Category Archives: Beverages

A Little Ode to Nutmeg plus Spiced Hot Chocolate

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SpicedHotChocolate2Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays everyone! I hope you’re having the celebration you always wanted to have today. We’re having a wonderful, quiet day, and we couldn’t be happier about it. It’s funny, we spend so much time preparing for the big day, and when it finally gets here, we just want to collapse and relax….

Our day started off with some magnificent Spiced Hot Chocolate (recipe below), that included my favorite holiday spice, nutmeg. No other spice reminds me of the holiday season like nutmeg. Whenever I smell it, I automatically think Thanksgiving and Christmas.
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Nutmeg comes from the ground seed of tropical evergreens found in the islands in the Indian Ocean. No wonder I love it, it’s tropical in origin. Growing up, we only had the canned, ground version of the cheapest brand available in our grocery store. I liked it, but I learned early on from older family cooks that grating the seed yourself brought the best flavor. I’ve been hooked on it since I was a little girl. I also think the design that comes out as your grate the nutmeg is pretty. :)

Nutmeg was one of the most popular spices our European ancestors brought with them to the “new country” back in the days of the Pilgrims. It was pricey, but those that could afford it used it as commonly as we use black pepper today. The ultra hip European would even carry their own nutmeg grater. I’m nowhere near hip enough, but I’d love one of those.
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My Grandpa would make us eggnog and sprinkle a little nutmeg on it from this can of Rawleigh’s. This is the actual can and it’s older than I am, but I still have it and a little bit of its contents. I refuse to use those contents….because I’m afraid too. But, I keep it on the shelf anyway, just to remind me of Grandpa….
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…not the can’s typo-friendly text. Though it does amuse me (it’s not the only typo on the can)….
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…anyway, back to nutmeg, and today’s special treat, Spiced Hot Chocolate.

To make 2 eight ounce mugs you’ll need:

  • 2 cups almond milk (I use the vanilla flavored almond milk)
  • 2 pinches of ancho chili powder
  • freshly grated nutmeg to taste
  • 1 cinnamon stick (or a pinch or two of cinnamon)
  • 2 ounces dark or bittersweet chocolate

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I use 4 squares of chocolate from this fabulous little chocolate bar.

Put all ingredients, EXCEPT the chocolate, in a saucepan. Stirring occasionally, bring the mixture just to the brink of a simmer over medium heat. Once it’s almost simmering, remove the saucepan from the heat, cover, and let everything steep for 10 minutes.

While the milk mixture is steeping, chop the chocolate into small pieces. When the 10 minute steep is done, add the chocolate and stir or whisk. I find an immersion blender (or an aero-latte) works best – just pulse it a few times in the mixture and you’ll have a wonderful, frothy, hot chocolate.

Merry Christmas to you!
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Mango Smoothie & My 98 Days of Summer

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Happy Summer! Yep, around here Memorial Day weekend is the unofficial start to summer, and I’m going with it. With this Mango Smoothie: :)

Mango Smoothie!Talk about refreshing! It tastes like a big glass of summer. I loved it, so of course, I have to share the recipe. It’s very simple:

Just combine all of these ingredients…

  • 2 cups of cold skim milk
  • 3/4 cup of plain vanilla yogurt
  • 1 ripe mango, peeled, pitted and diced
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons lime juice
  • 5 tablespoons honey
  • 8 ice cubes

…in your blender and mix at high speed until the mixture is smooth. That’s all there is to it! This recipe makes about 4 servings.

Go ahead, take a slurp :) It took me less time to make this this morning than it would have to brew my normal tea. Thanks to the blender crushing those ice cubes, it was a lot noisier but so worth it. I predict a lot of smoothie breakfasts this summer.

Welcome to my 98 days of summer!

I’m taking the summer off from my day job in stock photography. That’s right, I’ve finally decided I have to make some changes. I’m fed up with running myself ragged, dealing with anxiety and getting yelled at by my fabulous doctor for my astronomical blood pressure. So, with Hubby’s blessing, we decided I should need to take a break. I’m taking a 98 day break, starting today.

What will I do with all this time? For one, stop worrying! I wasn’t kidding when I said I was a professional worrier, and I believe it is the root of many of my health problems. I do it so much that most of the time I don’t even realize I’m doing it. Just ask Hubby what it’s like to have me in the car when he’s driving. My worrying is a bad habit that needs broken, ASAP.

“Make Something New and See Where It Takes You”

Two, I’m going to try to do things I enjoy for my 98 days of summer. I saw this quote in an issue of Whole Living Magazine a few months back and it’s stuck with me. They were talking about cooking at the time, but why not apply it to life in general? I love trying new things. I thrive on it. I’ve noticed for my entire adult life that I feel the most happiness when I’m making something. Anything – An authentic Italian dinner, pillow covers for my house, jewelry, beautiful photographs. And yes, even a simple mango smoothie. There’s just something about creating something beautiful with my own two hands that makes me happier than I can express.

With that in mind, this break seems like a good time to explore my creative side, don’t you think?

Yes, there will be a lot of cooking. I just have to do it. It is my passion. I will also be spending  a lot of time outside, I am addicted to fresh air, but….

I just know this break will include learning and doing more knitting too. I am addicted to this new hobby of mine. Hubby will be traveling every single week this summer for his job and I’m going with him. Period. No excuses. What’s better than a summer of traveling anyway? Even if it is for (his) work. He’s one of the lucky ones who loves his job, so all that traveling will end up being a good thing for both of us. And knitting is the perfect activity for waiting for him to come out of his meetings.

Click for source and free pattern at Ravelry

So, I cast on for this Madelinetosh Lace cowl/hood today with the intention of working on it this summer while we’re traveling. This is a free pattern, called Muji Painting, designed by Lies Vandesande, that I downloaded on Ravelry.

I am crazy about the light summery weight of the finished product. It’s almost gauzy. I love it.

And of course, I’m madly in love with the tiny Madelinetosh Lace yarn it uses too. It’s so soft and lovely. Both the pattern pictures and mine are done in colorway, Antique Lace. It’s beautiful.

This pattern uses a simple stockinette stitch that uses a provisional cast on (that I learned how to do here, with a crochet hook) and grafted seam at the end.The pattern does warn that you will need to block this in the end to straighten the stitches done in this very thin yarn. No problem, I’ll have the time! After months miles of stockinette knitting of course. I’ll keep you posted.

Taos, New Mexico Pink Chevy

Remember my truck photography post from the other day? All those pictures were taken years ago. Back when I used to take pictures for FUN. Other than food shots, I haven’t taken pictures for fun in so long it breaks my heart just thinking about it. I used to love doing this!! You can bet, I will use some of my time off to rediscover the fun side of photography again.

Oh, I have other plans too, but this is only day one of my 98 days of summer. I have to pace myself. Slowing down is one of the goals, remember? ;)

What are your plans for the summer? Any cool vacations or projects planned? Will you get to relax a little? Out of curiosity, have you ever felt like you just can’t take one more day of your chaotic life? What do you do to unwind? Have you ever done anything drastic to change it? That’s a lot of questions….I guess part of the new, slower, easy going me is nosy too….

Have a wonderful week guys!

Simple, Basic, Healthy Frozen Fruit Smoothie

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I love this basic smoothie recipe for its simplicity and fruity flavor…it’s great for breakfast, or just a way to treat yourself. Which I am doing today because this bug I’ve caught is making me feel worn out and just generally crappy. The smoothie helps though!

This is a good, basic recipe that can be easily modified to include the fruit flavors YOU love. The only things that are constants in mine are the frozen bananas (for their creamy texture) and the yogurt (for the little tang, and also for the texture).  If you don’t like yogurt, milk works great too!

The ingredients for this recipe are basically just 1 cup of everything. In this case, I’ve chosen to make a frozen banana and mixed berry smoothie. So,  I put these ingredients in my blender:

1 cup of frozen bananas, sliced into 1/4 to 1/2 inch rounds
1 cup of frozen mixed berries
1 cup of orange juice
1 cup of plain yogurt

You’ll get two smoothies from these.

In this smoothie, I also added a tablespoon of wheat germ – it helps the texture, and it also adds a little bonus of vitamin D – but, it’s not necessary if it isn’t your thing.

Just blend everything up and you’re ready to serve.  You have to love the simplicity, right? Fingers crossed that your smoothie won’t be a little blurry like mine. That would be bad :)

I love this today. It’s nice and cold, refreshing and full of very welcome fruit flavors. I can’t help it, sometimes I just crave fruit (especially when I have a bug) and this is the only way to satisfy that craving on a wintry Wisconsin day like this one.

Notes:

To freeze bananas for your smoothies, peel and slice them and place in a freezer bag to freeze. They are wonderful to use this way for smoothies! In place of the mixed berries I used here, use any frozen fruit you like. I’ve used blueberries, blackberries, strawberries, etc., etc. You can also try mangoes or any other frozen fruit you love. That’s what’s fun about smoothies, they’re open to simple experimentation with the things YOU love.

I always look for frozen fruit in the grocery store that only has the fruit as an ingredient (no sugar). As for the orange juice, again, I only buy that which has no other ingredients. Just orange juice. And not from concentrate. If you don’t like orange juice, try pineapple juice, it’s great in smoothies (goes great with bananas!), and adds a little more sweet to the flavor than the orange juice does.

Enjoy your healthy, creamy, fresh frozen treat!

Have a wonderful weekend everyone!

Keoke Coffee Recipe – Happy Weekend!

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How are you this Sunday afternoon? I hope your weekend is going well and that you’re doing exactly what you want to be doing.

Hubby and I have finally finished all of our running for the weekend, and now we’re ready to sit back, relax and watch some football on this dark, chilly day…

I had to make us a couple Keoke Coffees to warm us up and encourage relaxation. If this doesn’t warm you up on a chilly November night, nothing will. You’ll need your favorite brewed coffee, brandy, Kahlúa, and crème de cacao. You can’t go wrong with those, right? :) Enjoy your coffees and the rest of your weekends!

Keoke Coffee Recipe

Serves 2

Ingredients:

  • 4 tablespoons each brandy, Kahlúa, and crème de cacao
  • 3 cups freshly brewed hot coffee
  • whipping cream

Directions:

  • Add 2 tablespoons of brandy, Kahlúa, and crème de cacao to two warmed mugs. Add 1 1/2 cups of coffee to each mug. Top with whipped cream.
  • Enjoy!

Irish Coffee for Warmth!

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Think dark, gray, cold and windy afternoon. Now think Bailey’s Irish Cream. That’s what’s going on here this afternoon. :)

No, this isn’t a Bailey’s, but it’s my homemade version of an Irish coffee that tastes an awful lot like it.

Irish Coffee Recipe

Makes 4 cups of Irish Coffee

Ingredients:

  • 4 tablespoons of Irish whiskey (I used Jameson’s)
  • 8 teaspoons sugar
  • 1 1/2 cups of freshly brewed coffee, preferably a strong roast (I used Starbucks’ Sumatra blend)
  • 1/2 cup of heavy cream (Cool Whip or any store-bought whipped cream will work too)

Directions:

Whip the cream until soft peaks form. Warm up your coffee cups by running them under hot tap water. Dry them off. Put 1 tablespoon of whiskey in each glass, add 2 teaspoons of sugar to each glass. Stir with a spoon until the sugar dissolves. Pour hot coffee into glasses until they’re about 3/4 full. Gently add 2-3 tablespoons of the whipped cream to the top.

All done! Time to drink  your coffee and warm up!

If only we had a fireplace…..hmmmmm….