Thursday, November 24, 2011

Homemade Vanilla Chai Tea Latte {Giving Thanks}



A typical Thanksgiving in my family includes a huge turkey dinner held at my brother's house.

This year, however, things are different.  It's just me and my parents this year.  My dad, not wanting the hassle on Thanksgiving day and wanting to spend more time enjoying each other's company, figured that since we wouldn't be having company, we didn't have anybody we needed to impress.  He ordered a Thanksgiving dinner.


So tomorrow will be spent with my mom and dad, relaxing.  I have so much to be thankful for.  Sometimes I think it's sad that we have to set aside a day to remember to be grateful for everything we have, but then I realize the holiday is a good thing, because it's so easy to forget.

I mean, how many times have you gotten angry about your coffee shop being out of your favorite coffee, or getting stuck in traffic for an hour, or walking all the way to your 8 o'clock class in the freezing cold all the way across campus only to realize that it was cancelled, or that you only get to see your boyfriend once every two weeks, or that your Thanksgiving isn't how it is every other year?

I have.  So, this year I'm thankful that we even have coffee shops, that I'm even able to drive, that I can even afford college, that I even have a loving boyfriend, that I can even celebrate Thanksgiving with abundant amounts of food and people I love.  All of that and much more.  I'm blessed and so overfilled with gratitude.

What are you thankful for?


This Chai Tea Latte is the perfect way to wake up on Thanksgiving morning.  Have you ever had a Chai Tea Latte?  It's like a holiday in a cup.  It's creamy and spicy and warm.  Perfection.  I had one for the first time a couple of weeks ago and I was hooked, but they're expensive.  Now that I know I can make them at home and alter them however I want, I don't think I'll be buying them anymore.  I tripled the recipe so I can just heat it up in the morning.

Happy Thanksgiving, friends.









Homemade Vanilla Chai Tea Latte
Instructables

Ingredients:
2 Regular Tea Bags (I used Vanilla Chai)
1/2 tsp cinnamon
4 Splenda packets or 1/4 cup Sugar
2 1/2 C. Milk



Directions:
1.  Mix tea and spices in a pan on the stove.
2.  Boil for 5 minutes.
3.  Add sweetener and mix.
4.  Add the milk and wait for the mixture to return to a boil.  Watch it closely, it will boil over quickly!
5.  Strain the tea and enjoy! 


11 comments:

  1. Happy Thanksgiving, chickadee! Oh man, a steamy vanilla spiced latte sounds so awesome right now. Enjoy the holiday!

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  2. I have never had one, but they always looked yummy. I may have to finally try one.

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  3. "Chai tea" is redundant as "chai" literally means "tea". And this isn't a "chai tea latte", this is a lazy man's chai masala.

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  4. Mmm... that looks so yum! Happy Thanksgiving, lady! :)

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  5. I looove chai tea lattes.

    Happy Thanksgiving!

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  6. This is my FAV. drink EVER! I buy Oregon Chai Tea Latte mix, but now I'm going to have to try this! If you make it, then it must be yummy! Hope you had a wonderful Turkey Day Katie!

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  7. I am not a tea drinker but I love Chai. I am very anxious to try your recipe. But I need some help, how much water did you use? You said to mix the spices, yet you only listed one. Sorry, I'm the one who uses the "cooking for dumbies". Thank you!

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  8. I love Chai Latte's, especially when it starts getting cold. They are so expensive at Starbucks so this is a great recipe to have on hand when I want something sweet and spicy to drink. I might have to try this out today. I have some Chai Tea that I could use...

    We had a quiet Thanksgiving, too. It's nice having lots of extended family to celebrate with, but sometimes it's just nice to have a close, quiet day, too. You are right, it's a great time to reflect on everything we have, however, we should be thankful EVERY day. Very well said:-)

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  9. Sounds like a wonderful Thanksgiving, Katie. Especially the part about everyone getting to spend more time together.

    Thanks for a great post, and a great recipe!

    Ben
    http://kissthecook-ben.blogspot.com/

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  10. I tasted chai tea latte at starbucks and I have to admit it was pretty good! Now I have a recipe to make some at home, thank you!

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  11. Do you suggest using nutmeg and a tsp of vanilla?

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Key to my heart? Comments. :)