Jasmine Myers, blogger at Eat Move Write and our C25K leader, wanted us to take pictures of our faces post-workout (and send them in), so here's me yesterday morning. If I look beat, it's because I was. Great run, though. The nearly-80 humid muggy Memphis weather gave way to a temperature drop and wind, so it was chilly and the Lake Michigan waves were crashing. (C25K = Couch to 5K. For details, see Jasmine's blog post here - and while you're at it, check out her blog because she's a talented and engaging writer.)
We have been taking evening walks down to the Lake. Last weekend, or maybe the weekend before, a family were flying a kite right next to some trees and one of the trees ate the kite! Just like the kite-eating tree in Peanuts! I'm still slogging my way through the incredibly detailed Charles Schulz biography. It's very good, it's just taking awhile. It's my night-table reading. I'm sailing through Mary Karr's Lit on the train. That kite is still in the tree.
So, I invented a new drink. I'm sure I'm not the first one to mix coffee and vodka, but I couldn't find a drink like this in my Bartending for Dummies book (the closest involved Rum, cold coffee and cream), so lacking a proper predetermined name, Steve dubbed this a Brown Russian. We looked online and there are numerous different drinks called Brown Russian, so this is our Brown Russian.
We have vodka in the house, and I've been wanting to mix it with my Iced Coffee. Which, by the way, I've been having the Starbucks way vs. my usual way. I used to do an iced au lait and shake it in a drink mixer. But I haven't replaced the one that cracked on the bottom, so I've been having it the way I have it when I buy iced coffee (unsweetened) at Starbucks, with only Half & Half. Just as good. Anyway, here's the drink:
Brown Russian
1 Tbsp Vodka
2 Tbsp chilled iced coffee
Half & Half till it's the color you like your coffee
Serve over ice. Can be doubled.
Wow was that good! I usually need something sweet to have with vodka, like cranberry juice, which I prefer over orange juice. This drink was sweet enough with no sweetener. And the coffee didn't get me buzzed on caffeine so I couldn't sleep, even though I had a second and doubled the recipe. So I have a new sipping vodka drink. Without sugar. That's why I gave up my UV Blue. Rain organic vodka is a nice sipping vodka that is good plain, but it's a bit pricey. And we're trying to watch our spending. But we're still under a bit of pressure, hence the purchase of alcohol. I made this drink with Skyy vodka.
Just FYI, for cheaper drinks, Goose Island Brewery, local to Chicago, makes great beer.





