Let There Be COFFEE!

 Today is National Coffee Day. I thought I would give you all some ideas as to haw to get your coffee on in a spectacular, worth of a holiday kind of way.

Morning Coffee-

How about making a Copy Cat Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte. I mean it is all fan you should be fabulous in your torn tee shirt and messy hair. Right?
I "borrowed" this from  http://cincyshopper.com

INGREDIENTS
SYRUP
1 1/2 cup Water
1 1/2 cup Sugar
1/3 cup Pumpkin Puree
1 1/2 tsp Cinnamon
1 tsp Nutmeg
1/2 tsp Cloves

1/2 tsp Ginger
LATTE
8 oz Milk
4 oz Strong Coffee or Espresso
2 tbsp Pumpkin Spice Syrup
Whipped Cream
Pumpkin Pie Spice

 DIRECTIONS
Simmer water and sugar in a pan over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until sugar dissolves.
Add spices and the pumpkin and continue to simmer for 10 minutes, stirring often. Remove from heat and strain through cheesecloth or strainer.
Allow the syrup to cool, then refrigerate in an air tight container.
Heat milk in microwave for 1 minute.
Froth with blender or whisk.
Put syrup in bottom of cup and top with coffee and frothed milk.
Top with whipped cream and a dusting of pumpkin pie spice.

 After The Carpool Pick Me Up

Oh don't try to tell me that you don't go get a cup of joe after driving carpool. You and I both know that surviving carpool deserves a treat. I "borrowed" this one from Raining Hot Coupons

Vanilla Iced Coffee

Ingredients:

• 1 K-Cup or 1 Cup of Coffee
• Ice Cubes
• Milk or cream

Vanilla Simple Syrup (makes a large amount which can be stored in the fridge for up to 2 weeks to use over and over again for more iced coffee drinks!):

• 1 cup water
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla

Directions:

1. Prepare the Vanilla simple syrup – Bring sugar and water to a boil stirring until sugar dissolves, add in vanilla and let cool. You can keep this in the fridge for about 2 weeks if covered and use it for your iced coffee drinks throughout the week.
2. Prepare a glass of coffee (I like to use 1 K-Cup)
3. Fill a mug with ice cubes (I love using mason jars!)
4. Pour the hot coffee over the ice 
5. Add milk or cream to taste 
6. Add vanilla syrup to taste

Now that you are all hopped up on coffee you can go do some grocery shopping, laundry or house cleaning. No sense in putting a good caffeine buzz to waste.

Afternoon Carpool Pick Up- You have been working hard all morning it is time to go get the kids. ARG! Well make your self this little treat to take with you. will make the whole thing a little less painful. I "borrowed" this one from White on Rice Couple

Sea Salt Cream Iced Coffee

Yield: About 4 servings

Total Time: 15 minutes

There are a bunch of ways to get nice, cold coffee. There are an abundance of cold brew methods and devices out there now. Many of them will produce some of the tastiest cold coffee. However it will work just fine to save your leftover hot coffee and let it cool off completely before icing (otherwise you'll get watered down coffee). Of if you need a quick fix, make some hot coffee and punch it up with a few shots of espresso to compensate for the melting ice. We love to use simple syrup to sweeten our chilled drinks, and it is something easy to have on hand. Just heat and dissolve together an equal amount of sugar and water. Allow to cool and store in the fridge until ready to use. However with enough stirring (or if you add the sugar while the coffee is hot) you can always just use regular sugar for this recipe.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup (240ml) whipping cream
• 1/2 teaspoon sea salt or kosher salt
• 4 cups strong coffee cooled
• 6-8 tablespoons (75-100g) sugar, or to taste
• Or
• 3/4-1 cup (180-20ml) simple syrup

Directions:

1. Whip the cream until slightly thickened and no large bubbles remain in the cream (don't whip it all the way to the soft peak stage). Stir in the salt and set aside.
2. Sweeten the cooled coffee to taste using either sugar or simple syrup. It should be just sweet enough to balance the saltiness of the cream.
3. Pour the coffee into glasses over ice and spoon a couple large spoonfuls of the salted cream on top. Serve and stir.

AFTER Dinner Coffee...Cocktail.

You deserve a treat so head to Hard Rock Cafe for dinner or just get grandma to watch the kids so you and you main squeeze can enjoy the Salted Caramel Café—coffee that is ready to be your go-to drink during cocktail hour. Hard Rock Cafe has put a delicious spin on America’s drink with the introduction of the Salted Caramel Café. I don't have the reciepe for this one folks. But don't you think you deserve to go have a treat with the one you love?