Chocolate Beet Latte and 2018 Book List

Last year I started keeping a book list at the beginning of the year and I must say I really enjoyed it.  I’m not in a book club and this was a way to keep myself accountable. I can find it hard to keep track of books I want to read and before I did my book list I would sometimes find myself going months without reading!  For my list I have one rule – that most of the books have to be from my own bookshelf.  You see, when we moved into our house we had a giant bookshelf that we filled with books from friends and family- many of them ones I haven’t read.  The rest of the books I have chosen are ones that I have seen good reviews on, have been gifted to me, or recommended by someone.  The books that I don’t have at home I will order at the Toronto Public Library (A fantastic resource for Torontonians!) or online.

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Last year my favourite books were:

1. The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls. I loved this little book. A memoir that dives into Jeannette’s family life and what it was like growing up in poverty.  The book is magical and if you’ve seen the movie go read the book because it’s so much better!
2. The Neapolitan Novels by Elena Ferrante(My Brilliant Friend , The Story of a New Name, Those Who Leave and Those Who Stay, The Story of the Lost Child). A four book series of two friends growing up in Naples, Italy. The book essentially follows the two girls from their childhood, intertwining their stories with the deep history of Naples all the way through to adulthood and old age.  I basically consider the four books one big book because once you start you won’t want to stop.
3. A Gentleman In Moscow by Amor Towles. I just finished this book and loved it.  It took me a little bit to get into but once I did, I couldn’t put it down.  It follows the life of Count Rostov, an Aristocrat in Russia who is put on house arrest in the famous Metropol Hotel by a Bolshevik Tribunal.  Sentenced to live out the rest of his life without stepping outside of the hotel, the character of Count Rostov shows us how to behave as a true gentleman all the while beyond the hotel, Russian history is unfolding.

My 2018 Book list contains 16 books which is four more than I had last year but I think I can do it.  I tend to lean more towards fiction but I like to have a mix of fiction, non fiction, self help/learn and maybe a biography thrown in. Let me know if you have read any of them!

2018 Book List

1. Beartown by Fredrik Backman.  All of the reviews say this is a gut-wrenching emotional rollercoaster of a book and I saw so many five star reviews that I had to add it to my list.
2. The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas. Again, I chose this young adult book based on reviews which are all five stars.
3. Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer. This book was recommended by some of my herbalist friends and was described as a beautiful book that helps to connect us to nature and our land.
4. The Inner Life of Animals by Peter Wohlleben.  I read The Hidden Life of Trees and it opened my eyes to a whole new world.  I am excited to see how Peter Wohlleben can bring the animal kingdom to life.
5. The History of Bees by Maja Lunde.  This book was gifted to me for Christmas and it looks like something that is right up my alley.
6. A Return to Love by Marianne Williamson. I have this book on my bookshelf and have picked it up and put it down a couple of times so am excited to actually dive into it.
7. The Big Fat Surprise by Nina Teicholz.  I love fat and have found consuming more fat in my diet to be very helpful in healing and balancing hormones so I am looking forward to digging into this book.
8. Medicine Walk by Richard Wagamese. A Canadian book on my bookshelf that I decided to give a go.
9. The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle.  How have I not read this book yet? It’s on my bookshelf and NOW is the time!
10. Mind Over Medicine By Lissa Rankin.  With clinical evidence of the power of our mind, this book shows how capable our minds can be which I am hoping makes for an interesting read.
11. Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie.  This was made into a movie recently so I want to try and read the book before I see the movie.
12. The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell. I have never read a Malcolm Gladwell book before and I have two on my shelf. If I enjoy The Tipping Point I will put Outliers on my list for next year.
13. Tools of Titans by Tim Ferris. I love Tim Ferris. This book seems like a valuable addition to my business books.
14. The $100 Startup by Chris Guillebeau. This book was recommended to me and it seems like a great little read for business ideas and inspiration.
15. Lilac Girls by Martha Hall Kelly. A historical fiction book that was recommended to me.
16. The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead. Selected for Oprah’s book club, I decided to add this book last minute to my list!

Have you read any of these?  What are you reading this year? Anything I should add to my list?

Obviously, when I read I want to cozy up on the sofa with something warm and pretty. Insert Chocolate Beet Latte! Lattes and reading seem to go hand in hand don’t they? There is something about curling up on the couch with a cozy blanket and frothy goodness.  I tend to veer more towards the wellness latte spectrum (try my Rose Cardamom Latte) with functional food and herbs to help me focus, calm down or heal.

Look at the colour of that!  This chocolate beet latte is warm, rich, comforting and really pretty.  I topped mine with dried roses and cinnamon but you don’t have to top it with anything.  Some options that would be nice are shaved cacao butter, cinnamon, rose petals, hemp seeds, goji berries or even a sprinkle of raw cacao powder.

Simple and easy to make, the latte only requires a few key ingredients- beet juice for one.  I juiced a bunch of beets so I could use it in juices or in lattes.  I have seen people use beet powder as well in lattes which would give it a beautiful colour but wouldn’t taste as beet-y but feel free to try it.  Enjoy!

Tried the recipe? loved it? Rate it and tag #sweetlizzy on Instagram!

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Chocolate Beet Latte

A rich, earthy latte that’s tastes as good as it looks!

I used 1/2 cup full fat coconut milk and 1/2 a cup water but 1 cup light coconut milk would also work here instead.

• Author: Sweet Lizzy
• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 5 minutes
• Total Time: 15 minutes
• Yield: one serving
• Category: Drinks
• Cuisine: paleo, wellness lattes

Ingredients

1/4 cup beet juice

1/2 cup full fat coconut milk

1/2 cup water

1 tbsp cacao butter

1 tbsp cacao or cocoa powder

1 medjool date

1 tbsp collagen peptides

1/4 tsp cinnamon

pinch sea salt

optional garnishes: rose petals, cinnamon, cacao powder, goji berries, hemp seeds.

Instructions

Add the coconut milk, water and cacao butter to a small pot and heat over medium heat, whisking until the cacao butter is melted and the mixture is almost boiling.

In a blender add the beet juice, date, sea salt, collagen, cacao powder, cinnamon and the warmed milk. Blend on high until frothy- about 30 seconds.

Pour into your favourite mug and enjoy!