Creating memorable and healthy dining experiences.
Simply Orange Juice – johanna
January 6th, 2010 | Filed under: RECIPES - Beverage
My Grandma Penny lived on a farm on the outskirts of Clewiston Florida. Every time we visited we would fill sacks with oranges and tangerines to take home. One year we had a bucket full of oranges and my sister and I decided to make orange juice. We learned quick that it takes a lot of oranges to make one glass of orange juice.
Years later my dad brought home these little tubes that stick into the top of the orange allowing you to drink from the orange. We loved them. We would squeeze our oranges to get every last drop out then split them open and eat the insides. The tubes were a clever way to drink fresh orange juice straight from the source. I am surprised they did not survive the test of time.
I was reminded of my dad’s sacred find when the kids mentioned they would love a glass of orange juice. We did not have any orange juice in the house but we did have 4 oranges. The kids were shocked that they could drink orange juice from an orange. I know we have made fresh squeezed orange juice before.
What To Do:
1. Take an orange wash it then roll it on a cutting board pressing down firmly. This will break the little capsules that hold the juice.
2. Using a knife cut a small circular opening in the top of the orange. About 1/2 to 3/4-inches in width. Slide the knife tip downward into the hole then turn a few times.
3. Drink directly from the opening or use a straw. Squeeze the orange to draw out the juice while you slurp.
A Cup of Hot Chocolate – johanna
December 28th, 2009 | Filed under: BUDGET MEALS, RECIPES - Beverage
When I was in college I discovered Land-o-Lakes Mint Hot Chocolate. I think back then it was around .25 cents a bag. It was a splurge on my collage budget but oh so worth it. Every winter Costco stocks the Land-o-Lakes variety pack for Christmas. Last year they offered a large canister of the Supreme Chocolate. I bought three. The kids and I are hot chocolate junkies. We can’t wait until winter so we can pull out our mugs to savour a steaming cup of chocolate.
A wintry chill passed through in November. It was movie night and we were all craving a cup unfortunately we did not have any hot chocolate on hand. A week before a friend and I were discussing our brand preferences. We agreed we could never drink Swiss Miss again after having had the good stuff. I think my aversion to the stuff began in Elementary school when a friend’s brother poured the powder straight from the envelope into his mouth. Call me a dummy, but I tried it. I have not had the stuff since.
Back to my conversation, Chrystl mentions she makes her own hot chocolate using cocoa powder and milk. On this chilly night in November I decided to make homemade hot chocolate. Only problem was I did not have any cocoa powder. I did have a Lindt Extra Dark chocolate bar in the cabinet. Anyone remember Vianne played by Juliette Binoche in the movie Chocolat? She finely chopped the chocolate to make her special hot chocolate. It did not take long to find a recipe and whip up some pretty darn good hot chocolate.
Source: eHow
8 cups milk
1 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla
6 ounces bittersweet chocolate
Finely chop the chocolate and place in a mixing bowl.
Heat the milk over medium-low heat until it steams and is very hot to the touch.
Remove from heat. Stir in the sugar and vanilla. Whisk until the sugar has dissolved.
Pour one cup of the milk over the chocolate. Let the chocolate melt; slowly stirring with a whisk. Continue adding milk and stirring until all the milk has been incorporated.
Serves 8
Halloween Mystery Dinner – johanna
October 23rd, 2009 | Filed under: CREATING MEMORIES, RECIPES - Appetizer, RECIPES - Beverage, RECIPES - Main Dish, RECIPES - Treats
It is that time again. It is time for Halloween dinner fun. Here are a few tantalizing ideas for this years Halloween Mystery Dinner Menu.
Beverages:
Appetizers:
Entrees:
Witches Caldron and Bread Stick Brooms
Desserts:
Sparkling Ginger Sorbet Floats – johanna
July 22nd, 2009 | Filed under: RECIPES - Beverage
Summery light sorbet floating in sparkling Ginger Ale. Ooo, it just exudes summertime goodness. The ginger ale we used is Reed’s. It is a refreshing blend of honey, ginger root, pineapple, lemon and lime. This is powerful stuff.
Ginger ale
Flavored sorbet
Use a melon baller or ice cream scoop to fill a glass with balls of sorbet. Pour the ginger ale over the sorbet.
Simply A Banana Milkshake – johanna
March 3rd, 2009 | Filed under: RECIPES - Beverage
I love that my kids think the milkshakes I make for them are the “Bees Knees”. As I watch them down a cup of un-sugared bliss I am content that they are getting the vitamins growing bodies need. This banana milkshake has very fond memories associated with it. Back when I was in college I worked at a local antique car dealership that specialized in rag top convertibles. Hence the name Ragtops Motorcars.
In the evenings the facility was a happening party venue. Private groups to Fortune 500 companies could rent the building or one of it’s (at the time) three levels. A party consisted of cocktail hour, dinner and dancing usually with a 50’s vibe. Guests are greeted by fun, energetic, dancing cast members whose soul purpose is to rev up the party and protect the million inventory. After four hours of twisting and bopping I was completely exhausted. The owners Ty and Sherri Houck, two of my dearest friends, would let me crash at their house so I did not have to make the hour drive home at 2:00 in the morning. When I was not at their house I crashed out on the couch at Emi and Esteri’s house, two more incredible individuals I have had the opportunity of knowing. Some nights after work Emi and I would make banana milkshakes with protein powder and enjoy a slice of toast with Royal Jelly Honey. The perfect end to a day.
Banana Milkshake:
1-2 Bananas
1 cup Milk
1 cup Ice
Strawberry Banana Milkshake:
2 bananas
1 cup frozen strawberries
Strawberry and banana yogurt
1 cup milk
Blend in a blender until smooth.
Variations:
Use 1/2 cup milk and 1/2 cup orange juice in the place of 1 cup milk.
Try adding 1 container peach or strawberry yogurt
Mom’s Sore Throat Milkshake – johanna
December 13th, 2008 | Filed under: RECIPES - Beverage
When I was girl my mom would make a special milkshake for me when I was too sick to eat anything. So when Everett got a canker sore in his mouth and would not eat anything I set out to recreate my mom’s milkshake. All she gave me to go on was milk, vanilla and egg. The result was watery and bland. As I mulled it over a thought hit me. Eggnog. My mom’s milkshake was the same base as eggnog. I knew I just needed something to sweeten the shake up and alter the measurements a little.
Since I was planning on giving it to my toddler, the next task was to figure out how to cook the eggs. I did not have any pasteurized eggs or powder around. The first time I made the milkshake I cooked the egg in in a water bath. Set a bowl over a pot of simmering water and whisk the egg until the the thermometer read 160 degrees; but, I felt the taste was a little off. I can’t say if it was the cooked egg or the lack of sugar. My first thought was to add the sugar to the egg then I figured hey why not cook all the ingredients together. It took a long time to get the mixture up to 160 degrees. I think next time I will just heat it in a sauce pan.
1 egg
1 cup milk
1 to 1 1/2 tbsp sugar
1/4-1/2 tsp vanilla
Heat a pot over medium heat; bring to a simmer. Place a heat prof bowl over the pot. The bowl should not touch the water. Whisk the egg in the bowl until combined. Add the sugar and beat well. Add the milk, sugar and vanilla mixing well. Heat the mixture until a thermometer inserted reads about 160 degrees. If heating in a sauce pan, add all the ingredients to the sauce pan and heat on low heat, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and cool. Place in the refrigerator until cold.
If you do not have any concerns about Salmonella, then by all means mix all the ingredients in the blender and bottoms up.
Fall Apple Orchard Punch – johanna
September 11th, 2008 | Filed under: RECIPES - Beverage
I love fall. I love the smells. I love the crispness in the air. September reminds me of the Fall Apple Harvest Festival in Sebastopol, California. Â Just thinking about about their Apple Fritters makes my mouth water. Another fall/winter favorite of mine is Wassail. A blend of fruit juices and aromatic spices fills the room with warmth. I came across this hot drink, I believe it was on recipetips.com. I thought it would be a great addition to welcome chilled trick or treaters home on Halloween.
1 (36 oz) can apple juice - chilled
1 (12 oz) can frozen cranberry cocktail concentrate, thawed
1 cup orange juice
6 cups ginger ale, chilled
1 red apple
In a large punch bowl or pitcher, combine apple juice, cranberry concentrate and orange juice. Stir to combine. Slowly add ginger ale. Thinly slice apple vertically to create whole apple slices. Remove the seeds. Float on top of punch.
Variations:
Try adding some Red Hots candies to spike the punch.
Snow Cones – johanna
August 17th, 2008 | Filed under: RECIPES - Beverage
We pulled out our slurpee/snowcone maker, dusted it off and made a refreshing treat with this recipe I found online, but I apologize I have no clue where I got. It was a site that had all these great cool summer kid treats. Once I locate it, I will update this post. Until then, enjoy her version of an easy snow cone.
1 Envelope KOOL-AID, Unsweetened, any flavor
1 Cup sugar
1/2 Cup cold water
8 Cups finely crushed ice
Place soft drink mix and sugar in small bowl. Add cold water; stir to dissolve. For each serving, pour about 1 tablespoon soft drink mixture over 1 cup ice.
Variations:
Use 3/4 cup KOOL-AID Sugar-Sweetened Soft Drink Mix, any flavor; omit sugar.
Orange Julius – kami
July 8th, 2008 | Filed under: RECIPES - Beverage
Some of my best memories of summertime included my dad making Orange Julius for everyone. It’s a simple recipe and better than the kind you get at the mall in my opinion.
1 1/2 Cups Water
1/2 Cup Sugar
1 tsp Vanilla
1/2 Cup Milk
1 tray Ice cubes
6 oz Frozen Orange Juice Concentrate
Blend together all but the Orange Juice first, then add the Orange Juice Concentrate and blend well. Enjoy!
Lemonade Floats – johanna
June 29th, 2008 | Filed under: RECIPES - Beverage
This recipe is from the Martha Stewart website. Tastes similar to a punch I have had at many party’s. The one with ice cream and ginger-ale. This recipe calls for raspberry or strawberry sorbet. We tried it with a mix of lime, raspberry and orange. Cheers.
Lemonade
Raspberry or strawberry Sorbet
Use a melon baller to make scoops from sorbet. Drop sorbet into individual glasses of lemonade.
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