Want to contribute your favorite cookie recipe to our Virtual Cookie Swap? Email them on over (with photo, please!) to theavidappetite [at] gmail [dot] com, we'll start posting them as they roll in!
On Saturday, I was psyched to find a copy of Rocco DiSpirito's Now Eat This! in my mailbox. I won a copy from Heather's giveaway and was so thrilled that I did since, well...I really wanted this one. Can you tell?
Oh and not only is it a winning copy, but it's also signed by the man himself. Not to shabby, right? I can't wait to dive right into this one since the entire book consists of Rocco's own recipes on how to make classic indulgences a bit healthier. Some sample recipes include macaroni & cheese, penne a la vodka and even chocolate chip cookies. I will believe the deliciousness when I taste it, but I have high hopes for this one!
Meanwhile, you may remember my tirade regarding overpriced coffee beverages earlier this Fall, which resulted in my DIY Pumpkin Spice Coffee Syrup. Many of you seemed to love this recipe (as did I!)! After speaking to some of you about the winter beverages (and my continued righteous indignation), I decided to change it up for the holiday with a Gingerbread Coffee Syrup! It's not all that different than the pumpkin syrup, just a few changes which altered the flavor for the season.
DIY Gingerbread Coffee
2-3 tbsp molasses (or more depending on your desired level of gingerbreadness)
1/4 C Splenda Brown Sugar Blend
1/2 C water
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp ground ginger
ground coffee (as much as you want to make)
half and half or milk of your choice
In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine molasses, Splenda, water, cinnamon, and ginger. Stir or whisk together until ingredients have melted together. Continue cooking until the mixture thickens, resembling syrup, but making sure that it doesn't get too thick. Stir frequently so that it doesn't burn. This entire process took about 5 minutes. Like the pumpkin syrup, the Splenda blend worked like a charm to turn these ingredients to coffee bliss.
And you might remember that I store my coffee in a sweet mason jar that I snapped up at Michael's for around $1 or so. Gotta love an inexpensive item that goes a long way to make your cabinets look nicer!
And while I was picking up some new baking sheets at Bed Bath & Beyond on Sunday, I also snapped up 2 new coffee tumblers for Shaun and me. Sold in a pack of two, these sweet travel cups were a mere $9.99 (for both). Add your 20% coupon, and you've got 2 new mugs for $8 total.
So there you have it. My answer to a $5+ calorie-filled latte. Oh and for another spin on holiday lattes, try adding a splash of eggnog to your coffee! It's delish and way healthier! Meanwhile, how are you getting down with holiday beverages this season? Lattes? Hot chocolate? (My weakness is the Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate from Starbucks, so when I master that, I'll be set :)) Coffee? Chai? Ooooh chai....