Foodie Favorites 2008

It's December, people!!

Christmas is well on its way and in honor of this festive season, I would like to share with all of you fellow foodies some of my favorite treats, gadgets, and recipes that have kept me amused in 2008.

I figure if Oprah can have a "favorite things" list, so can I! Feel free to write to me and share some of yours......Enjoy!

My 2008 drug of choice: Coffee

Aaaahhh, the love of coffee! Who else can you turn to when it's Monday morning, you've been awakened far too early by whining children, you've been deprived of a shower, and you have the same shirt on as yesterday? That sweet sweet java is the closest thing a mom gets to an instant make-over in a cup.

This year I have expanded my knowledge of and affinity for a good cuppa Joe. I have learned that the kind of bean grinder I have at home sucks (thank you, guy at PrestoGeorge), that local coffee houses can only be furnished in retro garage-sale motif, and that it gets personal when the guys who make my coffee mysteriously disappear (I soooo miss you, old crew from the Vault. I have no one to make fun of me when I put a packet of sugar free cocoa in my coffee). I have learned that Starbucks gives me heart palpitations and is most likely made with crack, which is the reason why I keep drinking it. And I've watched Dunkin' make a pretty serious comeback. I now know what a french press is and I've learned the dark secret that some places hide their Splenda and ration out the packets to people. Must be the economy.

At any rate, I have my favs. Hazelnut anything is at the top of the list. But for this festive season, it's all about peppermint. And chocolate. I give you:

Starbucks Peppermint Mocha Twist

Pictured at the top of this post is the most wonderfully sweet morning splurge in all the land. Starbucks says:

"We’ve combined Starbucks espresso with bittersweet chocolate, bright peppermint flavor, and creamy steamed milk. It is finished with freshly made peppermint whipped cream and dark chocolate curls on top. The unforgettable pairing of chocolate and peppermint is made even livelier this holiday season with this special twist!"

Ummmmm, yeah. It's pretty awesome. And you'll be happy to know, not so bad on the hips either. A "tall" (yes you can say "small") Peppermint Mocha Twist with nonfat milk and no whipped cream will run you about 220 calories (or 4 WW points, if yer countin'). Squirt some whip on the top and you bump it up 2 more points, so take it easy will ya! You can also knock off about 25 calories for each squirt of peppermint syrup you omit. Imho, you can do without one or two and it still tastes perfectly pepperminty!!

Now go get one!