Here’s a quick post while my 19 month old is working on his second course at breakfast.
It’s early in the morning and I’ve just put on the coffee to brew. Today the kids stay here and my in-laws come in to help me out. So I brew a pot of coffee instead of my typical double espresso. I drink coffee black. But nobody else in my family does. Well, not strictly true. My father-in-law drinks good coffee with just a little sugar. And I’ll drink café crème if I know that there is no breakfast on the way.
What’s that? You take milk and sugar in your coffee, but you don’t know café crème? It’s just a French version of a cup of joe — only prepared in a more elegant way… call it a cup of Joseph.
OK, you know how the coffee at Starbucks uses that steamed milk, but you haven’t got a Ronco pocket steamer or a cappuccino maker. There is another way….
The secret to the creamy, sweet taste of the café crème lies in scalding the milk. And I bet you have a microwave….
Mrs. E’s Morning Cup of Joseph
1 large mug
Fill half way with cold milk (skim, whole, cream, evaporated, your choice.)
Microwave for 2 minutes until the milk boils. (If you don’t have a microwave, you may boil the milk on top of the stove, stirring frequently.)
Add desired amount of sweetener or sugar.
Top off with strong black coffee or espresso. The French will pour both scalded milk and coffee into the cup at the same time and often from a great height.
Stir.
…and then you drink it in one of those lovely big cups.
i was trying to find your e-mail address, but it has escaped me!
I usually drink my coffee black at home. I’m trying this tomorrow Enjoy the day.
Sounds like the perfect antidote after all that champagne and oysters.
tres francais!
Ah Mrs. PVE, good champagne never hurt anyone. And a bonus is that you don’t have to stop drinking it just because it’s morning.
Someone once asked me how to acquire “sprezaturra.” Be the father of two children under the age of five. And drink a spilt of champagne for breakfast. Nothing you do or wear will look as if you’ve put the least thought into it.
Mr.E-
Saving myself for a good ole fashion ce soir, that said, you are correct it is never too early for really good champagne.
cheers,
I love this! A celebration of simple and good things. I can almost taste it. And re: Champagne, there’s a reason why it’s a brunch staple!
Hello Cakespy,
A brunch staple … and a Sunday must around here. I’m afraid we can be rather Churchillian when it comes to the bubbles. In flush times, there is always a case in the champagne fridge. These days a couple of bottles of crémant, perhaps. But at Mrs. E’s insistence, all that bubbles is cold.
Just did this. Just. Sitting here with my cozy cup right now. Delish.
Hoooray, Mrs. B! Enjoy it.