Colder days call for a warm and steamy mug of....something tasty!

As the days grow colder here in the Northwest, I am always in search of something warm and tasty to fill my coffee mug with. So many options and so many flavors. Even if you are not a coffee or tea drinker, at some point, everyone craves a warm mug of "something" when the days grow colder.

For me, my mornings start with a cup of coffee. Usually I will add a bit of creamer to it and that creamer is usually something chocolaty. My old stand by is a chocolate peppermint creamer, that seems to be my favorite, but some mornings I am craving something a bit different.

A friend of mine gave me a recipe recently for a pumpkin spice coffee creamer. So yummy and so fitting to these fall mornings. Making your own creamer is so simple and takes just minutes. I store mine in one of those shaker containers that you can buy for salad dressings, but I have also used a quart sized canning jar.

Why make my own? Like many things you can buy "ready made," I avoid buying creamer at the grocery store for a couple of reasons. One is the cost. Our grocery budget just doesn't allow for very many "extras" and for me, this would have to fall under the extra category. As much as I love it, I can live without it. They other reason was the ingredients in those creamers. Full of hydrogenated fats and oils that I would rather not take into my body if I can avoid it.

Finding easy recipes for creamer was wonderful for me! Most of the ingredients I always have on hand anyway, so I'm not spending a bunch of extra money. The flavorings, when I have them on hand, are nice but not an absolute necessity to make a good creamer.

You can take the basic recipe for coffee creamer and add any flavoring you want to it. Often, I'll just leave the flavoring out and just enjoy the chocolate flavored creamer. I have also added hazelnut, vanilla and peppermint extract to give it a different twist. Whatever I happen to be craving.

If coffee isn't your drink of choice, the world of tea is endless! I love a good herbal tea sweetened with honey on a cool afternoon. One of my favorite herbal teas is just peppermint with a touch of honey. Just put some dried peppermint in a tea ball and steep it for a few minutes in your hot water. So tasty and also helps to calm an upset stomach.

Another fall favorite is cider. The recipes for spiced hot cider are numerous and most if not all are very good! You can add cranberry juice to it with spices like cinnamon and cloves. During the holidays my family enjoys hot cider with pineapple juice, oranges studded with cloves, cinnamon sticks and all spice. So good!

Looking for a good old fashioned cup of hot apple cider, you have got to try this recipe. So good, perfect flavor of apple and spices. If you can find fresh pressed apple cider somewhere local, that is the best way to make this. The cider from the grocery store will work nicely too.

How about chocolate? Yes, hot chocolate is a favorite in my house. I do buy the instant hot cocoa, but my family loves it when I make a pot of hot chocolate on a cold day. This too can be "doctored" up with flavorings and extracts, must like the coffee creamer.

This recipe for Maple Hot Chocolate is a yummy change from the ordinary. It makes a small batch, only 4 servings and can easily be doubled for a larger group. It is a creamy treat for after a hay ride to get pumpkins or an afternoon of raking leaves on a crisp fall day.

So many warm and tasty possibilities to fill those mugs with. So many wonderfully chilly days ahead of us this fall and winter. Take advantage of a few of these options, enjoy a nice evening with family and friends with full mugs of your favorite flavor or variety. Build a fire in the fire place or wood stove if you have one and enjoy. Even a cozy blanket and a warm cup of something will make the fall days feel a bit more cozy and inviting.

I love this time of year! The colors, the smells and all of the yummy possibilities that can come from my kitchen. Usually for very little effort and expense, I can produce something yummy for my family to enjoy after a cold day outside our cozy home. What a welcome home!