RECIPE: Carol's Famous Coffee Drink

For a while now everyone has seen me carrying around one of those Tervis-type insulated acrylic cups (with a straw) filled with creamy-brownish liquid goodness. Everyone who has tasted it says it tastes WAY better that "That Famous Coffee House" drink! Little do they know it's got a lot less calories and carbs that just about anything else on the market ... Well, that's I've found, anyway!

I tried many combinations over a few weeks and finally fell head over heels for this one.

1 cup dark roasted coffee (Conrad drinks Sumatra, so that's what I use. I don't know how to make coffee!)
2 ounces of Torani Sugar-Free French Vanilla syrup
2 ounces of Half and Half (for a creamier, fuller texture)
8 ounces of Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Milk
Ice

The options of flavors are endless since Torani has lots of yummy flavors in sugar free, plus you can use other coffees, as well. This is what works best for me.

I'm a firm believer in logging foods and exercise on MyFitnessPal as it helps me stay accountable. Here is the recipe I added there. After adding each ingredient daily I decided making my own recipe entry would save me lots of time and improve accuracy in my daily logging meals.

RECIPE: Ultimate Green Smoothie

Ultimate. Green. Smoothie. Three powerful words make up an equally powerful nutritious drink! The ingredients are simple. The process is simple. The results are AMAZING!! Granted, this drink won't win any awards for it's beauty, but it tastes FAR better than it looks AND it's very healthy!!

INGREDIENTS:
1/2 cup unsweetened vanilla Coconut Milk
1/2 cup vanilla Greek Yogurt (I prefer ZOI)
1 ripe Banana
2 small Carrots (cleaned and cut into chunks)
1/2 cup frozen Blueberries
3 - 4 cups organic Spinach
1/2 teaspoon Pumpkin Pie Spices
1 teaspoon grated unsweetened Coconut
8 Ice Cubes

DIRECTIONS:
Place all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth and creamy.

 Serve. Enjoy!

RECIPE: Peach Sorbet

For four nights in a row we have had a different variety of sorbet as our dessert. Strawberry, mango, blueberry, and now peach! I didn't realize we were out of coconut milk, so I decided to try almond milk instead. We were pleasantly surprised with how it turned out!

PEACH SORBET

INGREDIENTS:

1 cup unsweetened Almond Milk (We were out of coconut milk - turned out great!)

1 cup frozen Peaches

4 Ice Cubes

2 tablespoons Honey

DIRECTIONS:

Add ingredients  to blender in order listed. For best results blend milk, fruit and ice fairly well before adding the honey. Those goes with all fruits ... The honey hardens when it sits too long with the frozen berries and ice. Blend until very smooth and creamy. 

Store in a container in the freezer for a few hours before serving. Mix well because the edges will be a lot firmer than the center. Spoon into decorative glasses or bowls. 

Garnish, as desired. Serve. Enjoy!

RECIPE: Blueberry Coconut Sorbet

Okay, so the strawberries were awesome in sorbet ... Mangos, too ... Tonight I tried blueberries ... Guess what? They were awesome, too!
BLUEBERRY COCONUT SORBET

INGREDIENTS:
1 cup Coconut Milk
1 cup frozen Blueberries
4 Ice Cubes
2 tablespoons Honey

DIRECTIONS:
Add ingredients  to blender in order listed. For best results blend milk, berries and ice fairly well before adding the honey. That tip goes for all fruits ... The honey hardens when it sits too long with the frozen berries and ice. Blend until very smooth and creamy. 

Store in a container in the freezer for a few hours before serving. 

Mix well because the edges will be a lot firmer than the center. 

Spoon into decorative glasses or bowls. Garnish, as desired. Serve. Enjoy!

RECIPE: Mango Coconut Sorbet

A variation of the sorbet I made yesterday ... Minus the strawberries add mango ... VERY yummy ... AND healthy!
MANGO COCONUT SORBET

INGREDIENTS:
1 cup cold Coconut Milk
1 cup frozen Mango chunks
2 tablespoons organic Honey
4 Ice Cubes

DIRECTIONS:
1. Place all ingredients in a blender. Blend until smooth.

2. Place in the freezer until ready to serve. Stir well.
3. Pour into decorative glasses or bowls. Serve. Enjoy!

RECIPE: Strawberry Coconut Sorbet

I have never really tried much sorbet, but that has all changed now. I found a super easy recipe the other day on The Paleo-Project website for Strawberry Coconut Sorbet! I made a batch a couple of hours before dinner, so we had it for dessert. I am going to try this recipe with lots of different fruits, so beware ... There will be more sorbet recipes to follow!
STRAWBERRY COCONUT SORBET

INGREDIENTS:
1 cup cold Coconut Milk
1 cup frozen Strawberries
2 tablespoons organic Honey
4 Ice Cubes

DIRECTIONS:
1. Place all ingredients in a blender. Blend until smooth.

2. Place in the freezer until ready to serve. Stir well.
3. Pour into decorative glasses or bowls. Serve. Enjoy!

RECIPE: Carrot Spice Smoothie

Yes, I am branching out and making smoothies with different vegetables ... This time I tried a carrot. Guess what? We both LOVED it! I have seen a few recipes with carrots, so I did my own experimenting and this is what I came up with ...
CARROT SPICE SMOOTHIE

INGREDIENTS:
1 cup unsweetened vanilla Almond milk (I'm sure Coconut milk would be great, too!)
1/2 cup ZOI unsweetened vanilla Greek Yogurt
1 large Carrot
1 Banana
1 teaspoon Agave
1 tablespoon unsweetened grated coconut
1 teaspoon Pumpkin Pie Spices (or some combination of cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and/or cloves will do!)
6 Ice Cubes

DIRECTIONS:

1. Wash and peel a large carrot then cut it into chunks.
2. Put ingredients in a blender. 
3. Blend until smooth and creamy.

4. Pour. Serve. Enjoy!

RECIPE: Banana Blueberry Spinach Smoothie

Y'all are going to think we consume nothing but smoothies! Not so - I assure you! I'm not going to post any more for a few days ... Smoothies - Not recipes! I'm planning on doing some real cooking ... Just you wait! (However, this is one of my most favorite smoothies!!!)
BANANA BLUEBERRY SPINACH SMOOTHIE

INGREDIENTS:
1 cup unsweetened vanilla Almond Milk
1/2 cup vanilla Greek Yogurt
1 Banana
1/2 cup frozen Blueberries
2 cups fresh organic Spinach

DIRECTIONS:
Place all ingredients in a blender. 

Blend until smooth and creamy.

Pour. Enjoy!

RECIPE: Mixed Fruit Smoothie

With lots of beautiful fruit around I can't help but make more smoothies. It's a great way to get a nutritional, energy packed meal!

FRUIT SMOOTHIE

INGREDIENTS:

1/2 cup unsweetened vanilla Almond Milk

1/2 cup vanilla Greek Yogurt

1 Banana

5 Strawberries

1/3 cup frozen Mango chunks

1/3 cup frozen Peach slices

1/3 cup frozen Blueberries

2 - 4 Ice Cubes

 Place all ingredient in a blender.

 Blend until smooth and creamy.

 Pour into a cup.

 Enjoy!