Mommy Hearts Coffee has been renamed, and has redesigned and relocated.  Thank you for following along here!  Please make the move with me to Hipster & Cookies.

Getting Warm

When I was a little girl after playing in at least what had to be 3 ft of snow in Wisconsin's winters; I would get so cold.  Unbelievably cold.  I remember we'd pack the car back up after sledding at the "Big Hill" on one side of town.  We'd head home for hot chocolate, and cookies or brownies typically.  

Years later, as a grow-up, I look back on those frigid days with fondness.  The smell of hot cocoa to this day takes me back through those splendid memories.  In fact, that is still my preffered way to get warm, that; or a nice warm bath filled with a pleasant smelling oil added.  Or perhaps, an amazing combination of the two. 

Now that I have 3 children of my own, I find myself utilizing the same methods to warm them up that my mother and father used for their children as we were growing up.  Cocoa, a warm bath, and warm fresh sweatshirts and sweatpants and warm thick socks while wrapped up in a thick blanket on the couch watching a fun movie. 

I would love to hear about how you warm yourselves and your children up!  Do you do something similar to what I choose to do? Or perhaps you make a nice hot soup and enjoy a movie.  Is it something that was a tradition from childhood, or is it something you have began on your own?  Feel free to leave links in your comments so I can link up to your blog!

Until tomorrow MHC Tribe!

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!