Skinny Pumpkin Maple Praline Latte

 Nope! 

Can't tell it's skinny at all.

This is a simple way to enjoy a latte at home.

You won't break the bank while going to Starbucks.

You'll even save a few (hundred) calories.

 This is the perfect treat if you own a Keurig.

Soothing satisfaction right at your fingertips.

Just place 1/2 c. of the mixture in the bottom of your coffee cup.

Choose your favorite K-cup.

Press start.

Can't be anymore simple then that....

 When the Keurig is finished brewing that awesome coffee,

just stir,

top with lite whipped cream,

then drizzle with sugar free caramel or maple syrup.

Drink and enjoy!

Skinny Pumpkin Maple Praline Latte

2 c. Unsweetened Almond Milk

3/4 c. Unsweetened maple praline syrup, or just unsweetened maple syrup of your choice

3 TBS pumpkin puree

1/2 tsp. cinnamon

1/4 tsp. cloves

1/4 tsp. ginger

1/2 tsp ground nutmeg

Place almond milk, syrup, and pumpkin in a medium saucepan. Heat, but do not boil (med. heat). Whisk these together. When heated add the spices and keep whisking (do not boil). When heated through, add 1/2 c. to the bottom of a coffee cup and pour in your favorite coffee. This works awesome with the Keurig. Top with lite whipped cream and unsweetened caramel sauce.

Store your leftovers in the fridge.

Do you have a sweet little girl that you like to spoil?
Check out Shabby Baby for the cutest dresses.....
Or reward yourself with something pretty after drinking
this skinny latte.

         

Apple Cider Sangria ~ Take Some Time To Slow Down

 I think we should take some time to slow down this week.

Let's stop to taste the wine,

Relax with the season's change,

And sip some flavors of Fall.

 I have been pushing a bottle of citrus Sangria to the back

of my refrigerator for a while now.

You know how that goes, right?

Something more interesting gets placed in the front,

easy reach,

easy access....

So, my Sangria ended up clear in the back corner.

Well, I was in need of some relaxation,

so I took inventory of what was in my fridge,

fruit basket,

and other beverages on hand.

This is what I came up with.

Apple Cider Sangria

1 bottle Madria Sangria (traditional fresh citrus)

2 1/2 c. apple cider

1 c. Sprite

1 chopped or sliced apple (honeycrisp)

Mix all together in a punch bowl and serve in wine glasses.

Instant relaxation.

This recipe is linked to:
Bobbi's Kozy Kitchen ~ Manic Monday

"NO WAY!" Coffee Ice Cubes

I know most all of you are on Pinterest. Don't you just love spending hours looking at all the great food and ideas that are available there?
And if you're not following me yet, you can follow me here.

The coffee cubes is a Pinterest item that caused me to say, "NO WAY!" This is one that I had to try for myself.
I used the Kahlua K-cup, brewed the coffee, and then poured it into small ice cube trays. Into the freezer they went, and the next day I had frozen Kahlua coffee cubes to pour my Silk vanilla soy milk over.
In the top picture you can see where the coffee cubes are beginning to melt. When they melt they create coffee; cold coffee; and everyone most everyone loves iced coffee, right?

This is one beverage that you don't want to miss. Very creamy and refreshing.

This recipe is linked to:
Foodie Friends Friday

Sometimes Ya Just Gotta: Peach Melba Mimosas

Sometimes ya just gotta have that drink.....And the sweeter and slushier they are the better. This drink was so good, and it hit the spot right where I wanted it to go. Sometimes I need a break where I can just sit back and relax, enjoy conversation, and just not think of a single thought.

Do you ever have days like that? Days where you just want silence, hear yourself breathe, and not think of one single thing....just shut the brain down for at least an hour.

This drink hit the spot and did the trick.

Peach Melba Mimosas

1 1/2 c. thawed frozen raspberries

1/4 c. sugar

1 c. thawed frozen peaches

1 tsp. fresh lemon juice (I used the juice of half a lemon)

1 bottle Moscato wine

In a blender, puree frozen raspberries and 2 TBS sugar. Set a fine sieve over a small pitcher and strain puree; set aside (Make sure you do this step. I left it out and ended up with tons of seeds in the bottom of my glass.)

Then puree peaches with remaining sugar, lemon juice, and 3 TBS cold water.

Spoon 2 tsp. raspberry puree and 2 tsp. peach puree into each glass. Top off each cocktail with Moscato. We had very large wine glasses so we used more like 1/4 - 1/2 c. puree and filled up with Moscato.....what can I say? I needed a BIG drink....

Recipe Source* Country Living, February 2012

Last Call For Alcohol: Popped Cherry

Have you ever had one of those days where you just feel the need for an alcoholic beverage?

I have had one of those days!

The stress of everyday life has drove me to the need for relaxation.

I am not a drinker, but sometimes I really need a mood change. Do ya know what I'm talk'n about?

This drink not only hit the spot for my mood change, but it was quite refreshing (and I drank 2).

This is the perfect summertime drink.

How cool is that?? I was featured at Jam Hands. My zucchini cupcakes were chosen to be featured.

Popped Cherry

1 c. ice

1 oz. maraschino cherry juice

2 oz. cherry vodka

4 oz. orange juice

3 maraschino cherries

Fill a glass with 1 cup ice, pour in the cherry juice, vodka, and orange juice. Stir to mix, and garnish with maraschino cherries.

"Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaints? Who has needless bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes? Those who linger over wine, who go to sample bowls of mixed wine.

Do not gaze at wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it goes down smoothly! In the end it bites like a snake and poisons like a viper."

Proverbs 23:29-32

The soothing comfort of alcohol is only temporary, and makes us feel comfortable for a little while. Real relief comes from dealing with the cause of stress or anguish by turning to God for peace. Don't lose yourself in the drowning midst of alcohol, find yourself in God.

This recipe is linked to:
Foodie Friends Friday

Sum-Sum-Summertime: Strawberry Milkshake

My Lisa friend (Sean's Aunt) brought me four quarts of fresh grown strawberries.....is there anything better?

Fresh grown strawberries are so juicy, full of flavor, and red. They aren't hallow in the middle and tasteless like store bought berries.

This recipe is linked to Jam Hands,

My daughter and I decided to throw together a strawberry milk shake. I don't have to post a recipe, right?

Everyone knows how to make a milk shake, right?

I hope you are agreeing with me....

I lined the glass with chocolate syrup and left it sit until the milk shake was made. All you have to do is squirt chocolate syrup close to the top of the glass all the way around the inside. When it sits it will run down the inside of the glass.

Pretty cool, huh?

As we were making the shake, I told my daughter to make sure she measures everything that she puts in....did she do it? NO!!

But I can tell you that we used one cup of fresh berries and blended them first. I added about two tablespoons of heavy whipping cream, approximately nine scoops of ice cream, and thinned it to desired consistency with 2% milk.

The whole time we are putting together this shake and I am taking pictures, my daughter is calling me a nerd. Does that mean that every person that operates a foodie blog is a nerd? If that's the case, I'm pretty proud to be a nerd. What about you?

Since she called me a nerd the whole time I'm taking pictures, I thought I would post all of the pictures just to torture her.....

How do you like me now Randi?

"A fool shows his annoyance at once, but a prudent man overlooks an insult."

Proverbs 12:16

When someone annoys or insults you, it is natural to retaliate. But this solves nothing and only encourages trouble. Instead, answer slowly and quietly, "I enjoy being a nerd." Your positive response will achieve positive results.

This Is Not Another "If Life Hands You Lemons...": Home-made Lemonade

This is not another "If life hands you lemons, make lemonade" post. This is really good lemonade, and you don't need struggles and stress to make it and enjoy it.

This recipe is linked to, la bella vita: Fresh Food Friday.

And also at,

I was looking at a whole bag of lemons. I have been baking with them, but there comes a time when the lemons are going to have to be used up....This is that time.

I chose to use up my lemons by making lemonade.

We often forget how good something is until we make it again, and again, and again.

I have forgotten how good home-made lemonade can be.

And refreshing...

And tangy....

And delightful during the summer.....

And just plain good....

I found my recipe at All Recipes.

I didn't change any of the ingredients, but I did change the preparation directions.

The recipe said to peel the lemons first, but I found out that it's easier to squeeze the juice out of the lemons and then chop the rinds.

The rinds have to soak in sugar.

This is the best lemonade I have ever had. And three ingredients? Can't be anymore simple.

Home-made Lemonade

5 lemons

1 1/4 c. sugar

1 1/4 quarts water

Squeeze the juice from 5 lemons, set aside. Chop the rinds from the squeezed lemons and place in a medium bowl (don't worry about the seeds, you can get rid of them later). Pour the sugar over the chopped rinds. Let this stand for 1 hour so the sugar soaks into the oil of the rinds.

Bring water to a boil in a saucepan then pour boiling water over sugared rinds. Allow this to cool for 20 minutes. Remove the lemon rinds after it has cooled. After the rinds and seeds are removed, pour squeezed lemon juice into the mixture. Stir well and pour into a pitcher. Store in refrigerator and serve over ice. You can also place sliced lemon wedges in the lemonade (I sliced up one lemon).

"How long will you assault a man? Would all of you throw him down - this leaning wall, this tottering fence? They fully intend to topple him from his lofty place; they take delight in lies. With their mouths they bless, but in their hearts they curse. Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from Him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; He is my fortress, I will not be shaken."

Psalm 62:3-6

Prayer can release our tensions in times of emotional stress. Trusting God to be our rock, salvation, and fortress will change our entire outlook on life. Grab a glass of lemonade, relax, and pray. No longer must we be held captive by resentment toward others when they hurt us. When we are resting in God's strength, nothing can shake us.

Glass Half Full or Half Empty? Hot Chocolate With Marshmallow Creme

This is a picture of an empty office building.

Why am I showing you a picture of an empty office building?

Because I want to voice my opinion on how screwed up our economy is....

No, that's not the reason.

I wanted you to see what I saw Friday every time I looked out the window.

The snow fell most of the morning so soft and slow, it looked like the inside of a snow globe.

Which put me in the mood for hot chocolate.

I dug to the back of my coffee-cup cupboard and found these cute little mugs.

And the mood struck me more when I noticed the day was being spent like this,

And this....

I don't think our pets moved from that bed all day.

I have been holding onto this chocolate bar for quite some time now.

I am going to use it today.

And there is nothing better than dark chocolate mixed into hot cocoa.

After studying Economics most of the day, I headed to the kitchen to reward myself with hot chocolate, since I was all coffeed out.

And a big scoop of marshmallow creme (fluff).

As I am making this hot chocolate, I am thinking that I will be able to share with my daughter. I started pouring it into the cups, and I quickly realized we are only going to get a half cup each. I am still working on proper measurements (what can I say?). At least we each got a taste.

This is what I did:

Hot Chocolate With Marshmallow Creme

8 oz. 2% milk

2 oz. heavy whipping cream

2 TBS light brown sugar

Heat on medium heat until the mixture bubbles around the edge.

Remove from heat and add 2 oz. finely chopped chocolate of your choice.

Whisk gently until the chocolate is melted and well combined. You can adjust your chocolate amount to your liking. If you need to add more than 2 oz. add more.

Top hot chocolate with marshmallow creme and chocolate shavings.

Good Luck~Happy Eating~Enjoy

Live your life in a way that invites others to "taste and see."

~Marcia Swearingen~