Spiced Pumpkin Lattes

Since it's pumpkin season, I thought I'd share my recipe for this yummy hot (and slightly sweet) drink. I hope you like it!

4 C. milk
2 Tbsp. sugar
6 Tbsp. brown sugar
6 Tbsp. Libby's pumpkin puree
1 Tbsp. vanilla extract
1 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
1 1/2 - 2 C. strong coffee

In a medium saucepan, whisk all ingredients together over Medium heat until desired temperature. Strain through cheesecloth. Makes 4-6 servings.

NOTE: You might want to add the sugar "to taste". My tastebuds have changed, and I no longer desire it this sweet. Also, make sure you strain it. If you don't, it has a slightly pulpy texture, and your last few swigs will be quite thick. This recipe is easily doubled - just store what's left over in the frig.

Mocha Frappuccino

Some of you, like me, are in the dog days of summer, and are doing all you can to stay cool. This recipe is fast and easy to mix up (think chocolate milk + sweetened coffee), and is especially good over a mug full of ice. Enjoy!

3 C. hot coffee
3/4 C. sugar
4 C. milk
3/4 C. Hershey's chocolate syrup

Combine hot coffee and sugar; stir til dissolved. Add milk and syrup. Store in refrigerator and serve over ice.

NOTE:I have tried several variations of this recipe, and all are good! It just depends on your taste. I recommend you keep track of your initial amounts, and make changes if necessary. Here are a few ways to mix it up: stronger or weaker coffee; flavored coffee; more or less sugar; skim, 1% or 2% milk; chocolate milk; dark, milk or regular chocolate syrup. Have fun with it!

Hot Caramel Apple Cider

Doesn't that sound yummy? And, oh, it's so easy! Just pour yourself a mug of apple cider and squeeze in a few squirts of caramel ice cream topping. Heat in the microwave and stir in a few drops of vanilla and you're all set. If you wanted to make this fancy, you could spray some whipped cream on top and drizzle with more caramel syrup. I'm embarrassed to say that my girls and I have gone through a whole gallon of cider already this week! Gotta put the brakes on! =)

Happy Fall everyone!

Mocha Punch

Gary and I were married December 12th, 1992. After we got home from our honeymoon and before Christmas (I know - crazy, right?) I threw a get-together for all of my potential new friends in our home. Okay, it was really for all of his friend's wives! Gary was one of the last in his bunch to get married, so I was the new kid on the block, not to mention the youngest! It was a little intimidating for me, but I'm so glad I did it. And it's been a fun yearly tradition ever since then! Sometimes I have a morning brunch, sometimes a Saturday evening hors doeuvre party. And we always have a crazy gift exchange. This punch has been around a few years, and I'm happy to share the recipe with all of you. It's from an old issue of Taste of Home.

6 C. water
1/2 C. Nestle's Quik (chocolate, of course)
1/2 C. sugar
1/3 C. instant coffee
1/2 gallon vanilla ice cream
1/2 gallon chocolate ice cream

Boil water in 3-qt. saucepan. Remove from heat, add Quik, sugar and instant coffee, and stir until dissolved. Cover and refrigerate 4 hours or overnight. Thirty minutes before serving, pour into punch bowl and add ice cream scoops. Stir/Mash until partially melted. Delicious!!

Fruit Tea

The idea for this recipe came from one I'd read over at Lauren's a long time ago. I've made some changes to it - so much so that it really doesn't even resemble hers at all anymore. But I do like to give credit where credit is due, and without her sharing her recipe for Fruit Tea, I wouldn't have this yummy one today. So thanks, Lauren!

2 qts. fresh-brewed Lipton iced tea
3/4 C. sugar (or more)
1 12-oz. can frozen orange juice concentrate
2 12-oz. cans Jumex peach nectar (in the canned juice aisle, not frozen)

Mix all ingredients together in a one-gallon pitcher and add water to equal one gallon. Stir well or shake before serving.

Single Serving Hot Cider

Don't be thinking I'm going to take you step-by-step through the whole laborious process of making apple cider, because I'm not. I would never dream of doing that myself, although it would be fascinating to watch. LOL This is my version of a quick and easy recipe for just one mug of steaming appley/orangey/spicey goodness.

Start with your favorite mug and fill it 2/3 full of apple cider. Fill it the rest of the way with orange juice. Add one cinnamon stick, 3 whole cloves, and a few teaspoons of brown sugar. Heat in the microwave, then stir to combine everything good. Discard the cloves, but leave the cinnamon stick in - the flavor comes out more and more the longer it steeps. You can actually rinse it off and keep it for your next cup or two, or five. =)

So-Good Cider

1 gallon apple cider
1/4 C. brown sugar
4 cinnamon sticks
1 tsp. whole allspice
1 6-oz. can orange juice

Pour cider into a 25-cup percolator. Put the rest in filtered basket and perk.

Raspberry Cordial

I've made this recipe several times over the years as a special treat for my girls - especially when we've got 'Anne of Green Gables' on the brain. We haven't had a marathon movie-watching day that featured Anne in awhile, but after browsing my recipes and finding this one, I think it's time. Drink up!

1# raspberries, frozen
1 1/4 C. sugar
4 C. boiling water
2 lemons

In saucepan, add sugar to frozen raspberries and cook for 20-25 minutes, until sugar has dissolved. Pour through fine strainer, mashing with a spoon thoroughly, then discarding pulp and seeds. Add the strained juice of two lemons and stir. Add boiling water, let cool, and refrigerate.

NOTE: I always use bottled lemon juice because I never have fresh on hand.