Amarula Latte

So weird.  This is my first post in the year 2012.

The year in which I will graduate, get a big-girl job as a physical therapist, celebrate my third anniversary with a certain handsome man, learn a whole lot more about food and photography, and get (at least) one certain fluffy orange kitten.

Not to mention that the world is supposed to end.  You’re already such a crazy year, 2012!  I have a lot of hopes for you already, not including some crazy Mayan prediction.  Please don’t end right after I finish 20 very, very, very long years of school (including kindergarten, of course).

Anyway, I decided to celebrate the new year with one of my favorite things–a warm beverage in a heavy mug spiked with alcohol.

Can’t go wrong there, my friends!

Amarula Latte (serves one)

• 1/3 C strong, hot coffee
• 1 C steamed milk
• 1 oz Amarula

Super easy, super yummy.

I don’t have any crazy latte milk steaming mechanism (maybe that, too, can happen in 2012!), so I just warmed it up.  I could have taken the extra step of blending it to make it a little fluffier, but I didn’t do that (or I could just use one of those milk frother things–2012,  I’m lookin’ at you!).

Pour the hot coffee into the mug and add the ounce of amarula.

I’m not gonna lie, in my attempt to get a photograph of me pouring Amarula into a mug, followed by an assist from my mom, I probably had a wee bit more than an ounce.  Not surprisingly, still delicious.

Add the steamed, frothy (in a perfect world) milk and give it a stir.

Hello, 2012.  So nice to meet you.

By the way, Amarula is a South African cream liqueur made from fruit from the Marula tree.  Sweet and creamy–perfect as a dessert when sipped on its own, or delightful when poured into coffee.

If you haven’t met a South African yet that is available for marriage, 2012 could be your year.  I highly recommend it.

Also, as a little side note, elephants eat the Marula fruits, which are known to ferment quickly when laying on the ground.  I would love to watch the antics that I can only imagine a drunk elephant gets into.

Lastly, I just read that the Marula fruit is known as an aphrodisiac and thought to increase fertility.  Watch out–2012 is not our year for birthin’ little Fritzes.

Today was our last full day in Syracuse and we are heading back to Long Island tomorrow morning.  We had a lovely walk with the giant wolfhound and some of the family, and I thought I’d share.  Year 2012, you are the year of family and friends.

Any hopes and dreams for the new year?