the one with the salted caramel mocha
WHAT’S UPPPP BARISTA HOMIE! Welcome to Kat’s Kitchen Newsletter Number 122! Thank you so so much for being here; I hope this newsletter is a useful tool for ya as you create meals and coffee at home this week! Catch a new Kat’s Kitchen Newsletter in your email inbox every Sunday!
Follow me on Instagram, Youtube, TikTok, and Pinterest for food, coffee, and lifestyle content!
Starbucks Holiday Drinks
If you’re looking to save money this year, I have recipes for all the Starbucks holiday drink items! The list even includes drinks that have been discontinued like Toasted White Mocha, Irish Cream Cold Brew, and more!
Drink of the Week
Starbucks Salted Caramel Mocha
Ingredients
Iced Salted Caramel Mocha
1 tablespoon Torani Salted Caramel Syrup
1 tablespoon Torani Dark Chocolate Sauce or homemade chocolate sauce
2 shots Espresso
8 ounces 2% Milk
Ice
Whipped Cream
Caramel Sauce for topping
1/2 teaspoon Smoked Sea Salt
1 teaspoon Turbinado Sugar
Hot Salted Caramel Mocha
1 tablespoon Torani Salted Caramel Syrup
1 tablespoon Torani Dark Chocolate Sauce or homemade chocolate sauce
2 shots Espresso
8 ounces 2% Milk steamed
Whipped Cream
Caramel Sauce for topping
1/2 teaspoon Smoked Sea Salt
1 teaspoon Turbinado Sugar
For full instructions, see the full recipe HERE!
New on Youtube:
New on Instagram:
New on the Blog
Coffees/Drinks of the Week
Pecan Cold Brew + Salted Eggnog Cold Foam
Homemade Pecan Syrup, Cold Brew, Ice, Salted Eggnog Cold Foam, Nutmeg
Blackberry Dr. Pepper: Dr Pepper Zero Sugar + Homemade Blackberry Syrup + 4 packets True Lime + 1-2 tbsp Coffee Mate Coconut Creme Creamer
Blackberry Grapefruit Mocktail: Homemade Blackberry Syrup, blackberry compote, 1 can grapefruit citrus Fresca, 2 packets True Grapefruit, sprig of rosemary
This Week’s Eats
Beefy Mac & Cheese
1 pound ground beef
Avocado oil spray
2 boxes mac & cheese
2 tbsp butter
1/2 cup milk
salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder
Bring a pan to medium heat, add the avocado oil spray and ground beef. Cook beef until fully browned, then season with salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and chili powder, then set aside.
In a separate pot, bring water to a boil, then add in the macaroni- make sure to remove the cheese packets inside the box. Cook the macaroni for 8 minutes and then pour the water and macaroni into a strainer. Place the empty pot back on the burner over low heat, and add in the butter, milk, and cheese packets. Stir to combine, then add in the pasta and cooked ground beef. Stir to combine, and serve.
Miso Soup
1 carton Ocean’s Halo Miso Broth
1/2 block Extra firm tofu
1/2 cup Mushrooms, chopped
3 cloves garlic, grated
1-inch chunk ginger, grated
2 Green Onion, sliced
1 tbsp Gochujang
1 tbsp Gochugaru
Pinch of Salt
1 tbsp Sugar
1 tbsp Furikake
Kimchi
To a pot add all the ingredients EXCEPT furikake and kimchi. Bring to a boil, and then let simmer for 15 minutes. Serve the soup and top with furikake seasoning and a side of kimchi.
Pork Chops + Bacon Wrapped Jalapeno Poppers + Lemon Parmesan Brussel Sprouts
2 Pork chops
Salt, pepper
1 tbsp avocado oil
3 tbsp maple syrup
1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
1 pound Brussel sprouts
1 tbsp lemon juice
1/3 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
1 tsp dijon mustard
salt, pepper
2 tbsp olive oil
6 jalapeños
4 oz cream cheese
1/3 cup shredded colby jack cheese
salt, pepper, garlic powder
12 slices bacon
avocado oil spray
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Prepare a baking sheet with foil, and spray with avocado spray, and set aside. In a bowl, combine cream cheese, shredded cheese, salt and garlic powder. Mix well then set aside. Slice the stems off each jalapeno and cut the peppers in half from top to bottom. Use a spoon to scoop out the seeds, and discard the seeds. Scoop a small amount of the cream cheese mixture into each jalapeno half, and then wrap in a slice of bacon, and place on the prepared baking sheet. Continue for all the peppers, and then bake at 400 degrees for 35-45 minutes, or until bacon is cooked and crispy.
Cut brussel sprouts in half and place in a large bowl. Add lemon juice, parmesan cheese, dijon mustard, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and olive oil, and mix until everything is well coated. Pour the coated brussel sprouts into an air fryer and air fry for 15-20 minutes at 375, or until browned and crispy. Remove from air fryer and top with more freshly grated parmesan.
Season pork chops with salt and pepper on all sides, then add to a pan with avocado oil over medium heat. Cook for 6 minutes, and then flip; you should have a nice crust. Cook for another 5-6 minutes, then add in the apple cider vinegar and maple syrup, and spoon the mixture over the pork chops. Cook for another minute and then remove the pork chops from the pan. Let the syrup thicken in the pan for 2-3 minutes, and then pour the syrup over the cooked pork chops. Serve with brussel sprouts and jalapeno poppers.
Chicken Nuggets (Bare Naturals brand from Costco) + Shin Black Ramen
Air fry chicken nuggets at 375 for 12-15 minutes, then serve with buffalo sauce. Follow instructions on packet for ramen, then top with green onion and serve with a side of kimchi.
Recent Purchases
Some things I recently purchased that think are SO WORTH the money:
Our Place Perfect Pot- I have never been more in love with a piece of cookware! It is seriously the most perfect pot! If you or someone you know cook lots of meals at home, this is a great gift for the holidays.
True Grapefruit - You know I’ve loved True Lime packets for over a year now, well I just tried True Grapefruit this month and IT IS SO GOOD! My husband loves it so much too, we just bought the larger box haha
Sunzel Womens Workout Leggings- If you need an affordable pair of leggings for the winter, I very much recommend these. They are so soft and comfy, and they fit your legs and bootay very nicely!
Syrup Bottles- I have been LOVING making my own syrups this year! I never realized how easy and fun it was to do! I use these syrup bottles to store the syrups in the fridge and they make pouring out of the bottle much easier and mess free than a regular mason jar!
Quest Chili Lime Protein Chips- these have been my obsession all of 2024! They are so good and they have 20 grams of protein per bag, which is crazy! Such an easy and delish way to up your protein each day.
LaCroix Strawberry Peach - EASILY my favorite LaCroix flavor! If you haven’t tried this one yet, you have to! Plus it’s less than $4 on Amazon!
Thank you SO SO MUCH for reading this week’s newsletter! This newsletter is simply a way for me to share my recipes, and my love for coffee and food! In the past, I struggled with an eating disorder, and I would “avoid” certain drinks and foods I loved, just to be thin. I now have a healthy relationship with food and my body, and I understand all foods fit into a healthy lifestyle! It’s okay to love food. It’s okay to enjoy sweet coffee! It’s okay if certain foods bring you more joy than others, and it’s okay if there’s more of you to love than when you were younger ;)
Drop any comments or questions below, and have a beautiful week friend!