Horchata

April 19, 2012 by

I had never tried horchata before visiting Mexico, and I was totally hooked the first time I tried it.  It is light and cooling, and very refreshing with spicy food.  I’ve seen quite a few variations of horchata, and you can even make flavored varieties, like strawberry, but we prefer it plain.  I’ve seen recipes that use no milk, but contain almonds. I love how easy this one is to make and it’s just our favorite.

HORCHATA
1 quart milk, I use fat free
4 cinnamon sticks
3/4 cup sugar
1/3 cup uncooked white rice, ground to a powder in a blender
1 T vanilla
2 quarts water

Place the milk, cinnamon sticks, and sugar in a pot and bring to a low boil.  Reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes, stirring.
Remove from heat and let cool for 15 minutes.
Discard cinnamon sticks.  Place rice powder, vanilla, and water in a pitcher, pour cooled milk in as well.
Stir well, then chill for at least 4 hours.
When ready to serve, don’t stir.  Pour horchata off the top, leaving the sediment on the bottom.  Serve with cinnamon sticks if desired.

Filed Under: Drinks, Mexican

Chocolate Caramelized Banana Malts

March 23, 2012 by

We had some good news this week.  First, our whopping cough test came back negative.  Hooray!  Second, we are finally emerging from the zombie state of this awful cold!  I hate having sick kids.  Not being able to make them feel better is the worst.  So now that we’re all getting our appetites back, it’s fun to start playing in the kitchen again.

These were a huge hit, I love anything with caramelized bananas… and the chocolate doesn’t hurt either of course. ; )

CHOCOLATE CARAMELIZED BANANA MALTS

1 T unsalted butter
1 banana
1/4 cup brown sugar
2 cups chocolate ice cream
3/4 cup milk (fat free or whatever you have on hand)
2 T malt powder
1 tsp vanilla

Melt butter over medium high heat in a small skillet.
Peel banana, cut in half lengthwise, and place cut side down in melted butter.   Turn when crisped, then sprinkle with brown sugar.
Cook until sugar caramelizes.  Put in blender with remaining ingredients, puree.
Serve with whipped cream if desired.  makes 2 drinks.

Filed Under: Drinks, Ice cream

Hibiscus Soda

December 29, 2011 by
 
 
I do love the Licorice Soda I posted earlier this week, but this one is my personal favorite.
The hibiscus gives a fruity-floral flavor, while the star anise and allspice give a little spice.
You could leave them out for a straight hibiscus soda, or cut down on the amount of them, but I love it just like this. 
We use a Soda Stream to carbonate water, but you could of course just use seltzer water for serving.
HIBISCUS SODA
 
For syrup:
3 cups water
1 1/2 cups dried hibiscus flower
6 star anise
2 T whole allspice
3 cups sugar
 
For serving:
Seltzer water
 
Place all the syrup ingredients in a large pot and bring to a simmer over medium heat, uncovered.
Let simmer 5 minutes, then remove from heat and allow to cool to room temperature.
Strain through a fined strainer (I store mine in a canning jar) and chill in the fridge.  
Store in the refrigerator up to 2 months.
To serve, ladle about some syrup into a glass, and pour seltzer water over syrup. (We liked about equal parts, but play around and see how strong you like it.) 
Makes about 6 servings, but depends how strong you like it and how big of glasses you serve in.
Filed Under: Drinks

Licorice Soda

December 28, 2011 by
 
We may not drink alcohol in our household, but we still love to get creative with drinks. 
I’ve recently taken up making homemade soda syrups, which has been a huge hit.
We do have a Soda Stream, but you can also just buy carbonated water at the grocery store, such as seltzer water.  For New Year’s Eve we plan on toasting with some homemade soda such as this one,  which I also served at our German dinner party this fall.  I set out a few soda syrups with some carbonated water and small tasting cups so everyone could sample them with the appetizers.  They were a big hit! 
This was even well liked by those who don’t like licorice, which really surprised me.  I loved how frothy it gets when you add the carbonated water, and it almost has a creamy feel to it.  The licorice flavor is definitely there, but even if you don’t enjoy black licorice candy, licorice root definitely has a different flavor to it you may enjoy.   
LICORICE SODA
 
3 cups water
2 oz. dried licorice root, chopped
4 star anise
3 cups brown sugar
seltzer water to serve
 
Pour the water, licorice root, star anise, and brown sugar all in a large pot and bring to a simmer over medium heat, uncovered.  Let simmer 5 minutes, then remove from heat and allow to cool to room temperature.  Strain through a fined strainer (I store mine in a canning jar) and chill in the fridge. 
Store in the refrigerator up to 2 months.
To serve, ladle about some syrup into a glass, and pour seltzer water over syrup. (We liked about equal parts, but play around and see how strong you like it.) 
Makes about 6 servings, but depends how strong you like it and how big of glasses you serve in.
 
Recipe adapted slightly from Homemade Soda by Andrew Schloss
Filed Under: Drinks

Pumpkin Spice Syrup

October 19, 2011 by
 
When I saw this recipe I knew I had to try it.  While it is meant for coffee, we don’t drink coffee.
But I wasn’t about to let that stop me!  We love it in apple cider, hot or cold, and hot chocolate especially.  What are you going to try it in?
 
PUMPKIN SPICE SYRUP
 
1 1/2 cups water
1 1/2 cups sugar
4 cinnamon sticks
1 tsp ground nutmeg
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp ground cloves
3 T pumpkin puree
 
In a medium saucepan combine the water and sugar.  Heat over medium high heat until sugar is dissolved.
Add remaining ingredients and whisk to combine.
Cook for about 5 minutes over medium heat, stirring often.  (Just don’t let it boil).
Let cool then strain through cheesecloth or a fine mesh strainer.  Store in the refrigerator.
 
Add 1-2 tablespoons to hot cocoa, apple cider, hot cider, milkshakes, anything!
 
Recipe source: Annie’s Eats
 
Filed Under: Drinks, Pumpkin

Pumpkin Pie Milkshake

October 18, 2011 by
 
Yet another pumpkin recipe! I haven’t even gotten through half my stack of recipes and scribbled ideas for pumpkin uses, but I’m having lots of fun getting through it. : )
Pumpkin is one of my hubby’s favorite foods so he makes a great test subject.  We really loved the fall flavors of this shake, and while we don’t usually have many milkshakes in the fall and winter in particular, these were a very fun fall treat.  In fact, I think we’ll be making these again soon and trying them with a little extra pumpkin puree and maybe a drizzle of caramel sauce.
 
PUMPKIN PIE MILKSHAKE
1/3 cup pumpkin puree
1/4 cup milk
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp cinnamon
pinch ground cloves
pinch ground nutmeg
2 T brown sugar
2 cups vanilla ice cream
1 graham cracker, crushed
 

Combine everything but graham cracker in a blender until smooth.

(Add more milk to desired consistency and thickness)
Pour in glasses and top with crushed graham cracker.

 

Recipe source: very slightly adapted from our best bites
 
 
 
 
Filed Under: Drinks, Ice cream, Pumpkin

Patriotic Italian Sodas

June 27, 2011 by
 
If you’re anything like me, you’ll LOVE the Bake It Pretty website.  I can always find a few things I CAN’T live without : ) One such item is the miniature milk bottles.  I was so excited to get them in the mail, and thought they’d be perfect for a festive drink this 4th of July.  I didn’t measure, but I think it’s pretty safe to say you’ll be fine winging it.  And if you don’t have the fancy glasses, regular will do : )
 
PATRIOTIC ITALIAN SODAS
Ice
Torani syrup, I used Blue Raspberry and Raspberry
Club soda (or 7-up or something similar)
half and half or heavy cream
Whipped cream
 
Put a few ice cubes in glass, pour a small amount of Torani syrup over ice.
Add club soda…
Then a little milk….
Top with some whipped cream, a fancy striped paper straw, and a fresh raspberry. : )
Filed Under: Drinks

Strawberry Slush

December 27, 2010 by
This is my go-to punch recipe.  Since we are an alcohol-free household, we’ve tried out a few alcohol free punch recipes, and this is our favorite.  I make it for most holidays and it’s always a hit. And it’s perfect for New Year’s Eve.  A friend gave me the recipe, and the only change I made is cutting the slush mixture in half.  We just thought it was almost too sweet that way.  But still good, so if you like your punch super flavorful, feel free to double the amounts for the slush mixture. (So you double the sugar, water, jello, pineapple, lemon, and orange juices. Still seperate into 2 bags, and serve each bag with one 2 liter of 7-up).
STRAWBERRY SLUSH
Recipe adapted from Janice R.
1 1/4 cups sugar
2 cups water
3 oz pkg strawberry jello
3 cups pineapple juice
1/3 cup lemon juice
2 cups orange juice
2 (two liter) 7-up, for serving
Combine the sugar, water, and jello in a pot and bring to a boil. Boil for 3 minutes.
Stir in pineapple juice, lemon juice, and orange juice.
Let cool and divide into 2 ziplocks.  Freeze.
To serve, put one bag in punch bowl and pour a 2 liter of 7-up over slush.
(If it is frozen hard and you need it to mix quickly, just microwave contents of bag for a couple of minutes to soften, then pour 7-up over it.)
Filed Under: Drinks, Holiday Recipes

Mango Berry Smoothie

July 7, 2010 by
 
Another strawberry recipe in honor of one of my favorite foods. I love them with mangos, but you could also just add more berries.  And the ice cream can be replaced with frozen yogurt or yogurt (I really like it that way as well). Enjoy! 
 
MANGO BERRY SMOOTHIE
 
2 mangos
1 1/2 cups strawberries
1/2 cup ice
2-3 scoops vanilla ice cream
splash milk
 
Process in blender until smooth.
Filed Under: Drinks

Orange Julius

May 14, 2010 by
 
My mom made this often when I was a kid.  About once a week she would make us all a nice breakfast and this was a big favorite for us all. Now we all make it for our own families and I dare you to find someone who doesn’t like it!
 
ORANGE JULIUS
 
2 cup milk
2 cup water
12 oz. frozen orange juice concentrate (half of a standard 12 oz. container)
1/4 cup sugar
1 Tablespoon vanilla
2 cups ice cubes
 
Mix well in blender. Serve immediately.
Makes 6 to 8 servings.
 
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Filed Under: Breakfast, Drinks