Pumpkin Spice Syrup and Pumpkin Spice Latte

Starbucks' Pumpkin Spice Latte is back!

No Starbucks in the morning

So Wednesday morning I got a craving for the deliciousness of Pumpkin Spice Latte.  I left my house 15 minutes prior to my usual departure time.  When I get to Starbucks, I realize I left my wallet at home because it had been knocked over.  I left dejected because I couldn't have a tasty PSL.

Once I got back to my car, I looked through my purse and found a five dollar bill!  Success!  Once I got back into the Starbucks, there was a line so I had wait for my coffee.  Then there was traffic so it was stressful getting to work on time.

So it's no Starbucks in the morning.

Making the Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte 2 years ago

Two years ago, I posted a recipe for pumpkin spice lattes.  It called for blending the pumpkin puree, vanilla creamer, brown sugar, and pumpkin pie spice.  Then you added it to the hot coffee.  It was good but sometimes you would end up with pumpkin puree at the bottom of your mug.  Not so good.

Pumpkin Spice Latte

Pumpkin Spice Sryup

I saw this recipe last year but never could find the cheesecloth so I never made it.  A few weeks ago, I found cheesecloth so I made my own pumpkin spice syrup.  The cool thing about this syrup is I know exactly what is in it.  I can also control the amount of pumpkin pie spice in my syrup.

Stars of the Recipe:

• 1 C. water
• 3/4 C. brown sugar
• 1 Tbsp. pumpkin puree
• 1/2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice

Directions:

1. Combine the water and sugar in a microwave safe bowl.
2. Heat in the microwave for 4 to 5 minutes.  (Mine took 4 and a half minutes.)
3. Remove and stir until sugar is dissolved.
4. Add the pumpkin puree and pumpkin pie spice.
5. Drain over a cheesecloth or small sieve.
6. Store in an airtight container (Mason jar) in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.

Pumpkin Spice Latte

Stars of the Recipe:

• 1 to 2 Tbsp. pumpkin spice syrup
• 1/4 to 1/2 c. half and half milk
• 6 oz. hot coffee (The stronger the better.  Or use a pumpkin spice blend coffee.)
• Whipped cream (optional)
• Cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice (optional)

Directions:

1. Add syrup and half and half to the mug.  (Make sure the mug is big enough.)
2. If you are not using a Keurig, warm the milk up in the microwave for about a minute.  Add hot coffee and then mix together.  Add whipped cream and pumpkin pie spice if you want to.
3. If you are using a Keurig, brew the coffee over the half and half and syrup.  Top with whipped cream and pumpkin pie spice, if wanted.
4. Enjoy!!!!

Kitchen Tip - Slow Cooker Freezer Kits

My life has gotten crazier.  I've been back to work for a month now.  

This year I work at the building that starts and ends the latest.  This means I can clock off at 3:45.  I usually don't leave the building until 4 o'clock most days.  The earliest I get home is 4:30.

Here's the dilemma:  Hubby has to be at work by 5:30 3 days and the other 2 days has to be at work by 6:00.  Even though there are 2 days, he has to be at work at 6:00, he has to drop Know-it-All at Kung Fu by 5:30.

So how do I get dinner on the table? 

There are 4 ways.

1. Tell Hubby what to cook 
2. Freezer cooking
3. Slow Cooker 
4. Food preparation during the weekend.

I'm to discuss the slow cooker method.  

My slow cooker looks nothing like this slow cooker.

Once or twice a month, I make freezer slow cooker kits.  The bags need to be labeled with the date, contents, and then cooking directions.

I then freeze them.  When I'm ready to use the slow cooker kit out of the freezer and put it in the slow cooker.  Sometimes I use a slow cooker bag.  Other times I don't use a bag.  It's easier to clean up if you use a bag.  

You can certainly thaw your freezer kit in the fridge the night before.  I don't because it takes longer for the frozen meals to cook.  During the day, I am busy teaching so I don't always have time to call or text Hubby to tell him to turn the slow cooker on keep warm or when to do that.  (If I tell him prior or leave him a note, it won't necessarily be done.  I have to call or text him.)

Here are some great blogs to find slow cooker recipes that could be frozen:

Eat at Home

Sidetracked Sarah

The Sassy Slow Cooker

A Year of Slow Cooking

Once a Month Meals

Please be careful with using potatoes.  Russet potatoes will brown easier because the amount of starch in russet potatoes.  Use red or yellow potatoes instead.  They are less starchy.

Oh, some recipes have you put some of the foods closer to end of the cooking time, I make 2 bags with the part you put in first and then the other bag.  I put both of those bags in another freezer bag.

As we eat some of the slow cooker freezer kits, I will start to post some of the recipes.  That is I'll post the recipes of the ones that were hits with my family.

Happy Cooking,

Traci