Maria

Episode 1: The Secret Trip

Gluten Free Dutch Baby Pancake

One of my favorite weekly rituals is making a Dutch baby pancake with a rich cup of coffee. I spent the first half of 2024 trying different Dutch baby recipes to find the best and easiest gluten free option. I came across an awesome recipe that I have adjusted to make my own!

You will only need 5 ingredients, a cast iron skillet, a mixing bowl, a whisk, and a 1/4 measuring cup.
This recipe serves 4 slices of pancake but most mornings I usually like having 2 slices for a very filling breakfast!

Ingredients:
1. 3 Eggs
2. 3/4 cup of milk
3. 3/4 cup of gluten free 1 to 1 flour
4. Salt
5. 1 tbsp butter

My favorite thing about this recipe is being able to scale it easily. I have experimented and 1 egg = 1/4 cup flour = 1/4 cup milk. If I only have 2 eggs, not a problem, I scale down. I have company coming over and want a thicker, more dense pancake, I scale up.

Instructions:
1. Start by preheating the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.

2. Add the flour, a pinch of salt, the eggs, then milk to the mixing bowl.

3. Whisk all the ingredients together and make sure there are not large lumps and the batter, for the most part, is smooth (It is okay if there are small lumps at this point).

4. Then let the batter sit for 5-10 minutes depending on how long you have before the oven is fully preheated / make some coffee / get the cast iron ready. I noticed that if you let the batter sit 10-15 minutes that nice bubbles form and it makes the Dutch baby pancake rise and fall better!

5. Grab the cast iron and put the 1 tbsp of butter in the skillet. I stick the skillet in the oven to let the butter melt. Watch the butter carefully, you don’t want it to burn. It usually takes a few minutes for it to melt fully. [It does not matter if you use salted or unsalted butter. It is up to your taste!]

6. While you wait for your butter to melt, go back to your batter, you’ll notice it has small bubbles on the surface – that’s what you want! Now mix it with your whisk again and make sure most of the small lumps are gone. Then let it rest again.

7. Your butter should be melted and your skillet should be hot. Quickly take out your skillet and swirl it so the butter coats the entire bottom and half way up the sides of the skillet. Then, quickly pour your batter in to the skillet. Immediately put the skillet back in the oven and set a timer for 12 minutes.

8. At the 12 minute mark, rotate the skillet 180 degrees. I usually just rotate the handle from the right side to the left (or vice versa). Then set another time for 6 minutes.

9. When the timer goes off again, take a look and see if the pancake has a golden brown look. If it looks close, watch it at 2 minute increments until it looks a golden brown. At this point, I usually add another 4 minutes to my timer and then 2 minutes after that. I like mine a deep, rich, golden brown so I keep it in the oven a bit longer!

10. Remove from the oven when it looks golden to your taste!

11. Dress up the pancake to your taste! We love raspberries, powder sugar, and maple syrup!

ENJOY!!!!

Fall 2023 Bucket List

I hope my bucket list inspires you to create your own list of some of your favorite fall activities!

With fall swiftly approaching, I have been holding tight to the last days of summer. In my mind, Labor Day weekend marks the transition from summer to fall. Since I have been struggling with the impending transition to fall, I decided to make a fall bucket list to get me more excited for fall!

I wanted to share my ideas to make the most out of fall and have included the link to my canvas template at the bottom of the post for you to create your own fall 2023 bucket list!

I hope my bucket list inspires you to create your own list of some of your favorite fall activities! I know I am super excited to get all my fall decor out and decorate my house! Last year, I got a bunch of cute ghost decor that I am eager to put up! =)

Happy Fall Y’all!

If you want to create your own bucket list, create a free Canva account and then click the link below!

https://www.canva.com/design/DAFskVgek2Y/Z-xoNYJTxgi4fF9mT-n69A/view?utm_content=DAFskVgek2Y&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link&utm_source=publishsharelink&mode=preview

Why You Should Spend the 4th of July in Scranton, PA

Since my first time, many years ago, spending the 4th of July in Scranton, it’s been hard to not be in Scranton on the 4th. Here are 3 reasons why you need to spend the 4th of July in Scranton, PA!

Since my first time, many years ago, spending the 4th of July in Scranton, it’s been hard to not be in Scranton on the 4th. If you are unfamiliar with Scranton, PA, it rests in a valley with mountains rising on all sides. If you are on the top of a hill within the valley, you will have a great view of the mountains. Scranton is also close to many lakes, rivers, and walking/ hiking trails. Scranton is also home to many local businesses!
Here are 3 reasons why you need to spend the 4th of July in Scranton, PA!

1. Summer activities for any type of weather!

This past 4th of July weekend, there was a ton of rain in the forecast. However, it ended up not raining most of the days but it was muggier and hotter than anticipated. Many years, July is the time of year when you can plan on decent weather in Scranton. Regardless of the weather, Scranton and Northeastern PA have a ton of summer activity options that make it worth the trip, no matter what the weather will be.

For a 4th of July weekend with beautiful weather, there are so many lakes where you can lay on the beach, walk/ hike, or boat during the day! You can get to Lackawanna State Park and Gouldsboro State Park within 30 minutes for a lake day! You can also rent an Airbnb in one of the private lake communities for a more full lake weekend!
Montage Mountain has a waterpark, and Nay Aug can provide a great place for a walk/ hike or a great place to picnic!

For a 4th of July weekend with iffy weather, Scranton and the surrounding areas have many indoor activity options! I personally love all the coffee shops in Scranton, which provide a great way to support a local business, get a good cup of coffee or brunch, and a place to hang out, read a book, or meet someone new! Scranton also has the Scranton Shakespeare Festival, which has performances running all summer long! My parents went to Othello over the 4th weekend and could not rave enough about it! Dickson City has the Viewmont Mall and a movie theatre. Kalahari is less than 40 minutes away from Scranton if you crave the summer waterpark experience, but the weather is not so great.

2. People in Scranton show up for the holiday!

There is something to be said about spending a holiday in a place where people are excited to celebrate! The people in Scranton love to show up in their red, white, and blue and celebrate! Lots of people have their own celebrations with family and friends, barbequing, hanging out at the lake, or lighting off their own firework display.

Scranton always puts on the Scrantastic Spectacular, which happens downtown with local vendors! This is also where they light off a huge firework display while the Scranton Philharmonic plays to the fireworks! The event is always a great way to get good food and experience the holiday!

Though many businesses/ people show up for the holiday, there are still businesses that remain open on the 4th itself, making it easy to still experience the city even on the 4th!

3. There is no better place to watch fireworks!

Because Scranton is in a valley, watching fireworks is unlike anywhere I have ever been. Depending on where you are in the city, you are able to witness fireworks displays across the entire valley. It is magical and hard to describe!
The night of the Scrantastic Spectacular is a great night to find a place overlooking the city to watch the fireworks. If the Scrantactic Spectacular isn’t on the 4th itself, on the 4th, finding a spot overlooking the city when it gets dark is a must! Because so many people in Scranton go all out celebrating the holiday, you can see tons of fireworks displays across the entire valley!

Pro tip: a top of a public parking garage will do the trick, especially if it overlooks a large section of the valley!

Though Scranton, PA, might not be the first place you would think to spend your 4th of July weekend, I recommend you think about it while planning your next 4th weekend! I promise you won’t regret spending a weekend full of 4th celebrations, good food, and great fireworks displays!
Happy 4th of July! 🇺🇸

Ethical Consumerism Around the Holiday Season

This episode is all about ethical consumption during the holiday season! We dive into buying local/ small, fair trade, and sustainability. In this episode, @maria_doesthings chats with her mom and sister about ethical consumerism!

https://open.spotify.com/episode/5RJetpp4wpYfRRqlO29ODZ?si=j6xW_jB0RL26hX3ZqR3OGA

A Deep Dive Into Ethical Coffee

This article is written for Engl 540.01 Course: Creating Digital Content at Marywood University.

On a snowy March day, I drove through the winding roads of northeastern Pennsylvania to get to the Moka Origins Factory. We went for the coffee but left with such a passion for single-origin, ethically made chocolate. After my trips to Guatemala in 2014 and 2015, my passion for coffee has grown into something wonderful. I adore spending my time trying new local/micro-roasted coffees and learning about the coffee industry. Moka Origins was like taking a trip to coffee heaven!

Moka Origins currently has a factory store and cafe in Honesdale, PA. You can visit for a tour of the facilities where they make the chocolate and roast the coffee. You can grab bags of coffee and chocolate there, and you can even order a coffee or chocolate beverage at the cafe! If you are near Honesdale and want to stop by the factory, check out this blog post on what I recommend getting while you are there.

Moka didnt begin as a factory store, though. It began in 2014 in Cameroon as a farming venture.

“Our mission in Cameroon is creating food security, market linkage, and employment opportunities by partnering farmers as well as directly cultivating local food crops and cash crops (such as cacao), and starting a Farmers Field School.”
https://mokaorigins.com/pages/faq

Driven by their mission, Jeff Abella and Ishan Tigunait, the husband and wife duo that created Moka Origins, grew it into the amazing company that it is today. Today not only have they created amazing programs in Cameroon for the farmers and their communities, but they also have their factory store and sell their chocolate in 40 retail locations across 9 states.

Why talk about Ethical Coffee?

When discussing coffee production and economics, is important to realize that so many coffee farmers and workers are not properly compensated for their work or coffee products. Large coffee companies undervalue the coffee and underpay those involved in the growing and processing process. Talking about the coffee industry and all the steps in coffee economics and production can empower people to make wiser coffee consumption decisions.

Understanding the economics of coffee is the first step in understanding the importance of the work a company like Moka is doing.

The graphic to the left does a great job breaking down all the parts of the coffee industry. You can learn more about this graphic here: https://www.visualcapitalist.com/the-economics-of-coffee-in-one-chart/

What this graphic doesn’t show is how many hands it takes to produce one simple cup of coffee.
Here is a simple break down of that process.

Coffee is planted by coffee farmers, taken care of by farmers, then harvested by those farmers.

Then the coffee needs to be processed. This means transforming it from cherry to bean that is ready to be roasted.

For many large coffee companies, the coffee is brought to them to be sold or to brew, or maybe even both.

Then the beans are roasted and packaged. You can see part of this process under stage 3 in the graphic as it relates to the economic process of coffee.

Then someone needs to grind the coffee. That might be to bag the coffee to sell it or the baristas who are brewing the coffee for a customer.

Lastly is the cup of coffee you experience at home or in a coffee shop.

There have been efforts to minimize the number of hands and the number of economic stages coffee passes through. This is the concept of third-wave coffee. Third-wave coffee is the wave of the coffee industry we are in currently. It began in the 2000s with a focus on coffee consumers caring about where their coffee comes from and how it is produced. You can learn more about third wave coffee here: https://essense.coffee/en/waves-of-coffee-explained/

The efforts to decrease the number of people and production through the coffee process is where the idea of direct trade coffee came from. Fair Trade and Director Trade coffee are a part of the third-wave coffee movement. They both call for a more ethical way to produce and consume coffee. If you would like to learn more about Fair Trade and Direct Trade coffee, check out my article here.

Coffee drinkers around the globe desire ethical and high-quality coffee. direct trade coffee has made its way into its own segment of the industry, giving companies an edge in the third-wave coffee industry.

So how does this relate to Moka Origins?

Moka is one of these companies that has chosen to not only produce high-quality coffee and chocolate but they are also producing ethical coffee and chocolate.

“165 million people depend on cacao or coffee for their livelihood. Many aren’t paid a living wage and are stuck in poverty. We’re out to change that.”
https://mokaorigins.com/pages/social-impact

Moka Origin’s mission is so much more than fairly compensating people for their work or product. They are working to build strong communities and show people their worth. This is crucial since the coffee industry has devalued coffee products and production for such a long time. Since third-wave coffee is super popular, there is definitely a customer base who really cares about this and wants to buy products that are ethical.

Moka Origins has been a shining example of what direct trade should be. They are connected to a whole community in Cameroon, making sure its people are taken care of in all aspects.

Where can I learn more?

On Moka Origins’ website, there is a tab just for their social impact. Check in out here: https://mokaorigins.com/pages/social-impact

Their whole website is a wealth of information; however, the social impact section provides a map to understanding how Moka Origins is truly helping people with their coffee and chocolate. They give hard-hitting yet digestible facts to begin understanding the complex issues people in other parts of the world face in the coffee and chocolate industries. There are graphics that break down important information for consumers to easily understand. The website provides photos of the people who have been positively impacted by the work Moka Origins has done. The varying modalities they use to convey their story on their website paint a detailed picture of who they are as a company. I highly encourage you to check out their website to learn more.

Reflections

Direct Trade vs Fair Trade Coffee

When discussing ethical coffee, it is crucial to talk about where coffee comes from and how it gets from the coffee tree to a brewed cup of coffee. Many people and hands are involved in the coffee growing, producing, and selling process. Two important concepts to understand in this process are Fair Trade Coffee and Direct Trade Coffee.

Fair Trade Coffee

Fair Trade is a third-party certification that organizations can get to ensure that coffee producers are paid fair wages for their coffee products. A few organizations can certify coffee, like Fairtrade America, Fairtrade International, and Fair Trade Certified. On the package of coffee that is Fair Trade, there will be a logo certifying that it is, in fact, Fair Trade.
You can learn more about Fair Trade coffee here: https://www.drinktrade.com/learn/fair-trade-coffee.

Direct Trade Coffee

Direct Trade coffee is when a coffee roaster works directly with the coffee producer to buy coffee. This is done to have the roasters build strong relationships with the coffee producers and provide fair wages. Direct Trade coffee can also be preferred since the coffee goes through fewer hands before getting to the final cup, which some believe equals a better final cup of coffee.
You can learn more about Direct Trade coffee here: https://www.ethicalcoffee.net/direct.html.

Which Do I Choose?

There are pros and cons to both Fair Trade and Direct Trade coffee. One argument against Direct Trade coffee is that there is no regulatory system or guidelines, so the caliber of the coffee and roaster/ producer relationship could change. However, the impact roasters could make on coffee producers and their communities through Direct Trade can outway the lack of a regulatory system.
Fair Trade provides a regulatory system; however, coffee producers need to jump through more hoops to get the certification. This might be difficult for coffee producers and might not be entirely equitable to great, small coffee producers.

Overall, I feel striving to do better when choosing coffee products matters. Whether it is Direct Trade of Fair Trade, just picking one makes a difference.

Mocha at Moka

There is just something about a great cup of coffee that gives you a feeling like nothing else in this world. When I experience a cup of coffee like that, I spend months, even years, eager to return to the coffee shop that produced such an unforgettable cup of coffee.

In the winter of 2022, I visited Moka Origins for the first time and was fascinated by the fact that they produce single-origin coffee AND single-origin chocolate. The expertise of this pairing made my decision on what to order very easy, an iced mocha latte.

The mocha latte I had that day was unlike any other mocha latte I have experienced. The chocolate was rich, creamy, and flavorful, but it wasn’t too sweet. It paired well with their espresso and some oat milk. It was hands down the best mocha latte of my life.

Even though Moka Origins is only about a 45-minute car ride from me, I hadn’t found the time to go back until last weekend. I was so excited to get a mocha latte again!! I was so moved by the iced mocha latte; I did not vary from my original order.

When I got my drink, just like earlier this year, I was stunned by the excellent coffee and chocolate pairing. It really confined that this was the best mocha latte I have ever had.

If you are around the Honesdale area, I HIGHLY recommend stopping by Moka Origins and ordering a mocha latte. Grab some coffee and chocolate while you are there too! I know I won’t wait months before returning for the best mocha latte again.

How to get your Christmas shopping done by December 1st

I love spending December decorating, wrapping gifts, making ornaments, and enjoying the Christmas spirit around me. When most of my shopping is done before December 1st, I feel like I can fully embrace the holiday spirit throughout the month of December. I want to give you some tips and tricks for getting most of your shopping done in November, which will allow you to really enjoy December!

Happy October! With November coming up, I wanted to share some ideas on getting ready for the Christmas season! November 1st means the Christmas season has officially begun! November, for me, is a hybrid between Christmas and Thanksgiving. I don’t like to exclude Thanksgiving, but my Christmas decorations begin to go up, and my Christmas spirit is in full force. I like to start my Christmas shopping early every year and hate to shop the last weeks before Christmas. Not only do I find myself spending less money when I begin early, but I also find gifts that are truly tailored to the people I am buying for. Even though I start Christmas shopping months and months before Christmas, I do the bulk of my shopping between November 1st and December 1st. I love spending December decorating, wrapping gifts, making ornaments, and enjoying the Christmas spirit around me. When most of my shopping is done before December 1st, I feel like I can fully embrace the holiday spirit throughout the month of December. I want to give you some tips and tricks for getting most of your shopping done in November, which will allow you to really enjoy December!

1. Create a list and budget for each person you will be buying for.
Getting organized is key to the success of getting shopping done early. Many times, gift-giving is not about the amount of money you spend but the intention behind the gift. You can make any budget work for you in a very intentional way. I once had someone give me a customized insulated mug that was not expensive, but it meant the world to me. This is why a budget and a list are key. Once you have decided on a dollar amount you really can afford for each person you are buying for, create a list of each person’s favorite things or things you think would mean a lot to them to receive as a gift. This will help to guide you when you are shopping while hopefully decreasing your stress on getting the perfect gift. A little time and effort in planning can help you save money and give more intentionally.

2. Plan to buy local/ from small businesses.
With the supply chains the way they are right now, it is even more crucial to shop small. I have a handful of small businesses I follow online and love to support. I look at their websites to see if they have anything that could fit in the budget and interests of the people I am buying gifts for. I also have a bunch of local businesses I love supporting so I plan to check them out online or in-person during the month of November to see if they have anything that fits within the budget and interests of the people I am buying for. Hopefully, planning to buy things online in November will allow for delayed shipping and supply chain issues to not greatly influence the gifts you are buying.

3. Look for gifts in unconventional places.
You do not need to buy gifts at traditional stores physically or online. I have found Christmas gifts at the grocery store plenty of times! Placed like Wegmans, ShopRite, Whole Foods, etc have plants and other items that could be given as gifts. If you have a car lover in your life, get them a gift card to a local auto shop. If you have a friend who is a coffee lover, grab them a mug from their favorite local coffee shop instead of at a chain shopping store.

4. Create a Black Friday plan.
I love shopping on Black Friday but only online. The idea of being in a crowded store has never interested me but the deals some stores have for black Friday definitely grab my attention. I use Krazy Coupon Lady (insert link) to plan my black Friday shopping. Many bigger stores like Target or Amazon start their deals way before black Friday. It’s important to plan early to make sure you are buying gifts at the peak of their deal times. I use places like Target and Amazon for black Friday shopping online to get items like electronics, grab bag gifts, blankets, mugs, etc. Anything that I cannot find at a local store, I look for deals and buy them when they go on sale. I have gotten some heavily discounted Ipads over the years this way.

5. Look into local holiday markets/ craft shows.
This is something I look into in November and plan to do in December. I use local holiday markets and craft shows as my last items shopping time. These markets and craft shows are great ways to support your local community while getting unique, international items for people. Since many happen at the beginning of December, this is a nice way to get out and do something Christmasy!

6. Grab some $5 – 10 items throughout the month.
While I am in Target, grocery stores, and other local stores, I buy $5 items like the $5 Christmas mugs at target. I also find Black Friday deals for $5 – $10 blankets, fuzzy socks, etc. I collect a handful of these items to use as extra gifts, grab bags, holiday party gifts, etc. I also keep whatever is left over for the next year. $5 Christmas mugs don’t go out of style and can be used any year for any event, like the work grab bag that you forgot about!

Some additional tips for next year….

Plan your budget early and set up automatic savings.
I have a neat high-yield saving account with Ally that allows you to set up automatic savings and create buckets for savings goals. I have a Christmas bucket that twice a month I have some money go into. I planned my budget early in the year and allowed the bucket to accumulate. Now, I have a nice chunk of my Christmas budget already set aside, so the financial burden of Christmas doesn’t hit all at once. These automatic savings could be $5-10 a month if need be! I recommend taking your budget amount and dividing it by the number of months you have until November 1st. If you buy gifts throughout the year, take the money out of this bucket and use it to pay your credit card or add it back to your checking account! Having money set aside helps to decrease the financial stress people often feel around the holidays.

Slowly buy gifts throughout the year and have a place in your house to store the presents.
This would be my biggest piece of advice! When you see something you know a person in your life would love but the next closest holiday is Christmas, just grab it for them then and there! You won’t forget about the idea, and you won’t be dropping tons of money at one time. I have an area in my house where I store all the Christmas presents I collect throughout the year, so I don’t forget where I put them. It feels so good in early November when you do an inventory of the presents you have collected, and you don’t have to begin your Christmas shopping from page one.

Happy Holidays and Enjoy Your Christmas Shopping!