Cold Brewed Coffee

As promised, here's my post about cold brewed coffee! I am so in love with it! I love the convenience of going to my fridge and pouring a glass of iced coffee, compared to brewing it and chilling it. Head over to my other blog to get the recipe!

https://thenotsoskinnybaker.wordpress.com/2011/08/11/cold-brewed-coffee/

Super divine, homemade hot chocolate

I've been looking for a good hot chocolate recipe lately, and was so unimpressed by what I saw. If I use cocoa, I need to add a ton of sugar. I wanted some REAL hot chocolate. So of course I had to use REAL chocolate. I fiddled with it a little, and here's what I came up with.

What You'll Need:
8 oz. hot milk (I used whole milk, it was SO rich and creamy)
1/4 cup of chopped chocolate or chocolate chips (a mix of semi sweet and milk chocolate is the best!)
Peppermint mocha creamer (Coffeemate brand)
OR
A shot of peppermint Schnapps
Whipped cream
Candy Cane
Peeps Christmas marshmallows!

Microwave your milk for 1 1/2 to 2 minutes, or until it's nice and hot. Chop your chocolate into small pieces (smaller than chocolate chips if you can, but it'll melt eventually if they're bigger too). Stir your chocolate into your hot milk until it's melted and combined. Add a dash (about 1 Tbsp) of peppermint creamer. Top with whipped cream, marshmallow, and candy cane. Enjoy!

Tonight we're headed to a candle light walk in town. Candles, Christmas music, lights, gingerbread houses, horse drawn carriage rides, so much fun! I'm taking along some hot chocolate in a thermos, and some Little Debbie cakes! The perfect way to kick off the Christmas season. Happy Holidays!

Egg Nog Cappuccino

What You'll Need:

Espresso 

Milk

Egg Nog

No Calorie Sweetener

Fill your mug with equal parts egg nog and milk. Leave enough room for about 2 oz. of espresso. I like to pop mine in the microwave to get it hot before steaming it (or else it takes forever to steam). 

Once your milk/egg nog is hot, brew your espresso and steam your milk/egg nog mixture. Add a pack of no calorie sweetener and the espresso, and enjoy! I added a little nutmeg on top, too. YUM!

Chai Latte

This is an incredibly delicious and incredibly SIMPLE recipe for a chai latte! If you liked my Pumpkin Spice Latte, you're sure you love this one!

What you'll need:

Espresso 

Milk

Chai concentrate

Whipped cream (optional)

Cinnamon (optional)

Brew your espresso in your machine and steam your milk. I like to nuke my milk in the microwave so the steaming process goes a little quicker. To your milk add 1/4-3/8 of a cup of chai concentrate. This is the kind I used, I found it down the tea aisle.

Add your espresso and taste. Add more chai if needed. The chai concentrate is incredibly sweet, so you shouldn't need any additional sweetener.

Top with whipped cream and cinnamon if desired. Enjoy!

Pumpkin Spice Latte

What you'll need:

Caramel espresso

Steamed milk (or just hot milk)

Caramel ice cream topping (1-2 tbsp)

Pumpkin pie spice (Just a pinch!)

Calorie free sweetener

Whipped cream

Prepare your espresso or coffee in your espresso maker. Add your caramel, sweetener, and spices to the espresso, and stir to dissolve. Add the espresso mix to your steamed milk and top with whipped cream and a drizzle of caramel.

Iced Mocha: This is how I like to start my mornings.. :)

Since obtaining access to an espresso maker, I've learned to make a few different kinds of coffee drinks. I'm not much of a straight coffee drinker, but I LOVE mocha's, lattes, and cappuccinos. Here's a quick "how to" for my favorite drink.

Caramel Iced Mocha

What you'll need:

Espresso or coffee

Caramel ice cream topping

Chocolate syrup

Ice cubes

Milk

Whipped cream

A large cup (I used an old Tim Horton's iced coffee cup)

Prepare your coffee or espresso according to the directions on your machine. I like to use a caramel roast coffee bean for mine. Pour the espresso in your cup, and mix in your caramel and chocolate syrup. 

You want to do this while it's still warm so that it dissolves easily. Add your ice, about 5-7 pieces. 

Pour milk in on top of it until it just covers the ice. Use a spoon to stir it all together. Add whipped cream, and drizzle with either caramel or chocolate syrup. MMMMM!

For a Frappachino:

Freeze milk in an ice cube tray. (We usually use whole milk and freeze it because Emma can never drink a whole gallon before it expires.)

Chill your espresso in the freezer for 10 minutes.

Throw your espresso, caramel, chocolate syrup, and milk cubes in the blender. 

Blend together. Pour it in your cup and add the whipped cream and drizzle your syrup.