A Mug Full of Happiness

There are certain colors that instantly transport you back in time. For me, it’s a particular shade of bright red. The moment I see it, I’m standing in my parents’ kitchen staring at the shiny red espresso maker that replaced our old two-piece stovetop pot.

Every evening, after the dishes were washed and the kitchen sparkled, Mom would slice fresh lemon wedges while that little machine worked its magic. She and Dad would sit together, sipping tiny cups of espresso like it was the perfect ending to another ordinary day.

Somewhere along the way, I caught the coffee bug.

College introduced me to daily coffee, and before long there was an extra demitasse cup waiting for me whenever I came home. Suddenly the coffee world exploded. Fancy coffeehouses popped up on every corner, drive-thrus became a way of life, and somewhere in there my daily Starbucks stop became part of my morning commute.

“Venti Iced Americano, please.”

Coffee isn’t just a drink anymore. It’s a tiny event I look forward to every single day.

Naturally, I’m always on the hunt for my next favorite concoction.

Last week Pinterest sent me tumbling down one of its famous rabbit holes. An advertisement for Trader Joe’s Bourbon Vanilla Bean Paste caught my eye. Beep…beep…beep. Somebody back up the coffee truck. A few hundred clicks later I had a shopping list: bourbon vanilla bean paste, Starbucks Blonde Espresso, and fresh lemon peel.

Well…

Let’s just say my gym rest day turned into one of the most relaxing 45 minutes I’ve had in a long time. No Shoes Radio was playing in the background while blonde espresso, bourbon vanilla, and fresh lemon peel danced together in my favorite mug.

It was ridiculously simple. Completely delicious. And somehow it reminded me that the best recipes aren’t always found in cookbooks. Sometimes they’re tucked inside memories, mixed with a little curiosity, and served one beautiful cup at a time.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I think tomorrow morning has already placed its coffee order.

☕️☕️☕️☕️☕️☕️☕️☕️☕️☕️☕️☕️☕️☕️☕️☕️☕️☕️