After a crock pot fail earlier this week, last night’s successful slow cooker dinner redeemed my love for crock pot cooking.
I made beef stew by following a recipe I found on AllRecipes.com. Though the recipe called for a few veggies, I added a bunch more and chopped up sweet potatoes, green peppers, mushrooms, carrots and an onion to include.
It was veggie-packed and delicious!
Breakfast
Breakfast this morning included a bowl of steel cuts oats prepared on the stovetop with egg whites, half of a banana and pumpkin pie spice. I was a little heavy handed with the carton of egg whites, so the oats were a little fluffier than I meant for them to be, but still quite tasty!
I also made a hot cup of coffee to sip on the side.
Last weekend I bought a small bottle of NuNaturals pure liquid vanilla stevia from Earth Origins in Ocala. One of my girlfriends is in love with this stuff and encouraged me to try it out in my morning coffee. She promised me it was on par with Starbucks vanilla syrup!
While I wouldn’t compare it to Starbucks vanilla syrup, I really liked it a lot! I added a few drops to the bottom of my coffee mug before pouring in Godiva peppermint crème coffee and topping it off with frothy almond milk. It added a touch of sweetness without a weird aftertaste. It’s pretty darn expensive, so I’ll be rationing my use of the stuff, but I liked it!
Question of the Morning
- If you’re a coffee or tea drinker, do you add anything to your coffee or tea?
I like to add vanilla almond milk to my coffee but I prefer my tea without anything in it. Sweet tea gives me the heebie jeebies. Clearly I wasn’t born and raised in Florida because sweet tea is a staple around here!
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For the past two days I’ve been adding ground nutmeg to my morning coffee(s). Makes it a little special. I wish that I had a milk steamer though.
After being dairy free for 7 years I am finally enjoying coffee again! Silk Original Coffee Creamer all the way!!
Love coffee and hot tea. I add enough creamer to make the coffee more of a taupe color and just a little sugar. Black tea with a little milk and sugar is my fave. Great looking stew by the way!
There are so many great options in the comments!
When I am feeling extra special I will froth some milk and add brown sugar. It is so yummy!
I agree on the stevia being pricey- I got a ton from a friend one time and thought it was great but have yet to buy more. Maybe one day!
I add almond milk and 2-3 packets of purevia to tea and coffee. As well as creamer to coffee. It’s usually more white than anything.
I’m making lightened up Baked Potato Soup on Sunday, so I have a feeling I’ll be wishing away my weekend!
I NEED a frother..Which brand do you use?
How did you cook the steel cut oats with the eggs whites? Looks delicious!
I drink my coffee black. I secretly like the bitter taste and how it’s so quick and easy. For my tea I drink a cup of green tea in the afternoon and add a spoonful of honey and a slice of lemon. Black tea I don’t add anything to
I usually drink my coffee with skim milk only! 🙂
I bought a crock pot yesterday and definitely plan on getting some inspiration from your blog. Never used one before! 🙂 Also this morning I enjoyed a little modified version of your whole wheat pumpkin pancakes (with a chocolate/coffee flavored Chobani “bite” yogurt instead of pumpkin) — they came out great! I love your blog, thanks for the inspiration! 🙂
I wish I could convince myself against putting anything extra into my drinks. I am a huge lover of all things condiments, so it is hard for me to resist a spoonful of sugar, or honey! 🙂
I love adding a little diet hot chocolate to my coffee for a bit of a guilt free mocha feel!!
That beef stew looks off the hook! Pinning now to try later!
Hmmm I’ve been curious about the flavored stevia drops for a while. Thanks for the review, I think I’ll stick with my Truvia and vanilla extract! I always add some chocolate or vanilla almond milk to coffee and some vanilla almond milk if I’m drinking my caramel black tea, otherwise tea goes plain!
black coffee drinker 🙂 love it!
I like my tea with milk and honey. Coffee I’ll take with just milk, but if it’s iced coffee, I need a little sugar. Weird!
Where do you find the Godiva peppermint crème coffee?? I’ve been on the seach for it since the first time I saw it mentioned on your blog. No luck yet! 🙁
I usually just add a splace of skim milk to my coffee. Unless is starbucks then Iadd some sugar free vanilla too!
I use coconut vanilla creamer in my coffee. Your beef stew looks wonderful. I put Brunswick Stew in my crockpot last night, then cooled it off this morning and put in the refrigerator.
I am absolutely going to have to track down some of that flavored Stevia. I am not a coffee or a tea drinker, but it sounds like some of the flavors would be great additions to a cup of hot cocoa! 🙂
I love hot oolong tea with a touch of raw honey. Mmm.
I really enjoy the sugar free Torani syrups! Ever since I discovered SF caramel, Dunkin has lost a little business from me lol
I’ve seen that vanilla stevia in recipes before. Is it just a flavored sweetener?
How much Torani do you use in a cup of coffee? Do you measure it?
it depends on my mood, but because i like to watch my calories, sometimes ill order a md iced coffee from dunkin and add 1 1/2 to 2 Tbsp.
Half and Half and splenda.
The Kidless Kronicles
I’m a black coffee girl, but go for a latte on special occasions. I love the nunaturals stevia in my yogurt!!
Since I have a slight sensitivity to dairy milk, coconut milk is my add-in for my tea. Soy milk is my choice if I’m out at a coffee shop, its soy milk then!
Love the liquid stevia! They now have a peppermint that I’m adoring in my green tea. Ron from NuNaturals is such a great guy and loves to work with bloggers. You should definitely reach out to him to see about trying their new flavors.
Hmmm…..I never liked soy milk in my coffee, I felt like it tasted chemically. But I drink almond milk now, I should give that a try.
I cannot drink coffee black. I always have to add creamer. My favorites are french vanilla and hazelnut. Very rarely do I need to add sugar. I’m trying to cut down on my love for artificial sweeteners in my coffee!
I just recently got a bunch of NuNaturals from a giveaway and I love it! I’m a fan of the vanilla, but I think chocolate has been my favorite… Banana chocolate overnight oats were my go-to breakfast this week!
I’m a little fanatical about creating that perfect cup of tea each morning – chai with a splash of cream and a touch of honey.
Coffee is a big deal in my family- and I liked it with a splash of nonfat milk (raised on the stuff- now I can’t change!) and a sugar cube. I thought about what kind of sweetener to use for a while and I do love agave syrup. But, on a college student’s budget it was not really a feasible option for me. In addition I need the portion control of sugar cubes!
For tea, I usually do the same for black tea especially Chai and Harney and Son’s Paris Tea (SO GOOD!) but for other teas I just drink them straight.
A splash of Unsweetened Almond milk (when at home) and when I’m not at home…whatever is available between skim or non-dairy creamer. No Sugar in my coffee, please! 🙂
I drink my coffee black (unless I get something at a coffee shop), but since I found out I am pregnant I am drinking half-caff now and sometimes with a little soy creamer in it 🙂
I always add creamer to black coffee but when I use the Keurig Specialty Coffee K-Cups I hardly ever have to add anything it tastes so good. I usually put a little sweetener in my tea but can drink it without!
Mmm, that crock pot meal looks delicious!! I like to add a tbsp of unsweetened vanilla almond milk to my coffee, or a 1/2tbsp of heavy whipping cream is pretty darn amazing. I have the liquid Stevia Glycerite & love that stuff to add to my tea & baking. Yes, it’s pretty darn pricey though! 😉
I don’t add anything to my tea because I drink tea for the calming affect-not to give me a sugar rush.
Coffee on the other hand is meant to give you a buzz! I typically drink it black but on occasion, I add a little bit of almond milk if the coffee batch I made was too strong. If I’m in the mood for “dessert coffee”, I add some Bailey’s French Vanilla creamer to it 😉 So good! I love my coffee and tea 🙂
Julie- those drops last FOREVER! I use them almost daily in my coffee- 5-10 drops, as well as sometimes in pancake batter, and they have lasted over a year!
Just started reading your blog (I read HTP and saw you on the Old Navy’s Facebook page). I drink green tea every morning and sometimes stir in a little organic honey.
I’m a Floridian and I have never liked sweet tea. It’s just gross to me! I prefer unsweetened anyday!
you can buy those drops much cheaper online! iherb.com has a great selection of sweeteners and other natural/organic products if you have never heard of them. you can even use code SIZ056 to get $5 off your first order 🙂
If you love stuffed green peppers, I suggest trying this crockpot recipe http://momadvice.com/blog/2012/09/slow-cooker-stuffed-green-pepper-soup! I made it yesterday, and it is SO good!
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