Low-Carb Mocha And Chai

Share your drink hacks!

As silly as it sounds, I'm in a Starbucks hack group on Facebook and people are always asking for more hacks for low-carb or low-sugar drinks. At first it irks me because we've all shared lots of hacks that can be easily searched for instead of re-posted, but I have to admit that there are always new ideas out there about how to order drinks that work for your dietary needs.

It's really easy to order a mocha or chai with much less sugar. These hacks explain how but you can always tweak the instructions to your own needs if you just want a little less or a lot less sugar. Some drinks, alas, we cannot hack, even though I make a mean gingerbread keto latte. But you really can get a frappe low-carb--you just can't call it a frappe and it's much more complicated to order. 

How do you hack your drinks, low-carb or otherwise? Share your recipes in the chat.

Klat Categories: 
Food & Beverage
Dining Out

Churro Latte

Have you tried it?

As creepy as it is to have your websites spy on you, I must admit that I do love a lot of the suggestions that Facebook has given me over the past couple of years. The latest one that I'm interested in checking out is this Churro Latte from Copper Cow Coffee, which I've never used before. It's a pour-over set of Vietnamese coffee that looks pretty good.

Copper Cow has a bunch of other flavors, too, like lavender latte... which I love! They also offer Thai iced tea, which is probably my favorite of all time. I'd love to find a sugar-free version, so if you find one of those, be sure to post it for me!

Have you ever tried a churro latte or any of the Copper Cow flavors? What did you think?

Klat Categories: 
Food & Beverage

Coffee Shop of Horrors

Another roaster to try!

This year I've been making my way through indie coffee companies and small roasters, sampling different flavors when I find sample sizes available. My next company is going to be Coffee Shop of Horrors, which has a 10% off sale going on at the moment. I love that they have cheaper samples available for almost half the cost other companies sell samples for; 2 ounces is really enough to tell if you like a flavor or not. Many shops do 4 ounces, which is nice if you love it, but I have one flavor from a company that I'm stuck with that I absolutely hate. I don't want to throw it out after paying for it, either, but I can't find anyone to take it off my hands.

Coffee Shop of Horrors has some fun horror-themed coffees that look interesting to me. Some of the flavors are ones I know I won't like (Amaretto), while I can't wait to try others (Caramel Scream). Flavored coffees are one of my favorite indulgences since I can have a "treat" without the sugars added.

Have you tried Coffee Shop of Horrors? What did you think? 

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Food & Beverage
Desserts/Sweets

Skinny Mixes Holiday Drink Recipes

Would you try any of these?

Lately I am all about the Skinny Mixes! These things have zero calories, zero carbs and zero sugar, making them perfect for people who are watching any of those components or who just want to lighten their caloric intake when it comes to holiday drinks this year. I've tried several kinds, from the Salted Caramel Mocha to the Christmas Cookie, and have found many of them to be fabulous. 

The site has some really great drink recipes on it, from the Pumpkin Spice Mule to the White Chocolate Peppermint Martini, and they all look quite delicious. Many have no calories or close to none, too! I really want to try a Jack Frostie and the Peach Bellini, which I think will be perfect for New Year's.

What recipes are you experimenting with? Any low calorie ones? Share them in the chat.

Klat Categories: 
Food & Beverage
Beer & Wine

Best Holiday Eggnog

Share the good nog

Eggnog is popping up everywhere already and oh, it makes me want it! I'm actually not a fan of much eggnog; it's so rich I can only sip a bit, but I sure love the smell of it. (Fortune Cookie Soap actually has an eggnog product called Moose Mug that I bought during Black Friday for that very reason!) I also love thinner versions of it, like this one that I came up with this week! It's not the same but I think it's delightful. 

I was wondering if you have any special versions of eggnog, spiked or not, to share, whether it's a recipe you love or a brand you love to buy. Each year there are more and more flavors and brands available that makes it even harder to decide. There's also light versions for those who don't want the full fat eggnog as well as the opposite but sugar-free for those avoiding carbs. There are also dairy alternatives, like the recipe I use.

Which types of eggnog are your favorites? Which ones do you suggest buying for the holidays?

Klat Categories: 
Holidays
Food & Beverage
Recipes
Alcohol

Tom And Jerry

Have you tried this interesting cocktail?

It's so fun to learn about different state drinks, especially when it's something you've never heard of before. From coffee cabinets to sugar on snow, I love to learn about and try to replicate treats and drinks I hear about in different states. In Wisconsin, there's a fun winter drink called Tom and Jerry, and it's something I'm adding to my list!

Apparently it's a lot like eggnog, and it contains whipped eggs, spices, powdered sugar and brandy, rum or both. It sounds delicious, doesn't it? It's usually served warm on a cold day, which also sounds super cozy. You can buy mixes that have the flavor mixed up already so all you have to do is add alcohol, which is how I plan on experimenting with it first! 

Will you try this drink, or have you tried it already? Tell us about it in the chat!

Klat Categories: 
Food & Beverage
Alcohol

Gender Neutral Cocktails

UK restaurant tests more inclusive drinks

How often have you avoided a drink not because of its ingredients, but because of its name, or because of its look? Many men don't order fruity drinks because they have an umbrella in them, say some experts, which is just plain silly. But drinks, like anything else assigned a gender, can promote stereotypes, which is why a bar in the United Kingdom is experimenting with gender neutral terms for their drinks.

This is ingenious, and really all businesses need to take a page out of Burger and Lobster's book. The restaurant chain's idea isn't only a good marketing technique, but it's more inclusive, and in a day when we're realizing just how fluid gender really is, there's no time like the present to update everything, especially our language, to reflect that.

Have you read of any other groundbreaking marketing techniques for drinks lately? Share them in the chat.

Klat Categories: 
Dining Out

The Milkman Returneth

Those Millennials...

I can say "Those Millennials!" because I am one, but I do think every time something is blamed on us, it's often inaccurate (we're not teenagers; you're thinking of Gen Z), or it's actually positive. I think it's great that we support mom and pop businesses and we have libraries making a comeback. I also think it's fantastic that we're putting the milkman back in business, according to this article. We don't like wasting plastic, so we're asking for milk deliveries. 

This could be problematic, especially if it means more gas, but I think it's something older generations who long for milkman days could also support. It's got to help with job growth too, right? So not only are we drinking less alcohol, but we're trying to drink less anything-with-plastic. I love it.

What other interesting drinking trends have you read about? Share them in the chat!

Klat Categories: 
Culture
Society

Harry Potter Drinks For Grown-Ups

Spike your drinks for Halloween

If you're getting ready for some Harry Potter goodness this Halloween, you might want to take your pumpkin juice, butterbeer and gillyweed water to the next level with a little bit of spiking. It's only fair; after all, Harry Potter himself has long since grown up, as have the fans that grew with him. We're all of age, so why not bring out the giggle water?

Vodka and butterscotch schnapps can dress up your butterbeer, but the link will also give you recipes for beverages like unicorn blood, the Goblet of Fire and polyjuice potion. There are also drinks called the Albus Dumbledore, which naturally features his love of lemon drop candies, and firewhisky, which Sirius Black was known to drink.

What wizard cocktails are you brewing up this Halloween? Share them in the chat!

Klat Categories: 
Food & Beverage
Alcohol
Beer & Wine
Liquor

Marshmallow Goodness

How do you use them in your drinks?

I am in love with a new marshmallow trend that I see popping up everywhere. People are adding little ghost peep marshmallows to their coffee, hot chocolate and other hot drinks and it's just adorable! I've seen people add eyes and mouths to make regular marshmallows into ghosts as well, and it's also pretty cute. It got me wondering if any of our Good Drinking friends put marshmallows in their drinks, especially if it's something other than cocoa?

If you're sugar free, there are also several sugar-free marshmallow flavors you can add to your drink, and while I like those, too, I have to say that nothing beats a real marshmallow, roasted and gooey, in a hot drink! My sister likes to joke that I love them so much that I would wear the scent of marshmallows every day, but you know what? I really would. I love them that much!

So how do you take your marshmallows? Share your ideas in the chat!

Klat Categories: 
Food & Beverage

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