Tips & Tricks: Coffee Edition

So after Gia hijacked all my K cups, I came across a handy little gadget I bought nearly 2 years ago but had barely used: The K-Cup Saver. It's a tiny stainless steel top that allows you to reuse k-cups!

Apparently the company I bought mine from is no longer in business. (I checked their website and it's no longer there). But there are several other options available on Amazon like these.  Now, I know there are several companies that make re-useable k-cups, but if you have the Keuring Mini, not all of  these things fit.  I bought 2 different kinds and they didn't fit in my machine. I was fed up and thought these little lids would be easier to use. They are!

So here's what you need:

Your favorite coffee, a used k-cup, and a saver lid

Peel the lid off the k-cup. Do this over the garbage so you don't get coffee everywhere.

Scrape all the coffee out and then gently rinse the inside till it's cleanish.

 

Then put scoops of your favorite coffee inside the kcup. Pack it down a bit so it doesn't get diluted during the brewing process. (The water moves through the k-cup kind of fast and that can make the coffee a bit watery.)

Then put the new lid on the k-cup. Just gently place it on there. It won't fall off.

  Put the k-cup in the Keurig & brew!

Viola! You've re-used the k-cup, which saves money and is a greener option (k-cups are NOT recyclable.)

Happy coffee drinking!

Coffee!

So this past week Gia got into my stash of k-cups for the Keurig. When this happened, our house was still in disarray because of all the kitchen construction. Gia was in the dining room (which is where everything kitchen-related was hanging out) and I could tell she was playing with something, but I was talking to our contractor and wasn't paying close attention to what she was doing.

Later that night--after Gia had eaten dinner and had a bath--I went into the dining room to see what she had been doing earlier. I opened the k-cup drawer where I store my k-cups, and there were none in there. Not one. I was quite surprised. I had just bought a new box and knew I had at least 10 around.  I asked her where they were and she looked at me with a pitying look and said, "I don't know Mommy." After searching all over, I found them in the trunk of her little play car. She's crafty, that one.

I'll admit that I didn't immediately put the k-cups away because I thought it was so funny. Such a toddler thing to do. The following day Gia obviously remembered where they were because she was playing with them -- lining them up on the mantel by the fireplace.

After that I put them all back. But only because my kitchen was finally done and I wanted everything back to normal!

As I was putting them away, I came across a little Keurig gadget I purchased a long long time ago, but have never used--the K Cup Saver. Stay tuned for a Tips & Tricks post about this awesome little thing.

Another Thankful Thursday

This week I am thankful to have a functioning kitchen again. It's been a bit of a bumpy road getting here, but we've arrived and I'm thrilled.

My heart is already broken for all the people in NY & NJ who lost power or worse, lost their houses completely. Living without a kitchen was certainly annoying, but I tried really really hard to not complain because, let's face it, there are people in my own backyard who are dealing with much much worse.

I know you're dying to see pictures, but until my beautiful cabinets, granite and new appliances are surrounded by more than naked sheet rock, you're just going to have to wait. (The painter comes Monday, so I'll be sure to post ASAP!)

For now, I'll leave you with this gem:

The BEFORE picture...there are NO words.