love a latte!

delish!

lots of latte's!

latte's for 2!

   well, it has finally gotten chilly down here in the lowcountry and this fall-ish weather makes me want to sit curled up with a good book (or laptop), and sip on a delicous latte :)

everyone loves a good latte!! i LOVE coffee in general but especially the speciality "fru-fru"coffee drinks as my husband calls them :) AND i also discovered there is such a thing as Latte Art. how cool!

the other morning when we were having breakfast at Toast here in Charleston, I ordered a vanilla latte and they brought me out this lovely piece of "art"!

...I also love some of the seasonal favorites such as...you guessed it, the pumpkin spice latte! I saw on the news the other day that there was a possible shortage of the pumpkin spice syrup at Starbucks and i was seriously concerned for a minute (how ridiculous!) but apparently it has resolved itself....thank goodness!! i am sharing some recipes for some yummy lattes below and how to make them at home! enjoy!

pumpkin spice latte:

1 tbsp. sugar-free French vanilla powdered creamer (like the kind by Coffee-mate)1 no-calorie sweetener packet (like Splenda or Truvia)
2 tsp. instant coffee granules
1/4 tsp. pumpkin pie spice, or more for topping
2 tbsp. canned pure pumpkin (Libby's is the best)
1/2 cup light vanilla soymilk
1/4 cup Fat Free Reddi-wip

Directions:
Place powdered creamer, sweetener, coffee granules, and pumpkin pie spice in a tall microwave-safe mug or glass. Add 3/4 cup very hot water and stir until creamer and coffee granules have dissolved.

Add canned pumpkin and stir until blended. Add soymilk and mix well. Microwave for 30 - 45 seconds, until hot. Give it a stir, and top with Reddi-wip. Sprinkle with additional pumpkin pie spice, if you like.

chai latte:

2 whole black peppercorns

3 green cardamom pods, gently smashed with side of knife (available at Whole Foods)

3 whole cloves

1 cinnamon stick

1/2 inch fresh ginger, peeled and sliced thin

1 vanilla bean, scraped and seeds reserved

1 T black tea, preferably Assam (you could also tear open a tea bag)

1 1/2 cups water

1/2 cup milk

1 T sugar or honey

Directions:

Combine peppercorns, smashed cardamom pods, cloves, ginger, vanilla bean and seeds and cinnamon stick with the water in a small pot. Bring to a boil then cover and simmer for five minutes. After five minutes, take off the stove (but keep covered) and let steep for 10 minutes, then add the tea and continue to steep for another five minutes.

Pour tea through a fine mesh strainer (I use a sifter) and then add milk and sugar/honey. Warm up if necessary.

green tea latte:

Put 120 ml soy milk, 120 ml water, 1g green tea powder and 10g of white sugar into a skillet and mix it. Heat the skillet while whisking until hot and foamy. Pour into a mug when ready.

Tip: you can also try this recipe with a green tea bag instead of green tea powder or with regular milk instead of soy milk.

preview of Christmas season....

gingerbread latte:

• 1/4 tsp cinnamon
• 1/8 tsp ground ginger
• 2 tsp molasses (blackstrap or regular)
• 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
• 3 tbsp strong coffee
• 1 cup milk of choice (almond milk, soymilk, etc.)
• sweetener to taste (sugar, stevia, etc.)

Mix everything together in a small pot or in a mug. Then heat until desired temperature is reached. (Alternatively, if you want a foamy latte: Mix spices into coffee. In a big measuring cup, microwave the milk until foamy. Then pour milk into coffee mixture.)

and even...

S'mores latte:

2-oz espresso or strong coffee
8-oz hot or steamed milk

1.5-oz milk chocolate, chopped

1/4 cup mini marshmallows

2 tsp graham cracker crumbs

graham cracker, for garnish

happy hump day!!

Scripture of the day: 

'Delight yourself in the LORD ; And He will give you the desires of your heart.  Commit yourway to the LORD, Trust also in Him, and He will do it.  He will bring forth your righteousness as the light And your judgment as the noonday.  Rest in the LORD and wait patiently for Him; Do notfret because of him who prospers in his way, Because of the man who carries out wicked schemes.  Cease from anger and forsake wrath ; Do not fret ; it leads only to evildoing.'  Psalm 37:4-8