Coucoumellisms

I know I've posted similar items already, but since it IS the season again, here it is again, the pumpkin spice latte: 1/2 cup hot milk 1/4 tsp pumpkin spice (cloves, cinnamon, allspice, ginger, nutmeg) 1/4 tsp vanilla maple syrup (to taste) Froth it all together and then pour into half a cup of strong coffee or espresso.  Keep back mousse on top with a spoon.  When all the liquid has been poured out, spoon the mousse over top.  Enjoy!!!

1 c. à soupe de jus de citron 2 c. à soupe de sirop d’érable (ou au goût) 2 c. à soupe de whisky 1 bâton de cannelle   (ou 1/8 c. à thé de cannelle moulue   et/ou autres épices du genre «tarte à la citrouille») De l’eau bouillante Mettre les quatre premiers ingrédients dans le fond de la tasse. Ajouter l'eau bouillante. Savourer lentement. Attention à ne pas trop y prendre goût!

The traditional stockings picture The table - and my christmas log, which I actually managed to make look presentable!! The ones that made it all happen, (my sister and I) with the ones that made us want to scream... (we were a bit tired after making 15 pies, one cake, turkey, stuffing and trimming, roast beef... etc, etc...)  Note to self, DO NOT let Marc prepare the contents for chicken pot pie the evening before Christmas Eve ever again...  (Also, I really am going to have to try to bake as much as possible AHEAD of time...  We were almost too exhausted to enjoy anything!! The Christmas log, which was made for reveillon (Christmas Eve dinner) but which, on Christmas evening, has yet to be touched.  Noone's been hungry enough to eat it yet. Nicky fell asleep half-way through Dealing out gifts... :) family Brunch this... well, not morning... more like afternoon... with Rose Anne's baked Camembert

(Or substitute other fruit for bananas as well, I have tried strawberries and pears and those are really good too.) 1/3 cup butter (or 1/3 cup apple sauce if you are cutting fat) 1/2 cup natural sugarcane sugar (or stevia or other natural sweetener) 2 eggs 1 3/4 cups whole wheat flour  (or other whole grain flour) 1 tsp baking powder 1/2 tsp salt 1/2 tsp baking soda 1 cup old bananas 1/2 cup bittersweet or dark chocolate chips Grease small bread pan.  Beat butter, sugar and eggs in small bowl.  Mix flour, baking powder, salt and baking soda in large bowl.  Mash old bananas in small bowl.  Add bananas and sugar mixture with dry ingredients.  Add chocolate chips.  Bake at 350F for 1 hour.

Make coffee with reduced maple water.  (For those of you who do not have maple trees in your yard, just add some maple syrup to your water.) I remember thinking, back when I was in Paraguay, how cool it was to step outside and there was fresh grapefruit on a tree for your breakfast...  I guess having an apple tree and a few maple trees is pretty cool too though. Add pumpkin spice and vanilla to the coffee.  (Make your own pumpkin spice: 2 tsp of cinnamon, 1 tsp of the following: ginger, allspice, nutmeg, cloves) Heat milk (you can add some maple syrup to this too) and mousse.  Add milk and mousse to your coffee (you want about 1/2 coffee and 1/2 milk)  Sprinkle top with cinnamon/sugar mix. MMMMMmmmm!!!

Mardi Gras!!!  (and other crazy Catholic feasts)

Hot chili on a cold day.

I'm making my own coffee at home now... caffe moka, caffe latte, espresso... The only thing I don't offer is a paper cup with a rim to roll up to win...