Toasted Marshmallow Milk Shake

Who doesn't love toasted marshmallows?   


We have a fire pit in our backyard, and the kids are constantly wanting to roast marshmallows.  They want to invite the neighborhood kids over to have a Smores party.  Who can blame them?  Smores are fantastic!  There is something about toasted marshmallows that brings out the kid in all of us.  So, if you don't feel like making a fire, bring it inside.  Add ice cream and make a milk shake... Game on!  Recipe adapted from Sandra Lee.  You can toast the large marshmallows for garnish in the same pan.  Or, if you have a blowtorch for cooking.  Just torch it.  


3 cups miniature marshmallows
4 cups vanilla bean ice cream~ of course any vanilla is fine.
1 cup milk
Garnish~ large toasted marshmallows


Preheat oven to 450 degrees.  Line a baking pan with foil; spray with nonstick cooking spray.


Place marshmallows on a prepared pan.  Bake for 4 minutes, or until golden brown.  Let stand to cool for 10 minutes.  Bake for 4 minutes longer.  Let stand again to cool for 10 minutes.  


In the container of a blender, combine toasted marshmallows, ice cream, and milk; process until smooth.  Garnish each serving with a large toasted marshmallow, if desired.  Serve immediately.

Pomegranate Punch

I love pomegranates.  We would always stop at a fruit stand and get some on the way to my Grandma's house.  It was also my favorite when Halloween rolled around.  A cute older lady up the street would pass them out instead of candy.  We would race to her house to make sure we got one and go from there.  It's funny how certain things make you think of a time in your life.  Whenever I grab a pomegranate at the store, I think of that cute lady and those fun Halloween nights.

Pomegranate juice is so good for you, and I love it.  Sometimes I have a hard time drinking it straight.  This punch is perfect when I need something else added to it.

12 fl oz pomegranate juice, chilled
12 fl oz white grape juice, chilled
12 fl oz sprite, chilled
ice to your liking
1 orange, cut into slices for garnish
1 lime, cut into slices for garnish

Mix the pomegranate juice, white grape juice, and sprite together.  Add ice and orange and lime for garnish.

Cantaloupe Lime Smoothie

I seem to be on a smoothie kick.  Summer rolls around and I want something light, cold and refreshing.  Who can blame me, right?

I recently posted a honeydew melon lemonade smoothie that is really good.  I wanted to give cantaloupe it's turn.  This is a light, cold and refreshing smoothie.  Perfect!  The orange and green are pretty together.  I love the lime zest, for taste and color.  This would be a great smoothie to serve at a brunch.
Recipe adapted from Good Housekeeping.

2 cups diced cantaloupe
1/2 teaspoon lime zest
2 tablespoons lime juice
1/3 cup frozen peaches
2 tablespoons honey
2 cups ice cubes

In a blender, combine cantaloupe, lime zest, lime juice, peaches, honey and ice.  Blend until smooth.  Enjoy!

Cherry Lemonade

This lemonade packs a punch, no doubt about it.  So if you're like my cute husband you may want to water it down a bit.  My kids love making this one.  They ask for it all the time.  If you feel like puckering up and have no one to kiss... this one is for you.

1 16 ounce bag frozen cherries
1 16 ounce jar maraschino cherries without stems
1 1/4 cups sugar
1 cup fresh lemon juice, about 5 or 6 lemons
4~6 cups cold water

Process cherries, cherry juice from jar, sugar and lemon juice in a blender until smooth.  Pour fruit mixture through a wire mesh strainer into a pitcher, discarding solids.  (I actually strain it twice).  Stir in water to taste.  Serve over ice.

*If it's too thick or strong for your liking... add more water.

Honeydew Lemonade Smoothie

My friend Camille and I recently taught a smoothie class.  It was so hilarious...but that's a whole other story for another blog!  ;)

This was one of the recipes I shared because it's a little different from the normal fruit smoothies I make.  I usually don't add a lot of sugar or concentrated pre~made anything.  Not that there is anything wrong with that, it's just not what I usually do.  The frozen lemonade concentrate is a great balance to the mellow honeydew melon.  My kids love this!  My favorite part might be the crushed lemon candies, they make it fun and add a sweetness that is great.  It's not a big deal to crush up a few candies.  Right?

Smoothie~
1 (12 ounce) can frozen lemonade concentrate
6 cups honeydew melon chunks, about 1 large melon
4 tablespoons vanilla yogurt
2~3 cups ice, depending on how you prefer it

Garnish~ It's not just cute, it adds to the drink!
1 lemon
Crushed lemon candies

Garnish~
Place a handful of lemon candies in a plastic Ziploc bag and crush with a meat mallet or rolling pin.  Use whatever gets the job done.  Transfer the crushed candies to a bowl the glass will fit inside with a little extra room on the sides.  Slice the lemon and run a wedge around the rim of the glass, keeping the glass upside down so the juice doesn't drip down (not a big deal, but it will look better).  Place juiced rim in bowl with candies and pull it up.  Set glasses aside while you make the smoothie.

Smoothie~
Blend all ingredients in a blender until ice is crushed.  Pour carefully into sugared glasses.  Enjoy!

Mixed Fruit Smoothie

We are such a smoothie house.  My kid's friends come over and ask me what kind of smoothie I'm going to make.  Sometimes we use a recipe, but most of the time we just make them up!

My husband bought me a Vita~Mix blender a few years ago.  This was the first recipe we tried from cookbook that came with it.  The kids love it and it's really easy.  I usually have all the ingredients on hand, so we make it pretty often.  I have no problem making this for them whenever they want.  Cameron actually makes it most of the time.  The girls love it because it's pink!

1 cup frozen strawberries
2 bananas
1 orange
1/2 cup frozen peaches
1 cup vanilla or plain yogurt
1/2 cup ice cubes

Place all ingredients in blender and blend until smooth, about 1 minute.  Serve immediately.

*You can add a little honey or sugar if you would like it a little sweeter.  I used to...now I just leave it out.

Tropical "Green" Smoothie

I make some kind of smoothie just about every day for my kids. Sometimes, I try to sneak something healthy in them. If it will get my skinny kids to consume more veggies, I'm going for it. I'm not getting to radical on you and going all "healthy green revolution." I'm just trying to feel good about what my kids are eating or not eating.

Hmm...Spinach Smoothie!?

I have to admit, it took me a while to try this one. I'm glad I did, my kids have been asking me to make the weird spinach one. They loved it! So, skip the salad and try a smoothie, it's pretty good.


2 cups spinach
1 mango
2 bananas
1 cup pineapple chunks (fresh)
1 cup water
1 cup ice

Blend ingredients until smooth.

Fresh Lemonade

One of my summertime favorites! It's really easy~ I wonder why I sometimes bother with the powder mixes. My kids love to help make this. It's pretty with some lemon slices in the pitcher and each glass.

1 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice~ about 6 lemons
3/4 cup superfine sugar~ to taste use a little less or add a little more to your liking
4 cups cold water
1~2 cups ice

Mix all the ingredients in a pitcher. Serve and enjoy!
Or~
Mix all the ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. Serve over ice.

Pina Colada~ family style

This one is for you Anne! :) I love the combination of pineapple and coconut. This is a fun drink to make for a party. I also love it with Mexican food or a BBQ.

1 15 ounce can of cream of coconut~ I use Coco Lopez real cream of coconut. It is usually in the ethnic food isle.
12 ounces pineapple juice
6 cups ice
If you have fresh pineapple add a handful

Mix all ingredients in a blender, until smooth. Garnish with fresh pineapple and a cherry. The recipe is a little different on the can. I like to add the fresh pineapple and a little extra cream of coconut.