This is going to be the last post for this year, after which I’ll take some time off. This year has been quite unexpected on many levels. It’s been a tough year for many, I’m sure. We’re living very uncertain times and life can take quick turns we would have not anticipated. I learned to live one day at a time and that has certainly decreased a lot of my stress levels. I also learned to let go, because there is no point in wishing that things would have gone differently. We just have to adapt and adjust and do the best we can with the given circumstances. I learned to be grateful and even more appreciative for the small but meaningful things in life.
One reason I’m beyond grateful is that this year I had the chance to dedicate much more time than usual to creativity thanks to Taike’s grants. It means a lot that my work as a photographer has been appreciated and is considered worthy enough to be supported by the Arts Promotion Centre of Finland.
All these years I’ve been trying through my photography to raise awareness concerning the themes of sustainability, seasonality, slow living and wild food. To encourage people to slow down and create a deeper connection with nature. To appreciate all that locally can be produced or foraged.
I’m so grateful my work is considered to be culturally and artistically relevant, and I really hope you readers, when seeing my work, would also be moved to implement some of the values above mentioned in your life.
The last recipe for this year is another warm embrace, because who gets enough of them nowadays? It is a Pumpkin Spice Latte, a cozy hot drink to sip on a cold winter afternoon.
When it was harvest time a few months back I bought a lot of pumpkins, steamed them, reduced them to puree and froze them in ice cubes and muffin molds. I didn’t season them because I want to have the flexibility to use them both in sweet and savory recipes. I did the same procedure with apples. Having ready pumpkin puree in my freezer makes it very easy to prepare the recipe I’m about to share with you. Also the procedure is an extremely effortless one as you just place all the ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth and frothy.
Pumpkin Spice Latte
Ingredients
- 1 shot of espresso
- 1 tbsp pumpkin puree
- 125 ml ½ cup milk of your choice
- Sweetener of your choice
- Cinnamon to taste
- Cardamom to taste
- Vanilla extract to taste
- Ginger to taste
- Cloves to taste
- Nutmeg to taste
Instructions
- Warm up the milk.
- Place all the ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.
- Serve with whipped cream and sprinkled cinnamon.
Other Cozy Warm Drinks
Supported by Taike
