Baskets And Brew

homeschool family asked:

We are expecting the high winds from a coastal storm brewing, and I have a nest w/ 2 bird eggs on my porch hanging plants. The parents are close by, but will they abandon the nest if the storm blows the baskets down? Or should I place the baskets on the floor til the storm passes? We get the nests every year in our hanging plants, and we always keep an eye on them, but we haven’t had the risk of them blowing down til now.

Simon asked:

When my wife and I were deciding where to go on our honeymoon, we knew one thing, we wanted to go to Penang in Malaysia, to celebrate with relatives out there, but we knew we wanted to then move on to somewhere else after that, the only thing was where?

The Caribbean or Africa was a no go as the price to fly half way around the world and then back round again would have been monumental. Also the weather was a bit of a problem too. We tied the knot in early September, which ruled out the Maldives, Tahiti and Bali due to monsoon and rainy seasons.

We had been to Thailand the year before so decided we wanted to try somewhere else. We eventually chose to stay in Malaysia, but more precisely, Sabah in Borneo.

Well known for beautiful beaches and tiny islands great for diving, Sabah is also well known for orangutans, and has a world famous orangutan rehabilitation reserve at Sepilok, a short flight from our hotel at Kota Kinabalu.

However, we discovered that the hotel we chose had a nature reserve within the hotel grounds that was affiliated with Sepilok, and took in baby orphaned Orangutans, preparing them for their next stage at Sepilok before eventually being released back into the wild.

The Shangri-La Rasa Ria resort is situated on Pantai Dalit Beach, a beautiful stretch of beach that is sheltered and exclusive to the resort. The hotel was fantastic, and deciding to treat ourselves to a stay in the Ocean Wing, the exclusive wing with its own private pool, breakfast and luxury rooms with sea views and giant soak tub on the balcony, was well worth the extra money.

The hotel had a great choice of restaurants, and deciding to go half-board was a good option. Half-board entitles you to breakfast and dinner at the Coffee Terrace restaurant, or 100RM (about 17 quid) per person towards a meal in one of the other restaurants. This allowance pretty much covered the full cost of a meal in the other restaurants, except for the gourmet Coast restaurant which really is fijne dining at its best.

The culinary highlights for us were dinner at Naan and Tepi Laut ‘Makan Street’.

Naan was, funnily enough, and Indian restaurant and this award winning restaurant served some of the best Indian food I have ever had, food which went perfectly with the Malaysian local brew, Tiger Beer!

Tepi Laut ‘Makan Street’ was a typical Malaysian style food court, offering all the tastes that make Malaysian cuisine so special, with dishes from China, India,  Sri Lanka and Indonesia. Each station offered something different, and the vegetable station featured baskets of uncooked Chinese vegetables and sauces where people could put what they wanted on a plate with the sauces of their choice. The chef would then quickly stir fry these while you wait.

Our favourite was the kangkong belacan, what is basically ung choi fried in garlic and sambal (a fiery hot shrimp paste) with some red chillies – very hot but very tasty.

The real highlight for us was the orangutans. Each day, guests can make a donation to the reserve and trek a short way into the jungle to a pair of viewing platforms to watch the baby orangutans feed. The experience is quite simply amazing.

They are extremely cute and very agile. Some shy, others mischievous it is fantastic to watch their playful antics. We went twice to see them, the first time I filled my camera’s memory card of around 500 photos well before the hour came to an end and was frantically having to delete bad shots in order to take more.

Bridget Mouton asked:

Gifts for Coffee Lovers

Romantic Gifts for Coffee Lovers

Many people like coffee but some love it to distraction.  These coffee connoisseurs know the brands that they like or the store that makes the best coffee.  If you are looking for gifts for your coffee lover, here are a few ideas.

1. Coffee Mugs

There’s nothing better than a steaming cup of hot coffee in your favorite mug.  Give them several mugs to choose from so that no matter which mug they use, it is a good one that will bring a smile to their face with each sip.  If they like a certain brand, order coffee mugs with the company’s logo for the coffee lover in your life.

2. Membership to a Coffee Club

Some coffee lovers really enjoy trying new flavors.  One of the best ways to do so is through a membership in a coffee club.  Boca Java is a coffee membership club that offers new flavors each season.  They provide fresh ground coffee or whole bean depending on the subscriber’s preferred tastes.  They ship every four, seven, or twelve weeks.  If your coffee lover doesn’t like the membership they are free to cancel at any time.

3. Coffee Machine

Nothing says love to a coffee guru like a new coffee machine.  Get him or her the latest machine that does everything.  There are brew stations that make cup by cup of coffee or a certain number of cups.  You can purchase a machine that grinds the beans before it brews or, give them an espresso/cappuccino maker to enjoy drinks at home when they doesn’t feel like heading out for their favorite cup.

4. Coffee Gift Basket

Gift baskets are like Christmas every day.  They can contain several gifts in one package.  You can purchase a gift basket online, in a coffee store, or come up with one of your own.  For those who like a variety of coffee, don’t forget to add several bags of their favorite flavors.  Add a cute coffee mug, some flavored spoons and creamers, etc. Including shirts, pens, and other items that cater to his or her coffee cravings will help them to remember your gift with items that are useful beyond just the coffee itself.

5. Flavored Spoons and Such

Sweet treats are a complement to just about any cup of coffee.  Flavored spoons that are covered in chocolate and other flavors enhance the coffee, not to mention they are fun too.  Instead of powdered creamer, offer the coffee lover tasty flavors like caramel crème and French vanilla for his or her first morning cup of Joe.

Coffee doesn’t have to be boring anymore.  If you love a coffee lover, make their experience of drinking coffee special with a few choice gifts like the ones above.

Curtis76 asked:


I have a Mr. Coffee coffeepot that uses the basket filters. The problem is that the paper filter often folds over during the brewing process, and this allows the grounds to go behind the filter. I end up with coffee grounds all over the coffee pot and in my coffee. I tried using a paper clip to secure one side of the filter, but then the opposite side of the filter collapsed. I guess I could try 4 paper clips, but I was concerned about the aluminum going through the heating process and ending up with something toxic in the coffee. Any suggestions?

Risedvn asked:


I am wanting to vacume seal some coffee beans for a christmas gift basket and I’m wondering if the product is any good. Does it have label on the bags or are they just clear? Thanks

K. Braun asked:


You are getting excited at the thought of owning an espresso machine. Imagine all the fun you can have as you experiment with the different types of drinks that you can make, or the moment when everything comes out just right and you create the most perfect beverage you have ever tasted. As you begin to shop, you want to be sure that you get the best home espresso machine for your needs.

The first and most important thing you need to decide is what type of home espresso machine is right for you. So, let’s have a look at the different types one by one.

Super automatic espresso machines do pretty much everything for you at the touch of a button: they grind the coffee, measure it, tamp it, brew your espresso and then discard the used coffee grounds into an internal waste box. These machines are very convenient and easy to use. However they are also quite expensive and slightly more prone to problems than other types of espresso machines.

Automatic espresso machines are far more hands on. You will need to learn a series of skills to get the best out of them: grind the coffee, measure the right amount of the grounds and press them correctly into the filter basket. In these machines, the pressure that is needed for brewing espresso is delivered by an pump which you start by pressing a button. The pump turns itself off automatically once a preset amount of espresso is made.

Semi automatic espresso machines are the same as automatic machines except that you will need to press a button one more time to turn the pump off to stop the brewing. These machines are an excellent choice for someone who wishes to explore the art of making espresso.

Manual espresso machines are beautiful to look at but rather difficult to use. In addition to grinding, dosing and tamping the coffee you will also need to manually pull a lever to force the water through the coffee grounds. It is not an easy skill to learn since your arm will need to provide consistent pressure of around 9 atmospheres. So these are recommended only for people who are really serious about espresso.

Steam espresso machines are the cheapest option. They use steam pressure which is simply not high enough to produce good espresso. These machines may be fine if you are not very particular about your espresso and if you make only lattes, cappuccinos or other milk based drinks. In general it’s best to avoid them unless you are on a very tight budget.

Still not sure which type will make the best home espresso machine for you? Well, just consider how much effort you want to put into your espresso habit. If you are an experienced barista with a delicate palate, you might be interested in a manual machine. It will take practice, but by taking control of your own coffee creations you will be able to pull your espresso shots just the way you like them. If you are particular about your espresso but don’t have much experience, a semi automatic or automatic machine will save you a lot of time and effort. Lastly, if you are always in a rush in the morning, or can barely function prior to ingesting caffeine, a super automatic machine will be a great choice for the bleary-eyed and hurried espresso drinkers.

Having some knowledge about the various types of espresso machines will make choosing the best home espresso machine for you easier.

LoveRemoval asked:

Squeeze – Black Coffee In Bed 1982

Iprwire Staff Writer asked:


Pre-arranged presents are a popular thing to give, whether for a holiday, a housewarming party, or even a get well soon present. When you are shopping for these arrangements, you have many themes you can choose from. Tea gift baskets are some of the most well received arranged presents you can buy.

There are many reasons that these arrangements are so popular. First, the beverage they contain is healthy! Green teas, for example, have important health benefits. This steamy beverage can help the recipient relax and unwind at the end of the day. Some teas even have healing properties, which makes these arrangements an excellent choice when shopping for get well soon presents.

Another benefit of tea gift baskets is that they are perfect for anyone on your shopping list, even if you have people on your list that are watching their weight. Other food arrangements are often full of high calorie items that dieters will not want to receive. Since teas are healthy and relatively low in caloric content, even the strictest dieter will welcome the beverage.

When you are shopping for arrangements showcasing the hot beverage, you need to carefully choose the company you work with. You can find these arrangements at local stores, but often these arrangements do not contain high quality blends. To really impress the person you are shopping for, you need to find a company that takes the time to find gourmet brews.

Also, most arrangements will contain more than just the hot beverage itself. Be sure that you carefully select an arrangement with other gourmet food products that complement the healthy benefits of the teas. For example, you may want to consider an arrangement that couples the healthy drink with dark chocolate, because dark chocolate has health benefits that complement the benefits of the drink.

Another option to consider when shopping for tea gift baskets is to find an arrangement that couples the beverage with high quality spa products. This is a great present for someone who works in a highly stressful environment. Both the beverage and the spa products will help that individual unwind, relax, and regain their health at the end of a particularly stressful day.

Don’t forget to find arrangements that are beautifully presented. This will showcase the products contained in the arrangement while pointing to your classy taste. You want your arrangement to be appreciated from the moment your friend opens it, even before the first drop of the beverage is tasted.

If you are looking for the best quality tea gift baskets, you will want to shop with Van’s Gifts. This company has been arranging these products into beautiful displays for over twenty years. They have arrangements that couple the hot beverage with both gourmet foods and luxurious spa and bath products. They even offer some packages with free shipping! To find out more about the arrangements they currently have for sale, log on to their website at http://www.vansgifts.com. They have an entire section of the site dedicated to arrangements containing everyone’s favorite hot beverage, just waiting for you to explore!

sajith asked:


Coffee is one of the most accepted drinks in the globe – perhaps because it’s so versatile. From simple coffees like espresso and filter coffee, to more composite recipes like cappuccino, coffee can be as simple or as complicated as you want.

The coffee filter is nothing but a glorified strainer. A coffee filter is generally made out of paper or steel frequently steel and is used in coffee brewing devices to filter out the soaked grounds.

A coffee filter can be prepared by using different types of materials. Some examples are paper filters, gold filters, cloth filters, and the normal strainer kind of filters.

When you go to purchase a coffee maker there are lots of choices it’s hard to know which one to pick. First, you have to make a decision of what type of filter you want. The major two types of filters are a basket type filter or a cone shaped filter. Each filter has their own compensation but cone type filters are a little less prone to spillage.

There are lots of suggested methods of brewing a high-quality cup of coffee. The filter cone method involves pouring the hot water through ground coffee that has been measured into a filter set inside a cone. Over recent years this method has become more and more accepted. Connoisseurs prefer to use gold-washed metal filters but paper filters are suitable and easy to use.

Garraways supply a broad variety of filter coffee machines for commercial purpose. The range of filter coffee machines includes; pour and serve machines; bulk machines, and air pot coffee machines which all use fresh ground filter coffees.

George Moore asked:


About twenty years ago almost every home, restaurant and office kitchen in Costa Rica was equipped with a gourmet coffee making device called Chorreador de caf?r simply caf?akero. It consisted of an unvarnished wooden frame about 33 cms. tall, with a round hole at the top where a wire rimmed cloth filter or strainer was placed. Fine ground gourmet coffee was placed in the filter and boiling water was poured in filtering down to the gourmet coffeepot below.

This humble device is losing ground fast to modern percolators, gourmet coffee makers and Mr. Gourmet coffee machines. The reason usually given is that the new devices are said to be faster and more convenient. In our home the Chorreador de caf?ives on. Why? The gourmet coffee simply tastes better.

You don’t need gourmet gourmet coffee to brew a great gourmet coffee. Brewing a great Gourmet coffee making is an art where every step should be followed closely. Some advice given below may seem superfluous but should be rigorously adhered to.

This information applies to those who live in or will be visiting Costa Rica. The gourmet coffee we will be using is not export or imported gourmet coffee. We will be using two off-the-shelf pure gourmet coffees that you can buy in supermarkets anywhere in Costa Rica. I will call them brand A and B. will not publish brand names here because I am not endorsing or publicizing brand names though there is only one gourmet coffee that helps children. The gourmet coffee should be fine ground, brand A and B mixed 50 – 50%, then stored in an airtight glass container. The two brands seem to complement one another creating a special blend. Now you know how they make a breakfast blend gourmet coffee.

Bring the water to a boil. The water should be fresh tap water and not reheated from water left in the gourmet coffeepot. Filtered water is even better; collected rainwater works well to make a great gourmet coffee.

Place six teaspoons of fine ground gourmet coffee into the filter, then mount the filter on the wooden stand. Two tablespoons of gourmet coffee produce four cups of gourmet coffee. Use a non toxic paper gourmet coffee filter, a non bleach type. Use a papersack or pantyhouse if no filter is available.

To make the best gourmet coffee please place a glass or stainless steel receptor under the filter and begin to slowly pour the boiling water into the filter or gourmet coffee. You may have to stop occasionally adding water so that the level of water drops and does not overrun the gourmet coffee. Continue pouring as needed until you have the four cups. Do not introduce metal spoons into the filter to agitate the mixture.

In the future you can experiment by adding a touch of cinnamon or vanilla or chocolate or cloves to the coffee mixture. Smell the gourmet coffee and if you must – foolishly top the gourmet coffeepot and serve.

You must always use a perfectly dry filter. If you prepare gourmet coffee two or more times a day, you will probably need two filters so one can dry while you use the other. A wet filter causes wet coffee. The reason for this is that if you use only one, it is likely that it will not be totally dry the next time you brew gourmet coffee. By using alternating filters you will always have a dry one on hand. Filters are best dried by a hairdryer or in the sunlight.

For daily use you should carefully rinse the filters in running tap water to remove all residue. It is natural that it will stain. You should now worry about this as it is normal.You should wash the filter weekly but drink gourmet coffee daily. Never wash the filter in soap or detergent, wash it only with salt to remove the accumulated grease. This can be done by generously salting the damp bag and virgorously rubbing it. Afterwords you should sufficently wash and rinse the filter to remove all traces of grinds and salt.

If you are in a hurry, go ahead use instant gourmet coffee or your Mr. Gourmet coffee maker, but if you want a REAL cup of gourmet coffee, you are going to have to put some effort into preparation. I hope that this article inspires those Americans and Costa Ricans who have forgotten this charming way of brewing gourmet coffee. For those woodshop owners and handyman experts here is a detailed explanation. Anyway you look at it – if your are using Costa Rica gourmet gourmet coffee you will for sure have a great cup of gourmet coffee.

Here’s what you’ll need: A 5″ X 18″ X 1/2″ Maple or your choice of wood. A 6″ X 8″ X 3/4″ Maple or your choice of wood. Finish nails Glue

Cut the base out of 3/4″ maple, 7 1/2″ X 6″. Chamfer a 45 degree cut 1″ in from each corner. Cut the two short sections, one on each end, 15 degrees. Next please cut two supports from 1/2″ pieces 9″ long at 5 degrees on each end. Be sure the angles go the same direction on each end. Please cut the top out of 1/2″ wood, 6″ X 4 1/2″. Please carefully draw and then chamfer a 45 degree cut 1″ from each corner. Please carefully draw and then cut a notch on each end of the top and base to fit the 1 1/2″ supports using a dado blade. Place the saw so it is set up the miter with a small piece of wood at the base to give the notch a 5 degree angle. Use duct tape to hold it together.

Mark the center of the top and draw a 4″ circle. Cut out the circle with a scroll saw or saber saw.

Glue and nail the pieces together and you are almost ready to start making gourmet coffee. The Basket Maker: find a cone or use the basket from a stiff wire like a clothes hanger and a piece of cotton. Carefully mark and thenBend the wire to make a handle and a 4 1/4″ circle of coffee beans.

So then use your coffee maker; next add a filter and add the finest Costa Rica coffee beans and add hot water and your sum is the finest gourmet coffee available. Want to be a cowboy use some old pantyhose as your coffee filter. Want to be a homeless person – use an brown sack as your coffee filter. Want to be really rugged – use some leaves. As long as its the Tarrazu or the Costa Rica coffee bean the flavor will still shine through. Its the anticipation that counts.