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We have a saying in Calgary… “If you don’t like the weather, wait 15 minutes.”
We went from one of these last week…
chinook arch out west over the mountains
where the mountains looked like this…
and just the other morning, the sun was shining and the roads were bare and dry.
Time to stop in at my favorite spice merchants…
Silk Road Spice Merchant
While waiting to complete my purchase, I looked outside and the weather had changed in an instant, literally…
Silk Road Spice Merchant
It looked quite magical and I still had to drive home, but you know me…I couldn’t resist getting covered in snow for a few photos along the way…
St. Vincent Liem, Inglewood
I love those hearts…
Shelter…
I made it home and my daughter had lit every candle, it was magical…
Fragrant candlelight
Christmas Tree stars…
I tucked in and began reading various word press food blogs and came across this one posted by Mo at A Cup of Mo. And, surprise! Mo had written the sweetest of compliments about my website… And so, this one’s for Mo! Mo’s blog is unique in that it is a personal quest for the best cup of coffee, both at home and while traveling. Mo had blogged about trying a Godiva Peppermint Mocha Coffee… and this is my own at home-made version inspired by her!
Given the season and the plates full of Christmas baking, I try to at least keep my coffee calories at a minimum. I wanted to buy a liter of peppermint syrup but it is only sold in large quantities… I could imagine that sitting on my shelf until next Christmas, so…
This one did the trick for me, although it won’t have that “syrupy” flavor some of you would be going for when ordering up this sort of coffee. It was hot, mocha, peppermint, and low-fat… and that’s exactly what I was hoping for!
- 8 oz skim, non-fat, milk
- 2 shots espresso, or more
- 1/8 tsp peppermint extract
- 3 heaping teaspoons Carnation Lite Hot Chocolate
- 1 tsp crushed candy cane
- Using your espresso machine or milk frothing machine, froth your milk until it reaches the desired temperature. Heating your milk on the stove or microwave can also work, but you might have to top with a smidge of whipped cream.
- Pull two shots of espresso and add to the steamed milk.
- Add the peppermint extract and powdered hot chocolate mix.
- Stir and garnish with crushed candycanes.
It is amazing just how fast the weather can change! We’re still waiting for our first real snow — and I’ll gladly wait till the night of Dec 24th. Your recipe sounds delicious, all the better being low-fat.
Yes.. it would be nice just for Christmas, wouldn’t it. We had our Christmas concert on Sunday so the snow needed to come a bit early for it, it really made the perfect setting for us:)
This is not me, but I had to read the post to find out! I thought the title was a joke, but then I am an all the sugar all the butterfat kind of gal. I’m sure your skinny readers will like this.
My usual order for a coffee is almost as long… but I’ve memorized it and no one seems to stumped when I ask for it:) Yes… if I could it would be all sugar and all butter all the time for me as well…
First off, I adore your Christmas tree. So beautiful!
I switched from semi-skimmed (2%) milk to skimmed (-1%) about a year ago, and now I can hardly tolerate the fatty taste of semi-skimmed. My husband still uses it for his cereal and oatmeal, but I can’t stand the taste of it now. So odd how ones taste can change so quickly, eh?
Funny how that changes… lately we’ve gone the other direction, from skim back to 1% and my daughter much prefers it. I really think skim is so improved form when I was a child and it was so watery. It’s got a thicker texture now, they must add milk solids somehow…
Wow! That picture above the mountains looks like heaven on earth!
The recipe sounds so Christmas-y. Can’t wait to try it!
It’s a good one for low calories, but nothing beats the full-syrup version,eh? Thanks!
Love your blog and you’re photos are beautiful! They inspire me to get a little more creative with my photos on my blog.
I must try this latte too. I love making home versions of stuff you would get at a coffee store somewhere. 🙂
I will have to come by your blog for a visit.. glad to inspire anyone:) any time.. I love blogging.
Not that we get snow but our weather can change equally as fast here from gorgeous sunshine one minute to thick, dark grey rain clouds the next. Beautiful photos and I really love the one of your candles!
🙂 Mandy
I’d love to see those rain clouds right about now.. a rainy day is the best! Thanks, Mandy (candles all from Pottery Barn and a shop called Chintz here in Calgary).
Gorgeous photos and I’m beginning to be jealous of your Christmassy weather, as we go from cold and no snow to the 70’s on a day to day basis here. The flavors of this coffee drink sound yummy and very “of the season”!
Wow, that’s quite a swing in temperatures each day? Where do you live??
Atlanta, Georgia! It doesn’t do it every day, but it seems like we’ve been on a real see-saw with the weather here lately. We had another 70’s high yesterday and it’s heading down close to freezing this evening.
Weather is crazy everywhere isn’t it! I’ve never been to Atlanta.. looking forward to seeing/hearing more in your blog posts:)
What a beautiful tree! Great recipe too, thanks for sharing.
Thanks and welcome:)
Oh I love this! All of your pictures are wonderful and thank you thank you thank you so much for the shout out 🙂 I wish we could get some crazy flash snow storms in Georgia. Right now its just humidity and rain. You are so kind!
I love your blog.. so that’s easy:) Humidity would do wonders (not) for my hair… it can go frizzy at the best of times. So I guess I should embrace the snow!
The candles look so warm and inviting. I am going to try this recipe; maybe as a treat on a cold morning but first I will have to see if I can track down peppermint syrup.
That’s why I used peppermint extract… no smallish bottles of that, and I wanted sugar-free as well.. Well, I can always go order one:)
Peppermint mochas are one of my favorite things about the holidays! And this one sounds like it won’t hurt the waistline quite as much. Beautiful candle lights…that was so sweet of your daughter.
She’s a sweetheart that’s for sure… but I think the candles were for herself as well;) My waistline.. well, we won’t go there…
Lovely photos. It looks like a lovely part of the world where you are. I love your Christmas decorations, too. 🙂 I had no idea weather changed so quickly or so drastically there. But then, the weather can be completely different from one end of Britain to the other at any time, such a small island, too! What a wonderful and diverse world we live in! 🙂
I have been to Britain a couple of times and love it! The lush greens, the ocean, the people are fantastic and friendly. It is a great world, isn’t it:)
I’m glad you’ve had nice stays here. 🙂
“Silk Road Merchant”…. How sounds beautiful… Should be amazing place. I wished to visit. Dear Barbara, the weather seems so fearful, maybe I am not used to live in this kind of weather… But you are amazing, you captured such a beautiful photographs they are all like a postcard… I loved them. And finally your Christmas Tree, it is amazing. You really created such a magical views… Thank you, with my love, nia
Some days it is, but mostly we just know and dress for the conditions, Nia. I’ve been working on dusk/night photography and as I’m sure you know, it’s quite difficult. Do you have any ideas for me?? I love your photos…
I just love this post. Your tree looks fab and I love the snowy photos. Around here, that’s how it snows when it actually does snow. I’m hoping snow doesn’t fall anytime soon though lol. Love this Peppermint Mocha Latte recipe
I shall keep all the snow here then. We’re expected to get more tomorrow, after today’s plus 2 celsius temperatures it’ll be hard to take!
Lovely post.
Thanks:)))
Sigh…your snow, your snow. (I think I need to move somewhere colder.)
Heehee, I always say “sigh.. the sun, I think I need to move somewhere warmer”… go figure!
I wanna come over and drink your latte with you by the fire! Your post and photos are so gorgeous and cozy! We had a weird snowfall in October..one day..blizzard like, then warm sunny days. Crazy! I’m hoping it starts to snow soon..want a white x-mas!
Come by.. I have some baking to share with you and a glass of wine:) You will get lots of snow, like us, I believe? btw I love your baseball reference in your blog… maybe all your recipes will be home-runs:)
I can only imagine what Chicago will be like once it starts snowing regularly again. It looks wonderful in your photos!
Oh, I imagine it would be lovely. I’ve never been to Chicago… so I can only imagine.. and look on your blog:)
I did not realise you were in calgary, eldest son is working on the slopes in banff.. and look at that snow! woo hoo, nothing here yet, still all grey.. c
What?? Which ski hill.. my daughter was just at Sunshine last weekend. Now if you gave me his name, the next time she goes she can look at name badges. Now wouldn’t that be a cool thing!! I’ll keep your snow for a while for ya’!
Sunshine actually sounds familiar, tell her to look for the big NZ fella with a beard, he tends to be carrying people down off the mountain, his name in Logan. I will ask him which hill he is on at the mo.. man the world really is a small place.. c
This is so awesome!! I shall hope they meet… two world’s colliding:)
I love that you stop and ‘smell the snow-ses’. A pretty snowfall shouldn’t be wasted even in country where it’s not exactly uncommon. I learned from all of my multitudinous years of living in Mt Rainier country and near the glorious coast, when asked regularly by non-residents whether I got jaded or passe about the ocean or the mountains–nothing beautiful and special should ever be taken for granted. That is exactly why I love the whole premise of your blog and all of these sweet episodes in it, where you notice and treasure all things beautiful! Very pretty candle-scapes and tree, too, my dear. 🙂
Thanks so much! I didn’t realize you were by the ocean, now I could never tire of that sight.. I think I’d like to retire in a beach house with a studio overlooking the ocean. Not too much to ask, eh??
Oceanside retirement? Oh, my yes! We weren’t directly on the ocean but minutes from Puget Sound and only a couple hours from the ocean, and *loved* both whenever we had time to get close enough. And yes, we did ‘cruise real estate’ from time to time, fantasizing about moving to one of our favorite towns at the ocean, and not necessarily waiting until retirement time, either. Because oh, yesss, very appealing indeed. Not quite expecting a move to north Texas! But life is full of great surprises!!
This may sound crazy, but i really wish i had some snow here in Vancouver 🙁 we’ve had nothing but rain and chill but not a drop 🙁
Ahhh, ok, I’ll try to send some your way. On a brighter note, your city is beautifully green, is it not?? and nice and humid which is lovely for skin… I went walking in the rain the last time I was out there and it was heavenly!
Yups! we are really lucky here to be surrounded by so much nature, just hoping that we’ll get a nice white winter for my little lady, she loves it when it’s snowing out 😀
I’m sure you will.. it’s Canada, we know how to do snow! I’ll wish it for you soon!
Mmmm. That sounds like the perfect drink for that kind of a snowy day. 🙂
It is so nice to be tucked inside when it’s a heavy snowfall. I went to walk the dog the next morning but, alas, his legs were too short:{
I loved your photos, Smidge, thanks for sharing 🙂
You are welcome.. as always Mr. Mrs. or Miss Anonymous:)
There’s me in sunny Australia trying to muster up that seasonal, festive feeling of Christmas. The tree is up and the sparkly lights adorn the veranda, the music is playing. But to an English lass this doesn’t work with the sun flooding the garden and the flowers blooming.
I loved reading your post, it made me a little homesick for my time in France where we would go to the snow fields on Christmas day. And, it made me very homesick for the log fires, the old english pub we love, called the Wykeham Arms, in Winchester. The Cathedral Boys Choir would come to the pub and sing, an awesome Christmas event.
I guess you can take the lass out of England, but you can’t take England out of the lass!
I’m going to get my own nose covered in flour this week as I try your tasty festive fare. Thank you for a great blog.
I soo enjoyed reading your comment.. it was like reading a blog post, filled with Christmas magic. I hope you do post some of your fabulous photos of your tree, veranda and the Emerald garden of yours.. it would do me good:) I’m envious that you were ever in a pub with a cathedral choir singing to you… Yes, England is something special and I loved it when I visited… Good luck with your baking, it’ll put you in the spirit, I think!
Thankee kindly 😀 😀
🙂 always…
I’d love to come home to the candles lit and snuggle up to a cup of this!! I love it and that you made it Healthy!!! Your photos are so lovely, they brought an immediate smile and warmth to me!!
Thanks so much.. Candles can do that, can’t they:) I have to remember to light them more often, lol!
What a beautiful post, Smidge! I love the contrast of the weather and the glorious Christmassy, warm and welcoming home you came back to.. 🙂
It was quite a contrast, that’s for sure. Deep cold snow and then warmmy inside!