Iced Carmel Machiato

*This is Anne Marie, instructing me how to make an Iced Carmel Machiato, last time we were visiting them in Tennessee. Doesn't she look excited!!!! The thought of drinking one of these does this to us!

I'd like to share with you a little piece of heaven in our morning routine... no, it's not sitting peacefully on the couch with my children, that hasn't happened since Choo Choo Soul. It's called the Iced Carmel Machiato, if you are a coffee or espresso drinker you will appreciate this, if not, I am sorry that you cannot fully appreciate the joys of this heavenly drink! Now, it is a Starbucks drink that on a trip to Tennessee my sister in law, Anne Marie, the very profound one I spoke of earlier in this blog, introduced me to while I was pregnant with Troy. Now, I don't recommend caffeine to this magnitude when you are preggers, but after traveling 5 days, 3 different hotels, 8 months pregnant, with a cranky 2 year old- anything goes! Now, this isn't just the regular Starbucks Iced Carmel Machiato to be exact she orders...funny that I know this... I've been on the phone when she has ordered this many times, now you must use proper Starbucks etiquette when ordering... "Hello, how are you today? (pause of their answer) Excellent! Yes, I'd like to order a Venti, Iced Carmel Mach. Quad, with 8 pumps of vanilla, and extra caramel (wait to hear the shock in their voice), yes that's correct, 4 shots of espresso and 8 pumps of vanilla, don't forget the extra Carmel (again shock while they say OK mam') Thank you"... it's heaven! After trying hers and feeling sweet euphoria, I was a little concerned for the child growing inside of me, so I didn't have another once we got back to Florida. BUT- once Troy was born and not nursing all deals were off, I was going to Starbucks all the time! I craved Iced Carmel Machiatos! When the lack of sleep from two children not sleeping through the night you must give in to these desires to make it through the day. Now, unless you have unlimited funds- which Anne Marie and I don't, in fact we have husbands who twitch at the thought of our $5 drinks. So, Matthew got Anne Marie an espresso maker for Christmas (or something)... she searched and searched until she found the Starbucks secret recipe. When Troy was 5 months old we drove to Tennessee again to visit and she shared this glorious recipe with me. So I got the espresso maker out of the back of the cabinet, the cabinet that you put stuff you don't use- what was I thinking, and started experimenting... thanks to Anne Marie I canmake a mean Iced Carmel Machiato. I was so proud, then weight watchers happened! But let me tell you- I have modified the Machiato for those of us counting points! Granted it is a 5 point drink- but worth every point!

Before I share the recipe with you I want you to know... we (Anne Marie and I) have found when you put coffee on ice you can drink it much faster, which is a major plus when you have to chase children all morning. (Anne Marie has 3 boys, an 11 year old, 2 year old, and a 1 year old- no wonder she needs this liquid speed.)

I am including two recipes.. the good one, and the 5 point one (which is still good, but.. you will be able to see the difference). For those of us coffee and espresso lovers enjoy this! and if you don't think youlove coffee, just try it.. try it once.. HEAVEN!

PS: you must drink this with a straw, I prefer the pink straws that my mom gave me on mother's day but any straws will do.

The Good Iced Carmel Machiato Recipe

-pour 1/3 cup of whole milk into a large glass

-add 4 ice cubes

-pour a splash of vanilla syrup into the glass (now this is really not a splash, more like a water fall of syrup, if you want to get technical maybe 5 tbsp- we like Da Vinci Gourmet syrup, you can find at Walmart in the coffee section)

-squeeze lots of Smucker's Carmel Sundae Syrup into your glass.. now this will set in the bottom of the glass (I don't know how much Carmel but we put about 1 1/2 inches in the bottom of our glass)

- then pour 2 to 4 shots of espresso (we like Cafe Bustelo) over the top, pour slowly... this will set on top of the milk...

If done right it creates a very classy, sophisticated, layered drink..

then you can mix it up and drink it down!

The 5 pt. Iced Carmel Mach.

- 8oz. of Plain Silk into large glass

-4 ice cubes

-2 tbsp vanilla syrup (Da Vinci, they make a sugar free version but I don't recommend it)

-2 tbsp Smucker's Carmel Sundae Syrup

-2-4 shots of espresso on top...

mix it and drink it!

SOOO SOO GOOD! Now, go to Walmart and buy your ingredients and share this with your friends!!! I am thinking about having a machiato party..