Pumpkin Spice Latte

I got this recipe from a friend last week and made it over the weekend. It was just perfect for a fall afternoon. Even my dear coffee snob husband loved it!

To make the pumpkin syrup for the coffee:
1 c. water
1 c. sugar
2 T. pumpkin pie spice (either commerical or your own homemade blend)
1 t. vanilla
a tea infuser, piece of cheesecloth, or even a coffee filter and twist tie
sprinkle of cinnamon

Bring the water and sugar to boil in a small sauce pan. Boil for 3 to 5 minutes till sugar is completely disolved. Remove from heat. In the meantime, put pumpkin pie spice in infuser or put it in cheesecloth or a coffee filter and tie it shut. Add the spice packet to the syrup and allow to steep. I put the sauce pan on the back of the stove, covered, and allowed to steep for several hours. Add the vanilla, and waa laa!...you have pumpkin flavored syrup.

To make the latte...well, to be honest, I made pumpkin spice cappuccinos, but that just doesn't have the same Starbuck's ring as "pumpkin spice latte," now does it? At any rate, make some espresso and frothed milk. Place 2 T. of the pumpkin syrup in the bottom of your coffee cup, then add the espresso and as much frothed milk as you like. Add a sprinkle of cinnamon on top of the froth. No additional sweetener is needed. Store the additional syrup in the refrigerator.

Stir and enjoy! (It was especially good with a homemade chocolate chip cookie!)