Tiramisu, mocha, coffee ice cream; they all need that little something to perk them up. Coffee. Unfortunately I am not a coffee drinker but sometimes you gotta brew up a pot for a recipe, but what to do with the leftovers when you have that little bit you need.
You could freeze the coffee into cubes but even that eventually turns if you don’t use it fast enough, plus opening a can for a single use ruins the lot. Single cups from the local gas station are fine but who can tell how fresh they are, and then you take a chance at leaving your cooking unattended while waiting for the attendants to brew a new pot. Luckily, Folgers coffee has what looks like a solution. Freeze dried single serving packets. Folgers Fresh Breaks.
Running from a light breakfast blend to a dark black silk, the single packets make an eight ounce cup of joe with a splash of hot water. Since it is cooling down in Orlando, I decided to try some recipes using these handy little packets.
Hot cocoa packets frequent our house this time of year and with kids there is no better way to spend the day warming up with cocoa. I thought combining instant cocoa with instant coffee could make a nice, and easy, hot mocha. So we tried it out.
Quick Break Mocha
1 serving packet Folgers Fresh Breaks breakfast blend
1 serving packet Swiss Miss hot cocoa mix
2 cups milk
Cool Whip topping( optional )
- In microwave safe bowl, heat milk for two minutes.
- Whisk in both packets and divide into two cups.
- Top with whipped topping.
I discovered a Cowboy Brisket recipe that used coffee for flavoring the brisket. With no time for a whole brisket, a coffee gravy for pork chops and mashed potatoes sounded nice.
Cowpoke Gravy
2 Tbsp bacon grease
1 Tbsp flour
2 Tbsp cornstarch
3 cups cold water
1 cup hot water
1 packet Folgers Fresh Break black silk
¼ cup minced onions
1 Tbsp minced celery
1 Tbsp minced garlic
Salt and pepper to taste
- Prepare Folgers packet with hot water as directed on package
- Whisk together cold water and cornstarch in a separate bowl
- In medium sized skillet sauté onions, garlic and celery in bacon grease over medium heat
- Whisk in flour to make a paste and add small amounts of water mixture till it starts to thicken
- Whisk in coffee, salt, and pepper, simmer for two minutes. Add water mixture till desired thickness is achieved
Freeze dried coffee is not a new thing but the small portable packet does make it easier to use, and the quick dissolving powder is ready in minutes. A whisk works best when incorporating the water and the powder but it’s not necessary. The quick and simple Fresh Break packet made these recipes that much easier without having to break out my coffee maker or break the seal on a can.
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