A Pumpkin Kind of Morning and Vegan Care Package Swap

This morning when I got up I wanted to try out a Pumpkin Spice Latte recipe that I found a while back.  I changed the recipe up a bit and it was delish!  Here's how I made mine.

3/4 cup almond milk

1 cup brewed coffee

2 tablespoons canned pumpkin puree

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon ground ginger

1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1 tablespoon maple syrup (may need more if you like it sweeter)

Combine milk and spices in a saucepan and bring to a boil on the stove.  Remove and pour into a blender and blend until frothy.  Pour into a large mug and then add the cup of coffee and stir.  I sprinkled a little apple pie spice on top to make it pretty.  :o)

Saturday morning I made The Best Pumpkin Muffins from Isa's Vegan with a Vengeance.  I swear these are my most favorite muffins.  So this morning I had a left over pumpkin muffin and a pumpkin spice latte. YUM!!!!

I was off again Friday, so I took my mom shopping and spent the day with her. When I got home I had box sitting on the kitchen table waiting for me.  I tore into it right away.  I knew what it was.  Look at all these goodies that were in it.  This was from the care package swap that Cook Vegan Lover put on.  This was my first year to participate in the swap, and it was so much fun!  I was matched up with Hally from The Odd Couple Eats.  I enjoyed getting to know Hally thru email.  It was so ironic that we got paired up.  Her husband is an Omni just like mine, and she also became a Vegan after reading The Kind Diet.  Okay, on to all the awesome goodies that I got.  I got some cinnamon crispies and a cherry chocolate candy bar from One Lucky Duck.  I tore into the chocolate yesterday and OMG...it is soooo good!  There was a jar of Montmorency Cherry jam and Harissa from Le Pain Quotidien in the box.  The funny thing is that I have been wanting to try Harissa for some time, so I am so excited about that.  I can't wait to spread that cherry jam on some toast or maybe a bagel with some cream cheese...mmmm    She also threw in a Primal Strip, a meatless vegan jerky for my hubby (Texas BBQ flavor).  Now how sweet and thoughtful is that.  Also in the box were a couple more candy bars (which I am dying to dig into), spicy pumpkin seeds, Funky Monkey pink pineapple crunchies, some wasabi flavor Healthy Seaweed snacks, and for an extra she threw in a bar of soap that she got at a wedding that she went to.  Now that's a lot of stuff!  We've been so busy that I haven't had time to try much of it yet.  As you can see I did manage to try some chocolate.  I love my chocolate!  :o)

The Harissa and jam

cinnamon crispies, pink pineapple crunchies, and spicy pumpkin seeds

CHOCOLATE!!!!   :o)

Tony's Primal Strip that I'm sure he will let me sample.

Some HOT seaweed snacks....very good though!

The bar of soap that I can't wait to try.

I love that I have a new friend in Hally.  She lives in NYC and Tony's sister lives in NJ, so I'm hoping that the next time we go to visit his sister that maybe..just maybe Hally and I will be able to meet up.  I look forward to keeping in touch with her.  As I sad, this was my first vegan swap and it won't be my last!

I won't be around this week, because I am on vacation and I'm outta here.  :o)  I'm going to take some very needed time away, so I will see guys in a week.  :o)  Hope everyone has a great week!!!

~Peace~