pain perdu

french toast, bacon, and cabbage...
a rather international breakfast

I'm writing this about a week later than intended thanks to a complete failure of internet at the new apartment. Ah, well... several hours spent on the phone with the internet people and one new modem later, we're back in business! 

Last Monday, after a long weekend of moving and unpacking, breakfast for dinner was in order. Because let's be honest - breakfast, in the proper sense of the word (i.e. bacon must be included) doesn't happen all that often during, well, breakfast hours. But who doesn't love bacon and french toast? 

Funny story about this dinner, too...

toddy

Chocolate, men, coffee - some things are better rich.


I have a major case of the Mondays. I'm not sure if I'm coming down with a cold or if yesterday's hangover just won't give it up, but I woke up feeling like garbage today. Thankfully, the cure was only a few steps away in my refrigerator: a pitcher of toddy.


Sometimes a regular cup of coffee just doesn't cut it. Today I wanted something deeper, darker... richer. Toddy is just the thing. Basically it's nothing more than cold-brewed coffee. I think it has a similar flavour to coffee made using a French press, but is much stronger. You can drink it hot or cold. I like mine poured over a glass of ice and topped with milk and just a touch of simple syrup for sweetness - essentially an iced latte! (Similarly, with steamed milk you have a hot latte.)


The best part about making toddy is you need zero fancy equipment. No special pots, presses, stirrers, or any other contraption. Just a bag of good coffee, two containers that will hold a quart of water, a strainer and some coffee filters. As one of my friends who worked at a coffee shop in Cedar Falls used to say - easy peasy Japoneasy!