Favorite Hot Drink

Today begins NaBloPoMo for the month of August.  Blogher chose "Hot," as the topic for the month.  I am excited about this topic for so many reasons.  A lot of the prompts that Blogher has provided - give you insight not only to myself, but to my blog as well.  I hope we can enjoy this month together! 

Mothers are those wonderful people who can get up in the morning before the smell of coffee. ~Author Unknown

As I am sure all of you have guessed - my choice 'hot drink' is coffee.  But, not just any hot cup of coffee will do for this mommy of three wild children.  No - the hot frothy drink I swoon over is a Starbucks 'Gingerbread Latte' that they offer in the winter.

However, I found an awesome reproduction that I am sure anyone of you would absolutely positively float to a blissful heaven after tasting, here.   Here is the spectacular recipe!

Homemade Gingerbread Latte

Ingredients:

1 cup milk, steamed
1 cup very strong coffee (4 tablespoons coffee grounds to 1 cup of hot water, I prepared this in my French Press, but you can brew a strong drip pot if you prefer)
1 tablespoon white sugar (can omit if you prefer a drink that is less sweet)
1 tablespoon gingerbread syrup (you can use the recipe provided below)
Whipped cream (optional)
Ground Cloves (sprinkled for topping, optional) or Festive Sprinkles (sprinkled for topping, these just aren’t optional)

Directions:

Prepare your hot water in a kettle. Add four tablespoons of your favorite coffee grounds to your French Press. Pour 1 cup of hot water over them and allow the coffee to steep for four minutes while you prepare the other ingredients.
In a pot, heat up one cup of milk until it is steaming. Froth the milk with a wire whisk or an immersion blender until it is nice and foamy.
In your coffee cup, add your coffee syrup and white sugar. Pour your coffee over the gingerbread syrup & sugar and then stir well with a spoon until the gingerbread syrup dissolves and the spices are incorporated well. Pour the milk foam over the top of the coffee/mocha mixture and stir again to incorporate. Allow it to merry together for a minute or two and then mix once more. Top with whipped cream and festive sprinkles or a dusting of ground cloves.
Drink.
Be Merry.
Note- This is just a base recipe that can be played with to your own tastes and preferences. It is meant to be personalized depending on how you like your latte!
Prep Time: 5 minutes

Total Time: 5 minutes

Serving Size: 1

You absolutely MUST try it!

I am curious to hear from the MHC Tribe - What is your favorite hot drink?  Do you have any special memories or traditions when it comes to tea or coffee, or perhaps another hot drink like chai?  I would love your input and to connect in the blogverse.  Feel free to post a link to your blog in addition to any comments you have!  I love getting feed back!  And I will follow in return! 

Little Boy: Angel And Demon

With the reflective beauty of the sun shining in my eye through the bedroom window, I wake in a jostled start from my little boy standing next to me with his sippy and a giant bottle of pop in his arms screaming angrily while the spastic tantrum starts.  My sweet little boy suddenly starts throwing everything in his site, to get what he wants - a sippy of intensely sugary soda.  

So begins my day, everyday, the same useless routine that he has yet to learn will not be given into.  I get up, smile sweetly and tell him that I love him.  Slowly, I pull the angry strong little boy into my arms - a gentle hug that he quickly pulls from.  "Come on, "J,"  lets go downstairs and get you  a drink, and breakfast." - Down the stairs he follows screaming, in a angry tantrum the entire way to the kitchen.   

In one defeated heap he throws himself to the floor, sitting in front of the refrigerator.  This morning, unlike some mornings, the demon inside my son slips into the depths of my little boy's soul - successfully - quickly, easily defeated - with a breakfast of cereal, and a big cool sippy of water; the sweet angel boy's favorite - as long as there is ice in it.   It was a quickly diverted fight this morning.  Most mornings the autism causes more violence, and more of a fight.  However, mornings have become a simple manageable  routine.  

Routines for children with autism are very important.  They need structure, some need more rigid routines than others.  My son varies, some days, things need strict routines, other days - more lax.   I am thankful to the people who have taught me this important step to helping my son, take such a hard thing, and turn it into a wonderful blessing.   I am grateful to God for this experience, and I will sing His praises every day that my little boy gets to be a sweet gentle lovely angel.  

May you all be blessed with a fun happy day. One of delight and amazing joy.  

Worked on a new layout and a new signature, because my old one just was too bright in the XO part, and so I thought I'd try out this new one.  Much love.