Cooking with Coffee

Kickin' it in the Kitchen

Not only is coffee the beverage of choice for most Americans to jumpstart their days, but it also has many health benefits when consumed in moderation. It's not just for beverages anymore! Coffee has a strong, earthy, slightly bitter flavor that can help create complex flavors and add a kick to many different dishes.

Recent studies show that coffee can help reduce the risk of diabetes II, Parkinson's disease, colon cancer, liver cirrhosis, and gallstones. Not only that but research shows that for those who indulge in other vices such as smoking or drinking heavily, consuming a couple of cups of coffee a day can balance out the negative effects of bad habits. All of these benefits are attributed to the powerful antioxidants in roasted coffee beans and the newly recognized benefits of moderate caffeine use. Now that we know coffee can be a health food, here are a few ideas to use it outside of your morning latte.

Coffee is delicious in desserts. Pour some cooled coffee or espresso over chocolate or vanilla light ice cream for a creamy treat. You can also mix in some finely ground beans for an extra layer of flavor. Make a coffee trifle with layers of chocolate angel food cake drizzled with strong espresso and coffee liqueur, light chocolate pudding, and top with light chocolate whipped topping and a sprinkle of finely ground coffee beans and cocoa. Create a coffee smoothie by combining some iced espresso, a banana, soymilk, and lowfat chocolate frozen yogurt. You could also add a tablespoon of natural peanut or almond butter.

Use coffee in a dry rub for steaks, ribs and pork tenderloins. Combine finely ground coffee beans, garlic powder, cumin, ground fennel seed, ground celery seed, salt, and pepper. Spread and pat the rub over meat and let sit for an hour before grilling or roasting. You could make a coffee marinade with a few cups of strongly brewed coffee or espresso, soy sauce, some brown sugar, a little bit of Worcestshire sauce and Tabasco, and a few minced cloves of garlic. Cook it down while the meat cooks until reduced and syrupy for a luscious sauce.

Coffee is a natural in many cocktails. You might want to use decaf or a half and half concoction later in the evening. There are countless versions already out there but they usually have a lot of cream and calories. Instead try blending coffee with lots of ice, vodka, some simple syrup, and a splash of lowfat milk or chocolate soymilk. Pour into martini glasses and garnish with a coffee bean for an elegant and adult frappucino.

Now that you know the health benefits of coffee, use some of these ideas or create your own and kick it up in the kitchen. Just remember it's only healthy in moderation. So brew up a pot of your favorite beans and let your caffeinated imagination fly.