Mama's Lattes!

On a bleak winter day, there's nothing quite like a wrapping your hands around your favorite mug filled with a delicious hot drink. I am partial to herbal teas when I am home, but I also have developed quite a coffee addiction now that baby #2 is here (and no, not anywhere near sleeping through the night yet at 6 months). Even though I occasionally (ahem, every chance I get) indulge in a Starbucks latte, I also like trying to create my own at home. I especially like trying to come up with homemade recipes that use "real food" ingredients that are nourishing and have added benefits. I try to use unrefined sweeteners like maple syrup, raw honey, agave or rapadura. I've also experimented with herbal/natural coffee replacements not only because they are caffeine free, but also because they have milk-production boosting ingredients like barley and chicory (good for nursing mamas)! Here are some of this winter's winning "experiments"...

*For each recipe, you can use your choice of home brewed espresso, fresh french-pressed coffee, strong brewed Teechino coffee replacement or another coffee alternative like Caffix or Dandy Blend.


Gingerbread "Latte"

1 cup of whole milk, heated on stovetop
1 tbs. of Blackstrap Molasses (this is a nutritional goldmine! 20% of your daily calcium, iron, magnesium and vitamin A!)
Dash of cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, allspice... your choice!
tsp of real vanilla extract

1 heaping teaspoon of Caffix herbal coffee substitute


Pumpkin Pie Latte

1 cup of whole milk, heated on stovetop
1-2 tablspoons of pumpkin puree
dash of cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice
Either a shot of espresso or 1 tsp of Caffix
Agave nectar or maple syrup to sweeten, to taste


Mocha

1 cup of strongly brewed coffee, Caffix or Teechino
Cream, to taste
Make a simple "chocolate syrup" by mixing agave nectar with cocoa powder, add to taste

*Cut down the amount of sugar and processed ingredients in your daily coffee by skipping the flavored "creamers" - instead make your own delicious blends with no sugar added - add a splash of almond extract, Vanilla, cinnamon powder or other spices to your half and half or cream... a little bit of flavor goes a long way!

Enjoy!