Shopping Around the World

Welcome my friends to another edition of Shopping Around the World!

This month my brother Phenny is hosting SATW – thanks bro!  This month we are highlighting pumpkin recipes.  This should be fun because my mom loves anything and everything pumpkin.  Doesn’t pumpkin just scream fall?  In fact, mom just posted a funny on her Facebook about pumpkin spice.  I thought I would share with you and let mom take it away  with our recipe.  Again thanks brother Phenny for helping us out here at the Hotel Thompson ❤

 

 

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mmm – pumpkin – one of my favorites this time of year.  Put spice behind it and I’m in hog heaven – sorry Bacon.  My favorite recipe is Pumpkin Spice coffee.  I love it so much throughout the year – not just at Halloween.  And yes, you can ‘buy’ it in those fancy coffee shops and even McDonald’s has a great one; but, why not make it at home yourself.  I mean think about, coffee shops will range from $3.50 to $5.50 a cup.  And that’s just enough pumpkin spice coffee to make you want more.  A second cup at a coffee shop and you will be getting out a loan – LOL.  So what do you need?

Now I’m a sugar free girl.  Of course fully leaded you get more of a pumpkin spice taste but sugar free gets me there.  I use the following:

⇒ Skinny Syrup Pumpkin Spice (costs $9.00 a bottle.  A full bottle can last about 30-35 cups = that’s only $0.26 a cup!)

⇒ International Delight Sugar Free Pumpkin Pie Spice (costs $2.50 a bottle.  A full bottle can last about 20 cups = that’s only $0.13 a cup!)

⇒ Your choice of coffee.  We use Maxwell House here.  We buy a medium can for about $5.50 on sale.  That has enough to last 52 pots!  So basically how do  you price that, right?  LOL

⇒ Two packs of Splenda (a box costs $4.00 for 200 packets = $0.04!)

So let’s talk price first.  For somewhere around $0.50 a CUP at home vs coffee shop prices.  Doh!  It’s a no brainer for sure.

Prepare your coffee as you normally do in your coffee pot.  On our coffee pot, we have the option of making one cup or an entire pot.  When I want one cup, I put my Splenda in my cup along with a shot of my Skinny Syrup Pumpkin Spice.  I then place my cup on the coffee maker and hit Latte (I know I’m blessed).  While that is percolating and the aroma is driving you crazy, pour some creamer into a glass container.  Then froth that cream… again my coffee maker has a frother – don’t hate.  Froth that cream as much as you want.  I find the glass container keeps it cold. 

Once your coffee is done, pour the froth into your cup.  Then sit on the couch, prop your feet up and enjoy that pure delight.  And then go back for another cup… .you’re welcome ❤

 

 

 

 

Shopping Around the World

Oinks and snorts sweet friends.

This month my cousin Teddy is hosting Shopping Around the World for me.  (You might want to make a note now that cousin Teddy will also be hosting for me next month as well.)   Thank you so much cousin Teddy – we really appreciate the help here during these hectic times at the Hotel Thompson.

This month the assignment was favorite snacks.  Now mom has been enjoying a favorite snack that she kind of whipped up (literally) that she can’t get enough of at work.  She says that sometimes she needs the extra caffeine.  Rolls my piggy eyes.  I guess since she has given up sodas she has to make it up somehow huh?  I hope you enjoy her snack my friends.  It seems mom proof which means it might be a little easy – I hope.

First you need some ingredients:  Creamer.  Mom loves the Almond Joy creamer – but any kind will do.  This entire bottle was $2.50 and it lasts mom for almost three weeks.  That averages to about $0.12 a cup for creamer.  Two packs of Splenda.  A box of 100 cost $3.00 therefore that is $0.03 per packet.  12 ice cubes – free YAY.  1 cup of cold coffee.  Mom paid $6.00 for a container of coffee that makes something like 32 pots of coffee which calculates to $0.19 a pot.

Total cost for mom’s treat is less than $0.50 – what a steal for a cup of instant energy.

Now how does she make this wonder?  Put all ingredients into a blender.  Make sure blender is plugged in (mom has forgotten that important step in the past – snorts) and push blend button for smoothie.  There you go bend and then pour into a cup.  Add straw and enjoy your moment in the afternoon… or morning… or evening… or in the middle of the night.  Mom makes this snack all of the time now.

 

Important Conversations from Mom and Dad

I have to admit that sometimes conversations overheard between mom and dad are so hilarious.  The basis of them are out of this world!  You gotta know where I get my sense of humor or lack of humor from – those two humans of mine. This morning the conversation revolved around coffee.  So I guess you can say they had coffee talk – snorts.

After I tell you about the conversation, I know you are going to go really?  Does it really matter?  But I kid you not, the conversation this morning was riveting.  That’s right.  Riveting between those two.  It went like this.

Mom came into the kitchen bright eyed and bushy tail so full of life – NOT.  Snorts – my mommy is NOT a morning person.  She went straight for her special coffee cup and went to the fridge.  She put her creamer in the cup – for those following along it was International Delight White Chocolate Mocha – and two Splenda packs.  Then she went to the coffee maker and poured coffee into said cup, sat down at the table and started tasting… trying to become human that early in the morning.

During the time, dad was at the table reading the newspaper and watching mom.  Now dad on the other hoof IS a morning person.  Hey – opposites attract huh?  Now even us anipals in the Hotel Thompson know not to bother mommy until she’s had at least one cup of coffee.  Daddy on the other hand through years of training still does not.

He started the conversation not with good morning honey, how did you sleep or I love you.  He started the morning by saying, “You fix coffee the wrong way.”  WOW – Is there a wrong way?  It’s not rocket science, is it?  Mom’s one eyebrow over her left eye went up.  Shivers – that’s dangerous.  That’s the sign that something wicked is fixing to project from her.  It can’t be good.

Mom softly said (mom talking softly is another sign of danger might I add), “Really?”  Oh WOW dad.  You’re also getting one word answers from mom.  Danger Will Robinson – DANGER – do you NOT see the signs here?  But no, daddy went right on.  “Yeah, you’re suppose to put coffee in first and then your condiments.  You do it backwards.”

That raised eyebrow came up again while mom took a sip of her coffee.  “WOW – what are you the coffee police?”  Thud snorts.  Go mommy.

“No.  You just do it backwards.  You put coffee in first and then cream and sugar.  It makes sense that way.”  Daddy continued on talking about the right way for about five minutes.  Mom tuned him out while she petted me and sipped her ‘wrong’ coffee.

Then when dad went for a breath, she stopped him and said, “So does it taste different your way?”

“No.  It doesn’t taste different, but…”

“Then does it really matter?  I mean, the last time I checked I don’t tell you how to climb into bed the right way.  Or how to put your pants on the right way.  For that matter, I don’t tell you when to breathe the right way.  So, does it really matter how I fix my coffee?  Cause if it does, I can start telling you how you do things wrong.  Of course, we might be here for a couple of days.”

“Nope, we’re good.  Can I get you another cup of coffee while you get ready for work dear?  And did I tell you I love you?”  and with that he bent over and kissed mommy good morning.

 So I guess today’s topic should be, how do you fix your coffee?