but first illy coffee & dessert

Every morning should start with a fresh cup of illy coffee -- and on some special mornings, the day should start with a fresh fig tart on the side of that cup of jo. Yes! Because fall is just around the corner and that's special enough -- the celebration of a new season.

We've been blessed with a few out-of-town friends visiting and that inspired me to bake a little something special to go with our morning illy coffee.

I'm also slowly coming out of my inspiration block. A good cup of coffee always seems to help, but I find if I make my mornings a little bit more special every once in a while, that helps too. Because my perfect day starts with something sweet and homemade next to my illy coffee.

So I'll be eating tiny bits of leftovers of this homemade fresh fig tart with my morning cup of jo. If you're in, let me know and I'll brew more coffee! ;)

Because seriously, my morning cup sets the tone for the day, and my favorite brand is illy coffee. It really is an extraordinary, rich, and smooth taste which immediately wakes me up and reenergizes me for the day ahead. I'll usually put a few tablespoons of it to my French press and add hot water. And voila, I can have a great cup of coffee from the comfort of my own home.

So whether I'm relishing in a quiet morning at home or hosting an elegant brunch, I'll be preparing illy coffee in our French press, for myself and/or our guests. I'm already looking forward to holiday brunches at home!

For a limited time, visit illy and use code COFFEE17 to enjoy special 20% savings on your online order.

And if you're interested, I'll be sharing this homemade Fresh Fig Tart tomorrow. Stay tuned for that recipe.