Happy National Coffee Day!

It's no secret that we love Starbucks on this blog, so even though I don't drink coffee it's necessary to stop and acknowledge that it's National Coffee Day! Who knows who arbitrarily decides these days, but I blindly accept it!

So in honor of the day, here are some fun coffee facts:

• Seattle is the most "caffeinated" city with, 1640 coffee shops. (no big shocker, there). Here in Seattle, coffee breaks are taken to an art form.
• Coffee beans come from trees that take 5 years to bear fruit.
• Hawaii is the only state in the U.S. that actually grows coffee!
• Espresso is not a particular type of bean, it only denotes how the coffee bean is treated. Espresso is created by shooting hot pressurized water through finely ground coffee.
• Coffee is the second most traded commodity on earth. (Keep that in mind Pit players!)

For those of you who have kicked the habit or those you just don't get it, tune into CNBC tonight as reporters delve into The Coffee Addiction. 

Easy As Pie...

Fall is definitely here. The markets are filled with the last peaches of the season, new squash, and of course apples, apples, apples! I have always wanted to try my hand at making pie and finally got the guts to do it! Being the daughter of a NYC native, I have always been told how it's impossible to find a pie with a properly flaky crust out west...needless to say, flakiness was my #1 goal with tastiness coming in at a close 2nd!

So here are my supplies, and here is my recipe for the crust!

I smashed the shortening into the flour! (next time I'm using butter-flavored shortening!)

After following the recipe to a "T"...I rolled out my dough and threw it in the freezer!

I cut (and peeled although not shown here) a mix of Granny Smith and Golden Delicious apples, covered them in sugar and let them drain for a hour. Then I took the drained liquid and reduced it in a pan to save for later.

I mixed a bit of flour with cinnamon, ground cloves, ground ginger, and brown sugar together with my reduced apple/sugar liquid...and put it all into my chilled pie crust! Covered the top, cut some slits, and threw it in the oven. (next time I need to put in MORE apples)

Then we waited...

It wasn't the prettiest apple pie, but it had a flaky crust and a delicious spiced apple filling! I'd say...MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!

 

Donna P. would be proud!

From Around the Web...

By Diane

It's been awhile since I have written something...I feel bad enough as it is, so no need to scold me. I had to pop in for a bit to share some fantastic articles I've seen around the web. Until I get it together to write my own post, here are some things I wish I had written:

• My favorite bagels get their due! Congrats Eltana! (Only place I'd pay almost $3 for a bagel.)
• Thou shalt not envy thy neighbors chain.
• Last minute road trip anyone?? The Coast with the Most!
• Seattle's foodie gem in Ballard!
• Great news...Fall's Favorite Drink is back!
• Everyone's favorite SNL sketch is now a new Ben & Jerry's flavor!

So read up and enjoy!