Make Your Own Pumpkin Spice Almond Milk

I love my hometown. Really, the only bad thing about it is that we don't have a Trader Joe's.

Trader Joe's is insane because their prices are good AND they come out with crazy seasonal products that tempt me to drive all the way to Kansas City to get my hands on 'em. I've never gone to KC just for Trader Joe's (yet), but I admit it's typically the last of my itinerary before heading home.

TJ's has some crazy autumnal products, including fall harvest salsa and pumpkin pita crisps, but the one that caught my eye the most was the pumpkin spice almond beverage. I dreamed of a perfect world, a world where my coffee was supported with just the right hint of a sweet and spiced nondairy creamer. I thought, oh my. Think of all the savory, seasonal overnight oats I could create!

But then I remembered I'd have to drive 3 hours to get it.

So, I solved my own problem (and potentially yours, too!) with this recipe. And, bonus! Tomorrow is National Coffee Day, so if you don't have plans... Now you do. :)

Pumpkin Spice Almond Milk

Ingredients
- 2 cups almond milk (you can make your own or use store bought)
- 1 tbsp pumpkin purée
- 2 tsp cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp nutmeg
- 1/4 tsp ground cloves
- Sweeten to taste. I added about 1/2 tbsp maple syrup.

Directions
Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend for about 30 seconds. Store in an airtight container in the fridge for 7-10 days.

I'm really happy with how easy and sweet this recipe turned out — I think it'll be a go-to for me each year! Would you add it to coffee or just chug it on its own?

Read More

What Does Your Coffee Order Say About You?

Hey pals! It’s my favorite day of the year — national coffee day. Okay, truthfully, Christmas is a little more exciting, but still... You can get coffee for free at lots of places today! Or you can pay for a higher quality cup of coffee at a local shop! Which will you do? More importantly, what does that decision say about you?

I’ve rounded up several common coffee shop orders and determined through a highly scientific process what these drinks say about your personality. If you’re anything like me, you’ve ordered every single one of the drinks on this list. But when you close your eyes, take a deep breath and think of your one, true favorite beverage — the one you’d spend the rest of your life committed to with no doubts — which one is it? Find it below and see if you agree.

Espresso (If you pronounce it es-press-oh) — You're a "git r done" type, with the résumé to prove it. The amount you "git done" increases exponentially depending on how many shots you order.

Espresso (If you pronounce it ex-press-oh) — You're friends with a "git r done" type, and if you hang around that person long enough, they're sure to rub off on you. Keep on keepin' on!

Chai — You’ve got a little boho in you, and you don’t play by anybody’s rules. May currently be wearing a Free People dress or Hawaiian shirt.

Hot Chocolate — You’re not old enough for coffee yet, but your day is coming soon.

Iced Coffee — You're always hot, so you order it iced. Or you just perpetually wish it were summer, and I can't say that I blame you for that. P.S. One of my first blog posts ever was a recipe for home-brewed iced coffee. Adorable, right?

Pour Over — You’ve started more than one sentence today with the word, “actually…”, but overall, you’re a really nice guy. Be careful! The coffee’s hot; make sure it doesn’t drip on your beard.

Black Coffee, Prepared at Home — You’re no-nonsense, you plan ahead, and you’re frugal. Or you’re a blogger who wanted an excuse to use her new Anthropologie mug.

Tea — You haven't acquired the taste for coffee yet, and you're okay with that.

Venti Java Chip Frappuccino with extra Mocha Drizzle — You haven't acquired the taste for coffee yet, but you desperately want to.

Pumpkin Spice Latte — You live for comfort, fall, and most importantly, leggings.

Vanilla Latte — You’re just a little sweeter than the average latte, and unexpectedly refreshing. Come over here; you can sit by me.

Did your order of choice make the list? Will you be celebrating National Coffee Day? 

Read More

But first, Coffee.

National Coffee Day, huh? Most people like coffee, and those who don't are crazy. College students, employees and bosses alike are equally likely to drink coffee—often in different forms and at very opposing times of day. Cream, no cream. 11 a.m., 11 p.m. Hot, cold. No matter how you like it (or if you don't), it's likely that the word "coffee" isn't going to be escaping the English language anytime soon.

So, whether you use four at-home brewing methods like my barista friends, or you like your Folgers Classic Roast watered down a little bit (because the Classic Roast is just too strong), let's ask ourselves the important questions: Why is it National Coffee Day, and where did this stuff come from?

National Coffee Day was first celebrated in the U.S. in 2005, and as is the case with most Hallmark-created holidays, nobody knows where it came from or why it is September 29th. We just do it for the coffee.

The origin of coffee itself is highly debated, but many give preference to the legend of Kaldi. Kaldi was an Ethiopian goat herder who noticed that his goats went crazy when they ate berries from a certain tree. The goats jumped around and wouldn't sleep at night. (Spoiler alert: It was a coffee tree.) According to the legend, Kaldi took the beans to a monk who made a drink using the berries and confirmed that after drinking it, he was easily able to stay alert for his overnight prayer sessions.
If you wanted to go out on a limb here, you could say that drinking coffee is a holy practice. I think that's a logical conclusion from the legend of Kaldi.

According to the LA Times, 1.7 billion cups of coffee are consumed daily, and 35 percent of the world's coffee consumption occurs in the United States. Santa Fe Springs, California, is likely responsible for a good chunk of that statistic, with a whopping 560 Starbucks locations within only 25 miles. Starbucks also claims 87,000 drink combinations. ABC News says that the average American spends $14.40 per week going out to coffee shops, totaling $1,100 each year. That doesn't include the cost of drinking coffee at home, either. The National Coffee Association also tells us (in bold) to "never reheat your coffee." Oops.

Think you might be over-caffeinated? The problem is historical. In the 1730's Johann Sebastian Bach (BACH, guys) wrote a satirical cantata on coffee-obsession. The title is Schweigt stille, plaudert nicht, or "Be still, stop chattering" for you non-German speakers.

Translated from German (I didn't translate it… I haven't learned German yet), a stanza in the cantata reads as follows: No suitor comes in my house/unless he has promised to me himself/and has it also inserted into the marriage contract,/that I shall be permitted/to brew coffee whenever I want." Satire or not, I have to agree with this. I couldn't marry a man who won't let me have my mochas!

So the moral of the story is this: Drink and be merry. But first, make sure he likes coffee.

Read More