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If you're looking for some chocolate inspiration on a cool morning or if you want to do something different while you're off of work, starting the morning with a warm cocoa drink is a great way to do it. You don't have to live in a freezing cold winter climate to enjoy a hot chocolate beverage for breakfast. Even summer air conditioning in your Cypress, TX apartment can have you longing for extra warmth.
The Best Cocoa Recipe
Cocoa is best when made from milk or cream, even though it generally has more calories that way. But if you need a rich boost, skipping powdered mixes that you add water to is the first thing to do. With a microwave, heating milk is easy. Check your model's instructions online to find the right amount of time to heat milk. Using cream instead of milk will give you a rich, satisfying cocoa drink. Then add your favorite chocolate in powdered or bar form. Mix it into the warm cream until it melts. It should melt just fine without heating it more in the microwave.
If you prefer using a stovetop to heat milk or cream, you know you have overheated it if it starts to form a skin on top. Heating milk (and chocolate) is best to do slowly or in short 15-second increments in the microwave if you aren't sure of the right amount of time.
Rich Hot Chocolate
from Taste of Home
2/3 cup Heavy whipping cream
1 cup 2% Milk
4 oz. Dark chocolate candy bar, chopped
3 T sugar
Vanilla rum (to taste), optional
Sweetened heavy whipping cream
Heat cream, milk chocolate, and sugar in a saucepan (or in the microwave) over medium heat. Stir consistently while heating. When it starts to simmer, remove from heat. Pour into the mug and add rum, if desired. Top with whipped cream and enjoy.
Alternatives:
Hazelnut – Replace chocolate with Nutella and rum with Frangelico. If it's too sweet, reduce or eliminate sugar.
Dairy Free – Replace milk and cream with vanilla almond milk. Add a teaspoon of vanilla extract. Top with marshmallows instead of whipped cream.
Peppermint – Add crushed candy canes to taste (about a tablespoon per cup).
Come up with your own flavors for warm cocoa and test them out on your friends and family while you're on vacation in your Cypress, TX apartment. Contact us if you want a tour of our model apartments.
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Have you recently found yourself the proud owner of a bottle of vanilla rum? Lucky you. Vanilla rum can add a refreshing note to your old standby drinks. Or if you're ready for something new and exciting, you can try your hand at creating one of these vanilla-infused gems:
Vanilla Sky
Ingredients:
1 1/2 ounces vanilla rum
A splash of Blanc de Noir champagne
1 ounce fresh strawberry puree
Sugar
Directions:
- Rim a martini glass with sugar
- Add the rum and puree into a cocktail shaker
- Shake and then strain your ingredients into the martini glass
- Add the splash of champagne and serve
Cherry Vanilla Rum and Coke
Ingredients:
1 cup cherry cola
3 tablespoons vanilla rum
1 tablespoon maraschino cherry juice
Maraschino cherry
Directions:
- Pour the cherry cola, vanilla rum and the cherry juice into a tall glass over ice
- Garnish with a maraschino cherry and serve
Palermo
Ingredients:
2 parts vanilla rum
2 parts pineapple juice
1 1/2 parts dry white wine
1/3 part simple sugar
Directions:
- Fill a cocktail shaker with ice cubes
- Pour in your ingredients
- Shake and then strain your drink into a cocktail glass
Vanilla Rum Mojito
Ingredients:
2 ounces vanilla rum
1 ounce simple syrup
7 mint leaves
Half of a lime, cut into quarters
6 ounces seltzer
Directions:
- Muddle the mint leaves and the lime at the bottom of a cocktail shaker
- Fill a cocktail shaker with ice
- Add the simple syrup and the vanilla rum
- Shake well
- Pour into a glass and top with seltzer
Cheesecake Martini
Ingredients:
2 ounces vanilla rum
1 ounce pineapple juice
1 ounce cranberry juice
Directions:
- Add all ingredients into a cocktail shaker that is half filled with ice cubes
- Shake, then strain into a cocktail glass
After a long day at work, what can be more relaxing than sipping one of these cocktails? How about enjoying your cocktail in the privacy of your own patio or balcony? If your current home doesn't offer you a beautiful private space for relaxation, come check out our apartments in Cypress, Texas. Each has either a private patio or balcony. Our gated community also boasts a resort-style pool and a gourmet grilling area.
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Wouldn't it be great if you could make your own coffee shop drinks at home? Nearly every coffee shop drink can be made at home, from lattes to cold brew and blended drinks.
Make Smooth, Tasty Cold Brew at Home
Cold brew uses a higher ratio of coffee to water than drip coffee. Grind 8 ounces of coffee coarsely. Mix the coffee with 8 cups of water and put it in a large container. Refrigerate overnight. The next day, strain the grains slowly with cheesecloth. You’ll end up with a rich, smooth cold brew.
Make Your Own Simple Syrup
The pump containers in coffee shops are filled with flavored simple syrup, which is just an easy-to-make mixture of 1 part sugar and 1 part water. Mix 1 part sugar and 1 part water and heat until the sugar dissolves. Allow for cooling. You can add herbs, vanilla or cinnamon. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Make a Cold Brew Iced Latte
Mix 1/2 cup of your cold brew with 1 cup milk (can use almond or soy). Add simple syrup to taste. Two to three tablespoons are sweet enough for most.
Try a Lightened Frozen Mochaccino
Put two to three ice cubes in a blender along with 1/2 cup of cold brew. Add maple syrup, 2 tablespoons of cocoa powder and a dash of vanilla extract. Blend and enjoy.
Add Sugar and Spice With a Honey-Cinnamon Iced Latte
Instead of sugar-based simple syrup, sweeten this latte with cinnamon and honey. Heat 3/4 cups of honey with two or three cinnamon sticks. Allow to cool and mix with 1/2 cup cold brew and 1/2 cup water. Pour over ice.
When mixing cold brew with dairy milk, nut milk or water, a 1-to-1 ratio usually produces the tastiest results. If you’re blending your drink, three ice cubes are equal to about 1/2 cup of water.
If you like your coffee hot, then simply dilute the cold brew with your favorite dairy or alternative milk, add simple syrup, and you’ve got a delicious hot latte. No more daily coffee shop visits. Schedule a tour to see our Cypress, Texas, apartments and enjoy.
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After the chill of winter, you’re probably looking forward to the warmer days of spring when you can enjoy getting outside of your Cypress apartments more often. Those first spring parties are like a breath of fresh air, and you’ll definitely want to have the perfect drinks on hand to celebrate. Wondering what drinks to serve your guests? Here are three light, tasty cocktails that are perfect for any spring soiree.
Blueberry Rum Smash
The blueberries in this cocktail make it a fresh, fruity drink that is perfect for a baby shower or a backyard barbecue.
What you’ll need:
1 tablespoon of brown sugar
Fresh or frozen blueberries
2 ounces of rum
3/4 ounce of freshly squeezed lemon juice
Ginger ale
How to make it:
Cover the bottom of the glass you’re using with some blueberries. Add lemon juice and brown sugar, muddling until the sugar melts. Add crushed ice to the glass and then add rum. Top with the ginger ale and stir gently. Makes one cocktail.
Green Tea Infused Mojito
This fresh, springy twist on the mojito is sure to please your guests, and green tea is a healthy choice.
What You’ll Need:
4 large mint leaves
1 tablespoon of fresh lime juice
1/2 cup of brewed green tea that has been chilled
2 teaspoons of sugar
1 ounce of white rum
How to Make It:
Muddle mint, sugar and lime juice together in a glass until the flavors of the leaves release. Add ice until the glass is around three-quarters full. Pour green tea and rum into the glass, and then stir well. Makes a single cocktail.
Basil Strawberry Margarita
This cocktail doesn't just taste great, but it looks beautiful at your spring party, too.
What you’ll need:
8 basil leaves
1 can of frozen limeade concentrate
2 to 2 1/2 cups of tequila (silver or gold)
10 strawberries (more if you’re using small ones)
How to make it:
Add limeade concentrate to a pitcher. Add 2/5 cans of water and the tequila. Stir well. Hull your strawberries and then slice, adding to the pitcher. Crumple leaves of basil in your hands, so the flavor and smell releases, and then add them to the pitcher. Refrigerate the pitcher, covered, for a minimum of 4 hours. Serve with extra strawberries for garnishing if desired. Makes around 8 servings.
Planning a spring party? These drinks are sure to please everyone who attends. If any of your soiree guests are looking for apartments in Cypress, have them call our office to find out what floor plans we currently have available.
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