One of my favorite parts of autumn is the plethora of pumpkin inspired goodies.  Today’s experiment: Pumpkin-ey Goodness.  Enter pumpkin drink and pumpkin spread.

One of my favorite fall treats is Starbucks pumpkin spice latte.  Yummy, goodness.  I look forward to it every year.  However, I do not look forward to ever rising price tag that has been placed on my coffee drink of choice.  That’s why I was pleasantly surprised to discover THIS.

This recipe is amazingly simple.  It doesn’t come with a green and creme status symbol cup, but it will satisfy your craving for this delicious beverage without breaking the bank.  It tastes exactly like the drink from Starbucks.  I promise you.

Knockoff Pumpkin Spice Latte

• 2 cups milk
• 2 tbsp pumpkin puree
• 2 tbsp white sugar
• 2 tbsp vanilla
• 1/4 tsp cinnamon
• 1/8 tsp cloves
• 1/8 tsp nutmeg
• Pinch of ginger
• 3/4 cup of strong coffee OR 3/4 cup water and one packet instant coffee

1. Dump all the ingredients in a pan on the stove.
2. Stir them together with a whisk or a fork.
3. Heat it on medium heat, stirring occasionally, until it becomes as hot as you want it.
4. Pour it into mugs and drink immediately.
5. If you really want to fancypants it up, add a dollop of whipped cream, then sprinkle some cinnamon on top.

This recipe makes enough for two coffee mugs.  And, yes, there will be little bits of pumpkin in the bottom of your cup.

Here’s the other recipe, a new family favorite.  My mom made apple butter when I was kid and I could have eaten that stuff straight out of the jar with a spoon, it was so delicious. We don’t have any apples in our house right now, but we do have 32 cups of pumpkin puree.  Pumpkin butter was the logical choice.

Crockpot Pumpkin Butter

• 8 cups pumpkin puree
• 4 cups sugar (I did 2 cups brown sugar and 1 cup maple syrup)
• 2 tsp cinnamon
• 1 tsp ginger
• 1/4 tsp cloves
• 6 tbsp lemon juice

1. Dump all the ingredients into your crock pot.
2. Stir.
3. Turn it on high and crack the lid so that steam can escape.
4. A bunch of hours later, it’s done.  I let mine cook for six hours until it was the consistency that I wanted it to be, spreadable and sticking to the spoon.

Seriously, how easy does it get?  This recipe made enough for me to fill one large Mason jar and two small Mason jars.  Ambiguous, I know.  I didn’t measure it.

I am keeping one jar in the refrigerator and the other two are in the freezer for consumption at a later time.  It is recommended that you don’t can this because pumpkin is a vegetable and canning doesn’t get rid of all the bacteria.  Putting it in the freezer is easier too.

For breakfast this morning, I enjoyed a pumpkin spice latte and a biscuit with pumpkin butter.  Now you can too!

With granola, topped with fresh fruit, sweetened with honey, on a sandwich, mixed with chopped garlic and cucumber, or for replacing milk in baked goods.  These are just a few ways you can use plain yogurt. It’s no wonder that yogurt is growing in popularity.  It is delicious and great for your digestive system.  But like so many things that are good for you, especially those growing in popularity, it is expensive!

Is our family going to forgo yogurt simply because it is expensive?  May it never be!  Today’s experiment: Slow Cooker Yogurt.

Supplies:

• 1 Slow cooker
• 1 Measuring cup
• 1 Half gallon of whole milk
• 1/2 Cup plain active culture yogurt without added flavors, sweeteners, colors, etc.
• Towels

Instructions

1. Dump the milk into your slow cooker and turn the cooker to low.  Leave it this way for two and half hours.  Tack on an extra 15 minutes if you’re using a 6-qt slow cooker.
2. After the 2.5 (or 2.75) hours, turn off and unplug the slow cooker and leave it be for three hours.  This allows the milk to cool to the proper temperature and incubates the yogurt.
3. Once your three cooling hours are up, remove about a cup and a half of warm milk from the slow cooker and dump it into a bowl.  Add the 1/2 cup plain yogurt and whisk them together.  Pour the mixture back into the slow cooker and whisk it into the warm milk.
4. Put the lid back on the slow cooker and cover it with towels.  This will keep the mixture warm while it incubates.  Leave it alone for five hours.  If you enjoy really tart and supposedly better for you yogurt, let it sit for eights hours.  I’m okay with the five, thanks.
5. Finally, scoop out your yogurt into containers of your choice.  It will be thinner than store-bought yogurt, but it’ll thicken up when chilled.  You can try it right away, but who wants warm yogurt?  I’d leave it in the fridge for a while before enjoying.

Make sure to put 1/2 cup of your homemade yogurt into a separate container so you can use it to make your next batch.  I always forget this step and have to buy more yogurt at the store, thus negating the cheapness factor. This recipe is SO simple, cheap, and makes a ton of yogurt.  It’ll last up to ten days in your fridge.  You can use the plain yogurt as a healthier substitute for sour cream and cream cheese in many recipes.  Also, make yourself a healthier breakfast by blending fruit, yogurt, and sweetener and ice for a smoothie.  Your body and wallet will thank you.