The living room is full of the 20-odd ladies who have been invited for a Kitty Party at my place. A kitty party is a fun get-together for the women where each person in attendance adds a set amount of cash in a pot. There is a draw at the end of the party, and the winner takes all. It is a Saturday, and the husbands have been left to take care of the kids. With most of us having Ayahs (women who work as domestic help and take care of children), it is not much hardship for the men.

The living and dining rooms are combined, so I have the dining table spread with snacks and drinks. Iced coffee is in great demand. Fortunately, I have made a big batch of it and placed a large glass bowl in the center of the coffee table, and everyone is adding their Rs. 10.00 to the pot. We are not high rollers! I make sure they write their names on a piece of paper and drop them in the ‘lottery’ box. I have bought some consolation prizes as well to soften any disappointments.

The ladies are chattering like magpies, exchanging news and gossip. Cook has roped in her daughter to help with the serving. She walks around with the snacks, making sure everyone is being catered to. I smile at her as I know she enjoys listening to the conversations and will question me on some of them later on. She grins back. The ladies enjoy a chance to get together and time away from household responsibilities. Since the party is held monthly, we all get a chance to host the occasion.

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Iced Coffee

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes minutes

Total Time 35 minutes minutes

Servings 8 cups

A deliciously cool, energizing drink for a steamy, hot day! Iced coffee or cold coffee is a blend of coffee, milk, cream, and sugar.

Ingredients

• 3 tsps (scoops) coffee (regular or decaffeinated)
• 3 cups water
• 3 tsps instant coffee (your choice)
• 5 tbsp cane sugar (or sweetener of your choice)
• 4 cups whole milk
• 1 cup crushed ice (or ice cubes to your liking)

Instructions 

• Pour the 3 cups of brewed coffee into a pitcher. Add the instant coffee and sugar to it. Stir well till the sugar is dissolved.  Leave it to cool or cool it with some crushed ice.
• Pour the coffee into a punch bowl or in a pitcher large enough to hold at least 10 cups of coffee.
• When completely cooled, add the milk and crushed ice. Stir well. Taste for coffee strength, sugar, and milk. Adjust it to your taste.
• Serve in stemware or tall glasses with crushed ice. You can garnish with a dusting of cocoa, cinnamon or a dollop of cream.
• For the adventurous, a huge dollop of ice cream adds sumptuous flavor.

Notes

Variations: You can substitute some milk with a flavored half-and-half like Irish cream or Hazelnut cream. If you are lactose intolerant, substitute with oat milk or Almond Milk.

For a spirited version, add a few pegs of Bailey's Irish cream to the mix. I call it my version of Irish coffee.

You can fix the coffee entirely with your choice of brew or instant coffee. I find the combination gives it an interesting flavor. You can also substitute a flavored brew.

Course: Drinks

Cuisine: American, Indian

Keyword: coffee, iced, cold