Sarah Jio's Blog

Hi friends, I’m normally that annoying health-focused mama, but I did a thing: I made the yummiest homemade apple fritters yesterday, and when the boys came home from school, they promptly gobbled up every last crumb on the plate. Yes they had sugar in them. Yes they were fried, and, ahem, frosted. Sometimes you’ve just gotta live little, though. So we lived. If you love a good apple fritter like we do, you’re going to love this recipe. By the way, my 13-year-old son, Colby, said this about them: “MOMMY! I like these WAY BETTER than real apple fritters.” So there you have it.

Sarah’s Apple Fritters

INGREDIENTS

2 large apples, peeled and diced into small chunks

1 2/3 cups all-purpose flour 

3 1/2 tablespoons sugar

2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder 

3/4 tsp salt

3/4 teaspoon cinnamon 

1/2 teaspoon nutmeg (note: I also added a pinch of cloves and allspice)

2 large eggs 

2 tablespoons vanilla 

1/2 cup milk

3 tablespoons melted butter, cooled

Oil for frying (I used my new fave, rice bran oil, which fries well and doesn’t have seed oils’ bad reputation … bonus, it’s cheaper than olive or avocado oil).

DIRECTIONS

Mix wet and dry ingredients separately, then combine and add in apples. Heat oil in a cast iron skillet or dutch oven. Spoon clumps of dough and fry fritters until they are golden brown on all sides, then place on a sheet pan covered with paper towels to absorb excess oil. Wait until completely cool to frost. Enjoy!

FOR THE FROSTING

I have to admit, I didn’t measure. I just took a medium sized bowl and mixed about 1.5 cups of powdered sugar with barely 1/4 cup of milk (you want your frosting on the thicker side for these babies), making sure you mix well to remove any lumps. Brush on each fritter with a silicon pastry brush. Voila!

The post Recipe: The Easiest & Best Apple Fritters Ever appeared first on Sarah Jio.

It feels like I’ve lived nine lives since I last posted here. No, I am not a cat. Nor have I had any real near-death experiences (though I have no doubt that if this had been the case, I’d have some pretty juicy stories to share, haha). The truth is, I’ve been over here quietly plotting along, doing all the things I do to keep the ship afloat, and by ship, I mean my book career and my personal and family life. I’m happy to report that all is well. Like most all of us the Covid years knocked the wind out of me, but let’s not waist anytime talking about Covid, right? Onward! Here’s a quick recap of what I’ve been up to:

Raising Teenage Boys: I could probably just stop there and give no further explanation, because you get it, right? Three words, enough said (and all the laundry and homework help and dirty socks and shenanigans that comes with it). P.S. I love them to pieces and one of them is now almost 6’4″ tall–yup!)

Dipping My Toe Into Hollywood: I specify exactly one two, not two, because I’m just a nerdy author from Seattle and what do I know about La La Land? Well, not that much. But, I’ve had a few pinch-me moments this past year in meetings with big names in the business. Too much more to type, but I’ve learning about Hollywood and it’s been exciting to be on the backend coming up with concepts for TV shows and movies (more to come on that front!).

Writing New Books: Since I last checked in, I’ve written a new novel (my 12th) and signed a new book deal for my 13th, which I’m writing now. Be sure to keep your eyes out for my upcoming release, Insignificant Others, which will be out in April from HarperCollins Morrow! You can find pre-order links here.

Helping People: I almost changed this title after seeing it on the page. I mean, most of you are probably like, ‘what the heck does that mean?’ Well, friends, it turns out that I’m my father’s daughter (my dad being a social worker by profession and a layman therapist to basically anyone he meets … not joking). This has been my year (years?) of service to others, and I’m here for it. Let’s just say, I’ve had a lot of crying people on my living room sofa in the past few years. Fortunately, I’ve been able to make a lot of them smile again. Gratitude to my amazing husband who supports and encourages me in the way I spend my time and how I show love to others. My tombstone will probably say something like this: “She liked talking to people–a lot.”

No Longer Crying Over Spilled Milk: There was a time in my life when I was a prisoner of perfectionism. Like, for real. Well, friends, that time has come to an end. In fact, I’m in my “imperfect” era, and I’ve never felt better. P.S. If you stop by my house, I can confidently say it will be in some degree of chaos and disarray, and I’m perfectly okay with that.

Gardening Like a Lunatic: Nerd alert! I’ve become a next-level gardening nut. Like a certifiable one. I forage. I seed save. I stop and talk to elderly neighbors for hours about their flower gardens (“Ooooh, is that an heirloom hollyhock?” and “Tell me about your compost bin.”). Yeah, it’s that bad. But, I’m happy to report that I have a thriving urban garden here in Seattle (on my roof, no less) and if you can imagine it, I’m probably growing it, and in my view, it’s 100 percent heaven.

Pursuing Some Exciting New Ventures: I’ve always had an entrepreneurial side, and I’ve been flexing those muscles hard lately. I’ll keep you posted on these side hustles as soon as I can, so stay tuned.

That’s about it for now. If you need me, I’ll be here writing, dreaming in my garden, drying peoples’ tears and feeding teenage boys. Pleas send wine.

The post Oh Hi, It’s Me… appeared first on Sarah Jio.

Hello dear readers and friends! I’m so excited to announce that my new novel, With Love From London, hits bookstores in the US today! Thank you to my wonderful publisher, Random House (Ballantine), editor and agents! I couldn’t be happier about this new story making its way into the world.

With love from Seattle,

The post My 11th Novel, WITH LOVE FROM LONDON, Is Out Today! appeared first on Sarah Jio.

Hi friends,

A lighter topic amid the Covid-19 pandemic, but an important one (at least for our personal vanity, and I would argue: dignity!): What the heck to do with your hair. As most of the world is now stuck at home, with no hair salon appointments in sight. Girlfriends, are you with me here? I posted something on Instagram the other day about how I’m so glad that I somehow mastered the art of DIY hair coloring before this crisis hit, so I can (thankfully) still pass as the natural blonde that I am not, ha. A lot of you wrote me emails and DMs asking for tips on the process of at-home hair color, so I thought I’d share what I’ve learned. Note, I’m not a hair professional in any way shape or form and have much respect to all of the lovely stylists and hair colorists I’ve known and loved over the years (hi Roxanne, Jeremy, Annie, Kaylene, Christine and everyone else I’m sure to be forgetting here!).

First, some backstory: Last year, I went from having very high-maintenance and expensive hair to a very inexpensive and low-maintenance plan. While my hair probably looked better before, I am so much happier with my routine of dying my own hair and occasionally trimming it too, ha, not to mention the fact that I’ve saved a lot of money and time (oh, and parking tickets–I used to always get parking tickets when at the salon!!!). What made me take the plunge? Well, my mom gave me some courage as she’s been dying her own hair for years and it looks great. (My dad even trims her ends, which is amazing, and a blog post in and of itself!). Also, about a year or so ago, I sat next to a woman at one of my son’s basketball games. Her son was on the opposing team and we started chatting about all kinds of things, including how I loved her hair color. She quickly confessed that it was from a box and that she has been coloring her hair at home for years. I ordered a box of hair color that very moment (thanks Amazon Prime!) and asked her to wish me luck!

So how does one dye their own hair? My top tips:

Follow the directions in the box. I repeat: Follow the directions in the box. This is especially important for your very first time as you’re gauging how the dye works for your hair and it’s best to start with the what the manufacturer recommends. For example, if it says to leave the hair dye on your roots for 10 minutes before applying all over your head, do EXACTLY that. If your results aren’t quite right, you can adjust for the next time. I’ve learned that to get the high lift I like that I have to leave the dye on my hair for an extra 15 minutes or so.

Always keep a second box of hair dye on hand: This is not only important for having when you’ll need it in six weeks or so (when we still might all be sheltering in place) but also in case you have an oops experience. By that, I mean, if you’ve underdone things. This once happened to me. Basically, I tried a new brand of hair dye and followed the instructions only to discover that it … didn’t work. There was a very orangey band of color at my roots that clashed with my overall blonde. Turns out, I probably should have left the dye on my roots longer. Fortunately, I had another box handy and just did the process all over again and that time, it was all good.

It’s okay to mix colors: I know this might sound like mad science and but if you can’t decide between two shades of a similar brand, consider mixing them up. It’s important to note that hair color, once opened, cannot be saved. So just toss whatever of the formulation you do not use.

Keep a journal of what worked best: If in your second round of hair color, you figure out a combo that works well for your hair, write it down in your notes so you know what to do next time. Hair stylists do this too!

Have realistic expectations: If you’re starting out with darker hair, you’re not going to get to light blonde no matter what the box promises. It’s best to focus on what you can achieve: getting a few shades darker/lighter, covering grays, and touching up roots. Anything else is best left for a hair professional (and hopefully soon when this virus is behind us!).

It’s okay to break the rules a little as you get better at this: As I’ve written above, if this is your first time, follow the directions in the box to the letter. As you get better at this and gauge what works best for your hair, it’s okay to fudge things a bit. For instance, I sometimes leave the solution on my hair for quite a bit longer than the box suggests, especially if I feel that my hair has gotten a bit brassy (more on that below). I also shampoo my hair after rinsing out the dye as I can’t stand the way it smells afterward! Most boxes say don’t shampoo, only condition, but I’ve just nixed that rule for myself (and as a blonde).

A word on gloves: When I first started dying my own hair, I was panicked about getting the dye on my hands or around my face, worrying that it would burn my skin. But over time, I’ve realized that it’s not that big of a deal. Yes, it’s probably a good idea to wear the plastic gloves that come with your box of hair dye, but it’s not the end of the world if you don’t as long as you wash your hands afterward (now, if you’re dealing with high pigment black or brown dye, you could have stained hands afterward, so that would be a different story). In other words, you’re not going to chemically burn yourself, so don’t panic. I also tend to take a warm washcloth and wipe off any excess dye around my face/forehead, just to doubly protect my skin.

For the blondes: Sorry brunettes, but I don’t have many color-specific tips for you as I do for blondes. And blond shades can be a bit tricky sometimes. Again, follow the directions, keep an extra box on hand in case you need to repeat the process, but I’ve also learned to be aware of what color you are choosing. For example, if you like a more natural, honey-kissed blond, avoid all hair colors that use the word “ash.” Ashy tones tend to be cooler, and on some people, they can skew gray and violet. If you do not want to avoid warm tones and get the coolest (as in tone) blonde possible, then “ash” is your friend. Just make sure you 1.) keep a close eye on your hair as it’s developing. I’ve learned to pull the plug and rinse when the solution on my hair starts to darken to a gray/purple look, if that makes sense. You really do have to check it often to make sure it’s not too heavy on the ash. 2.) To get the cool blond tone you crave, your hair may look a little “grey” or violet even for a few days. This is what the stranger at the basketball game (above) told me, and I’m so glad she did. Just as she promised me, I’m promising you: If your blond is a little too cool for you, it will improve over the next few days with each washing. If you want to speed up the process, wash you hair a few times with a clarifying shampoo or, in a pinch, even a bit of Dawn dishwashing liquid (the blue stuff) which will pull some of the ashy tone out of your hair. Be careful on the latter as it can be a bit damaging to already weak hair. But, fear not–I’ve turned to Dawn more than a few times and I still have plenty of hair!

Invest in some purple shampoo and conditioner: Again, this is another tip for blondes, but I’ve heard that it can help reduce that orangey look that stylists call “brassiness.” This is especially helpful two or three weeks into your most recent color when hair can sometimes take on brassy tones. See below for some product recs.

Get expert color at home with this new company: I am not sponsored or paid for this recommendation in any way, but I wanted to pass it along as it is genius! SO, my friend Beth who I used to work with at Glamour (she’s now a beauty editor at US Weekly) told me about eSalon today. Apparently their professionals can custom mix a color that is right for you and send it to your home with all the instructions. Um, genius! I may just break up with L’Oreal!

Your shopping list:

Hair dye: While there are so many great products and brands out there, I tend to really like L’Oreal Excellence line and also some of the boxes from Garnier. I’m currently alternating between L’Oreal’s “01” and “02” shades. Sometimes I mix them.

Alligator hair clips: I use these to help separate my hair while I paint in the color and also to secure in place when it’s developing. Try these.

A hair “paint brush”: Proof that I am not a hair professional, I have no clue what you call these brushes, but they are great for evenly distributing the dye, especially in critical places like at the roots. Check out this one.

A thick comb: A wide-tooth comb helps to section small rows of hair as you apply the dye and then to comb it all through to keep things even. I own this one and use it every time I dye my hair.

Purple shampoo and conditioner: Here is the shampoo that I feel works best (I’ve tried a ton) and I love this daily conditioner to fight brassiness (it’s cheap!). Also, I like this affordable clarifying shampoo for “oops” moments. And don’t forget about Dawn.

I think that’s it! Now, go dye your hair! And send me your pics and stories. I can’t wait to hear!

The post Beauty in the Time of Covid: My Best At-Home Box Hair Dye Tips! appeared first on Sarah Jio.

Hello lovely friends and readers!

I haven’t posted in a while as I’ve been busy finishing a new novel (that I can’t wait to share with you soon) and working on the official launch of our podcast—Mod About You. But all of those plans take a backseat to the storm that hit Seattle and the world—Covid 19. Here in our city, our daily lives have slowed to an eerie halt. Most people work from home, events have been canceled, store shelves are getting bare and schools have been closed, which means my three boys—ages 13, 11 and 9—are home with me full-time (cue the collective gasp from me and working parents everywhere).

Although I wholeheartedly support this move as a way to further prevent this awful virus from spreading, I also began to panic. How am I going to get my writing done? Will the boys get cabin fever? How will I keep them busy? Will I slowly … lose my mind?

We already know to practice social distancing, wash our hands and not touch our faces, but how to we adjust to a new way of life with kids home 24-7? I’ve put a lot of thought into this and decided that while we may not be able to conquer Corona, we can keep order in our households, and in doing so, our sanity. I realize that not all parents work from home, but with so many businesses permitting workers to do so during this time, it’s likely that many parents will find themselves stuck at home with kids, trying to find some semblance of balance. We’re new at this too, but I wanted to share some things that are working for me. Consider this your game plan:

Create a Schedule and Stick to It. The best thing I did the night before the first day of no school wasn’t even my idea—it was my eleven-year-old Russell’s. This sweet fifth grader loves his beloved teacher and her “daily schedule” that helps the kids feel organized and know what’s expected of them. “Can we make a daily schedule for our house?” he asked. So we got to work on this very heartwarming and genius idea. You could use a piece of poster board or a chalkboard like I have hanging near my dining room. Whatever it is, just make sure it’s visible to the kids and they can check in with it often. Create the schedule however you like, but whatever you do, stick to it. Kids need and crave boundaries. For example, we always have breakfast at 8 AM, followed by a “morning meeting,” when I let the kids ask questions (“Why can’t I go to the skate park with my friends today?”), talk about how they feel (“I’m worried about Nana and Papa.”) etc. Then, while they’re fresh, we transition into the day, which includes things like independent learning time (the kids choose a subject to research and report back on or work on some of the handouts sent home from the school), and independent reading time (one hour of reading in their rooms).

Make it Fun. In all of this doom and gloom, try to lighten the mood for your kids as often as possible. I’m a firm believer in being silly with your kids (thanks for modeling this so well, dad) especially in this bizarre era of Covid-19. In that spirit, I decided that if I’m mom/teacher these days, we needed a principal, and the boys nominated our puppy, Goldie. We all smile when she comes waddling into a room anyway, but I can’t tell you how much fun we’re having with our silly principal. (I’m constantly threatening them that I’ll send them to her office for bad behavior, ha.)

Carve out Time for Yourself. Moms, this is more important than ever now that the kids are home full time. When you used to have time to, oh, go to the bathroom without someone nagging you for a snack at 10 a.m., everything can start to feel a bit intense when you’re now parenting and schooling full time. Make sure your kids know that you need time off too. Have designated times when the “kitchen is closed” or “mom is having recess” when they know they need to self-direct.

Don’t Forget the Importance of Recess. In short, kids need recess. I’ve built in two one-hour blocks in our day when I send my boys outside. For them, recess ends up being a mix of throwing the football around outside, shooting hoops, riding their scooters around the block, cleaning up the fallen leaves on the trampoline, or just sitting on the front porch stoop and watching the clouds. They come back in refreshed and ready for their next task. Be sure to get your kids outside often!

These Are Unprecedented Times, Ask Your Kids to Rise to the Occasion. One thing I did with my boys right away—even before school closures—was to have various “family meetings” to share the seriousness of this pandemic and to help them feel empowered not frightened. From basic responsibilities like frequent handwashing to taking on important jobs around the house, my boys feel as if they are actively helping. Since parents are carrying more of a burden these days, it’s okay to ask your kids to help carry the load. Maybe teach your youngest how to load and operate the dishwasher or put your oldest on “safety duty,” ensuring that doors are locked, hands are washed and ovens are turned off in the household.

Everything is Education. I have no idea how the world is going to help all these millions of children catch up on missed learning (and my boys break out in hives when I mention the idea of future “Saturday School”), but they’ll find a way and life will go on. For now, I go back to what my mom always believed—life is education. And, your children are living and breathing current events right now. Share news articles with them. Let them watch presidential press conferences on TV. Talk to them about it and let them ask questions and share their opinions. Just because they’re missing six weeks of math doesn’t mean their brains will turn to mush. There’s an abundance of learning that can happen without textbooks.

Order Books by the Boatload. I’m a novelist, so I admit that I’m a bit biased here, but if you’re going to buy your kids anything during this time, make it books. And don’t hold back! I sat down with my boys and asked them to make a list of new books that we could order to keep them busy during this time and they gave me their wish lists. Many local, independent bookstores across America are struggling already, so consider supporting them. Island Books near Seattle, for example, will ship or courier book orders to clients during this time. (And, don’t forget books for mom, too! May I humbly suggest my new novel?

Guys, if you follow me on Instagram, you know I that I love to bake for my boys (and Brandon’s kids too!). They all have different tastes, but one thing they all agree on is that life is not complete without a batch of pumpkin mini muffins for after-school snacks or a quick breakfast when we’re in a rush. Here’s the crazy thing: I’ve been making these muffins since I was about 11 or 12. At some point, my sister and I may or may not have ate a lot of muffin batter one afternoon when our mom was on the phone, ha.

Over the years, I’ve changed things up a bit, though (both with the recipe and, um, the batter eating). These days, I use the whole can of pumpkin, I add in alternate grains sometimes, and have even been known to spike these babies with chocolate chips. My kids have been known to put down an entire pan within minutes, ha! I hope you’ll enjoy them just as much.

Sarah’s Pumpkin Muffins

Ingredients:

1 15 oz. can pumpkin puree

1 egg

1 stick butter, melted (and not too hot)

¾ cup brown sugar (or our favorite natural, zero-calorie sweetener from Lakanto — or a mix of both!)

¼ tsp baking soda

¼ tsp baking powder

1 tsp cinnamon

½ tsp nutmeg

½ tsp salt

¼ tsp cloves

1 ½ cup all-purpose flour (whole wheat, gluten-free and other flours work well too) + a little more if batter looks too wet. Additional note: Sometimes I add in a handful of oats or a quarter cup of almond flour, or even some chia seeds for an extra boost of nutrition, and to keep the kids guessing, ha.

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and coat a 12-cup or 24 mini-cup muffin pan with cooking spray (I like the coconut oil spray from Trader Joe’s). Combine dry ingredients (flour, salt, baking soda and powder and spices) in a mixing bowl, set aside. In another bowl, whisk together the egg, pumpkin puree, melted butter and brown sugar (be sure to pour the butter in slowly and whisk constantly so it doesn’t curdle the egg). Mix dry ingredients into the wet ingredients, combining well so all the flour is completely absorbed. (Nobody wants a clump of flour when they’re biting into one of these babies!) Use a spoon or a spring-loaded ice cream scoop (my fave) to scoop batter evenly into the muffin pan and bake for 15-20 minutes, or until the edges are slightly golden and a toothpick inserted comes out clean.

Fun tip: This recipe is also really good as an apple cinnamon muffin recipe. Just remove the pumpkin and add in ½ cup of oats and 1.5 cups of shredded apples, skins on, (we use a grater or a mini food processer).

The post My Pumpkin Muffin Recipe (Finally)! appeared first on Sarah Jio.

Oh guys, I haven’t been this smitten with a recipe for a long time. Recipe below (adapted from one of my faves: Eating Well magazine!), but let me give you some backstory first: Some of you may know, I’ve been doing the keto thing for a long time. If you’re sick of hearing people talk about keto and are rolling your eyes right now, let me explain. I’ve never been militant about any diet or eating plan (and I’m someone who was a vegetarian for years, went vegan for an exhausting period of time, and have tried all kinds of health trends in the name of journalism research!), but, two years ago, when I switched to this keto thing (which is a low-carb, high-fat and moderate protein diet) I lost about 12 pounds, experienced a jolt in my energy levels and increased ability to focus, and really just felt … all-around better. As a longtime health journalist, I drilled down deep into the science behind all of this, and while there’s plenty of trendy and unsubstantiated stuff floating around in the “keto” realm, the basics are what they are: this way of eating does a body good, at least MY body good. Not into it? Totally cool! I know that it’s foolish to think that one thing works for EVERY BODY. Not true. But I’d wager that the keto-ish way does work for many of us. And I say “keto-ish” because that’s what I aim for. Do I successfully live a 100 percent carb-free life? No way! Do I indulge in fruit and sweets sometimes? Oh yes, m’am! Do I occasionally have pasta? YES! It’s all good! But I keep coming back to this baseline of eating low-carb, mostly grain-free, higher-fat (good fat!) and moderate protein (not too much). It works (at least for me!). And now to my recipe…

THIS RECIPE. I made it for Brandon the other night and we both geeked out over it. In short, make it. You will love, love, love.

Zucchini-Chicken Enchiladas

Ingredients:

1 rotisserie chicken

½ teaspoon sea salt

½ teaspoon garlic powder

¼ teaspoon cumin

¼ teaspoon finely ground pepper

4 large zucchinis, very thinly sliced into strips

2 jars of red enchilada sauce (I love Trader Joe’s!)

1 pack of shredded mild cheddar cheese (or Mexican cheese)

2 cans of diced green chilies

2 garlic cloves, minced

½ sweet white onion, diced

Fresh cilantro for garnish (optional)

Sour cream for garnish (optional)

Spicy salsa for garnish (optional)

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Remove white meat from rotisserie chicken and use fingers to shred into small pieces. Place in a bowl and mix in salt, pepper, cumin and garlic powder. Set aside.

In a small saucepan over medium heat, drizzle 1 teaspoon of olive oil and sauté the onions and minced garlic until soft, being careful not to burn. Add to the chicken mixture with the green chilies.

Spray a 9 x 12 glass baking dish with cooking spray. Set up an assembly station for your enchiladas. You will need: 1.) the sliced zucchinis (your “toritllas”), 2.) the bowl containing the chicken mixture, 3.) the enchilada sauce, and 4.) the shredded cheese. Now, take a strip of zucchini and carefully place a large tablespoon of the chicken mixture in the center. Top with cheese and a drizzle of the enchilada sauce, then tuck the ends around to form a little pocket (it’s ok if the zucchini snaps—it will all mellow out and perfect in the oven). Continue making these little enchilada pouches until  your 9 x 12 dish is filled (see photo above for how it should look). Top with more enchilada sauce (evenly spread over dish) and shredded cheese. Bake for about 20-30 minutes, until enchiladas are warmed through, zucchini is soft and the cheese topping is melted and slightly browned. Let rest for at least ten minutes before serving (with sour cream, salsa and chopped cilantro if desired). Enjoy!!

The post The Zucchini-Chicken Enchilada Recipe That Will Change Your Life appeared first on Sarah Jio.

Hello lovelies!

I’m so excited to announce that my tenth novel is now in bookstores everywhere in the US! I so hope you enjoy!

Hugs and much love,

The post My New Novel Is Here! appeared first on Sarah Jio.

Hello lovelies!

I’m so excited to announce that my tenth novel is coming to bookstores in the US soon! Random House/Ballantine will release the novel in hardcover on August 13! For now, you can preorder through the retailers listed here! I’m so excited to share this book with you!

Hugs and much love,

The post My New Novel Is Coming Soon! appeared first on Sarah Jio.

Hi friends,

My love of Trader Joe’s instant coffee is no secret (a while back, I shared about my sort of weird coffee routine), but I’ve changed things up a bit and I am so excited to tell you all about it, because coffee is a BIG DEAL, ha.

First off, my weird coffee journey: My tastes have changed so much over the years and continue to evolve. As a teenager, every morning before school I’d drive my green 1969 Volkswagen Beetle to a cafe in my hometown called Cafe Revista (it’s so funny to even type that–it’s been so long!) and order, wait for it, a toasted marshmallow non-fat, extra foamy latte.

Um, YUCK! What was I thinking?

My coffee tastes evolved over time, and I eventually broke up with milk (and dairy for the most part) and opted for Americanos from Starbucks (with just a little half-and-half–I’m a walking contradiction, obviously). But then Starbucks coffee started tasting burnt to me, so I became a full-time at-home brewmaster. In my kitchen, a lot of coffee phases followed. There were the Nespresso years, the French press phase, the Chemex months, along with some other high-tech coffee gadget whose name I’ve forgotten. Oh, I also bought an insanely expensive automatic pour-over machine that sits proudly on my kitchen counter, but rarely gets used (oops).

ANYWAY … this all brings me to my present moment, and my love of Trader Joe’s instant coffee. While I’ve been making it this way for some time, I recently heard about something called cashew coffee, and I had to try it. Basically, you blend your favorite brewed or instant coffee with raw cashews, a pinch of sea salt, and any other add-ins you like. The key is to BLEND WELL so your cup gets rich and creamy (you want silky, no grit). And, guys, this stuff is sooooo good! Here’s my recipe:

Ingredients:

1 cup of brewed or instant coffee

1/4 cup raw cashews

Pinch of sea salt

Optional add ins:

Sprinkle of cinnamon

Sprinkle of nutmeg

Teaspoon of honey

Drizzle of liquid stevia

Drizzle of Lakanto’s “maple syrup”

Teaspoon of cocoa powder

Preparation:

Blend first three ingredients and any add-ins (I like the Lakanto maple syrup and nutmeg) for at least 20 seconds, until rich, creamy and frothy. Enjoy!

P.S. Here’s a story I did years ago for Brides magazine about all the ways coffee is good for you! Yay! Let’s have another cup!

The post My Current (Healthy) Coffee OBSESSION! appeared first on Sarah Jio.