Peaches and Cream Italian Sodas

Last week at Bunco, my friend Kristen served all of us lucky ladies Strawberry Italian Sodas. Man, they were so good and they really hit the spot for me. I have had a bottle of Torani Peach Syrup sitting in my pantry for a few months now and after I had Kristen’s Italian Soda, I had to break it out.

My family loved the Peaches & Cream Italian Sodas. It was the perfect refreshing drink on a hot summer day!

I can’t wait to try more flavors of Torani Syrup in my Italian Sodas!

Until next time,

Carrie

 

Peaches & Cream Italian Sodas

1 serving

3 tbsp. of Torani Peach Syrup

2 tbsp. of half and half

2 tbsp. of pineapple juice

1  1/2 cup of club soda

1 /2 cup of pebbled ice

1 can of Reddi Wip whipped cream

1. Pour the club soda in a cup. Add the peach syrup, pineapple juice, and half & half. Gently stir the mixture. Add the pebbled ice to the cup and top with whipped cream.

Watermelon Lemonade

It is so hot outside right now! On days like today, one of the only things that helps beat the heat is a cool refreshing drink. Wouldn’t it be even better if that drink was not only refreshing but it was also healthy?

Well guess what, I have the drink for you. I developed this recipe for a segment I did on Utah’s KSL Studio 5. What I love so much about this drink is that it is made with only a few ingredients. The ingredients are watermelon, the juice from a few lemons, and a little bit of sugar.

The amount of sugar you add is entirely up to you. If your watermelon is a really ripe and sweet, you won’t have to add as much sugar. You can leave the sugar out completely for a sugar free drink.

Have you ever bought a watermelon at the store and then brought it home and cut it up only to discover that instead of read and juicy, it is pink, grainy and tastes like nothing? Instead of throwing it away and wasting your money, make this Watermelon Lemonade. It is the perfect solution for those not so ripe and tasteless watermelons.

A 12 to 14 lb. watermelon will make about 1 gallon of  lemonade. So next time you have a backyard barbecue, make this watermelon lemonade and instantly become the hostess of the year!

Until next time,

Carrie

 

Watermelon Lemonade

3 cups of Watermelon Water (recipe below)

Juice of two lemons

3 to 4 tbsp. of sugar (optional)

1. Mix all the ingredients and stir until the sugar is completely dissolved.

makes 2 servings

 

Watermelon Water

4  to 5 cups of watermelon, cut into 1 to 2 inch cubes

1 cup of water

juice of 1 lemon

juice of 1 lime

1 tbsp. sugar (optional)

1. Blend 2 cups of watermelon with 1/2 cup of water. Strain the liquid through a strainer. Continue this process with the remaining watermelon. Stir in the lemon and lime juice and sugar until sugar is dissolved.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Watermelon Cucumber Pineapple Aqua Fresca

A few days ago I went for a run and on my way back I had to stop and pick up my daughter’s bike at her friends house. I don’t know if I am just out of shape or there is something up with her bike but I swear riding her bike a half mile home seemed harder than my run. My legs were on fire by the time I got home and I was completely out of breath. All I could think about on my way home was the watermelon cucumber pineapple aqua fresca I had at home in the fridge.

I’m sure you can guess that as soon as I walked in the door, I poured myself a glass of this heavenly drink and downed it before any of my kids could ask for some. This drink is so refreshing and thirst quenching! I really don’t know how else to describe it.

I developed the recipe for this drink as well as the watermelon lemonade for a TV segment on Utah’s KSL Studio 5. When the lovely host, Brooke Walker tried these drinks, she loved them!

After the show, Stephanie the show’s producer and the rest of the studio staff came over and tried some as well and they couldn’t get enough of it.

Trust me friends, you don’t want to let the cucumbers scare you away! When I tell people what is in the drink, they kind of give me a weird look when I say cucumber.  But once they try it, they love it.

My kids love it too ,and it makes me happy to know that they are drinking something that is good for them!

Until next time,

Carrie

 

 

Watermelon Pineapple Cucumber Aqua Fresca

3 cups of watermelon water (recipe below)

1 cup of pineapple cucumber water (recipe below)

juice of 1 lemon

juice of 1 lime

2 tbsp. sugar

Directions

1. Mix all the ingredients together and stir until the sugar is completely dissolved.

 

Watermelon Water

4  to 5 cups of watermelon, with rind cut off and cut into 1 to 2 inch cubes

1 cup of water

juice of 1 lemon

juice of 1 lime

1 tbsp. sugar (optional)

1. Blend 2 cups of watermelon with 1/2 cup of water. Strain the liquid through a strainer. Continue this process with the remaining watermelon. Stir in the lemon and lime juice and sugar until sugar is dissolved.

 

Pineapple Cucumber Water

2 to 3 lb. pineapple, with outer rind cut off and cut into 1 to 2 inch cubes

1 cucumber, peeled, seeded and cut into 1 to 2 inch cubes

1 to 1  1/2 cups of water

juice of 1 lemon

juice of 1 lime

1 to 2 tbsp. sugar (optional)

1. Blend 1 cup pineapple and 1 cup cucumber with 1/2 cup of water. Strain the liquid through a strainer. Continue this process with the remaining fruit. Stir in the lemon, lime juice, and sugar until the sugar is dissolved.

Raspberry Hot Cocoa Bomb

I don’t know about you, but it is still really cold where I am at. So yesterday I came up with this heavenly recipe. It is just in time for Valentines Day. This is the perfect cup of cocoa to sip while you cuddle with your special someone! The velvety smooth texture and the creamy raspberry flavor cannot be matched by any pre-made store bought mix. As if this hot cocoa is not heavenly enough on its own, I added two scoops of French vanilla ice cream to the steamy cup of cocoa. The ice cream reminded me of a bomb being dropped into the cocoa. The creaminess of the ice cream takes this recipe to the next level by blowing all the other hot cocoa’s out of the water (no pun intended)! I guess you could say that the Raspberry Hot Cocoa Bomb is the “Bomb”!

Until next time,

Carrie

Raspberry Hot Cocoa Bomb

makes 6 to 8 servings

1 can of sweetened condensed milk

1 cup of milk chocolate chips

2 tsp. raspberry extract

1 tbsp. cocoa powder

1/8 tsp. cinnamon

6 cups of milk

Instructions

1. In a large pan  on medium high heat, add sweetened condensed milk and chocolate chips. Stir until chocolate chips are melted and the mixture is combined well.

2. Whisk in the milk, raspberry extract, cocoa powder and cinnamon. Turn heat down to low heat and continue to whisk the cocoa until it is hot. Remove the hot cocoa from the heat and ladle into mugs. Add two small scoops of French vanilla ice cream to each cup of  hot cocoa. Serve immediately.

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Orange Hot Chocolate

When it is cold outside and you need to warm up, why not do it with a cup of gourmet orange hot chocolate? This hot chocolate can be made in only a few minutes and it only requires 4 ingredients. Come on, it really doesn’t get any better than that. This hot chocolate is a favorite at our house and always seems to put a smile on my kids face. Alright, we have wasted enough time talking about this hot chocolate. Now it is time for you to go make it.

Until next time,

Carrie

Gourmet Orange Hot Chocolate

Approximately 8 to 10 servings

1 can of sweetened condensed milk

1 cup of milk chocolate chips

6 cups of whole milk ( you can substitute 2% milk for a reduced fat hot chocolate)

1 tsp. orange extract

1 cup of whipped cream (optional)

Directions:

1. In a large saucepan on medium-high heat add sweetened condensed milk and chocolate chips. When the chocolate chips are completely melted and the mixture is well blended, turn the heat down to medium.

2. Stirring occasionally  heat the mixture to just below the simmering point.

3. Remove from heat and add the orange extract and mix well.

4. Serve immediately with a dollop of whipped cream (optional). Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 7 days.

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Gourmet Coconut Hot Chocolate

When it is cold outside you need to have hot chocolate right? Well you are in luck because I have an amazing gourmet coconut hot chocolate recipe for you. This recipe is kid approved. When I made it the other night after my husband and boys came in from shoveling the driveway they downed their cups with in minutes.

You can find the cream of coconut in the drink aisle in your grocery store next to all the cocktail mixes. I like to top my off with a dollop of whipped cream and a few sprinklings of toasted coconut. I think it would taste really good with a scoop of vanilla ice cream as well!

Until next time,

Carrie

Gourmet Coconut Hot Chocolate

1 can (17 oz.) of cream of coconut

1 can (13.5 oz.) of coconut milk

6 cups of whole milk

1 package of milk chocolate chips

1 cup of whipped cream (optional)

1/2 cup toasted coconut flakes (optional)

Directions:

1. In a large sauce pan add the cream of coconut, coconut milk and milk chocolate chips. Place the pan on the stove at medium high heat. Stir occasionally.

2. Once the chocolate chips are completely melted add the whole milk. Whisk until the hot chocolate is well combined. Turn heat down to medium low and stir occasionally until it is heated all the way through. Remove from heat.

3. Serve immediately with a dollop of whipped cream and a sprinkling of toasted coconut.

6 to 8 servings

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