How to Save $3.50 a day!

The other day we were out with the girls at Pullen Park in Raleigh.  It’s this awesome park that has a train, carousel, boats and a huge play park area.  But after a couple hours both Rob and I needed a little pick-me-up.  So we went to Dunkin Donuts.  He got a regular hot coffee and I their non-fat iced latte.  It was ok, but it wasn’t what I wanted.  I wanted that thick frapped sweat coffee you can get from Starbucks.  I love the Mocha Frappuccino but my waistline not-so-much.  I brought the coffee home and stuck it in the blender added some sugar and pureed.  It was good but so not the same.

Pretty much every day Rob leaves about half a pot of coffee in the coffee pot.  So I put into a cup and stuck it into the fridge for the afternoon.

When the time came and I needed a little something I grabbed the chilled coffee out of the fridge and decided to try a home version of my beloved Mocha Frappuccino.  And I now have my new afternoon drink.  The girls can have a popsicle, I’m having this and I save $3.50 plus the gas to get to Starbucks!

Recipe:

• 3/4 cup chilled coffee
• 3/4 cup milk (I used 2% as that’s what we have, but choose your poison)
• 2 cups ice
• 3 tbsp sugar or sugar substitute
• 1 tbsp dark cocoa

1. Put all ingredients into a blender and puree for 30-40 seconds.
2. Pour into glass, it makes two “tall” frapped drinks!

I better be careful with these because there are a few more calories in this drink than my regular mid-afternoon tea with milk.

Thanks for looking! 

Strawberry Week–Strawberry Daiquiris…just in time for Friday :)

Ok, I have a very special guest today on the blog, my husband Rob!  He’s sharing one of his favourite strawberry treats!  He wrote and took all the pictures (I guess all my blogging is rubbing off, yay!)

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Good Morning All!

Well….  I seem to have a bit of a big head today.  Let me explain why…

As I am sure you are all abundantly aware by now, it's been strawberry week around the house this week.  There have been a number of spectacular edibles showing up on the table.  (In fact, our usual eating audience – the guys in my office — have been very busy this week.).  Now I don't know about you, but when I see fresh strawberries, I only think of one thing – Strawberry Daiquiris!.  Now Karen knows this, so she told me - "Go ahead, but I want a blog post".  Go figure :>

So… as the dutiful husband I made Daiquiris.  It's a tough life I live.

Strawberry Daiquiris

There are only a few ingredients to a good Daiquiri:

• Ice
• Lemon Juice
• Sugar
• Chopped Strawberries
• Good Flavorful Rum

The Process is pretty simple:

1. Slice strawberries.
   
2. Put some ice in a blender.  How much?  Two glasses worth!
   
3. Add in a squirt of Lemon.  Call it a tablespoon or so
4. Add Sugar.  Probably 2-3 tablespoons.   If you aren't sure, go with less, and flavor to taste after you blend.  Usually, if there isn't enough, it tastes tart.
5. Rum.  I usually end up making two glasses, so I put enough for two in.  You can put more or less, depending on your tastes.  I recommend a darker rum.  They tend to have more flavor, and you can tell the difference when you taste the drink.
   

Editors Note:  There is a temptation to try and make the daiquiri without the rum.  It's hard.  With a frozen daiquiri, it is almost impossible to blend the ice without the booze – it just freezes solid.  The Rum keeps it from freezing and makes it WAY easier to blend.  

1. Blend.  You want a mostly smooth slush
2. Add in the Strawberries.
   
3. Blend again.
4. Taste – if it isn't right, you may be short on sugar (that's where I end up usually).  You can tweak with more rum, sugar, or lemon as needed and re-blend.
   

These are one of my very favorite drinks.  I always make them in the spring when the berries are fresh, or while I am in the Caribbean – both of which are reasons why they bring a smile to my face!

Enjoy,

Rob

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Isn’t he sweet? and yes that’s his picture smile :)

Thanks for looking!

A Toast…to the Holiday Season!

I was pulling out all the recipes for the Christmas cookie plate and I found my homemade Egg Nog recipe.  So as a treat for the Friday night after work drink, I made these!

Recipe: I got this recipe from the Globe and Mail Newspaper probably 10 years ago and have “lightened” it over the years!

• 4 eggs separated
• 1 can condensed milk
• 1 cup rum
• 4 cups milk
• 1 tsp vanilla

1. Combine egg yolks, condensed milk, rum, milk and vanilla.
2. Whip egg whites until soft peaks.
3. Fold egg whites into condensed milk.
4. Garnish with a pinch of nutmeg.
5. Enjoy!

So grab a glass and raise it up.  I propose a toast…I wish you a very happy holidays with your family and friends!

Thanks for looking!

Linking with:
Joy of Desserts
Mingle Monday
Melt in Your Mouth Monday
Mangia Mondays
Tuesday To Do Party