt Sugar Syrup and 3-4 Candied Orange Peels. Pour coffee
over. Stir until syrup dissolved. Add Orange Infused Half and Half to taste. Garnish
with cinnamon stick.

Savor.

Jeff was great, he talked to all the contestants and made us all laugh

Many levels of Seattle's Best Coffee was used in the recipes from 3 to 5

Hearing the stories from the contestants made the drinks have character. Wish we could have tasted them along with Jeff and the other judges.

This contestant Joanna made super cute chocolate Seattles Best logos from chocolate and little pieces of Red Velvet cake to top her drink. She was also celebrating her birthday, Jeff and the whole audience sang to her. It was great!

After the 3 Rounds of Competitors made their drinks and the judges sampled them, Jeff and the other two judges took a break to go make their decisions. Everyone in the audience had their favorite entries from their stories, mine of course being my new friend Kathleen. Finally they judges came back to announce third, second and first place. I was thrilled when they announced Kathleen had won second place!!! I was so happy for her. The first place winner Liz from Lodi CA was very nervous about her entry, she almost left the competition! Thankfully she stayed and went on with the competition. Her drink was a Caramel Apple Coffee Drink, I thought it sounded perfect for a fair, who does not love a caramel apple at the fair. It just goes to show anyone to not doubt themselves, that we are our own worst critic! It definitely inspired me to realize we have to step outside our comfort zone sometimes to really shine. Congrats Liz, we will be cheering for you to win in New York.

Liz with Jeff after winning, she looks so happy!

Congrats Kathleen on your second place win!

The winners of the #RedCupShowdown in CA with Jeff and the other judges.

My son and I having our picture taken with Jeff Mauro. It was so exciting to meet him after seeing him win the Next Food Network Star and then on his own show Sandwich King.

After the competition my husband, son and I all headed to the Seattle's Best Coffee booth on the fairgrounds. We had the chance to get our picture taken in the Red Cup, spin the Seattle's Best wheel for prizes, taste a few of the Seattle's Best Coffee fair drinks and were given samples of the coffee to brew at home.

All smiles enjoying our day at the CA State Fair. Of all the 14 years we have gone this was the most memorable for me!

Seattle's Best Coffee is delicious and affordable. You can find it at Walmart and often coupons for the coffee in the Sunday paper. If you missed the Seattle's Best Coffee Red Cup Showdown at the CA State Fair, dont worry, Jeff Mauro and the Seattle's Best team will be traveling to more state fairs. There is still time (until July 27th to enter your recipe online at the Seattle's Best Facebook page under the Red Cup Showdown page.

Ohio - July 27 - 29
Wisconsin - Aug. 3 - 5
Illinois - Aug. 9 - 11
Iowa - Aug. 13 - 15


I also took a few video clips of the event. I posted them on the Frugal Family Tree YouTube Channel if you would like to check them out. The second place winner Kathleen is also a blogger if you would like to check out her site at I dine, I whine

*I am a member of the Collective Bias™ Social Fabric® Community.  This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias™ and Seattle’s Best Coffee #CBias #SocialFabric #RedCupShowdown All opinions are my own and your experience may vary.

Mornings are Naturally Sweeter with Coffee-Mate Natural Bliss

After shopping at Walmart for the new Coffee-Mate Natural Bliss coffee creamer I was eager to rush home and try it. I also bought the coffee and sugar I use with my coffee. My new green mug I was excited about too. I like to buy coffee mugs. I find it fun!

As soon as my son saw the natural Kashi cookies I purchased at Wamart he grabbed one. He loves cookies so I have been trying to give him healthier cookies. Its a simple switch just like the Coffee-Mate Natural Bliss creamer. You get the same great taste its just a healthier choice.

My first trip to Walmart I purchased the Sweet Cream and Vanilla flavors. The Caramel one was all out of stock. I went back a few days later and found the Caramel one. I enjoyed a cup of coffee with the Natural Bliss Caramel on Mother's Day and it was creamy and sweet. So good!

When I had all three flavors purchased I decided to have an official test taste. I wanted to compare all the flavors to decide which one was my favorite. I made 3 cups of coffee and added the creamer. I noticed I did not have to use as much sugar to make it sweet like when I use the other creamer I have been buying. If you would like to try Coffee-Mate Natural Bliss you can get a $1 off two Coupon to redeem at your local Walmart.

I used less sugar than I normally do.

Vanilla was even good in a smoothie I made earlier in the week. Gave the tart fruit I had in the smoothie a nice sweetness.

Vanilla was great! It gave my coffee the flavor I have been missing with my other brand of creamer.

This was my FAVORITE! Wow good!

I have been using a Natural Coffee Creamer for over 5 years now and have missed having a flavor to my coffee. I love the flavor of great coffee beans but some days really want a sweet cup of coffee. Sugar cannot give a flavor just sweetness. Finally my quest for a Natural Coffee Cream with flavor is over! I can now enjoy a Coffee Creamer that has one 4 natural ingredients, milk, cream, sugar and natural flavors. #NaturalBlissWM

I was previously using Horizon Organic. It can be harder to find in stores. I have had to drive to a neighboring city to get it for my coffee. Just to have something natural but still no flavor. I had my husband try the Coffee-Mate Natural Bliss and he admitted it was nice to have some flavor to his coffee too. Hes a tough one to try to change his routine and him saying it was a nice change was great! I will totally be buying these creamers again. The vanilla and caramel both are ones I would love to go back and forth on. Oh the joy of having flavorful coffee again is well, BLISS! :)



You can read my Google+ Story about my shopping trip to Walmart to buy Coffee-Mate Natural Bliss and discover with me the other Natural items at Walmart.

*This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias.
All opinions expressed in this shop are my own and your experience may vary. #Cbias #SocialFabric #NaturalBlissWM

Simple Changes to Eat More Naturally: Coffee-Mate Natural Bliss Creamer

 Coffee is my favorite thing to drink. I enjoy it morning, noon and night. I have brand preferences and types of coffee I enjoy at what time of the day. Its my indulgence and it keeps me happy! For many years I have been a label reader. I check ingredients to make sure certain items are not in my food, including HFCS and other artificial flavors or colors. It can be tough at times on a budget and with availability in the stores I shop at. If you take a little extra time to look for Natural and Organic products you will find them almost anywhere. I shop at Walmart a lot. I have found they carry many food products and even household brands that are natural.

For the last 5 years or so my husband and I have been drinking an organic Coffee Creamer for our morning cup of coffee. We both felt that something we drink all the time should be one of the products we make sure contains natural ingredients. We searched for a coffee creamer that contained only natural ingredients and found that they have no real flavor to add to the coffee. I love a sweet cup of coffee and with our regular creamer it made the coffee light but required too much sugar to make it sweet. Plus it did not have the flavors I wanted in my coffee. 

As soon as I heard about the Coffee-Mate Natural Bliss I knew I had to try it. It comes in 3 flavors, Vanilla, Sweet Cream and Caramel. The awesome thing about Natural Bliss is that in contains only 4 ingredients of Milk, Cream, Sugar and Natural Flavors. Nothing artificial, no HFCS, no man made chemicals to sweeten it, just pure simple sweetness. 

If you are looking for a first step or more ways to pick more natural and healthier foods in your diet starting with your morning cup of coffee is a perfect choice. When you start the day more natural it will help you think about other food choice you make. Maybe swap a regular cookie for a all natural brand or a regular potato chip for all natural popcorn brand. Small steps like that can make a difference in the way you think about food. I know we cant all make sure everything we eat is all natural but we can buy certain items like All Natural Coffee Creamer to make simple changes. With Walmart prices on Coffee-Mate Natural Bliss creamer we can afford it too! #NaturalBlissWM

You can find Coffee-Mate Natural Bliss near the other coffee creamers.

I found 2 of the 3 flavors. I will keep my eye out for the Caramel one.

Right now is a great time to try Coffee-Mate Natural Bliss since you can get a $1 off two Coupon to redeem at your local Walmart.

My son being silly in the Dairy section of Walmart. .

*This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias.
All opinions expressed in this shop are my own and your experience may vary. #Cbias  #NaturalBlissWM

International Delight Iced Coffee Tasting Party #IcedCoffee #Cbias

A couple of nights ago I had some family members come over for my International Delight Coffee Tasting Party. I was excited to see how much everyone would like the iced coffee. I had already tried it and loved it. I set up the table with the coffee and the lemon bars I has made.

International Delight Iced Coffee comes in three flavors, Original, Vanilla, and Mocha. Unfortunately, not all the flavors were available in my area. But no problem, we would have a great event with the Original and Vanilla flavors.

Pouring out the coffee. I used large glasses because I know everyone is a coffee lover here.

International Delight #IcedCoffee

It looks so delicious!

I put whip cream on whoever wanted it for their coffee. It made it seem more like what you would order in a coffeehouse.The original flavor got more votes than the vanilla, which surprised me. I liked both flavors equally well. The kids were having milk, not coffee, but they knew it looked tasty.

Everyone helped themselves. Our family has tried other coffee drinks and not always liked them, so I was happy that everybody liked the International Delight brand. My son-in-law said he liked the vanilla the best. When I told everyone how inexpensive the coffee was, they liked it even more!

The #IcedCoffee was a definite hit, and they all said they would be buying it for their own households. My lemon bars were a hit, too. By the end of the night both the half gallon cartons were empty.

Thanks everyone. We had great coffee and a great time!

 
You can read my Google+ story on my shopping trip to Walmart to buy International Delight Iced Coffee and about the wonderful Dairy Manager I met.

To learn more about International Delight Iced Coffee you can follow International Coffee on twitter and facebook.





*This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias.   
#collectivebias #CBias #IcedCoffee
All opinions expressed in this shop are my own and your experience may vary.