Luau Punch

I made this punch for my sons' birthday party towards the end of March. I was looking for something that would be good for the kids, but that the adults could add a little something to and make it just right for them as well! :) It was delicious... I wanted to be able to use my cute new drink dispenser, so I didn't serve it slushy like suggested, but it was just as good. The adults added rum to the mix, but it was great either way! The nice thing about a party at the end of March in Minnesota? The ability to use the outdoor refrigerator to keep food and drinks cold! :)



Luau Punch
(recipe found on pinterest via allrecipes.com)

1 (46 fluid ounces) can pineapple juice
1 (6 ounces) can frozen orange juice concentrate, thawed
2 liters lemon lime flavored pop

In an empty gallon milk jug or pitcher, pour pineapple juice and orange juice concentrate. Shake to mix and pour in the lemon-lime soda. You may need to let the fizz settle and then return to pouring. This will fill up the gallon. Freeze overnight for a slush type punch. Let the punch start to thaw 2 hours before serving.

Hot Chocolate

I'm keeping this recipe in my back pocket for this winter! :) As part of the Secret Recipe Club that I am a part of I had found a few recipes that I was able to try even without my stove. I chose to post that day about the hoecakes recipe that she had on her blog but I also tried this fabulous hot chocolate. It was a little warm for hot chocolate but it still tasted delicious! The coconut milk gave the hot chocolate a different taste then normal and it was fabulous. I needed to do a little experimenting with how much milk to add in order to not have it quite so thick but once I got it right it was a great chocolatey treat to top off my night... that and a great book - perfect!

I halved this recipe and still had enough for a cup of hot chocolate for 4 nights. I stored the leftover hot chocolate mixture in the fridge and added milk and reheated as much as I wanted...

Hot Chocolate
(recipe found at http://culinary-adventures-with-cam.blogspot.com)

3 cups chipped dark chocolate (I used a bag of dark chocolate chips which was perfect for a half a batch)
2 cans coconut milk
4 tablespoons sugar
milk

Bring coconut milk to a simmer in a large saucepan. Add chocolate and sugar and whisk until completely melted. Mixture will be very thick. Add milk to create desired consistency.

Rhubarbaritas

I love rhubarb but I have mainly used it in desserts. So, when I saw this recipe I wanted to try it... It was pretty easy to make and since it lasts in the fridge for a few weeks I figured that I might as well go ahead and double it. Good thing I did... Since I brought it with me to a party a few others decided that they needed to try it too and they loved it as much as I did!! It was gone that same day... Guess I will be heading back to my stash of rhubarb to make some more!

Rhubarbaritas
(recipe found at www.tablespoon.com)

2 cups chopped rhubarb
1 cup sugar
2 cups water
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
4 ounces clear tequila
4 ounces lime juice
lime juice, coarse salt and sugar, optional (to rim the glasses)

In a medium saucepan over high heat, bring rhubarb, sugar, water and vanilla to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 6-7 minutes. Remove from heat; cool to room temperature. Strain syrup from rhubarb into a measuring cup. Discard rhubarb and pour 8 ounces rhubarb simple syrup into a cocktail shaker. (The remainder can be refrigerated in a covered container for 1-2 weeks.) Add tequila and lime juice to cocktail shaker and cover; shake to combine. Moisten the rims of 4 glasses with lime juice; roll rims in coarse salt and sugar, if desired. Place a few ice cubes in each glass. Pour margarita mixture evenly into prepared glasses.

Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie

Like I said, I have been on a smoothie kick lately and this is one of the first ones that I tried. Last month for the Secret Recipe Club, I was assigned www.thischickcooks.net. I found another recipe that I wanted to blog about for our reveal date but I had also tried a couple of her smoothie recipes. This one definitely helps with that peanut butter craving that I always seems to have and who doesn't love the combo of peanut butter and banana. Not me and definitely not the kiddos, who had to have this with me for breakfast one morning!!



Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie
(recipe found at www.thischickcooks.net)

2 bananas sliced and frozen
1/4 cup oatmeal
1/4 cup peanut butter
3/4 cup milk

Put oatmeal in blender and blend until fine powder. Add remaining ingredients and blend until smooth.

Blueberry Yogurt Smoothie

I have been on a huge smoothie kick lately... While most of them have been pretty enjoyable, there have been a few setbacks! :) The grapefruit, orange, lemon smoothie that I tried this morning was definitely one of those - yikes!! Way too chunky and bitter for my taste! Thankfully, since I have a freezer full of blueberries, this was not the case with this smoothie. It was delish!! Definitely another breakfast find for me...


Blueberry Yogurt Smoothie
(recipe found on pinterest via smoothie handbook)

1 cup blueberries, frozen
3/4 cup plain yogurt
1 tablespoon honey
1 tsp vanilla
1/4 water
4 ice cubes

Pour water and yogurt into the blender. Add rest of the ingredients. Blend on low for 10-20 seconds. Then increase the speed to medium/high until creamy smooth.

Orange Julius - adult style!

So, I stole this tasty little treat from one of my sons friends moms... (I know there needs to be an apostrophe somewhere in that mess, but I'm not sure quite where it should go! :) I saw the ingredients and thought "that is a drink that I have to try!!" From the second I tasted it, I knew that I was in trouble - it tastes just like an orange julius!! Very cool and refreshing on a hot summer day... the bottle was half gone after an afternoon of relaxing with my family!!

Orange Julius - adult style!
(recipe stolen from Tina Ewert!)

Orange Cream Vodka
Orange Juice
Cream

Mix according to your taste buds. Pour over ice and ENJOY!!

Sangria

One of my good friends (and my cousin's wife) had the chance to head to Florida this fall and had Sangria for the first time. She was head over heels in love at first sight!! We were getting together so I found this recipe to try while we were hanging out. It was good, but definitely had a bitter after taste to it. I thought that it might be the lime that is added but it might have also been the type of red wine that I used. We pushed through though and finished it off... :) Come on, it wasn't that bad! The hunt is still on for a Sangria that we can make that she loves as much as the one she had in Florida!



Sangria
(recipe found at http://www.meganscookin.com/)

1 bottle red wine, chilled
1 bottle white wine, chilled
1/2 cup vodka
1/2 cup rum (I used coconut flavored)
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup water
1 orange; sliced into thin slices
1 lemon; sliced into thin slices
1 lime; sliced into thin slices
1 apple; cut into chunks
1 cup blueberries
1 cup grapes

In a small pan, bring sugar and water to a boil. Turn off heat and let cool. (I put mine in the freezer to speed up the process...) Put all fruit into a large pitcher or bowl. Add remaining ingredients. Place in fridge for a few hours to combine flavors. Serve cold!

Russian Tea

Here is a drink mix that my sister in law introduced to me and boy is it yummy for a cold winter's night or when your throat feels like it is on fire and you need something to soothe it! I decided to make up a batch for my sons' teachers for Valentine's day and wanted to share the recipe with you. It is oh so good and keeps for a long time... In fact, I have a little extra of the mix and might have to go and have me a cup right now! :)

Russian Tea
(recipe refound at www.anniebakes.net)

1 jar (18 ounces) Tang sugar free
1/2 cup instant iced tea
1 1/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon cloves
1 package lemonade mix (unsweetened)

Mix all the ingredients together and put into a air tight jar. To make the drink, mix 3 teaspoons to 1 cup hot water.

Mulled Cider

Happy Halloween!! Every year in October, my husband and I host a Scavenger Hunt for a group of our friends. It is so much fun and the evening is filled with good friends, good food and drink and great fun! This is the time of year when I love sipping on something warm and cozy! I found this recipe and it has become a standard at our party... I always double the recipe and have some leftover to heat up for the next week or so in the mornings... Don't forget to mix this up and take a cup with you while you are trick or treating with the kids tonight!

Mulled Cider
(recipe found in Taste of Home)

4 cups water
2 teaspoons ground allspice
1 cinnamon stick (3 inches)
dash ground cloves
1 gallon apple cider or juice
1 can (12 ounces) frozen lemonade concentrate, thawed
3/4 cup orange juice
1/3 cup honey
1 individual tea bag

In a large kettle, combine the water, allspice, cinnamon stick and cloves. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 30 minutes.

Add the remaining ingredients. return just to a boil. Discard cinnamon stick and tea bag. Stir and serve warm.

Blueberry Sangria Lemonade

As a treat to my cousin, I whipped up this batch of goodness for a game night that we got together for! It was a little sweet, but delicious at the same time!

Blueberry Sangria Lemonade
(recipe found at foodnetwork.com)

1 1/2 cups frozen blueberries
1 (12 ounce) can frozen concentrated pink lemonade - (the store in town was out, so I used raspberry lemonade instead)
1 bottle (750 ml) Chardonnay
3 cups sprite
1/2 cup cognac - (again, we live in a small town and this was spur of the moment, no cognac for me, so I used some brandy instead...)

In a large pitcher, comine all ingreidents and stir. Refrigerate for 1 hour to meld flavors. Served chilled in iced tea glasses.

Orange Julius

Had to try this snack out on the kids the other day... It was definitely a hit for a warm summer day - I thought that the orange juice was a little tart, but I want to go back and try it with something different then the Walmart brand and see if that makes a difference.



Orange Julius
(recipe found at cucinafamiglia.blogspot.com)

1 can orange juice concentrate
1 1/2 cups of milk
2 teaspoons vanilla
3 tablespoons sugar
1 cup ice

Blend all the ingredients together in a blender until smooth. If it's too runny add more ice, if it's too chunky add more milk. Such a quick and easy snack!