London Fog (From Scratch)

An inexpensive and surprisingly easy take on the coffeehouse treat made with everyday ingredients and everyday utensils. Tastes quite creamy with 2% milk, but is also good with 1%. To make the vanilla syrup extra fancy, leave a vanilla pod in 4 cups of white sugar overnight and substitute 1 cup of this for the regular sugar. Another note - the syrup's consistency is just a bit thicker than water. Once you have this syrup on hand, it only takes about 10 minutes to prepare the drink.

• Ready In: 25 mins
• Serves: 2
• Yields: 1 mug each

Ingredients

• 2  cups water
• 2  Earl Grey teabags
• 1  cup milk
• 4  tablespoons  vanilla-flavored syrup

• Homemade Vanilla-Flavored Syrup

• 1  cup water
• 1  cup white sugar
• 1  tablespoon vanilla extract

Directions

1. To make syrup: Bring water and sugar to boil over medium-high heat, stirring often. Simmer 10 minutes on medium-low heat. Remove from heat and add vanilla. Cool to room temperature. (It is also fine if it is still warm when you use it) Refrigerate in airtight container for up to 2 weeks.
2. Boil 2 cups water and steep Earl Grey teabags for 3 minutes (or longer for a very strong flavour) in teapot.
3. While tea is steeping, heat milk on medium-high heat, whisking often, until quite frothy (takes about 3 minutes).
4. Spoon 2 tablespoons vanilla syrup into each mug.
5. Pour 1 cup tea and 1/2 cup frothy milk into each mug.
6. Sprinkle with cinnamon or nutmeg, if desired. Enjoy!