Pumpkin Fever

I am some what of a "Bubba" when it comes to pumpkin. Pumpkin pie, pumpkin ice cream, pumpkin lattes, pumpkin yogurts, pumpkin ravioli---you get the point. On a cold day in the Fall there is nothing better than a pumpkin-spice latte. At 4+ bucks for a grande pumpkin spice latte with soy milk, one can surely not afford such an indulgence on a daily or even weekly basis. So in setting out to find a thrifty alternative I discovered an easy way to get my pumkin fix without breaking the bank.

Enter a can of plain pumpkin and half a container of coconut-milk vanilla creamer. Toss both ingredients in "the bullet" or in your blender, along with a few dashes of store bought pumpkin spice mix and a splash of water. Pulse until smooth, mixed and creamy, then transfer to a storage container. Add a couple of scoops to your morning coffee and wallah...pumpkin spice coffee the whole week for less than the cost of one Starbucks version. This means you also control the sugar and calories intake as well. In creating this silky seasonal blend, I happened upon another brilliant use for my pumpkin spice mixture, transforming a rather dull afternoon snack of vanilla Greek yogurt into a fantastic Fall pleasure, with health benefits. Start with plain or vanilla Greek yogurt, add two or three scoopfuls of the pumpkin mixture, stir until blended. Top with chopped nuts, a local honey drizzle and pumpkin spice to taste. PURE PUMPKIN DELIGHT.