Sweaters, socks, and pumpkin spice

As I sit here, writing my first ever post on my first ever blog, it is blustery, rainy, and cold outside. It is fall, one of the most lovely times of year. I look forward to the crisp, sunny autumn days, but nasty days like today are days too, are they not!? This one in particular was the catalyst I needed to get all of my summer clothes tucked away, and my winter wardrobe out. So here I sit - sweater happily donned, socks on, and a warm coffee by my side. I, like many of you (I suspect), have a terrible addiction to the flavored coffee creamer from the grocery which actually contains no cream at all. While I try to eat more naturally, the fake hazelnut variety is such a comfort item for me, I have a hard time letting go. Fear not fellow hydrogenized haters -- I have kicked the habit! All thanks to a wonderful homemade version I whipped up today, courtesy of Deliciously Organic. I made the Pumpkin Spice recipe because really, no solstice or clock roll-back marks the fall season more than a Pumpkin Spice Latte. It is heaven. And I hope you enjoy it as much as I!

1 cup whole milk
1 cup heavy cream
3 tablespoons pureed pumpkin
1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
4 tablespoons maple syrup
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Whisk together milk, cream, pumpkin, pumpkin spice, and maple syrup in a medium saucepan over medium heat. When mixture begins to steam, remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla extract. Strain through a fine mesh sieve, pour into a glass bottle and store in the refrigerator.

Note: If you have 1 pint of whole milk and 1 pint of cream, it is just enough to double the whole recipe.
Source: DeliciouslyOrganic.com