Eat your heart out Starbucks!

I found a secret to making your own flavored coffee's at home! I'm a HUGE java junkie. I'll drink and eat anything coffee related. Chocolate, Ice cream, and of course coffee. If there were a coffee flavored body scrub I'd own that shit! So imagine my maniacal glee when I literally stumbled over this recipe for pumpkin spice latte at home!

I couldn't wait to try it! I was so unbelievably excited that I forgot rule number one of any seasoned at home cook. I forgot to check the ingredients before starting.

Yeah it was like that!
I had to improvise and all I could remember was that she put the spices on top of the coffee grounds before starting the coffee. I rummaged around in my spice cabinet and came up with my little McCormicks Apple Pie Spice. I figured what the hell if it's bad I'll just throw it out. But it wasn't bad oh no it was sinfully delicious! It was, in my not so humble opinion, better than Starbucks. My Java Junkie heart rejoiced and my inner broke mama was just about passed out with the revelation at how much money I was going to save this fall.

Without further delay and for all you flavored coffee junkies out there I give you the worlds easiest recipe for flavored coffee. Your Welcome!

Apple Pie Spice Coffee:
Your favorite French Roast coffee
McCormicks Apple Pie Spice
Water
Coffee maker (obviously)
Coffee mate Creme Brulee creamer
Sugar to taste

Measure your coffee like you would for any normal day. In my household this equates to an entire 10 cup pot of coffee.
Take your Apple Pie Spice and shake it on top of the coffee grounds until the top of the coffee grounds are coated and you can not see any more black coffee. I measured it this morning it's 2 table spoons of Apple Pie Spice.
Prep your coffee to your desired sweetness and color. True coffee drinkers know what I mean by color but I'll break it down for you peeps that don't know. Color means the desired shade of tan you want your coffee or another way of putting however much milk or creamer you like.

That's it! It's that simple. I've tried Pumpkin Pie Spice with a stick of cinnamon on top of the coffee grounds and that tastes just like the Starbucks Pumpkin Pie Spice Latte. Now you have your own flavored coffee's anytime you want. Yes I am an evil coffee genius!!!

Pumpkin Pie Oatmeal

I was going to post this really awesome picture of the oatmeal I made in my crockpot last night. Then I realized that the "insert image" icon only uploads from i-phones and androids neither of which I have so boo on that!

You'll just have to take my word for it that not only looks amazing it tastes amazing too and it's sooo super easy to make.

The first thing you'll need are steel cut oats. Do not use "quick cook oats" as these cook entirely too fast and will burn. You need steel cut oats. You can get them through the community helpings coop really cheap or you can buy them at the store in the cereal aisle.

The next step is to either line your crockpot with a crockpot liner or you can spray the beejebus out of your crockpot with Pam to keep the oatmeal from sticking.

Next add one cup of steel cut oats to four cups of liquid. I used three cups of water and one cup of milk.

Do you have any dried fruit? Put them in now. I used craisins, and fresh apple's diced.

Now it's the fun part: You'll need one small can of Pumpkin just open and spoon in about two tablespoons. Feel free to use more if you like the taste of pumpkin a lot. Mix that in till it's blended with everything else.

Now get your cinnamon and sprinkle over the top of the oatmeal.

Set your crock pot to low and let it cook overnight. When you get up in the morning your house will smell like pie and you'll have the best tasting yummylicioius oatmeal all ready to go. Just spoon and serve. Perfect for a chilly fall morning!

Unhealthy Brussel Sprouts

My sister in law introduced me to these over the holidays. Normally I'm not the brussel sprout kind of person. I don't like their bitter flavor. What I discovered though is that what I really don't like is brussel sprouts that are good for me! 'Cause if you cook those bad boys in some bacon grease and cover them with Parm. cheese you're totally good to go! Those little bad boys are rockin good!

For your culinary pleasure I give you Lizzy's Unhealthy Brussel Sprouts!

Ingredients:
Fatty bacon
Parmesan cheese
Brussel Sprouts

Directions:
Pan fry the bacon about five to six strips of bacon per pound of brussel sprouts.
Remove the bacon but leave the grease.
Take the brussel sprouts and place in microwave safe container with 1/4 cup of water and cover tightly with saran wrap. Poke a few small holes in the top for venting and microwave for like 2 to 4 minutes to steam the brussel sprouts.
Place in bacon grease and saute for about 5 to 10 minutes. transfer to a serving dish and sprinkle liberally with Parmesan cheese and add crunched up bacon.
EVERYTHING IS BETTER WITH BACON AND CHEESE!!!!