Coffee lovers know how delicious it can be, but coffee can be used as an ingredient in food preparation too.

While coffee is commonly used in desserts - and we’ll look at a couple in the recipe section - its uses aren’t limited to sweets. Barbecue sauces and glazes for meat, chili and even pot roasts benefit from a dash of the ground bean.

In any recipe, freshness is essential, so either buy freshly ground or grind your own and use right away. If the recipe calls for brewed coffee, make it just before preparing the dish with good filtered water. Remember, most recipes call for coffee two or three times as strong as you’d want to drink.

The possibilities are endless. Muffins, cookies, breads and all manner of candy - not to mention those well known ice creams - are enhanced by the addition of coffee.

Even cocktails get a boost from the ancient bean. Besides the famous Kahlua there are a wide variety of liqueurs that can be used to enhance a pie.

There’s even a recipe for coffee syrup. Mix a cup of sugar with a cup of double strength Colombian. Boil in a saucepan, stirring constantly to keep the sugar dissolved. Lower the heat and simmer for three minutes, stirring often. Then cool. Try it!

Bon cafetite!