Carnation Instant Breakfast Smoothie

This is a shake disguised as a breakfast smoothie... yum.  Bill came up with it based on a Men's Health recipe.  It is super easy and delicious... plus an excuse to eat ice cream (or frozen yogurt) for breakfast.

Carnation Instant Breakfast Smoothie
From: Bill & Men's Health
Prep time: 5 minutes

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cup milk
1 carnation instant breakfast packet (we use milk chocolate)
3-4 scoops frozen yogurt (or ice cream)
1/4 - 1/2 cup peanut butter
1 banana

Directions:
1.  Add all ingredients to blender and blend until smooth. Enjoy!

 

Gin & Rhubarb Delight

This is my new favorite cocktail.  It was inspired by a drink we had at DMK Burger bar, and Bill concocted a similar drink after I made Strawberry Rhubarb Jam.  I don't love gin, but in this cocktail, I could drink Gin all day (although I shouldn't).  Everyone we have made these for has loved it!

Gin and Rhubarb Delight
From: DMK and Bill
Prep Time: 5 min

Ingredients:
1 shot of Gin
Tonic (or soda if you prefer)
juice of 1/2 a Lime
2 spoonfuls of Strawberry-Rhubarb Jam

Directions:

1.  Fill a glass (or mason jar) with ice, add gin, lime, tonic, and Jam.  Stir until jam is mixed in.  Enjoy!

Sunrise Green Smoothie

 

We've been having lots of smoothies lately for breakfast with the warm weather.  I saw this recipe and thought, I wonder what a smoothie with spinach is like.  There seemed to be enough fruit in it to mask the vegetable taste so I thought I would give it a try. Plus I can always use more fruit and veggies in my diet.  In the recipe they use a fancy juicer/smoothie maker, but since I just have a regular blender, I ended up needing a little more milk, and a little less frozen stuff for my blender to be able to do the work.  So below is the amounts I used of everything which I suggest for a regular blender!

Sunrise Green Smoothie
From: Hell if I Gnaw
Prep time: 5 min

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk (probably could use regular milk, but the vanilla almond adds a nice sweetness)
1 1/2 - 2 cups spinach
1 1/2 cups frozen strawberries
1 cup frozen blueberries
1 banana
2 Tbsp ground flax seed

Directions:
1. Add all ingredients to blender and blend until smooth.  (if too stiff add more almond milk) Serve!

Strawberry Banana Smoothie

This is a smoothie that Bill and I will make for breakfast sometimes.  We do different variations of this, but this is the base of both of them.
 

Strawberry Banana Smoothie
From: Elizabeth

Ingredients:
Orange juice
Vanilla Yogurt
Frozen (or fresh) strawberries
1 banana
ground flax seed
3-4 ice cubes

Directions:

1. Add 3 large spoonfuls of vanilla yogurt and 1-2 cups of orange juice to the blender.  Add 1 banana, 1/2 cup of frozen strawberries (or fresh if you have them), 1 Tbsp ground flax seed, and 3-4 ice cubes to blender and blend all together until smooth.

Stellatini

 

Last week, my sister, Carrie, and nephews were in town and while they were here I decided to host a Stella and Dot party.  Carrie is a Stella and Dot stylist and it was so much fun to have friends over and try on all her jewelry (and of course buy some for myself!). She also suggested we make a batch of 'Stellatinis' for the party.  We made a big pitcher of it and they turned out to be a really refreshing and light drink - perfect for an especially HOT week in Chicago.  Everyone said they were really tasty! I will definitely make this again and thought it would be fitting to post it today since it is my 30th birthday and this is a great drink to celebrate it with! Enjoy!

Stellatini
From: Carrie

Ingredients:
1 jug Pink Lemonade (or Strawberry Lemonade)
1 1/2 - 2 cups sprite
1 1/2 - 2 cups Vodka

Directions:
1. Mix Lemonade, Sprite, and vodka.  Serve with lemon for garnish, and if desired add sugar around the rim of the glass.

Orange/Lemon Julius

When I was younger I use to get Orange Julius often, but I haven't had it in a long time.  When I saw this recipe to make it myself I knew I had to give it a try.  I also made it with Lemon (which is what these pictures are of) both were good, but makes quite a bit so make sure you have someone to share with you!

Orange/Lemon Julius
From: shirleyelizabeth via Tasty Kitchen

Ingredients:
3/4 can concentrated orange juice (or lemon juice)
1/3 cups sugar
1 tsp vanilla
2 cups milk
8 cups ice
Top with whipped cream if desired

Directions:
1. Combine the concentrate, sugar, vanilla, and milk in blender.

2. Add the ice and blend to desired consistency.  Pour into cups and stop with whipped cream if desired.