Sugar Tuesday

Magical snow, crisp air, turtlenecks, and scarves – oh the layers of Winter are wonderful! Not only do I find it a treat to embellish in the seasonal fashion, there is this air of mystery and depth....or that could just be the cold and darkness. Either way, I love it!

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A more common highlight we all look forward to is probably the long list of warm, tasty drinks from our favorite local coffee shop. Not only is this time of the year home to a good Chai Latte, there are a lot of combinations that you can order that aren’t on the menu. Take a look at what you can order “under the table” at Starbucks (okay fine, it’s not anything shady, you just have to make sure you let them know what ingredients you’d like to mix.)

The Tuxedo Mocha - A regular mocha made with half white chocolate and half regular for a sweet twist on the classic.

The Nutella - Chocolate and hazelnut mixed with a shot of coffee. Order a Cafe Misto with a shot of chocolate, hazelnut and a drop of real caramel.

The Cheapo - When you’re heading out for a quick shot of espresso without the fuss, just order a double shot espresso on ice and throw in a few packs of brown sugar for the barista to pour into the glass with. The sugar will melt and leave you with a sweet and rich espresso treat that packs a punch without all the glitz.

The Chocolate Dalmatian - A hot white chocolate mocha with java chips and chocolate chips sprinkled in for a tasty, dessert-like treat. A shot of vanilla or hazelnut also sweetens up the deal.

The Three C’s - Order a Cinnamon Dolce latte with a shot of real caramel syrup and chocolate mocha syrup. The brown sugar, cinnamon, and chocolate mix is a potent mix with a flavor of its own.

The Chocolate Pumpkin - Order the Pumpkin Spice Creame Latte with chocolate syrup for a drink that tastes just like pumpkin chocolate chip bread. This is a great drink to warm up with during Fall and winter, but also tastes great in Frappuccino form.

The Raspberry Cheesecake - Order your white chocolate mocha with a few shots of raspberry for a decadent cheesecake treat - in a cup! Add whipped cream and vanilla sprinkles for the complete (heavenly) experience.

With the holidays here, don’t forget to embrace the seasonal drinks while you can. Wouldn’t it be great if these lasted all year long? Ah, but then again, it’s just all the more to look forward to as a treat, especially during hectic Christmas shopping.

Eggnog Latte - Probably the most widely-anticipated winter holiday drink. People start asking about it in September, but on average these aren't sold until mid-November sometime. The drink is real eggnog, mixed with a tiny bit of milk to help it steam, espresso, and nutmeg on top.

Gingerbread Latte – Another classic, ordered nonfat and without whipped cream is much healthier than the eggnog latte. A basic latte flavored with Gingerbread syrup, and topped with whipped cream and nutmeg.

Peppermint Mocha - This is a mocha with peppermint flavoring syrup, served with whipped cream and little red sprinkles.

Peppermint Hot Chocolate - Hot chocolate with peppermint syrup, whipped cream, and red sprinkles.

Caramel Brulee Crème – Do you love Creme Brulee? Try it all hot and steamy in a cup! Creamy custard-like flavour, a shot of espresso and a shot of caramel - this one has to be my favorite discovery yet!

Enjoy your warm pick-me-up!

posted by karen