9 splendid uses for coffee to perk up the flavour

You treat yourself to a coffee jolt every morning, so why not treat yourself to one for everyday meals? This flavour-packed bean has nine splendid uses.

1. To jazz up a spice rub, add ground coffee. For an especially good combination, mix together ground espresso or other coffee, paprika, chili powder (or pure ancho chili powder), cumin, salt and freshly ground black pepper. Add a touch of sugar to balance the bitterness of the coffee. This spice rub is ­especially good with grilled beef and pork.
2. For onion soup with that je ne sais quoi, stir in one millilitre (1/4 teaspoon) instant espresso powder per 250 millilitres (one cup) broth.
3. To supercharge bottled barbecue sauce, stir in 15 to 30 millilitres (one to two tablespoons) of strong-brewed coffee or espresso.
4. To create a mocha flavour in chocolate desserts, dissolve five to 10 millilitres (one to two teaspoons) instant espresso powder in 15 to 30 millilitres (one to two tablespoons) hot water (or other warm liquid from your recipe). Add to the ingredients for an 20 centimetre (eight inch) square pan of brownies. Try it in other chocolate desserts, too, like chocolate pudding, fondue, mousses and chocolate sauce.
5. To perk up the taste of a spicy gelatin dessert, dissolve the gelatin in brewed coffee instead of in water.
6. For a blast of flavour in homemade biscotti, add freshly ground coffee to the batter.
7. For a simple glaze for cupcakes or muffins, mix together strong-brewed coffee and enough confectioners' sugar to make the ­mixture spreadable.
8. To make ham steak with red-eye gravy, stir 250 millilitres (one cup) brewed coffee into the skillet used to fry the ham, scraping the pan bottom to loosen any browned bits. Stir in 125 millilitres (1/2 cup) heavy cream or half-and-half and simmer over medium-low heat until the gravy thickens up a bit, eight to 10 minutes. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper, then pour over the ham steak. Some say the name "red-eye" in this classic sauce comes from the slightly red tinge the sauce gets from the smoked ham being cooked in the same skillet. Others say the name refers to the red-eyed early risers who often make this dish in the morning to help wake them up.
9. To make a novel marinade for turkey, improvise a combination of brewed coffee, cider vinegar, garlic, Worcestershire sauce, freshly ground black pepper, sugar and ground cinnamon. Use to marinate boneless, skinless turkey breast before grilling or broiling.

Tidbit: Coffee is the second largest traded commodity in the world. Oil is the first.

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