Make your own Creamer

*Recipe adapted from "BACON IN MY POCKET" blog.

Another effort to not buy so much processed stuff. This was really easy too and probably cheaper in the long run.

1- 14oz can Sweet condensed milk
14oz milk, your choice of kind, I used skim
flavorings of your choice

I used a old creamer bottle to mix mine and store. Pour the can of sweet milk in the bottle, fill the can with milk and pour in. I did add about 1/4 of the can of milk again because the sweet condensed milk is really thick and I dont think it was any too much milk. Next add flavorings. We made Cinnamon bun flavored and added 1 tsp. Vanilla, 1 tsp. almond extract and 1 T Cinnamon. Shake well. Store in fridge. .

*I used pure almond, not imitation and the recipe I think was for imitation. So the almond flavor is a bit more then I like. Its ok, just next time when I use pure almond I will cut back a bit on the amount. *

You can use any flavor you want. .
Vanilla
Cocoa powder & Raspberry syrup
Cocoa powder & peppermint extract
Hazelnut syrup
Cinnamon

You can buy coffee flavor syrups in the coffee isle at walmart.

Lemon Shake up

My pregnant lady version :-)

In a container that you can shake (I used a gatorade bottle) add the juice of 2 lemons, 2 lemon slices, 8 ice cubes, 5 Tablespoons sugar and 1 Cup water. Shake well. Taste. You can add more lemon, more water, more sugar at this point if its not to your taste.

Homemade Frappes!

A few post back you remember the tip I posted about freezing leftover coffee from the bottom of the pot instead of throwing it away, freeze it in ice cube trays. . Well now here is what you can do with those!!

In a blender place 6 cubes of the Coffee. Add about 1 Cup milk and 1/4 Cup Creamer of your choice. We used french vanilla so I added 1 T. Caramel sauce for Ice cream in for flavor. Blend well. Pour into 2 glasses. . . This made 2- 8oz glasses almost full. SOOOO Good!
You can make them different flavors depending what flavor creamer you use or by adding anything to it such as cocoa for a mocha taste or raspberry syrup, peppermint extract. . ..

Food Tip of the day

My cousin gave us this tip and I cant believe I never thought of it!!

*** When your done with your morning coffee and there is just a little coffee in the pot left dont throw it out, pour it into a ice try and freeze. Pop them out and store in ziploc bags in the freezer. When you want to make a iced coffee or frappe just put the ice in a blender with some milk and whatever else and you have a frappe!***

Smoothies

Todays post is dedicated to smoothies! In a effort to get more veggies and fruit in my day I have started having a smoothie for my lunch. Its been quite effective. I mix veggies in so I get at least one serving of veggies. You cant taste them at all!! Its been good to get Kianna her veggies to because she hates veggies except for peas. I make my smoothie then whatever is left in the blender I mix half with water and put it in a sippy with a straw. That way its runny but she gets her veggies and fruit. Here is my favorite mixes so far. . . . .

Strawberry/Avocado
I hate avocado but i couldnt taste it at all in this! Avocado is a excellent vitamin filled veggie!!
This makes 2 glasses
1 Cup frozen strawberries
1 Avocado chunked
3/4 cup juice (i use mango orange but any will do)
1/3 banana
Combine all items in the blender. Add more water or juice if its too thick for you yet.

Cottage Cheese/berry
This one is yummy! The cottage cheese adds protein and it makes it taste kinda like cream cheese. So it was a berry cheesecake!
1/2 cup cottage cheese
1 cup blueberries
1/2 banana
3/4 cup juice
handful spinach leaves
Mix all together in blender. Add more juice or water until its the right consistency for you.

Fall Menu!!!

Its fall!!! And that means its time for soup and pumpkin!! The first recipe is for Chili soup. This is a new recipe I tried, its a knock off of Wendy's chili recipe. I liked it, its really spicy/zippy so if you dont like spicy I would suggest not adding a few things. . Ill mention them in the recipe
Chili
1/2 # Ground meat (I used ground turkey but you can use ground beef)
1 can Tomato sauce
1 can Green chilis (I would only use 1/2 can of these if you dont like spicy)
1 can Kidney beans
1 can diced tomatoes
3 cups water
1 teaspoon Chili powder
1 teaspoon Garlic powder
1 teaspoon Cumin

Brown meat in a skillet until cooked. Add 1/2 package of taco seasoning mix. In a saucepan combine all the other ingredients and add the meat. Cook on medium low for 2 hours or so. Serve with Shredded cheese.


Fall also means PUMPKIN!! I love pumpkin! I found this recipe on allrecipes.com. Its called
Pumpkin Fluff Dip
8 oz Pumpkin
1/2 carton of Cool whip
1/2 box of vanilla instant pudding mix
Combine together and add some cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice or both. Chill a few hours. Serve with Graham crackers and apple slices.

Another recipe I tried this week was this Pumpkin cake for my moms birthday.
Its a really easy recipe and it taste very good.
Pumpkin Spice Cake
1 box Spice cake mix
12 oz. Pumpkin
3 eggs
Mix together and pour into a greased cake pan. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes or until a toothpick stuck in the middle comes out clean. Cool for 30 minutes. Frost with cream cheese frosting.

And last but not least-
Pumpkin Pie Latte
In a saucepan on the stove add 1/2 cup milk,1 T sugar, few drops vanilla and 1 T pumpkin pie spice. Cook on low until it gets steamy. Meanwhile make 1 very strong cup of coffee using your favorite coffee. When the milk mixture is steaming pour it into a blender and blend on high for 1 minute. Pour coffee into the bottom of a coffee mug and pour blended milk on top. Sprinkle cinnamon on top. Enjoy!

Russian Tea

No really interesting new recipes this week. I made a Cheesburger soup yesterday but wasnt real impressed with it. So I will leave you with this recipe for Russian Tea I made yesterday. Its so yummy!

Russian Tea Mix

2 cups TANG
1/2 cup instant tea
1 package powdered lemonade mix
1 1/4 cups sugar
1/2 teaspoon cloves
1 teaspoon cinnamon

Mix together well. Store in a covered jar.

Instructions:

Mix with hot water to taste, stirring well to dissolve.