Kahlúa, the word‘s largest coffee liqueur brand, suggests these two recipes to warm your day.

You can also serve them on February 27th, National Kahlúa Day—and anytime in-between.

Kahlúa has been produced in Veracruz, Mexico from local coffee beans since 1936. The name derives from the word “kahwa,” which is Arabic slang for coffee.
 
 
RECIPE #1: KAHLÚA ESPRESSO MARTINI

Ingredients Per Drink

 
Preparation

1. COMBINE all ingredients into a cocktail shaker. Add ice and shake vigorously. Strain into a chilled Martini glass
 
 
RECIPE #2: KAHLÚA LATTE

Ingredients Per Drink

 
Preparation

1. SHAKE the ingredients and serve in a mug (a glass mug, if you have one), topped with optional garnishes.
 
 
How about a Kahlua Ice Cream Float?

[1] Make your evening cup of coffee special on National Coffee Day (photo © Kahlúa).

[2] Add some Kahlua to your coffee—hot or iced (photo © Hannah Kaminsky | Bittersweet Blog).

Famous Kahlúa cocktails include

 
 
Preparation For All Three

SHAKE the ingredients (with ice, except for the Frozen Mudslide) and strain into rocks glass.

THE NIBBLE focuses on specialty foods and artisan products. They’re typically made with better ingredients, are better for you and simply taste better.

But the Green Giant Fresh line of Whole Baby Idaho Potatoes in Sauce simply couldn’t be more delicious. The four varieties in tasty sauces are all excellent. Two are absolutely seductive.

And they’re ready to eat in five minutes or less.

The steaming hot potatoes are delicious straight from the microwave bag. But you can never go wrong with some fresh chives, parsley, or other favorite herb.

Find out more in the full review.

Add the right fruit sorbet to the right sparkling wine: delicious! (photo © Domaine Chandon).

The first documented imported vines (from Europe) were planted in Los Angeles in 1833. About the same time, the first vineyard using indigenous grapes was planted in the Napa Valley, in northern California.

California wines were enjoyed locally, but were an afterthought on the world stage—if they were thought of at all.
 
 
AMERICAN WINES FINALLY GET THEIR DUE

The breakthrough came at the history-making Paris Wine Tasting of 1976, a competition in which French judges blind-tasted top Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon wines from France and from California.

French wines were considered the best in the world. No one thought that the California wines stood a chance.

Surprise: California wines ranked highest in each category (the details).

Americans, who had previously enjoyed cocktails before and with meals, began to drink lush California red and white wines.

Most of us drink wine and use it in cooking, but it can also be turned into a dessert. Today’s tip: pair sparkling wine with sorbet as a cocktail or dessert.

(FOOD 101: Only wines made in the Champagne region of France can legally be called Champagne. All other bubblies are called sparkling wines.)

We use the sparkling wines from Domaine Chandon—established in the Napa Valley in 1973 by the great French house of Moët et Chandon—and the best sorbets from our local specialty food stores.