recipes – beverages

healthy peach berry crumble smoothies

05/27/2013 by Annalise · Leave a Comment

These smoothies are a healthy meal in and of themselves. All the sweet, luscious flavor of a summer-fruit smoothie and a juicy, peach berry crisp, without any of the guilt.

Dairy-free, sugar-free, and flavor-FULL!

(By the way… if you’re on the Fast Metabolism Diet like I was, this is a Phase 3 breakfast or lunch!)

Chia seeds and coconut oil give you the healthy fats your body craves, and no one (ahem, toddlers!) will ever know there are fresh greens packed inside their treat!

((Commence the silent cheering so as not to wake the house-full of sleeping kiddos!))

I don’t know about you, but my kids just don’t really eat too many green foods willingly. And any way I can sneak more good-stuff into their tummies is a good thing!

Cardamom Orange Cold-Brewed Iced Coffee

02/22/2013 by Annalise · 1 Comment

Cardamom-Orange Iced Coffee, cold-brewed for a delicious, special yet simple treat. Serve this with a simple syrup and a splash of cream for a decadent treat in seconds. You deserve it!

You know how sometimes you just really need a special treat in your life? Preferably caffeinated and maybe even sweet??

But with all your ~~crazy~~ spirited children running around, you can barely find a glass, let alone take the time to make yourself a pot of coffee or better yet, a run to the nearest coffee shop? (Wait, that’s just me?)

Well, make a big batch of this delicious cold-brewed coffee and problem solved. Delicious, decadent coffee treats, ready-to-go, all week long! (Or at least a day or two!)

You can really infuse this coffee, with any flavors you’d like. Or, of course, leave it plain. But plain is boring, and I like to change this up with flavors each time I make it!

Cinnamon is great. Cinnamon with a bit of cocoa powder and cayenne is even better. But cardamom & orange is my favorite. So fresh, flavorful and vibrant. And different. I like different.

I could drink this every day.

I do drink this almost every day. :o)

Personally, I get plenty of sugar in my life in other ways, like – you know – cookies, so I enjoy this best unsweetened with a splash of heavy cream.

But, mix it up however you like best. It’s your treat!

Homemade Cardamom-Orange Cold-Brewed Coffee

Ingredients

2 cups, packed, ground coffee
zest of 2 large oranges
2 teaspoons ground cardamom
2 quarts cold water

Directions

Comine all the ingredients in a large tupperware container. Stir well, cover and let sit at room temperature for about 24 hours.

Strain the mixture through a fine-mesh strainer, and then again through the fine-mesh strainer that has been lined with cheesecloth or paper towels.

Pour into a pitcher and keep in the fridge for up to a week, if it lasts that long!

Serve cold, over ice, with a simple syrup or agave, if you like sweet, and a bit of cream or milk. Yum!

http://sweetannas.com/2013/02/cardamom-orange-cold-brewed-iced-coffee.html

www.sweetannas.com

Recipe adapted from 10th Kitchen

Filed Under: recipes, recipes - beverages, recipes - make ahead, recipes - tips and tricks ·

copycat Starbucks pumpkin spice sauce

09/17/2012 by Annalise · Leave a Comment

I’m sure you have gathered lately that I have a bit of a pumpkin obsession. I just can’t get enough, once the weather starts to turn and fall is in the air.

Fall makes me so happy.

I love summer, for a minute, but it doesn’t take long for it to get old. I much prefer a cool, sunny fall day… with the fresh smell of leaves and the breeze of change in the air.

I love sweaters, boots, scarves… schedules, routines and activities. Everything that is fall.

One of my favorite little fall indulgences are Starbucks’ pumpkin spice lattes and chais. So festive, fallish, and delicious… I could drink them every day if my wallet could afford it!

Of course every day is just too much, but I finally nailed down a recipe that is as close to Starbucks’ as possible. Now I get my fix whenever I want it, and without the guilt.

My favorite way to use this sauce is to put 1-2 tablespoons into a mug, fill it up with hot coffee and top with a splash of heavy cream. Autumn in a cup. Try it!

What’s your favorite fall treat?

Copycat Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Sauce Recipe

Ingredients:
1 cup sugar
1 cup water
1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice
1/4 cup pumpkin

Directions:
In a small saucepan, heat the sugar and water over medium heat until clear and the sugar is dissolved. Stir in the remaining ingredients and simmer for 10-15 minutes, until the sauce has thickened and reduced a bit.

Pour into a jar and let cool to room temperature before storing in the fridge. The sauce is thick when cold. It will melt just fine into your hot coffee!

This makes about 1 cup of sauce… servings vary depending on how sweet you like your drinks.

Filed Under: recipes, recipes - beverages, recipes - holiday, recipes - make ahead ·

fresh blackberry margaritas

09/04/2012 by Annalise · Leave a Comment

Fresh squeezed citrus, crushed wild blackberries, simple syrup… and of course, some tequila & triple sec!

Summer is officially coming to an end, and kids are going back to school.

In my world, that’s a celebration, since I love fall and can’t wait for the season’s change! In my husband’s world, summer ending is like a death and requires some mourning.

I don’t know how it goes in your house, but mourning in this house involves margaritas. Really good, homemade margaritas.

My husband has become somewhat of a margarita-king lately… perfecting his recipe and loving to spoil our friends, family & guests with his homemade masterpiece.

This last weekend, he decided to switch things up a bit and make some blackberry margaritas. And my word, they were delicious!!

Give these a try if you can snag a few handfuls of blackberries, and celebrate (or mourn, depending on how you feel) the end of summer with us!

Fresh Blackberry Margaritas Recipe
makes enough for 4-6 servings

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups fresh squeezed lemon juice
1 1/2 cups fresh squeezed lime juice
1 cup simple syrup*

2 cups, or so, fresh blackberries
Triple Sec
Tequila

Directions:
*Make the simple syrup (recipe below) and let it cool.

In a pitcher, mix together the lemon & lime juices with the simple syrup (you can start with 1/2 cup and add more to taste if you’re not sure how sweet you’d like things!).

For each margarita, place a handful of blackberries in a salt-rimmed large glass. Muddle (smash with something blunt, like a muddler or the end of a spoon) until the berries are crushed.

Fill the glass with ice, pour in a good splash of Triple Sec, a shot or two of tequila and then fill with the margarita mix. Top with a couple of berries and serve!

—–

Simple Syrup Recipe

Ingredients:
1 cup sugar
1 cup water

Directions:
Place the sugar and water in a small saucepan. Heat over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the sugar is melted and the syrup is clear.

Remove from the heat and let cool. Store in a jar the fridge for up to several weeks!

Filed Under: recipes, recipes - beverages ·

‘eat your greens!’ smoothies

07/10/2012 by Annalise · 1 Comment

Yep. That’s what I’m calling these. Because my kids won’t eat leafy greens any other way.

They’re toddlers, they’re picky, and greens are just not on the list of ‘acceptable’ foods in their minds.

But I refuse to give up, which is where these smoothies come in.

Fresh leafy greens, yogurt, oats, fruit… These smoothies do the trick every time. I can fill them with as much green stuff as I want, and the kids have yet to turn them down.

And that makes this mama-heart happy!

(Especially when I am very pregnant, very tired, and really not wanting to cook… which seems to be the case more and more these days.)

I use the oats primarily to bulk up the smoothie so I feel better about serving it to my kids as a meal. Feel free to leave them out if you want, but you won’t even know they’re in there!

And if you think you’re kiddos (or yourself) will be turned off by the color, use mostly dark berries for a nice purple smoothie.

*By the way, these smoothies freeze great… so if you don’t drink them all up at one sitting, throw the rest in the freezer and thaw overnight in the fridge the next time you want them!

‘Eat Your Greens!’ Smoothie Recipe
serves 3-4

Ingredients:
2-3 cups frozen fruit (strawberries, berries, banana, mango… whatever you like!)
1 cup plain greek yogurt
1/4 cup old fashioned oats
1/2-1 cup juice or water
3-4 handfuls mixed greens or spinach

Directions:
Place the fruit, yogurt, oats and 1/2 cup of water/juice into your food processor. Process until very smooth, streaming in more liquid if needed so it’s not too thick.

Take off the lid and add in the greens, filling the processor as full as possible… it will blend down into nothing, don’t worry! Puree again until as smooth as you’d like, adding more greens if you couldn’t fit them all in at first.

Taste for sweetness and thickness and add a bit more juice or water and a touch of honey if needed.

Serve to your kids and smile when they ask for more!