Iced Brown Sugar Oat Milk Shaken Espresso #Recipe by Mia P. Manansala @MPMtheWriter

I’m not a big Starbucks drinker—nothing against the chain, but going out for coffee or tea gets expensive, so I usually make my own drinks. If I’m going to actually leave my house (gasp) and splurge on a caffeinated beverage, I prefer hanging out at fun, independently-owned cafes in my area, usually while munching on a yummy pastry and getting some writing done. However, a couple weeks ago, I found myself writing at a Starbucks while waiting for my husband to finish up his dentist appointment nearby. I ordered their new drink, the Iced Brown Sugar Oat Milk Shaken Espresso (what a mouthful), and it absolutely hit the spot. So much so, that I knew I had to recreate it at home.

My hand holding a mason jar glass with a metal straw and iced brown sugar oat milk shaken espresso

I decided to go with a brown sugar syrup (instead of just mixing in plain brown sugar) since it’s fairly common for Filipino drinks and desserts (known as arnibal) and works better for cold drinks. Keep an eye out for my next few entries if you want to know other ways to use this delicious simple syrup!

Iced Brown Sugar Oat Milk Shaken Espresso Recipe

Ingredients:

• 1 cup brown sugar
• ½ cup water
• 2 oz espresso OR 4 oz strong brewed coffee
• 4 - 6 oz oat milk (or milk of choice)
• Ice
• Ground cinnamon, optional

Directions:

Place the brown sugar and water in a small saucepan. Bring the mixture to a boil, then lower the heat and let it simmer, stirring occasionally, until the syrup thickens slightly. Add the espresso or coffee, one to two tablespoons of brown sugar syrup (or to taste), and a handful of ice to a cocktail shaker/blender cup/lidded jar. Shake vigorously until the contents are cold, well-combined, and nicely frothy. Carefully transfer the coffee to a cup half-filled with ice, pour the oat milk on top, and sprinkle with cinnamon. Enjoy!

NOTE: You can mix the oat milk with the other ingredients in the shaker as well, but it won’t be as for have that pretty layered look.

Cast of characters: brown sugar, cold brew coffee concentrate, instant espresso, oat milk

Make the brown sugar syrup (arnibal): add the brown sugar and water to a small sauce pan, bring to a boil, then lower to a simmer, stirring occasionally, until the sugar is dissolved and syrup thickens slightly.

Add the coffee or espresso and one to two tablespoons of arnibal to a shaker cup.

Add a handful of ice to the shaker cup as well, and close tightly.

Shake vigorously, then pour the mixture into a cup half-filled with ice.

Add the oat milk.

Sprinkle with cinnamon and enjoy!

What's your favorite drink to order at a cafe? Let me know in the comments!

If you liked this recipe, make sure you sign up for my newsletter! I include a Filipino-themed recipe every month, as well as giveaways and book recommendations!

Homicide and Halo-Halo

Death at a beauty pageant turns Tita Rosie’s Kitchen upside down in the latest entry of this witty and humorous cozy mystery series by Mia P. Manansala. Things are heating up for Lila Macapagal. Not in her love life, which she insists on keeping nonexistent despite the attention of two very eligible bachelors. Or her professional life, since she can’t bring herself to open her new café after the unpleasantness that occurred a few months ago at her aunt’s Filipino restaurant, Tita Rosie’s Kitchen. No, things are heating up quite literally, since summer, her least favorite season, has just started. To add to her feelings of sticky unease, Lila’s little town of Shady Palms has resurrected the Miss Teen Shady Palms Beauty Pageant, which she won many years ago—a fact that serves as a wedge between Lila and her cousin slash rival, Bernadette. But when the head judge of the pageant is murdered and Bernadette becomes the main suspect, the two must put aside their differences and solve the case—because it looks like one of them might be next.

Order

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Order from The Book Table or Centuries & Sleuths for signed, personalized copies!

Italian Cream Soda Recipe by Mia P. Manansala @MPMtheWriter

I first learned about the delicious, refreshing drink known as an Italian Cream Soda, funnily enough, at a Korean cafe my best friends and I used to frequent back in college. I was already familiar with the large array of Korean/East Asian teas, desserts, and snacks, as well as the typical coffee drinks you’d see at any American coffee shop, but I’d never heard of an Italian cream soda. And even though there was a large assortment of flavors, I never cared to try it, maybe because in my mind, cream soda was that super sugary but otherwise indistinguishable-flavored drink from a can.

Lavender-Lemon Italian Cream Soda

My best friend, however, adored them, and finally convinced me to try her drink. I believe it was a grapefruit one and I remember being blown away by how simple yet satisfying it was. I was even more blown away years later when I learned how quick and easy they were to prepare. I prefer to make my own simple syrups, but many people like the ease of bottled ones. Torani is probably the most popular brand and can be used for flavored lattes as well. Whichever one you choose, an Italian cream soda is the perfect drink for a lazy afternoon or a fun get-together. Hope you enjoy it!

Italian Cream Soda Recipe

Yield: one 12 oz drink

Ingredients:

• 2-4 TBSP flavored simple syrup (for this version, I used lavender and fresh lemon juice)
• 2 TBSP heavy cream or half and half
• Club soda
• Ice

Directions:

1. Fill a glass halfway with ice.
2. Add in your flavorings, followed by the cream or half and half.
3. Top off with club soda.
4. Stir and enjoy!

Cast of characters: Heavy cream, club soda, lavender simple syrup, lemon

Add your flavorings to your glass.

Drizzle in the heavy cream or half and half.

Fill the jar with ice. (in the instructions, I have this first. It doesn't matter if you add the ice first or during this step, but I'd suggest doing it before you add the club soda)

Top off with club soda.

Stir and enjoy!

Have any of you tried an Italian cream soda before? What are your favorite flavors? Let me know in the comments!

If you liked this recipe, make sure you sign up for my newsletter! I include a Filipino-themed recipe every month, as well as giveaways and book recommendations!

 

Homicide and Halo-Halo

Death at a beauty pageant turns Tita Rosie’s Kitchen upside down in the latest entry of this witty and humorous cozy mystery series by Mia P. Manansala.

 

Things are heating up for Lila Macapagal. Not in her love life, which she insists on keeping nonexistent despite the attention of two very eligible bachelors. Or her professional life, since she can’t bring herself to open her new café after the unpleasantness that occurred a few months ago at her aunt’s Filipino restaurant, Tita Rosie’s Kitchen. No, things are heating up quite literally, since summer, her least favorite season, has just started.

 

To add to her feelings of sticky unease, Lila’s little town of Shady Palms has resurrected the Miss Teen Shady Palms Beauty Pageant, which she won many years ago—a fact that serves as a wedge between Lila and her cousin slash rival, Bernadette. But when the head judge of the pageant is murdered and Bernadette becomes the main suspect, the two must put aside their differences and solve the case—because it looks like one of them might be next.

Order from The Book Table or Centuries & Sleuths for signed, personalized copies!

London Fog #recipe by Mia P. Manansala @MPMtheWriter

My cozy drink reign continues! This will be the last lavender-inspired drink I share for a while (I think). Back when I posted my lavender chai latte recipe, I was reminded of a similar drink that I loved. People might be familiar with London Fogs at Starbucks, but I try to support my local cafes rather than chains as much as possible. Does that mean I don't get to enjoy those drinks anymore? No, it just means I have to get creative and figure out how to make them at home.

I sprinkled this with lavender buds to make it prettier and forgot to take a picture

A London Fog, which is essentially an earl grey tea latte with vanilla and sometimes lavender, is easy, delicious, and so, so comforting. Last time, I shared a way to froth steamed milk with no fancy equipment. That method is OK, but today I'll be sharing the French press method, which is so much better. Hope you give it a try!

London Fog Recipe

Ingredients:

• 2 tsp loose leaf earl grey tea OR 2 earl grey tea bags
• 6 oz boiling water
• 4 - 6 oz milk
• 1/2 - 1 tsp vanilla extract (depending on how strong you want it)
• 1 tsp lavender simple syrup OR sweetener of choice (more to taste)

Directions:

1. Steep the tea in the boiling water according to the time on the package (usually 4-6 minutes). Make sure it's strong, since you'll be adding milk.
2. While the tea is steeping, steam and froth the milk (see below for my French press method).
3. Strain the tea into a clean mug, stir in the vanilla extract and lavender syrup or sweetener, and top with the frothed milk.
4. Enjoy!

How to froth milk with a French Press:

1. Heat milk on stove or in microwave until hot but not boiling.
2. Pour heated milk into a French press and cover it with lid.
3. Pump the plunger again and again until the milk doubles in volume.
4. Pour the frothed milk on top of your latte.

Cast of characters: French press, looseleaf earl grey tea, lavender syrup, vanilla extract, milk

Steep 2 tsp/2 tea bags of earl grey tea in 6 oz of boiling water.

Strain the tea into a mug and stir in vanilla extract and lavender simple syrup/sweetener.

While tea is steeping, heat the milk.

Pour the heated milk into a French press.

Pump the plunger until milk doubles in volume.

Pour frothed milk on top of latte and enjoy!

Have you ever tried to recreate a cafe drink at home? What's your go-to drink at coffee shops? Let me know in the comments!

If you liked this recipe, make sure you sign up for my newsletter! I include a Filipino-themed recipe every month, as well as giveaways and book recommendations!

 

One of BuzzFeed’s Highly Anticipated Mystery Novels of 2021!

 

The first book in a new culinary cozy series full of sharp humor and delectable dishes—one that might just be killer….

 

When Lila Macapagal moves back home to recover from a horrible breakup, her life seems to be following all the typical rom-com tropes. She’s tasked with saving her Tita Rosie’s failing restaurant, and she has to deal with a group of matchmaking aunties who shower her with love and judgment. But when a notoriously nasty food critic (who happens to be her ex-boyfriend) drops dead moments after a confrontation with Lila, her life quickly swerves from a Nora Ephron romp to an Agatha Christie case.

 

With the cops treating her like she’s the one and only suspect, and the shady landlord looking to finally kick the Macapagal family out and resell the storefront, Lila’s left with no choice but to conduct her own investigation. Armed with the nosy auntie network, her barista best bud, and her trusted Dachshund, Longanisa, Lila takes on this tasty, twisted case and soon finds her own neck on the chopping block…

Order

Order from my local indies for signed, personalized copies:  

The Book Table (Oak Park, IL) 

Centuries & Sleuths (Forest Park, IL)

Golden Milk (Turmeric Latte) #recipe by Mia P. Manansala @MPMtheWriter

It's finally time for warm, cozy drinks, but in my world that also means fighting off allergies (I'm rather sensitive to the changing seasons and cold) and flu season! I had plans to share a different drink with you today, but after an allergy attack derailed a productive writing session (*sob*) on Monday, I whipped up a comforting, nutritious drink to get me back on track. It was exactly what I needed, and while I wouldn't say it cured me, it definitely gave me the boost I needed to get back to drafting Book 3.

Cast of Characters: Almond milk, black pepper, ground ginger, turmeric, cinnamon sticks, coconut oil, and honey

So what is golden milk? It's a creamy, earthy drink spiced with a good amount of turmeric, plus ginger, cinnamon, and black pepper to round out the flavors. All these ingredients are known to have anti-inflammatory properties, and I also sweetened my drink with local honey to take advantage of the allergy-fighting benefits of the pollen.

And if you don't believe in natural remedies like this? It's still a tasty, vegan (if you use a different sweetener than honey!) drink that's delicious at any time of day, but particularly comforting right before bed. Hope you give it a try!

Golden Milk Recipe

Yield: one 12 oz mug

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups of milk (almond and/or coconut is best)
• 3/4 - 1 tsp of ground turmeric
• 1/4 tsp of ground ginger (or 1 tsp grated fresh ginger)
• 1 cinnamon stick (or 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon)
• pinch of black pepper
• 1 - 2 tsp sweetener of choice (honey and maple syrup are excellent here, more to taste)
• 1 - 2 tsp coconut oil, optional*

*like with my chai recipe, a milk with some fat in it is preferred because the fat helps disperse the flavor of the spices throughout the drink. If your milk is low-fat, I suggest adding the coconut oil.

Directions:

1. Put everything in a medium-sized sauce pan.
2. Heat over medium heat, whisking often, until just before it boils, about five minutes. Taste and adjust spices or sweetness to your taste.
3. Strain (if using fresh ginger and/or the cinnamon stick) or pour the golden milk into your mug.
4. Enjoy while hot!

Put all the ingredients in a small-to-medium sized saucepan

Over medium heat, whisk the mixture until the spices and coconut oil are well-blended. Heat until just before it boils, about 4-5 minutes, whisking often.

Strain into a 12 oz mug.

Enjoy while hot!

Has anyone ever tried golden milk? What are your go-tos when you're feeling under the weather? Let me know in the comments!

If you liked this recipe, make sure you sign up for my newsletter! I include a Filipino-themed recipe every month, as well as giveaways and book recommendations!

One of BuzzFeed’s Highly Anticipated Mystery Novels of 2021!

The first book in a new culinary cozy series full of sharp humor and delectable dishes—one that might just be killer….

When Lila Macapagal moves back home to recover from a horrible breakup, her life seems to be following all the typical rom-com tropes. She’s tasked with saving her Tita Rosie’s failing restaurant, and she has to deal with a group of matchmaking aunties who shower her with love and judgment. But when a notoriously nasty food critic (who happens to be her ex-boyfriend) drops dead moments after a confrontation with Lila, her life quickly swerves from a Nora Ephron romp to an Agatha Christie case.

With the cops treating her like she’s the one and only suspect, and the shady landlord looking to finally kick the Macapagal family out and resell the storefront, Lila’s left with no choice but to conduct her own investigation. Armed with the nosy auntie network, her barista best bud, and her trusted Dachshund, Longanisa, Lila takes on this tasty, twisted case and soon finds her own neck on the chopping block…

Order

Order from my local indies for signed, personalized copies:  

The Book Table (Oak Park, IL) 

Centuries & Sleuths (Forest Park, IL)

Lavender Lemonade #recipe by Mia P. Manansala @MPMtheWriter

In my last post (lavender simple syrup recipe), I mentioned that I wasn’t usually a fan of floral flavors, but the lavender chai latte at Brewpoint Craft in Oak Park, IL, changed my mind. While I still plan on sharing my version of that delicious drink, the weather in the Chicagoland area has been so humid, that the thought of a hot drink is less than welcome right now. So I figured I’d share another lavender-based drink that I fell in love with at Brewpoint Craft: Blended lavender lemonade!

Writing on my Alphasmart Neo 2 at Brewpoint Cafe, with a hard seltzer, blender lavender lemonade, and cheese plate to sustain me

I love blended drinks (give me a blended margarita over a margarita on the rocks any day), and the slushie texture of this drink makes it extra fun and refreshing. I love the combination of lemon and lavender, and (blended or not) this drink would make a wonderful addition to a summertime picnic or tea party.

Blended Lavender Lemonade

Yield: one 12oz drink

Ingredients:

Juice of one small lemon (about 2-3 TBSP)

2 TBSP of lavender simple syrup (recipe here)

Ice

Filtered water

Directions:

1. Add the lemon juice and lavender simple syrup to a blender cup. 
2. Add about 4-6oz of water (½-⅔ cup) and 1-2 big handfuls of ice.
3. Blend the mixture until all big pieces of ice are broken up and the texture is slushie.
4. You can also leave the mixture unblended and just shake the drink vigorously in a lidded container until the drink is cold.
5. Enjoy! 

I’ve got at least two more lavender drink recipes to share with you (the simple syrup lasts for at least a week, if not more, if kept covered in the fridge), so make sure to pick up some culinary grade dried lavender soon! What are your favorite lemonade recipes? Let me know in the comments!

Cast of characters (I only used one lemon)

Add juice of one small lemon, 2 TBSP lavender simple syrup, and about 6oz water to a blender cup.

Add one to two big handfuls of ice.

Blend until mixture is slushy.

Enjoy!

If you liked this recipe, make sure you sign up for my newsletter! I include a Filipino-themed recipe every month, as well as giveaways and book recommendations!

 

One of BuzzFeed’s Highly Anticipated Mystery Novels of 2021!

 

The first book in a new culinary cozy series full of sharp humor and delectable dishes—one that might just be killer….

 

When Lila Macapagal moves back home to recover from a horrible breakup, her life seems to be following all the typical rom-com tropes. She’s tasked with saving her Tita Rosie’s failing restaurant, and she has to deal with a group of matchmaking aunties who shower her with love and judgment. But when a notoriously nasty food critic (who happens to be her ex-boyfriend) drops dead moments after a confrontation with Lila, her life quickly swerves from a Nora Ephron romp to an Agatha Christie case.

 

With the cops treating her like she’s the one and only suspect, and the shady landlord looking to finally kick the Macapagal family out and resell the storefront, Lila’s left with no choice but to conduct her own investigation. Armed with the nosy auntie network, her barista best bud, and her trusted Dachshund, Longanisa, Lila takes on this tasty, twisted case and soon finds her own neck on the chopping block…

Order

Order from my local indies for signed, personalized copies:  

The Book Table (Oak Park, IL) 

Centuries & Sleuths (Forest Park, IL)

Peach Hoagy from @MaddieDayAuthor plus #giveaway

MADDIE DAY here, with a refreshing summer drink.

In No Grater Crime, Robbie Jordan and her friend Lou eat dinner at a fictional restaurant called Phat Cats Bistro in the university town of Bloomington. The real Phat Cats Bistro is our favorite local restaurant here in the northeast, but I had fun copying it into a southern Indiana eating destination. The bartender at the Phat Cats Bistro in the book invented this peach cocktail to honor Bloomington native Hoagy Carmichael and his song, “Georgia on My Mind,” written in 1930. 

In reality, I created the drink. Now that it's fresh peach season here AND the book is coming out on the 24th, I thought I'd share it with you all.

Peach Hoagy

Ingredients

For one drink:

2 ounces chilled peach nectar

1 ounce peach moonshine (use peach brandy if you can’t find moonshine)

1 ounce Four Roses bourbon

Juice of 1 lime quarter

1 slice ripe peach

 Directions

Combine the first five ingredients in a shaker with ice. Shake until chilled and pour into a martini glass. Garnish with peach slice.

Option: If it’s too sweet for you, make in a Manhattan glass on ice and add lime seltzer, and/or increase the bourbon.

Readers: what's your favorite fruit drink, whether alcoholic or not? I'll send one commenter a signed copy of Candy Slain Murder, the previous book in the series, so you'll be all caught up before release day!

My most recent book is  A Changing Light, our seventh Quaker Midwife Mystery! If you want a signed copy endorsed to you, please order from my local indy bookstore, Jabberwocky Books.

The next book to come out is Country Store Mystery #9. No Grater Crime comes out August 24 and is up for preorder!

Murder at the Lobstah Shack is also up for preorder!

We hope you'll visit Edith and Maddie on our web site, sign up for our monthly newsletter, visit us on social media, and check our all our books and short stories.

Maddie Day (aka Edith Maxwell) is a talented amateur chef and holds a PhD in Linguistics from Indiana University. An Agatha Award-winning and bestselling author, she is a member of Sisters in Crime and Mystery Writers of America and also writes award-winning short crime fiction. She lives with her beau north of Boston, where she’s currently working on her next mystery when she isn’t cooking up something delectable in the kitchen.