As soon as summer and spring descend, it’s time to whip up the seasonal beverages that will keep you cool. Iced tea and flavored iced coffee are two of the most popular beverages during this time; they give you your caffeine fix as well as a respite from the heat outside.
It’s true that your local barista or the popular coffee chain in the neighborhood will have some of the fanciest-looking flavored iced coffees in their menu, but when you break down the basics, most of these can be easily made at home. Whether you want a light vanilla-flavored iced coffee or something more dessert-like with a nice topping, you can try your hand at these delectable flavored iced coffee recipes at home:
- Vanilla-flavored iced coffee: This is one of the simplest flavored iced coffee recipes. For this, you will need a cup of ground coffee, 4 vanilla beans that are split lengthwise, a cup of milk, ¼ cup of sugar, and a few ice cubes. Mix the ground coffee with 4 cups of water. Cover it and let the coffee stand overnight or for 12 hours at room temperature. Mix the vanilla beans, sugar, and milk in a saucepan and let the mixture simmer over medium heat. Let it stand and steep for 20 minutes. Strain the coffee into a bowl through a fine-mesh sieve. Through a coffee filter, strain the coffee again into a large pitcher. Fill four tumblers with ice cubes, pour coffee till one inch of the rim, and then pour the vanilla-flavored milk.
- Chocolate-flavored iced coffee: This chocolate-flavored iced coffee has a sweetish taste to it. This recipe calls for a cup each of fat-free milk and boiling water, 4 teaspoons each of instant coffee granules, chocolate syrup, and sugar, 1/8 teaspoon of vanilla extract, and a few ice cubes. Dissolve the coffee in the water in a large bowl. Add and stir well the rest of the ingredients. Serve this flavored coffee over the ice cubes. You can top it off with a couple of scoops of vanilla ice-cream.
- Thai iced coffee: Although the name has an exotic touch to it, this flavored iced coffee is quite easy to make. The ingredients required are a cup each of ground coffee and sweetened condensed milk and ¾ cup of milk. Make four cups of strong coffee by brewing the coffee in four cups of water in a coffee machine. Chill the brewed coffee in the refrigerator. Mix both the varieties of milk in a small bowl until a smooth consistency and chill the milk. While serving, pour the coffee in four tumblers filled with ice cubes and top them off with the chilled milk.
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4 things to consider while choosing a business scheduling software
Read moreGone are the days when business scheduling software burned a hole in our pockets, these days most of the top business scheduling software programs are offered without any charges. Even the business scheduling software programs that charge an amount for the upgrades have reduced their pricing significantly. Schedulers also offer a great return on investment, adding a great value to all the expenditure. However, there are still a few things that one must consider before choosing a business scheduling software. They are:
Data security
One of the absolute necessities for a business scheduling software is high levels of data security. It is integral as there is a new security risk that emerges every single day. The security must be high because the business scheduler will be storing all the important information of your business. It can also include information that is sensitive and highly confidential. A breach in the system can have a massive impact on the business.User-friendly backend software
This might not be on the top of your list of things to consider while buying a business scheduling software, but it is important for smooth functioning. If you have a user-friendly software, it will save you training time and increase the efficiency. A business scheduling software is made to increase efficiency, and if it is too complicated to operate it would just decrease its efficiency.Automation
This is one of the best features associated with a business scheduling software. It will speed up the process by automating many tasks in the appointment scheduling process. Look out for features that automate email and SM confirmations for reminders, rebooking reminders, and review requests. These features will allow the business to run well and save time as well as increase the business.Mobile friendly
If your business scheduling software is not compatible with mobile phones then it is not the right software. This is not only important to you as a business person but also important to your customers. A customer or a client that makes an appointment with you must have a feature that allows them to check it as per their convenience. As from the business perspective, you should be able to make changes to the appointments while on the go. -
Home decoration ideas on a budget
Read moreDecorating your own home like you want it to be in your dream is what everyone wants. In fact, nowadays, having a beautiful and elegant house is a matter of prestige. Nobody wants to live in a wrecked house with old fashioned furniture, ancient floor tiles or dull wall paints. But in order to do get the perfect abode, you might be concerned about the investment too.
An elegant house demands a good amount of cash. Does this mean that everyone else will be deprived of implementing such dreams in reality? The answer is a big no. There is a huge range of budget-friendly home decor ideas that one may easily find and put in use. All of these ideas are very simple and pocket-friendly. You may mix and match them together for a better and complete home decor idea.
- Have canvas walls: Have you ever thought of making your house more artistic and less mainstream? If yes, then here is the best idea you are looking for. Canvas walls are very interesting to watch and make as well. It keeps your expenditure within your budget and there is a minimal amount of labor needed. This idea focuses on using canvases (large ones or a few small ones hung together in a haphazard manner); you may draw and color anything on them that seems to be artistic. This whole procedure is free-hand. It can be used in your dining space, living room or in your bedroom.
- Create illusions: This is another creative yet simple home decor idea. Creation of illusion refers to drawing or painting something as a natural object, which is not exactly present there. While the viewer has a glance, he/she will have no idea about it being fake until and unless that person takes a close look at it. For example, on a wall, you may draw a few hanging ropes and you may attach photographs at the end of each rope. Decorate the ropes with fairy lights. This will create an illusion for the viewer and undoubtedly it is a creative yet easily doable idea.
- Use mirror patterns: Instead of going for expensive wallpapers or designed wall painting, go for mirrors. If you are fond of simplicity, you will love this idea too. Use faded colors for your rooms, especially your bedroom and then put a large-sized mirror and let it be fixed in an inclined way against the wall touching the floor. Use floor carpets for making it look more elegant. This will save both your money and space. There is no doubt about the versatility of this idea. You can use a different pattern for another room or the hallway.
- Refashion old furniture: Refashioning old things is the new fashion now. It makes your room look natural and urban. You may use unpolished wooden items of furniture and if you like, you can use some spray paints and customize them your way. For the walls, use bright colors so that along with the urban set of furniture, they look brilliant together. This is a very original way of styling your house. Your house will obviously look different in terms of creativity, if you successfully make it so.