110°+ Iced Mocha

The temperatures where we've just moved seem to have no mercy for plants, animals or humans! It's almost always 110°+  daily! Thank goodness for the few things that can keep us cool in the dog-days of summer: air conditioning, sprinklers, and iced coffee.

I make this iced mocha almost on a daily basis for my husband, and often for myself. It's the perfect way to treat yourself on a blistering day.

All you need is....

°one half cup of freshly brewed (or not! I sometimes use coffee leftover that has already cooled!) coffee
°one cup of milk (a higher percentage gives you a creamier taste, skim gives you the least calories)
°two tablespoons of chocolate syrup
°three or four cubes of ice

To create iced bliss:

1. Pour one cup of milk into desired drinking vessel.

2. Pour 1/2 cup of coffee (either freshly brewed or pre-cooled) into desired drinking glass/cup/mug. Your cup should be about 3/4 full.

3. Add the two tablespoons of chocolate syrup.

4. Use electric frother or long-handled spoon to dissolve chocolate into coffee base. {I believe my electric frother was from an Avon magazine...it's a Black and Decker, not too expensive, works fabulously! I'd recommend one to any person who loves being creative with food and drink!}

5. Finally, add ice! This should definitely make the drink come to the top of your cup/mug/glass.

This drink, like many of the other foods and drinks I post, offer lots of room for creativity! Last weekend I added some vanilla syrup to the mix, and blended all the ingredients together in a blender for a frappé kind of texture. At work, this same coffee base is used for almost all our frozen and iced drinks. It works great with any kind of brewed coffee. Why not add some peppermint syrup and crushed candy cane for extra wintry delight? Why not throw in a few Oreos and blend them up into the mix? You could even half the cup of milk and use your favorite flavored creamer instead. The possibilities are endless!

Then of course, if you are still a minimalist, you can always whip up this easy, delicious iced mocha. Enjoy with life...even in 110°+ weather!