Fall Foods: (Pumpkin Spice) Cinnamon Roll Waffle + Homemade Vanilla (Whey) Icing Recipe

One of the things that I look forward to most during the holiday season is a deliciously easy menu that I can create. When I'm not halfway across the world stuffing my face at a restaurant I stumbled upon during a working layover, I'm at home enjoying my most favorite meal of the day: breakfast. A couple of years ago, my mom gifted me with a huge Waring Pro restaurant style waffle maker, and I've used it every moment that I can. Normally I only use it for homemade waffles, but I decided to switch it up and make waffles from a can of pre made Pillsbury Pumpkin Spice Cinnamon Rolls. The cinnamon rolls did come with their own PS flavored icing, but I didn't want to use it. I wanted something with a little less pumpkin flavor and I just wanted to make a topping of my own. The recipe for simple glaze icing calls for powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and milk. I am a big fan of powdered sugar, but I wanted to take another leap in the "Taylor creations" file and make a substitute for powdered sugar. I used Vanilla Whey Protein Powder as a substitute to powdered sugar (and a substitute for corn starch), and it came out perfectly! I'm excited to share both the recipe for my own vanilla icing and the easy steps to making a cinnamon roll waffle. It is so simple and even more delicious. Enjoy!

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Homemade Fall Favorite Drink (White Hot Chocolate)

Homemade White Hot Chocolate + Fall/Winter Favorites

The whipped cream began to melt as I was taking this picture, so it looks a bit crowded on top here.

Hey, y'all!

It's my favorite time of year again! Ya know, that "curl up with your boo because it's chilly out, gets dark outside at pretty much 1:00pm, the days somehow become ridiculously short but you still manage to be productive and take cute fall pictures" time of year. During this time of year, what's my top priority? Making fall drinks for to snuggle up to my love bug with and drinks to kick start a productive day, of course! 

First off, shout out to those food and drink bloggers who take amazing pictures while preparing something and then serving it to the point where their food looks like a legitimate model. I am still working on that. I get so into what I'm making that I forget to stop and take the right picture; and my other bad habit is that I cook and bake when I'm hungry, so when the dish is finally ready, I basically devour it and forget to snap a picture. I will get better! 

If there is one thing I'm great at in the kitchen other than cooking: it's definitely creating fall and winter drinks. I came across the idea of this hot white chocolate a couple of years ago when I was having a girls' movie night in with my mom. I love spending time with my mom, so I wanted to be able to enjoy a very chill night in while together also enjoying a night of food crafting. I searched Pinterest and came across an extremely long recipe that was for homemade hot chocolate. I prefer white chocolate, so I tweaked the recipe a bit (took out about five extra steps) and came up with this staple to my life. It's the perfect mix of chocolate and sweetness, but not too sweet. It is great for any night in, or on your morning commute if you like to skip the caffeine (which, if you've been reading this blog, you know that I don't skip it).  

So, I found pictures of when I created this delicious treat with my mom.

We clearly don't like owls.

I am excited to share this favorite favorite fall and winter drink of mine: Homemade White Hot Chocolate. This is seriously the one thing that all of my friends ask me to make anytime they're coming to town to visit me or coming over for a girls night in. Seriously. A week out from them coming into town, I will get a text asking can I make them the hot chocolate (Phylicia, I'm talking about you). I always happily oblige. So, I figured I should share this super easy and super delicious recipe with you guys! Enjoy! Tell me if you try it and love it! 

*If you're on a cell phone or tablet, here is the recipe shared again, but without its header. It is a little easier to read this way* 

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