White Chocolate Mocha

As mentioned in my last post we will be headed to Portland this weekend for my sister in laws wedding! So as i'm planning ahead for the grueling 10.5hr drive turned 12hr+ (kids!) i'm thinking of two things: Food and Drink! Yesterday we made some beef jerky and got the snack part taken care of, so now it came down to drinks. While chatting with my esposo about bringing our own coffee and a cute little container with creamer and snatching some little packets of sugar, my idea was quickly vetoed! :( He wanted Starbucks. Um, excuse me honey, remember that time when we were on a budget...its still that time. So....being the ever so thrifty, clever, wonderful wife I am, I went straight to Google to find a copycat recipe. There were actually SO many, I liked this girls because she used to work there, and therefore I trust her taste buds (and the mug she used was like the cutest one I've ever seen and I totally want it!).

1. Since my coffee maker is set to make coffee automatically that part was already done. But you will need to make about 6 cups of coffee, make it strong! Then on the stove, over medium-low, warm 2 cups of milk. 

2. Warm the milk until it starts getting bubbles coming up on the sides of the pan. Then remove from heat. 

3. Add to the milk 1 cup of white chocolate chips! Just keep stirring until they melt completely, I ended up turning the heat back on the lowest setting, just be really careful because both the milk and chips can burn easily!

4. Pour in the mug about 8oz of coffee (which in my mug was about 60% of the way full) and then stir in the milk mixture the rest of the way (40%). I know these aren't very "technical terms" but since the coffee was already made and not the strongest pot I wanted to make sure I had enough caffeine to fuel me through the first day of school for Riley!

5. Top with whipped cream and chocolate shavings! (Luckily I had an old chocolate bunny left over from Easter in the candy basket I've hidden from the kids!) There you have it! Matt said it tasted really good and he would now prefer this over Starbucks!

♥  Just because I can: Here is our little Riley on his first day of 1st Grade with his own cup of coffee! *Wishing you the best day Bear!!* ♥

Ingredients: 6 cups strong coffee, 2 cups milk, 1 cup white chocolate chips and whipped cream, chocolate shavings (optional)

Check out my other coffee drinks:

Coffee in a French Press 

Vanilla Latte!

Fresh, From-the-Tree, Lemonade

So we finally made it into our new house! Instead of having to use my coat closet as a pantry/pan storage I have empty shelves in the kitchen cupboards! I cant even believe it! Its still far from feeling really "home-y" but everyday we're getting closer to getting it all put away. We were happily surprised to find out the house had fruit trees growing in the backyard. 1 orange tree and an amazing lemon tree! I don't think I've ever seen a fruit tree that produces as much fruit as this one. There are lemons EVERYWHERE. Luckily, I LOVE LEMONS. So as my first lemon recipe I had the kids help me make lemonade.

 

Here's the basket of lemons the kids picked!

 

 

 

You will need a pitcher of water (6-8 cups), a dozen lemons, a measuring cup (up to 2 cups), strainer, and 1 ½ cups sugar.

 

 

1. First what I recommend doing is to boil 1 cup of water and then add 1 ½ cups sugar until it dissolves. Then let it set in the fridge until cooled, or (because I couldn't wait) put it in a shallow dish in the freezer.

 

 

2. So while the sugar water is cooling, you can start squeezing the lemons. I really want to shop around for a cute juicer, so I did it by hand. It goes by quick. In total I used about 11 lemons. It was so cool, when I needed more I just picked them from the tree! I squeezed them over a strainer I placed on top of a Pyrex measuring cup. You need about 1 ½ cups.

 

 

3. Then take your lemon juice, sugar water, and water; and mix together in a big pitcher!

 

 

♥ And drink! Happy Spring :) ♥

 

 

Vanilla Latte

So recently my husband has been drinking these Vanilla Latte from anywhere from work, Starbucks, or our local convenient store. He just loves them! So this morning I decided i'd try my hand at one.

1.Start making some coffee. You wont need a full cup amount, just about 3/4 of a cup. Here I used Starbucks House Blend in a french press.

2. Next, meausre out 1 1/4 cup of milk. You'll want to heat this until amost boiling (2-3 mins in micro)

3. If you dont have an expresso machine you can just pour the milk into a bowl and whisk for a few mins. 

4. I whisked until my poor weak arms hurt and by that time I had enough foam!

5. Fill your coffee cups to 3/4 of the way up.

6. Aint she a beaut? Just add sugar and vanilla!

♥ "omg. oh my god. Can you make this for me EVERYday? - My husband ♥

(Hopefully you can read my horrid handwriting♥)

Start the day in just one way...COFFEE!

This is my first time using a French Press....Maybe its yours too.

1. Get your French Press.  Coffee Grounds (med. or coarse).   Mug with water.

2. 1 scoop of grounds for 1 cup coffee add to press.(while opening and scooping, its a good time to heat for water #3.)

3.  In micro or stove, heat water to a little hotter than you would like to drink it at, not boiling. (1.5mins will do, in micro)

4. Stir water and grounds (best with wooden or plastic stirrer).  Then put top on the press with the filter pulled up.

5. Let coffee sit for 1-3mins depending on strength and amount desired.

6. Pour coffee into your favorite mug.

6. Add your necessary coffee additions and you're off!

(♥ Coffee Press provided by Mom in law, Cup gift from Sis in law! ♥)