Halloween Treats: Green Goblin Punch

Just completely ignore the fact that it is after Halloween. Just think of it as being really prepared for next year right? This was a fun drink to make, but oddly enough, my kids didn't like it, but my husband and I did.  

 

Green Goblin Punch

3  cups apple juice
3  cups plain seltzer
Corn syrup
Colored sugar crystals
2  cups prepared green Jell-O

Combine apple juice and seltzer in a pitcher and chill. Dunk the rims of serving glasses in corn syrup, gently shake off excess syrup or use a thin paintbrush to wipe off excess. Dredge rims in colored sugars. Place glasses upside down on wax paper in the refrigerator to set. When ready to serve, place spoonfuls of Jell-O in decorated glasses and fill with apple-juice mixture

Sparkling Pineapple Ginger Ale

This is a fun drink, and taste just like those punches served at Mormon parties. This is super simple, and while the serving size is small, I think it could be easily doubled, tripled, quadrupled!

Sparkling Pineapple Ginger Ale 
from Real Simple July 2009

1 12 oz can ginger ale
1 1/2 cups pineapple juice
4 pieces of pineapple, cut into triangles

In a pitcher combine the ginger ale and pineapple juice. Serve over ice with a piece of pineapple.

Garden Week: Frozen Blueberry Lemonade

Blueberries are not necessary a Utah garden staple, but they certainly are a lot cheaper during the summer time! This is a fun summer drink to make. The only difference is I would leave out the mint. For some reason my husband and I are not a fan of fresh mint... so I will leave it up to you!

Frozen Blueberry Lemonade

1 1/2 cups blueberries
1 cup lemonade
1/2 cup fresh mint leaves, plus more for serving
1/4 cup confectioners’ sugar

In a blender, puree the blueberries, lemonade, mint, confectioners’ sugar, and 3 cups ice until smooth .Garnish with mint sprigs.

Garden Week: Strawberry-Watermelon Slushie

I have also been into fun drinks (non-alcoholic obviously), so when ever I see a recipe for one, I am drawn to it. However, I hardly ever actually make them! So, my new goal is to make these fun drinks and have them with dinner, or for after dinner treats! This on is from ourbestbites.com, and is a perfect way to use up watermelon and strawberries. It actually doesn't take very much of either, but it is definitely the amount you will use!

Strawberry-Watermelon Slushie
from our Best Bites

2 cups cubed seedless watermelon
1 pint fresh strawberries, halved (I actually used a little less than a pint.  Maybe 3/4 of it)
1/3 C sugar
1/3 C fresh lemon juice
2-4 C ice cubes

In a blender, combine the watermelon, strawberries, sugar and lemon juice; cover and process on high until smooth. With blender running, gradually add ice cubes until desired consistency is reached.  Pour into chilled glasses and serve immediately.

Yield: 5-7 cups

Kids in the Kitchen

One very important part of food and cooking is getting kids involved! My kids always want to help out in the kitchen, so I try to find things that can do to help out that isn't dangerous or too messy. The other day my oldest son wanted to make a smoothie, and he wanted it to have apples, bananas and oranges in it. I was a little hesitant because I thought that a smoothies with apples in it might taste funny, or have a funny texture. But since he was so excited about it, I decded we would try it out after dinner that night.

You first peel the banana and the orange, cut up the apple and remove the peel. 

Put it all in the blender along with some milk, and mix it all together. Next, you add ice cream and some hot chocolate mix too. Then, Mix it all up!

Drink and enjoy! It was actually really good!

25 Days of Treats: Perfect Hot Cocoa

We ran out of hot chocolate on Christmas Eve. It was a sad day. But then I remembered the slew of hot chocolate recipes in my December issue of Food Network magazine. Have you ever seen the movie Chocolat? In the movie the main character makes this hot chocolate that is so rich and creamy it literally changes people lives. This is how I feel about this hot chocolate. I took a sip and it was like drinking liquid heaven. It is super rich though, so you cannot drink a lot of it, which is sad because you want to.

Perfect Hot Cocoa (and it is) from December 2009 Food Network Magazine

Bring 4 cups whole or low-fat milk to a simmer in a saucepan over medium heat. Mix 3/4 cup sugar, 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder and 3 to 4 ounces finely chopped bittersweet chocolate in a bowl, then whisk into the milk. Reduce the heat to low and simmer, stirring, until the chocolate melts and the cocoa is thick, about 2 minutes. Divide among 4 mugs and garnish with marshmallows and/or whipped cream.

Food Gift Ideas

This time of year can be hard! Trying to think of gifts to give all the people on your list, plus trying to keep to a budget. Hear are some great food ideas that are also great Christmas gifts! These can really be used all throughout the year too

Ideas from Our Best Bites:
Chili Spice Mix
Homemade Marshmallows
Hot Fudge Sauce
Buttermilk Syrup
Bread in a Jar
Garlic Bread Seasoning

Recipe Lion has 34 different "gift in a jar" ideas

And I found this one in the December issue of Real Simple

Chocolate Chunk Hot Cocoa Mix

2 cups unsweetened cocoa powder
3/4 c sugar
8 ounces chopped semi-sweet chocolate

In a bowl combine the cocoa, sugar, and chocolate. Store in an airtight container. Keep at room tempature for up to 4 months.

Instructions: In a small saucepan, whisk 1/4 cup cocoa, mix with 3/4 cup milk. Bring to a bare simmer, then serve. Serves one.


And this one from Foodnetwork Magazine December 2009

Super-Chunky Christmas Cookies

Layer in a 1 1/2 liter food jar

1 1/2 cups flour
3/4 tsp salt
3/4 cup red and green m&m's
1 c white choclate chips
1/2 cup chopped cashews
1 c smisweet chocolate chips
1 c toasted shredded coconut

Directions:
Makes 2 dozen cookies
beat 1 1/4 c of sugar and 1 stick of softened butter until fluffy. Beat in 1 egg and 1 tsp vanilla extract. Add the Super Chunky Christmas Cookie mix and stir with a wooden spoon until combined. Scoop heaping tbsp onto a baking sheet and bake at 350 until set, about 12 minutes.

 These both are from Family Circle December 2007

Instant Cocoa with Marshmallows and Chocolate Chips
-makes 6 cups of mix, enough for 18 servings

3 cups or 3 envelopes (3.2 oz each) instant dry milk powder
2 1/2 c confectioners' sugar
1 c unsweetend cocoa powder, sifted
1 c powdered nondairy creamer
1 c mini-marshmallows
1/2 c mini semisweet chocolate chips

Stir together the dry milk powder, confectioners' sugar, cocoa powder and nondairy creamer in a large bowl. Divide among 18 bags (1/3 c each) and top with marshmallows and min chips.
Attach these instructions to side of mug: Blend cocoa mix and 3/4 cup boiling water together until chocolate chips begin to melt.

Butterscotch-Chip Cookie Mix

3 c flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
2 tbsp unsweatend cocoa powder
1/2 c packed dark  brown sugar
1/2 c light brown sugar
1/2 c granukated sugar
1 c butterscotch chips
Dry mix: in a large bowl, blend flour, baking powder, baking sopda, and salt. in smaller bowl, stir otgehter hlaf of this flaour mixture with the coca powder so cocoa is partially mixed in.
Layer dry mix ingredients in a 1 quart mason jar. Spoon flour-cocoa mixture into bottom of jar; press down very hard to compact. Spoon plain flour mixture on top of cocoa mixture and compact again. Top with dark-brown sugar, light-brown sugar and granulated sugar, compacting each layer. Finish with butterscotch chips . Seal jar tightly. Store up to 2 weeks at room temperature.
Baking Directions: In a large bowl, combine 3/4 c cooled, melted butter with 3 large eggs and 1 tbsp vanilla extract. Stir in contents of jar just until mixed. Drop dough by rounded tbsp, 2 in apart onto a greased baking sheet. Bake at 350 for 12-13 minutes.