I have been trying to keep my blog full of positivity, but these times have gotten so crazy that it’s hard not to at least mention the issue. As you guys know, I adore coffee and one of my favorite treats is going out for coffee. With my closest coffee shop being 25 minutes away from my house, it’s a big event for me to go to a coffee shop. I try to go at least once a week by roping it in with grocery shopping, but there are times when I don’t make it.
While I am actually enjoying many aspects of my states “stay in except for necessary things” order, there are a couple things I really miss. One of them is going out for coffee. I also miss my boyfriend taking me out on dates to our favorite quaint little diner and I really miss the inter-library loan system at the local library. What goes better with coffee than a book?
Despite these small treats that I miss, I have enjoyed the extra time with my family and my love. I have been using my extra time to do some much needed cleaning and some reading as well. I may have my “holds” suspended in transit, but I borrowed a book from a friend that has been on my reading list for quite some time and I’m really enjoying it. But I still felt like I needed a latte to go with it!
Super joyful moment here! See this milk? It’s a rare item in my area. I tried it once while on a weekend getaway and I was hooked. I even have a past blog post to prove it! Sadly, nowhere withing a 60-mile radius sold it. While out with my mom buying some essentials at the grocery store, I spotted it! Naturally, I got two since it keeps longer than regular milk and I don’t know when we will need to venture out again. It was definitely a bright spot. Even though I can’t go out for coffee, I could make some delicious coffee at home.
Speaking of delicious coffee, I am in love with my Aeropress! I have a post about my adventures in using it where I try brewing my coffee using the “inverted method.” I tried the regular method and I prefer the inverted method much, much more. Whichever way I brew it, the coffee has such a naturally sweet and mild taste. I love this press and I also love that it makes a coffee concentrate, kind of like espresso. It worked perfectly for this recipe!
I forgot to take a picture of it, but I used my Grounds and Hounds “Snow Day” coffee that I reviewed last week. It’s bold enough to stand up to the other ingredients while being sweet enough to be a perfect blend.
My last main ingredient was caramel. Not just any caramel, real dulce de leche. You could make your own by boiling a can of sweetened condensed milk, which I often do with my slow cooker, but I was lazy this time after finding this in the Hispanic food section of my local grocery store.
Once I had the “espresso” made, the milk heated, and the caramel measured, I added a little sweetener and blended it all together. It was so frothy!
As I said before, I wanted the coffee shop experience. Froth wasn’t enough for me. I drank some of that beautiful froth off the top and added some sugary goodness!
It was the pick me up I needed. I savored every sip and I can’t wait to experiment more. I have so much of this delicious milk left and I love sharing recipes with you guys. Until next week, stay safe and healthy and make sure to do things that make you happy with the extra time you have. Life is about making the best of the situation. And coffee. Life is definitely about good coffee!
Coconut Caramel Latte
- 4oz. strong brewed coffee (you can also use a shot of espresso or a single serving Aeropress concentrate like I did)
- 10oz. Toasted Coconut Almond milk, heated (or just coconut/vanilla coconut milk if you can’t find this particular brand)
- 2 T. dulce de leche or caramel sauce
- additional sweetener to taste
- whipped topping and caramel sauce, optional
Blend the first four ingredients together in a Nutri Ninja or regular blender. If using the Nutri Ninja, use the “Ultra Ninja” blend setting or 45 seconds on high for a regular blender.
Pout into a 16oz. coffee cup and top with whipped cream and additional caramel sauce for an extra treat!
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