Lime Slush

4 cups lime sherbet, softened
1 cup thawed limeade concentrate
4 cans (12 ounces each) lemon-lime soda, chilled (I used Sprite Zero)
1 to 2 cups crushed iced

In a large bowl, beat the sherbet and limeade until blended. Stir in soda and ice. Pour into chilled glasses.

Mint Hot Chocolate

     1/4 cup chilled heavy cream

•      4 tablespoons sugar
•      3 tablespoons Dutch process cocoa powder
•      4 cups milk
•      4 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped, plus 1/2
•      ounce, shaved
•      1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract

In a bowl, beat the cream and 1 tablespoon of the sugar until soft peaks form. Cover the whipped cream and refrigerate until ready to serve.
In a small, heavy saucepan, combine the remaining 3 tablespoons sugar and the cocoa. Gradually whisk in the milk. Place over medium heat and bring to a simmer, whisking frequently. Add the chopped chocolate and whisk until melted and smooth. Stir in the peppermint extract.

Divide the hot chocolate among warmed mugs. Top each with a dollop of the whipped cream. Sprinkle with the shaved chocolate and serve immediately.

* I thought that this was good I only used about 1/4 tsp peppermint and I thought that it was to strong. I would just leave that out if I made this again or use mint flavored chocolate to get the mint flavor. Maybe like junior mints or andies mints. Its pretty rich chocolate and so a one cup serving is plenty.

Homemade Horchata

1 cup long grain white rice, rinsed
4 cups water
2 cinnamon sticks
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon, plus more for garnish
1 cup skim milk
1/3 cup brown sugar, plus 2-3 Tbsp to taste
1 1/4 tsp pure vanilla extract
Ice

1.Wash and drain rice. Combine rice with cinnamon sticks in water and soak overnight in the refrigerator.
2.After the rice has soaked for at least 8-10 hours, preferably overnight, discard the cinnamon sticks and pour rice and water into a blender. Add 1/2 tsp cinnamon and blend on low for 2-3 minutes until well blended. Pour blended rice mixture through fine mesh sieve two times and then through cheesecloth one more time to remove all gritty bits of rice.

3.Pour strained mixture into a pitcher, add skim milk, brown sugar and vanilla and stir well to combine. Add more sugar if needed, to taste.

  4.Best served with ice & a dash of ground cinnamon

* I got this recipe from dessertnowdinnerlater this recipe does have a lot of steps and takes a while to make but it turned out really good. I have made horchata before and I think that this one was much better the other recipes that I have tried. 

Vanilla Hot Milk

4 Cups milk
1/3 C sugar
1/8tsp salt
2 tsp mexican vanilla

1.Pour milk into a 1 quart microwave safe container.
2.Add sugar,salt, and  vanilla.
3.Mix gently to dissolve the sugar.  Place in the microwave for 5 minutes on high.

4.Pour into 4 mugs, add marshmallows (optional)


* I got this recipe from laughwithusblog I loved the idea of having something else "warm" to drink besides hot chocolate. This came together super fast and tasted great the kids also loved it.

Homemade Peppermint Hot Chocolate Mix

11 c. powdered milk
1 c. confectioners’ sugar
11 oz. powdered coffee creamer
2 lbs.Nesquik powdered chocolate milk mix
4 tbsp. cocoa powder
1 large box instant chocolate pudding mix
3 finely crushed candy canes

1.Crush candy canes in your food processor.
2.Mix ingredients together in a LARGE bowl.Then add scoops and blend in food processor to ensure that all the powder is well blended and everything is the same texture.

3.Portion into containers for sharing or store in an air tight container.

I recommend using 1/3 mix and 1 milk or water for the perfect mixture.

 * I got this recipe from snapcreativity.com it is a great recipe for homemade cocoa and tastes great so much better then the store bought stuff.

Skinny Strawberry Cheesecake Smoothie

1 1/4 cups frozen strawberries
1 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk
1 tbsp sugar free fat free instant cheesecake pudding mix
1 tsp truvia

1.Place all ingredients into a blender. Pulse until smooth and serve. Makes 1 serving.

 

* I thought that this was pretty good I think that if I made it again I would just use regular milk. I think that the almond gave it a strange aftertaste. But it was ok my kids loved it and drank it up. I got this recipe from somethingswanky

Strawberry Peach Banana Smoothie

1/2 cup frozen strawberry slices
3/4 cup frozen peach slices
1 med firm banana
1/2 cup skim milk


1. Place all ingredents in a blender and mix until desired thickness.

* 110 calories per cup. This recipe is 2 servings. So yummy and fast to make great breakfast on the go.

Patriotic Drinks

1 bottle sobe pina colada
1 bottle fruit punch gatorade
1 bottle blueberry pomegranate gatorade
ice

1. The key to these drinks is to fill the cup full of ice this allows the layers to stay separate as you slowly pour them in the cup.
2.You start with the highest sugar content and work up to the lowest sugar. This will be white on bottom red in middle and blue on top.


* This was a fun drink to have for the holidays I think that the the flavors mixed ok I might try another set of juice if I do it again but they were pretty to look at lol I give this juice combination a 4 I am sure that you can use any red white and blue just just always make sure that the you start with highest sugar content and work up to the least sugar.

Crazy Cooking Challange. Peach Pleasure Smoothie. Jamba Juice Copycat

Its time again for the Crazy Cooking Challenge. This month we were set out to find the best Smoothie recipe and share it with the world :) I had so many to choose from and they all looked so good.I mean who doesn't love smoothies. I was even more thrilled when I found a recipe for my all time favorite Jamba Juice recipe the Peach Pleasure Smoothie. Love it!! its pretty much the only one that I ever order. And I have to say it tasted just like it . Oh it makes me happy lol . My family loved these and it was so refreshing on a hot summer day. These were a hit and I know I will be making them many times this Summer.I got this recipe from somersetwardrecipeclub.blogspot.com They have a huge list of copycat Jamba recipes that I cant wait to try more of them out. So here it is my Crazy Cooking Challenge recipe for June give them a try I know you will love it to. 

 (one scoop is equal to about 3/4 cup)
12 oz. peach juice ( I used minute maid 15 calorie peach juice)
2 scoops peaches ( I used frozen)
1 scoop bananas ( I used firm but fresh)
2 scoops orange sherbet
1 scoop ice

Add all ingredients to a blender or mixer and blend until well combined,

This is so super easy and so yummy. 

Easy Raspberry Lemonade

2 (12 fluid ounce) cans frozen raspberry lemonade concentrate

6 cups water

1-1/2 teaspoons lime juice

2 (12 fluid ounce) cans sprite or fresca

2 cups crushed ice (I had the ice in the punch bowl not in my cup)

2 cups fresh raspberries, garnish

1.In a large punch bowl, combine raspberry lemonade concentrate, water and lime juice. Stir in soda and crushed ice. Garnish each glass with a fresh berry. Serve chilled

Makes 1 gallon


* I made this for my sons birthday party and it was gone fast. It was really to make and was so refreshing. I forgot to take pics of the juice from the party so I made it again but added some blackberries to float in the cup. (its what I had) and it was just as yummy. I give it a 5 

Frozen Hot Chocolate

1 cup whole milk
7-8 T of Hot Chocolate mix
2 cups ice
1/2 cup heavy cream
1 tablespoons granulated sugar
2T mini chocolate chips

1. Place milk into blender. Add hot chocolate mix and blend until combined.

2.Add ice and blend until ice is blended into tiny chunks. Pour evenly into glasses on top of plates to catch any dripping frozen hot chocolate.

3.Whip cream and sugar until whipped cream. Top each glass with whipped cream and sprinkle with mini chocolate chips.

** Yummy this was so easy and tasted great. It reminded me of the chocolate frosty that you get at Wendy's and who doesn't love those :)  My son who is addicted to hot chocolate loved it to and though that it was pretty amazing that you can make it frozen lol. I give this 5 stars will for sure make it again sometime.And you should to...

Nutella Hot Chocolate

1 cup milk
2 1/2 Tbsp Nutella
1 Tbsp Cocoa
pinch of salt
3T half and half

1.In a small sauce pan over medium heat, whisk the first 4 ingredients together until well blended and hot.

Pour in a cup and top with the half anf half and also some whipped cream.


* Serves one

Homemade Hot Chocolate

1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1/2 cup white sugar

1 pinch salt

1/3 cup boiling water

3 1/2 cups milk

3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 cup half-and-half cream

1.Combine the cocoa, sugar and pinch of salt in a saucepan. Blend in the boiling water. Bring this mixture to an easy boil while you stir. Simmer and stir for about 2 minutes. Watch that it doesn't scorch. Stir in 3 1/2 cups of milk and heat until very hot, but do not boil! Remove from heat and add vanilla. Divide between 4 mugs. Add the cream to the mugs of cocoa to cool it to drinking temperature.

Horchata ( Mexican rice milk)

1 1/2 Cups uncooked white long grain rice
7 cups water
3/4 Cup milk
2 1/4 tsp vanilla
1 Cup Sugar
2 Cinnamon Sticks

1.Pour the rice and water into a blender and blend until the rice just begins to break up. About 1 min.
2.Add the Cinnamon sticks and let the rice water sit at room temperature for at least 3 hours minimum.

3.Strain the rice water into a picture and discard rice and cinnamon sticks
4.Stir in the milk,vanilla and sugar

5.Chill in the fridge at least 6 hours. Overnight is best. This tastes better the longer it sits in the fridge I think that it tasted best on day 3..
* This recipe will make a half gallon. I doubled it for a party thats why mine is a full gallon.

Holiday Punch

4 cups cranberry juice cocktail

8 cups prepared lemonade

2 cups orange juice

1 (2 liter) bottle ginger ale

1 orange, sliced in rounds

1.In a large punch bowl, combine cranberry juice cocktail, lemonade, and orange juice.Refrigerate for 2 hours or more.

2.When ready to serve, pour in the ginger ale.