Hot Apple Cider

Merry Christmas! Hope you all had a blessed holiday and safe travels. Bobby and I went to my parents for an approximately 21 hour visit :) It was a whirlwind of a trip, but well worth the drive through the snow. Over the next week we will FINALLY be finishing up our kitchen re-do and further prepping our home for the arrival of our sons! And while we do this, we'll be drinking one of our favorite holiday drinks: Hot Apple Cider.

2 qt. apple juice
1 qt. cranberry juice (not cranberry juice cocktail)
1-2 cinnamon sticks
1/2 t whole allspice
1/4 c sugar

Put all ingredients in large saucepan or crockpot. Heat on med-low until hot, stirring a few times to make sure the sugar dissolves. Serve warm.

Update: Pumpkin Spice Lattes

Soooo, I've tried several more Pumpkin Spice Latte DIY recipes. Some have been pretty good, others not so good. However, I think I found one I'm quite pleased with for the time being. It's pretty simple, and very tasty!

1/2 c milk

1/4 t pumpkin pie spice

2 T Vanilla Simple Syrup (recipe below)

1/2 c strong coffee

While your coffee is brewing, put the milk, simple syrup and pumpkin pie spice in a microwave-safe dish. Heat in the microwave for a minute or two, then froth. I use my Pampered Chef "Measure, Mix & Pour" (which I've referenced before), but you can just mix with a whisk or fork until frothy too. 

Put about 1/2 cup of brewed coffee in your mug, and top with the frothed milk mixture. Add whipped cream to the top and sprinkle a bit of cinnamon on top if you like :) 

Vanilla Simple Syrup

1 c water

1 c sugar

2 t vanilla extract

In small pot, heat ingredients over medium heat, stirring constantly until the mixture comes to a boil. Allow syrup to cool. Store in refrigerator in airtight container.

Pumpkin Spice Lattes...

...are my vice. So in order to fuel my habit without doing too much damage to my pocketbook, I've set out on a quest to recreate this delicious treat at home. This morning's recipe was the second epic failure, but I still have hope I'll find one that works. Hopefully, for Bobby's sake :), it will be soon!

I'll keep you all (however many of you there are...) posted.

Happy Friday!