How to Make a Bourbon Caramel Tea Latte

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #FlavorSplash #CollectiveBias

I have never, ever made it a secret that I L-O-V-E coffee. For a very long time I was strictly a mocha drinker...but my tastes have changed...and I have discovered a whole new world of unique and amazing tea beverages! My hubby has been a BIG tea drinker for awhile and I have always enjoyed a cup...but now, I am all about creating new flavor combinations for my tea! Right now, I am loving the Tea Latte and have whipped up a hot beverage using Torani Bourbon Caramel Syrup.

CONTINUE READING

Ruby Red Grapefruit Shandy Cocktail (recipe)

My husband likes beer. I like a cocktail. A shandy is the perfect marriage! My husband is actually the one who introduced me to a Shandy. A traditional Shandy is made by mixing beer with juice, usually beer and lemonade. Well, a month or so ago I attended SoFabU On the Road at The Gaylord Texan and the bartenders there treated us to a Ruby Red Grapefruit Shandy. Now...I LOVED it, but they did not supply a recipe...so I set out to replicate the beverage myself. (psst, remember they Basil Simple Syrup I shared the other day...this is one of the beverages you need it for!)

CONTINUE READING

Hot Chocolatey Valentines Spoons!

Seriously...hold on to your socks...

another Valentine's Day Craft!

Yeah, I know - for me - it is craziness!

Seriously, I think Cupid shot me with his arrow!
(P.S. this is pretty easy and fun to do!)

I have about 20 ideas for Valentine's for my daughter

(the 11 year old is o-v-e-r Valentines...always has been).

This particular project reminds me of my wedding

- yep 15+ years ago we did this same project for our coffee bar. 

(just imagine white chocolate drizzled on top and ivory ribbon)

CONTINUE READING

Feelin' FALL: Pumpkin Spice Latte (Hot or Blended!)

I confess...

I had never tasted a pumpkin spice latte until 2 weeks ago.

For Real!

I am a mocha girl through and through,

but I just had to do it...

that chalkboard at Starbucks was calling my name

and I was "Feelin' Fall."

I LOVE pumpkin and loved my first Pumpkin Spice Latte experience.

But alas, we are jobless in this house, so buying coffee out is a pure treat right now,

so no heading to the local coffee house for coffee any time I want...

and then I saw this recipe for Homemade Pumpkin Spice Lattes from Savvy Sassy Me. 

(and you can google pumpkin Spice Latte and find a million recipes too)

I made a Latte right away, and thought that it tasted great.

My hubby liked it too, but to satisfy our taste buds we wanted to make a few changes. I wanted something a little less sweet - or that I or whoever I was serving it to could sweeten to their liking and also something a bit less pumpkin-y.

So, I experimented and experimented - all of the concoctions were delicious, but I finally found a "formula" that made us all happy and a few taste testers happy too! I also used my DIY Pumpkin Pie Spice too!

Ingredients

3 Cups (Plain) Coconut Milk (you can also use nonfat/lowfat/regular milk)

1 1/2 cups strong brewed coffee (or espresso)

1 Tablespoon organic pumpkin puree (freeze the rest or put it in the frig so you can make lattes any time...or try another pumpkin recipe!)

1 Tablespoon Maple Syrup or Honey (or sweetener of choice)

1 Tablespoon vanilla extract

2 Tablespoon homemade vanilla syrup (or store bought syrup)

1-2 teaspoon of pumpkin pie spice

1 teaspoon cinnamon, optional - depends on the flavor you want!

Make It HOT!

You can make this one of two ways.

You can cook it on low on the stove top or as

Savvy Sassy Me did, use the crockpot/slowcooker.

1. Brew coffee. Make it extra strong...I ran mine through The Scoop two times.

2.  Place the coconut milk and coffee in the crockpot.

3.  Turn crockpot onto low.

4.  Add the pumpkin puree, maple syrup, vanilla, vanilla syrup, pumpkin pie spice and cinnamon*.

5.  Whisk to blend.

6.  Cook for about 2 hours in the crockpot or 30-45 minutes on the stovetop. 

*Note: You can taste test as you cook to adjust sugar/sweetness and spices. I suggest going easy on both until you find a combination that pleases your palate.

To store, let cool and store in the frig. I used a 1/2 gallon mason jar for storage.

Make It Blended!

 I love a blended coffee beverage...so I took a shot at blending this Pumpkin Spice Latte. I do realize it is kind of contradictory - Fall makes you think warm and cozy and here I am adding ice to it!

Anyway, all I did was add about 1 cup of ice cubes to my Vitamix and and 1 cup of the Pumpkin Spice Latte Mixture and blend away!

 

Now, add a little Whipped Cream and a sprinkle

of Pumpkin pie spice make it complete!

ENJOY!

  

Be sure to enter my latest giveaway...a full line of Clairol Pro Care and Styling Products!

This post is written and created at 504 Main by Holly Lefevre

CONTINUE READING

Favorite Things Kitchen Edition: SodaStream and GIVEAWAY

Welcome to the first installment of
Favorite Things: Kitchen Edition!

I am starting with one of my most FAVORITE THINGS EVER.

This is a necessity on my house...seriously!

The SodaStream Home Soda Maker

AND

I am giving one away,
thanks to the awesome people at SodaStream!

____________________________________________________________________

Last year for our wedding anniversary, hubby and I bought a SodaStream.
We had been wanting one and figured the time was right!

My kids were thrilled...they were fascinated.

I think they thought they would be drinking soda all day long....

that did not happen. I won't lie,

I wish I could drink soda all day long...but I don't.

The main reason we purchased the SodaStream was to make our own carbonated water - a.k.a. fizzy water. We were going through at least one bottle a day...

lots of money when you add it up (and lots of waste too!).

We started using that SodaStream the night we brought it home
and have used it every day since we bought it.
We make a bottle of fizzy water every day.
And yes, my kids do get to make soda...not all the time,
but they love it as a treat and they love to make it when we have guests.

SodaStream has an amazing variety of soda flavors and syrups:
Good old favorites like Cola and Cherry Cola,
Sparkling Naturals like Black Currant Pear,
MyWater Essence Flavors and
even including Crystal Light and Country Time flavors. 

They taste amazing!

No joke...I need a T-shirt that says

"I (heart) SodaStream."

My raves have even convinces many a friend to purchase a SodaStream too!

Here is how it works...
it assembles in seconds, pop in the carbonator

screw the bottle in, push the button to add the carbonation and your favorite soda flavor...and presto you have soda!

Seriously...that easy
Just want fizzy water, skip the soda flavor.

And guess what in the year we have had the SodaStream...

we are only on our 3rd cartridge.

When a carbonator is out, just take it to the store in your area 
(you exchange it and buy a new one) or order a carbonator kit online.

OK, now to the good stuff.

Here is what

ONE VERY LUCKY READER WILL WIN
Fountain Jet Soda Lover's Start-Up Kit 
($99.95 value) 
open to continental U.S. address 

-          Fountain Jet – winner’s choice of color (black/silver, red/silver or white)

-          1 carbonating bottle, reusable for up to 3 years

-          Reusable carbonator to fizz up to 60L of soda

-          Variety 6-pack of popular sample-size flavors

-          3 full-sized flavors of the winner’s choice

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

disclosure: I was provided with one SodaStream for review and one for giveaway. All the gushinng about SodaStream is true and I love it!

This post is written and created by 504 Main by Holly Lefevre

CONTINUE READING

Sweet and Simple Cocktail: Faux Mojitos

I have been out of town driving all over the place in the HOT sun...I am home now,and I need an afternoon on the deck in my foggy town with one of these!(by the way, this is sort of a repost)

Image credit: duskbabe / 123RF Stock Photo

I found a FABULOUS beverage recipe many, many years ago in a magazine advertisement...it was either for Crystal Light or Weight Watchers...not sure which. Any which way...I love a mojito...I do not love calories {evil meaningless calories!}. So, I tried it...and then I made it mine with a few twists and additions. I have been making what I refer to as "Faux and Fab Mojitos" ever since...

This little sip of minty sweetness does not mimic the taste of a traditional mojito 100%, but it comes pretty close for a lot less calories...
so that works for me
(most of the time)!

You could also easily make this drink without the alcohol!

Faux and Fab Mojitos

{adapted from Weight Watchers of Crystal Light recipe - this is not quite there recipe, but their recipe was the inspiration}

1 pitcher size serving of Crystal Light lemonade

1 cups {flat} water*

1 cup rum**

2-3 big handfuls of mint sprigs - the mintier the better for me - you can adjust to your liking.

4 cups club soda/seltzer water/carbonated water

6 lime slices

NOTES:

1 - I like fizz...if you do not, you can play with your ratio of flat to fizzy water. 

2 - You can also reduce the rum to 1/2 cup...or I suppose increase it too!

3 - Skip the rum for a non-alcoholic beverage!

MAKE IT!

• Empty tub drink mix contents into a pitcher.
• Combine with 1 cup {flat} water and 1 cup rum, stir until dissolved.
• Add mint and muddle or crush the mint leaves to release the flavor.
• Refrigerate until ready to serve.
• Add club soda just prior to serving.
• Sugar the rim of the glass.
• Add some ice
• POUR!
• Garnish with mint.
• If you love mint like I do...muddle some mint in each persons glass before pouring.

Happy Sipping!

What is your favorite summer beverage?

CONTINUE READING

Dip It! EASY Lentil Dip

I love hors d'oeuvres...appetizers...whatever you want to call them!

They are probably my favorite part of a meal or party.

You know what I like even better...

a simple hors d'oeuvres that looks like

I spent all day making it and tastes exceptional.

Today, I have a SUPER (Beyond easy) dip for you.

I make it all the time now...

it is highly requested too...

and did I mention it is EASY...

oh yeah I did.

(If you do not live near a Trader Joe's, it takes more time....

read on, you will see.)

*******

Now one thought, I got this recipe from my (non-blogger) friend...

and she got it from a (non-blogger) friend...

so if this originated someplace else,

I am not privy to that information.

Happy to give credit where credit is due if I hear otherwise.

*******

It is seriously hard to take good photos of lentils...
not the prettiest food on the planet,
but trust me...it is BEYOND good!

INGREDIENTS

• I box of steamed lentils from Trader Joe's. They are prepared and vacuum sealed and the cost is good, about $2.50

• I tub of Bruschetta mix from Trader Joe's

WHAT!? No Trader Joe's!

Read on for how to make this with a wee bit more effort.

DIY Lentils

I just made my own steamed lentils and it was EASY (and more cost effective)

1. Rinse lentils and then soak lentils in a pot of water for about 2 hours

2. Fill (another) pot with about 1-2 inches of water and place steamer basket on top.

3. Lay lentils on the steamer basket, and steam for about 45 minutes with the lid on. 

• !!CHECK ON THE LENTILS AND STIR THEM OFTEN...ALSO BE SURE TO CHECK YOU WATER LEVEL AROUND 30 MINUTES!!
• During my first check many of them were just about ready, but a few were still hard...so I stirred them up and continued to steam.
• You may need to steam for longer...just be sure to keep enough water in the pot.

DIY Bruschetta Mix

1. Chop a few Roma tomatoes

2. Chop  a cup or so of basil leaves

3. Crushed a few cloves of garlic

4. Add a few tablespoons of olive oil.

5. A pinch of salt perhaps.

MAKE THE DIP!

Now it gets complicated here...not!

1. Open lentils and break up with a fork.

2. Open bruschetta mix and add to lentils.

3. Stir (or put the lid on and shake).

4. Preferably, let your creation sit over night to really get the flavors to meld together...if not it is good right away too!

Serve with warm pita chips, homemade (I'd prefer) or store bought tortillas chips,

carrots - whatever your heart desires.

This is a fast and easy dip that is perfect to take along to those summer parties!

CONTINUE READING

Christmas in May Thanks to The Scoop!

You all know I LOVE my coffee, right?

Well, here is a little tale of finding coffee happiness.

Back in December, my hubby was watching the Today show

and he saw something that he knew I would like.

...

We had been "discussing" the pros and cons of single serve coffee makers for awhile.

I really, really wanted one...but I could not wrap my head around the idea of those pods/cups/whatever you want to call them. It just seemed wasteful.

So, back to the Today show...

on that particular day, they were demonstrating a single serve coffee maker

from Hamilton Beach,

The Scoop!

Hubby heard the magic words...

"You can brew your own coffee!"

Hubby paid attention...

this is just what we were looking for!

And it was a SUPER-good price.

Hubby did not buy it.

He waited to ask me if I wanted it.

Crazy man - it was half-price!

It sold out...

pretty much everywhere.

Still no single serve coffeemaker for Holly.

I torture hubby about this decision, er procrastination, daily.

Now it is April and I am Heading off to New York from Sandra Lee's Summer Carnival...still without my single serve coffeemaker.

As part of the trip we headed to a Sears and Hamilton Beach

was doing demonstrations with their

Counter Top Oven, the Open Ease Automatic Jar Opener,

The Scoop, and their newest flash of brilliance,

The Scoop Two-Way Brewer

(brew a pot of single cup of coffee in one machine....LOVE!)

I got all dreamy-eyed and, of course, told everyone my story,

including Hamilton Beach.

Hubby may never live this down.

Fast forward a few weeks...and what do I get...

The Scoop delivered to my door. 

That is my Christmas in May!

Can I tell you how much I LOVE The Scoop.

I use it multiple times a day.

See I LOVE coffee and I like my coffee fresh and hot...

this is like heaven!

It is simple as can be to use (and no extra waste!)

Grab your favorite ground coffee - yes your own favorite real ground coffee!

Scoop it up and place it in the machine.

Fill with water.

Place you cup in the right spot.

Select Regular or Bold brew,

and wait a few minutes for an amazing cup of coffee!

That's what I'm talking about!

So I am absolutely enjoying The Scoop and my coffee and so are my friends...

I love serving them a fresh cup every time they come over.

My favorite mug, The Scoop...and of course there is whip cream!

I like my coffee with a little mocha powder and whipped cream.

How do you like yours?

A BIG thank you to Hamilton Beach for making my Christmas complete!

Disclosure: Hamilton Beach provided The Scoop to me under no obligation to blog/promote it. I LOVE this single serve coffee maker and feel the need to tell ya! The blog post, opinions, and story are my own.

CONTINUE READING

Pomegranate Champagne Cocktails

My Girls Night In party was a week ago already!

I just had so much fun and we thoroughly enjoyed

watching Bridesmaids and sipping on a cocktail.

For this evening we had to have a pink cocktail!

I adore champagne cocktails...oooh my fave for sure,

and perfect for a Parisian inspired event!

This is a super simple recipe and can also be made non alcoholic
by using gingerale, sprite or sparkling water in place of champagne.

Ingredients

• Sparkling Wine (or champagne). When I mix a drink like this I like a good base but I did not go for the super-expensive champagne. I picked a good quality sparkling wine. You can do whatever the heck you want though!
• Bitters (found in the liquor section)
• Sugar cubes
• Pomegranate juice (Pink)
• Rimming sugar, optional

MIX IT!

Optional: Ms. Rook No. 17 brought some pink rimming sugar! To use, dampen the rim of the glass, and then dip it in the sugar. Easy-peasy!

*Place 2 sugar cubes in a flute.

*Sprinkle (I prefer to douse, but I like the bitters) the biters on the sugar cubes - start with a few sprinkles and work your way up from there - be sue you find the taste you prefer. Let absorb.

*Pour champagne about 2/3

*Add pomegranate juice to top off. Enjoy!

I used these CUTE Canvas Corp Chalk Stock Cards to write the recipe for the cocktail. I wanted to make sure there were instruction available to guests so they could make their own cocktail, or at least know what is in the cocktail.

Have you had a champagne cocktail?
Do you have a favorite champagne beverage?

This is a sponsored post. See my full disclosure policy by clicking on "disclosure"in the navigation bar

CONTINUE READING