Loving Falls Pumpkin Coffees

DIY Pumpkin Spice Latte

Wednesday September 28, 2011 by Alexandra C. at http://www.chickadvisor.com/article/diy-pumpkin-spice-latte/

I am a Chick Advisor member, though they seem to be more geared towards Canadian residents.

They claim to have a Product Review club if you write a few reviews but I have never received anything from them in the 6mo I have been a member except opportunities in my email, and VERY rarely at that. To boot-  I never get picked for them.

Good luck ladies that join!  :(

However I was tickled to see this recipe and wanted to share it with you guys! I love love love pumpkin and especially (you already know) love coffee!

One of my all time favourite flavours is pumpkin. It's nostalgic aroma brings back all those memories of Thanksgivings and Halloweens. Chicks, tell me now, is there anything better than curling up with a good book, magazine or DVD with a pumpkin spice latte? I think the answer to that would be no. Being thrifty and a DIY adventurer, I set out to find a pumpkin spice latte recipe that could easily be done at home.


Also- a pumpkin spice latte is the perfect excuse to cuddle with someone. This recipe is for two, so why not curl up with that cutie you've been eyeing? (Call me Cupid, Chicks!) 






What you'll need:
2 1/4 cups milk
2 1/2 tablespoons canned pumpkin
2 tablespoons sugar 
1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice or more if you like the spice! (Cinnamon and nutmeg will work just fine, use 3 parts cinnamon to 1 part nutmeg)
2 tablespoons vanilla extract
2 shots espresso (about 1/4 cup of espresso or 1/2 cup of strong brewed coffee if you don't have an espresso machine.)


Directions:

  

In a saucepan combine milk, pumpkin and sugar and cook on medium heat, stirring, until steaming.

   


Remove from heat, stir in vanilla and spice.To froth up the mixture, you can transfer to a blender for 15 seconds or simply whisk the mixture at a fast pace until it becomes foamy.


Pour into mug then pour espresso on top. Mix together and you are done!

Optional: For those of you with a sweet tooth, make it extra special with some whipped cream on top, sprinkled with cinnamon and nutmeg!

There you have it- sweet and simple pumpkin spice lattes for two!

What's your favourite fall drink chicks?
(Recipe and directions adapted from thekitchn.com) 

Spotted by CaseyColette on  http://www.chickadvisor.com/article/diy-pumpkin-spice-latte/

Community Coffee Carnivale Cake

Community Coffee Carnivale Cake Gift Set

Community Coffee is a family owned Louisiana coffee company. They make all sorts of different varieties/flavors. I am an avid coffee drinker. A connoisseur if you will. Call me the coffee concierge. I drink coffee constantly.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
"Community Coffee is a coffee roasting and retail company based in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, US. Founded in 1919, Community Coffee is the largest family-owned coffee company in America. Community Coffee uses 100% Arabica coffee beans. The company has developed partnerships with coffee growers in South America and Africa for community-building efforts and bird-friendly coffee growing methods. Community Coffee is distributed in eleven Southern states and shipped around the world via communitycoffee.com. It can be found in most restaurants, offices, grocery and convenience stores throughout Louisiana, most large grocery chains in Texas and Mississippi, and select stores in Alabama, Arkansas, Tennessee, Georgia, Florida, and North and South Carolina. Community Coffee was the first coffee company to use vacuum sealed bags and percolators. Most of their bags are dark red/burgundy in color, while the "red bag" denotes the bright red bags in which the New Orleans Blend is packaged. New Orleans Blend, Community's coffee and chicory blend, is available in grocery stores and is brewed in the coffeehouses. However, the coffeehouses do not carry New Orleans Blend for purchase, but instead have a variety of all the blends, varietals, and flavored beans the company is currently producing, as well as bags of 100% chicory so that customers can create their own "New Orleans Blend." "

I love iced coffee and have grown quite fond of Dunkin Donuts. When I lived in Connecticut (Groton) there was a DD literally every few miles. Unfortunately (for me) my hometown in Birmingham has little to none. Where I live now.. I'd have to drive to Jacksonville (a good 45 minutes) just to get one! Even if there was one local.. I really cant afford to buy them all the time. Making your own is so much more price efficient.

I have even perfected making iced coffee, but I'll tell you about how to make the perfect iced coffee in a minute.

Community Coffee's Carnivale Cake coffee is a Mardi Gras inspired coffee. How Mardi Gras and coffee relate, is strange, but I will tell you. Mardi Gras people get so drunk and stay out all night. I can picture this as I am saying it too... wake up and say, I need fuel to keep going! LOL! Insert Carnivale Cake! *snickering at my little joke* No, I'm just being silly.

Mardi Gras is not ONLY celebrated in the US as we know it, but also has HUMONGOUS festivals in Belgium, Canada, Sweden, Germany, Italy & the Netherlands. Fat Tuesday from what I understand is about eating a last night of rich food before the ritual fasting of Lent. Mardi Gras celebrations have always included costumes, drinks, dancing, and parades.

If you are wanting to celebrate Fat Tuesday, you can definitely do it with this coffee! I couldn't stop drinking it. I had about 6 cups. I am hyper sensitive to caffeine .. so now I am wired!!! I made it in my Keurig my husband bought for me, by putting it in my "My K-Cup".


Let me tell you about the flavor they sent to me. Its a vanilla cinnamon flavor. It reminds me of a cinnamon bun. The smell is strong and fragrant, lingering for a long time. Its a rich and dark coffee, but not too rich. It was so delicious. I think I just found my new favorite coffee. Dunkin Donuts who? :)

They sent me a super cute gift set that included a bag of Carnviale Cake coffee and their really cute tumbler (pictured above) and it also had some festive mardi gras beads!

I make my iced coffee by making coffee 2 to 3x stronger than it should be made. That way when the ice melts in it, it is not watery. I usually add a Torani syrup and milk or half & half, or flavored creamer. Sometimes I just use caramel syrup.

You can FOLLOW Community Coffee on twitter HERE

ALSO.. you can "like" their facebook fan page HERE psstt... right now they are offering a 2$ off coupon on the facebook page!

Unfortunately there is no giveaway this time... but maybe next time!

Get yourself (or someone special) some of this addictive coffee by clicking
Carnivale Cake (ground coffee) here. They sell ground and whole bean, and feel free to browse their other coffee varieties! PS... They also sell King Cake!

Parents magazine has some suggestions for family/kid friendly Mardi Gras ideas!~

(click the image to ZOOM and make it bigger to read!)