Absolutely thrilled to learn that one of my (many) vices may actually be good for me… COFFEE!

Coffee has always gotten a bum rap because the caffeine in it is a stimulant, which doesn’t exactly go hand-in-hand with a healthy lifestyle. But according to the New England Journal of Medicine, coffee is rich in antioxidants and may actually decrease the likelihood of your dying early or developing Type 2 diabetes.

But what I’m REALLY excited about is that another study says coffee drinkers are less likely to develop dementia and Alzheimer’s disease later in life. This is comforting because as I’ve gotten older, I feel like I’m forgetting more and more.

Now, where was I…

Oh, yes… coffee. A few other findings:

• Helps you sleep better at night (if consumed earlier in the day)
• Lowers the risk of developing some forms of skin, oral and prostate cancers.
• Speeds recovery after colon surgery.

This is all great news because my good friends at Barnie’s CoffeeKitchen just sent me some samples of Pronto!, their new line of single serve, cold brewed liquid coffee concentrate made with 100% Arabica beans.

I’ve never really cared for instant coffee, but one little “brewstick” in 10 ounces of hot water changed my mind. This tastes like freshly brewed coffee, but with the plus of speed, portability and convenience.

Pronto! Is single origin, Fair Trade, Organic and Rainforest Alliance Certified and comes in seven flavors like French Roast, Hawaiian Hazelnut and Crème Brulée. It’s sold in a container of six sticks and can be found at Walmart or on Amazon.

Now… how about another cup of Java?

You know what a batido is, don’t you?

Batidos (aka licuados or preparados) are Latin American fruit-filled drinks, similar to smoothies. As this hot summer drags on, these deliciously refreshing “milkshakes” have been popping up everywhere.

Here’s a twist on the traditional batido that I came up with for my pals at Right@Home, the bilingual website that’s always in the know when it comes to recipes, cleaning and organizing, decorating, crafts and special offers.

After we made the batidos, the kids had fun adding their favorite toppings… fresh summer fruit and a little cereal for crunch. The best part? They were eating another serving of fruit without even knowing it.

Hmmm… I’m keeping this recipe idea in my back pocket for when the kids go back to school next month!

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