Homemade Coffee Creamer

Note: I like making my own coffee creamer rather than buying it.   It tastes better to me and I don't have to use very much of it.   Make the base recipe and then add whatever flavors you want to it.

Base Recipe

Ingredients
14oz sweetened condensed milk
1 3/4 cup half & half (whole milk, almond milk, whatever you prefer)
 
Directions
Pour ingredients into a jar with a tight lid and shake until well  mixed.   

Flavor Add Ins...

French Vanilla Creamer
2 teaspoons vanilla extract OR vanilla coffee syrup

Chocolate
2-3 tablespoons chocolate syrup

Vanilla Caramel
2 tablespoons caramel ice cream topping
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Samoa (like the Girl Scout Cookies)
2 teaspoons coconut extract
2 tablespoons chocolate syrup
2 tablespoons caramel ice cream topping

Peppermint Patty
2 tablespoons chocolate syrup
1 teaspoon peppermint extract

Christmas Drink

Note:   Technically, mixing all the ingredients for this tummy warming drink doesn't qualify as "baking", but I am always glad to know that I have batches of this ready in my freezer for the holiday season.    We plan to spend some time this fall in Gatlinburg and I am thinking of making a batch to take with us up there to enjoy on the front porch of our cabin.   Mmmm... toasty!


Christmas Drink

Ingredients
64 ounce cranberry juice
64 ounce apple juice
1/2 cup orange juice
1 T cinnamon
1 T whole cloves
2/3 cup sugar

Directions
Combine ingredients in a large stockpot.    Warm over medium heat until sugar is melted.     Remove the cloves from the mixture.    When ready to serve, garnish with orange slices and cinnamon sticks.

Hot Chocolate Mix

Note:   We drink a lot of hot chocolate during the holidays and it seems to be a favorite of all of our guests as we sit around the table playing games and talking.    Having big batches of hot chocolate mix always helps.  

Hot Chocolate Mix

Ingredients
1 Box Instant powdered milk (The size that makes 8 quarts)
1 – 6 ounce jar powdered coffee creamer (either plain or flavored)
1 – 2 pound box Nestle’s Quik
1 pound powdered sugar

Directions
Mix all ingredients together in large container. Store in sealed container until ready to use. To make hot cocoa, fill mug 1/3 full with mix and add hot water, stir.

Switching to Almond Milk

After this candida diagnosis, I realized immediately that I was going to have to give up my morning coffee which really didn't make me happy.    Drinking a glass of water in the morning did not sound exciting to me.   What was I going to drink?    Hot tea is just not my thing.   I couldn't have fruit juice.      Milk was crossed off my list.  

GRRRRRR!!! 

I had two options that I read about:  Kefir and Almond Milk.

I decided to give them both a try.

Try #1:  Kefir

If you have never had Kefir (and I know I never had), it is a fermented milk product.   Sounds yummy already doesn't it?    It is similar to a THICK drinkable yogurt, but with a lot more probiotic in it.   

The other thing about Kefir?   It is SOUR!!!    That was just not going to be a breakfast option for me.

Try #2:  Almond Milk

I was a little nervous about trying this.   Something about putting the words almond and milk together just kind of grossed me out.   However, Little Guy said my sister drank it so that gave me a little measure of comfort.     

I tasted it and it wasn't too bad.   It was actually a taste I could get used to and enjoy.     Even the boys said they liked it.   

After days and days of guzzling water -- which I know is good for me -- it is really nice to be able to have a glass of something different.   Even if it is just almond milk.

Caramel Apple Cider (Crockpot)

Note:   This fills the house with a wonderful smell while it is brewing.  

Caramel Apple Cider

Instructions
1/2 gal. apple cider
1/2 c. brown sugar, packed
1-1/2 t. cider vinegar
1 t. vanilla extract
1 4-inch cinnamon stick
6 whole cloves
1 orange, sliced
1/3 c. caramel ice cream topping

Directions

Combine all ingredients except topping in a slow cooker. Cover; cook on low setting for 5 to 6 hours. Strain; discard spices and orange. Serve in mugs, drizzling a teaspoonful of topping into each mug. Serves 16.

Hot Chocolate (Crockpot)

Note:   Don't make fun of me.   I can drink hot chocolate year round!   

Hot Chocolate (Crockpot)

Ingredients
14-oz. can sweetened condensed milk
1/2 c. baking cocoa
2 t. vanilla extract
6-1/2 c. hot water
Garnish: marshmallows
Directions

Combine condensed milk, cocoa and vanilla in a slow cooker, mixing well with a whisk. Gradually stir in hot water, mixing well. Cover and cook on low setting for 3 to 4 hours, stirring occasionally. Top individual servings with marshmallows. Makes about 8 servings.

Spicy Cider

Spicy Cider

Ingredients
8 c. apple juice
2-1/4 c. water
1-1/2 c. orange juice
3 4-inch cinnamon sticks
1 T. whole cloves
1/4 c. molasses
apple slices

Directions

Combine all ingredients except apple slices in a large saucepan over medium heat. Simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Strain before serving, if necessary. Garnish with apple slices, if desired. Makes about 3 quarts.

Copycat Snapple Lemon Iced Tea

Note:     For the 40 days leading up to our discipleship weekend, our youth pastor challenges us to fast.    He says it can be food or something that we feel we cannot do without.    Many of our students give up Facebook or texting, but this year I decided that I needed to give up carbonated drinks.   I have had quite an addiction to them and knew that giving them up would be quite a sacrifice.    During my days of fasting I started drinking Snapple Lemon Iced Tea along with my water.      It may be the best stuff on earth, but it is also the most expensive so I had to find a copycat recipe!

Copycat Snapple Lemon Iced Tea

Ingredients
8 cups water
2 Lipton tea bags
3/4 cup sugar
1/3 cup lemon juice

Directions
Add the water to a large saucepan and place over high heat. Once the water is boiling, add the tea bags and turn off the heat. Cover the saucepan and let stand for about 2 hours.  After 2 hours, discard the teabags. Add the sugar to a 2-quart pitcher. Pour the tea into the pitcher. Add the lemon juice and give it a good stir. Refrigerate until cold or serve over ice.    Makes 2 quarts.

Easy Strawberry Lemonade

Note:    My sweet boys went out yesterday and scrubbed down the front porch and back patio furniture from all the winter dirt and pollen.      Now we can sit out and enjoy this beautiful weather.      It also means that we can stir up some great beverages to sip on while we are sitting out there.    My boys love lemonade.      They drink it year round.     I hope they don't mind me adding a few strawberries.


Easy Strawberry Lemonade

Ingredients

Country Time lemonade mix
water

1 package of frozen strawberries (thawed a bit)

Directions

Decide how much lemonade you want to make.   We usually make 2 quarts at a time.   Make lemonade according to the container directions.   Divide strawberries in half.   Puree one half.   Stir all strawberries into the lemonade.    Serve chilled.

TMTT: POM Wonderful!!

My Tempt My Tummy Tuesday isn't the normal recipe tonight.     I have been under the weather fighting the same crazy problem I have been fighting since February.       I am trying to drink more water and eat healthy to keep my immune system up and I have fallen in love with this...

When I am struggling with nausea, I splash some POM into my ginger ale to give it some flavor and to give me a little exra nutrition.     

You can add it to all types of drinks (lemonade, tea, or soft drinks) or add it to your fruit smoothies.    That is another great way to enjoy POM wonderful.... fruit smoothies.

The POM Wonderful site includes recipes for beverages, salads, snacks, veggies, meats, etc....   

Have you ever tried POM Wonderful?     How do you enjoy it?


For GREAT recipes join me at Tempt My Tummy Tuesday.   

Kid's Love Potion

Note:    My boys love fun drinks like this.      One of our favorite things is to make something like this and sit out on our front porch and sit and just talk.    

Kid's Love Potion

Ingredients
32 ounces of pink lemonade
1 quart of vanilla ice cream
fresh or frozen raspberries
Sierra Mist

Directions
Put one scoop of ice cream into your class.   Sprinkle with about 5-7 raspberries.    Fill the glass with half lemonade and half Sierra Mist.     Insert a straw and enjoy!

Frozen Hot Chocolate

Note: Yes.... I said frozen. I had my doubts when I first tried it, but oh my goodness. Such a delicious and different treat. Bake up a hot batch of cookies and enjoy this yummy goodness with them.

Frozen Hot Chocolate

Ingredients
1 king size Hershey's chocolate bar (7 oz.)
3 tsp hot chocolate powder
1 1/2 T. sugar
1 1/2 cup milk
3 cups of ice
whipped cream

Directions
Melt 6 ounces of the chocolate on a double broiler. Add sugar and hot chocolate powder and stir until smooth. Add 1/2 cup of milk and stir. Pour that mixture into your blender with the rest of the milk and blend with 3 cups of ice.

Pour into serving cups. Top with whipped cream and top with the rest of the chocolate bar shaved on top.

Yummy! Delicious with hot, fresh from the oven cookies!

Christmas Coffee Eggnog

Note: I just tried this recipe recently and it has a very rich toffee coffee flavor mixed with the eggnog. It is definitely going to be a new tradition in our Christmas holidays! Warm drinks are so much more appealing to me during the holidays than cold ones.

Christmas Coffee Eggnog

Ingredients

2 eggs, separated
1/3 cups sugar
1/3 cup instant coffee
Dash salt 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
2 cups milk, chilled
1 cup heavy cream, whipped
1 cup shaved unsweetened chocolate

Directions

In a small bowl using an electric mixer, beat at high speed, beat egg whites until soft peak forms. In large bowl, beat egg yolks until lemon colored. Gradually beat in coffee, salt, vanilla, milk, and 3/4 cut water. Stir in egg-white mixture and whipped cream; mix well. Serve well chilled, with chocolate sprinkled over each serving.

Note: I do warm this drink over a double boiler, because I don't like cold drinks, but most people prefer this drink chilled.



Let's go to Lisa and Lana's blog and find even more delicious holiday recipes here:

Tempt My Tummy Tuesday

Hot Caramel Apple Cider

Note: I was out recently and it was raining and I had gotten really chilled. I did something I rarely do and stopped into our local coffee shop to get something hot to drink. They had this beautiful picture of hot caramel apple cider. I ordered one. It was delicious and it definitely warmed me up, but for the amount I paid for it I could have made some for the entire family for a week!

Hot Caramel Apple Cider

Ingredients
Apple Cider
Caramel Syrup
Redi Whipp

Directions
Warm enough cider for the number of cups you want to serve on the stove over low heat. Stir occasionally. For each cup you are preparing, add 2 teaspoons of caramel. Continue to heat until the caramel is melted.

Pour into warmed serving mugs. (I usually warm my mugs by running them under hot water.) Top with Redi Whipp and drizzle with caramel syrup.

Quick & Easy Breakfast Shake

Note: This is a quick and easy breakfast drink OR a really refreshing pick me up after going to the pool!

Quick & Easy Breakfast Shake

Ingredients
1 (14 oz) frozen orange juice concentrate
4 cups skim milk
1 1/2 cups plain yogurt
ice (as much as you need)

Directions
Blend.

Lime Smoothie

Note: Lime may not be your typical smoothie flavor, but maybe that is why I like this one. It is different and I like to try unique things. Most times they are the most refreshing!

Lime Smoothie

Ingredients
1/2 cup lime (peeled and sliced)
3/4 cup low-fat milk
1 cup lime sherbet
1/2 cup raspberries
2 cups ice

Directions
Blend and serve.
You can substitute key lime yogurt for the sherbet for a smoother, albeit, slightly different taste.

Strawberry Banana Smoothie

Note:   Today was really busy running around from place to place.       Little Guy and I had about an hour in between some errands and his swimming so we ran home and I made him one of these to give him an energy boost for an hour of swimming.


Strawberry Banana Smoothie



Ingredients

1 cup apple juice
1 cup milk
1 frozen banana
1 1/2 cups frozen strawberries
1 cup strawberry yogurt

Directions
Pour  liquid ingredients into the blender. Add frozen ingredients. Blend at MIX setting for 30 seconds then blend at SMOOTH setting until smooth. While the machine is running, stir around to help mix. Serve immediately.


For more delicious recipes, join me at Lana and Lisa's blogs for Tempt My Tummy Tuesday!

Breakfast Smoothie

Note:   No excuses for rushing out the door without breakfast!


Breakfast Smoothie


Ingredients
1/2 cup Grape Nuts cereal
1/2 cup vanilla yogurt (low-fat)
1 cup ice
1 banana
2 cups juice (orange or apple or whatever you like)

Directions
Blend!

Strawberry Lemonade

Note: It is summer! Oh, yes!   Put on your sunscreen, shorts and sunglasses and enjoy a icy cold lemonade beverage!



Strawberry Lemonade

Ingredients:
6 oz can frozen lemonade concentrate, thawed and undiluted
6 oz can frozen limeade concentrate, thawed and undiluted
6 oz can frozen orange juice concentrate, thawed and undiluted
2 10-ozpkgs. frozen sliced strawberries, thawed
3 cups cold water
2 liter bottle ginger ale, chilled

Directions:

Combine the first 5 ingredients; add the ginger ale, and stir gently. Makes 1 gallon, serves about 12.

Homemade Gatorade

Note: Sports are getting started and that means mixing up tons of drinks for all those practices and games. This homemade version of Gatorade is a winner!

Homemade Gatorade

Ingredients:
1 pack unsweetened Kool Aid (any flavor)
2 quarts cold water
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 teas. salt
1/2 cup orange juice

Directions:
Mix together. This equals the electrolyte replacement found in many popular drinks on the market. Great for a hot summer!