Pumpkin Spice M-M-Mochaccino Mix

I was SO happy when I recently came across this awesome mix at Just a Pinch Recipe Club online.

I've already made 2 batches of it.  It's soooo yummy!

And have shared the recipe a few times as well.

Being able to enjoy a cup of hot tea or cocoa, especially during the winter months, really helps soothes my body and soul.

I love giving homemade gifts for the holidays and this one is very special. I've always loved a coffee/cocoa mixture. And I know the recipients will be very pleased this holiday season as well. 

This warm-your-insides drink is very tasty and oh-so creamy too.

When we went to visit our daughter Deb recently (The Queen Mommy) - I took some mix for her to try out. She's a coffee/tea/cocoa 'connoisseur' of sorts. {Check out her recent post here for numerous homemade coffee creamer recipes!}

I was a little leery as she is pretty particular about tastes/textures, but was so tickled when she called the next day to say she needed this recipe.  It was sooo good she didn't really want to share any with her hubby, but gave in to him...

I took a sample to my daughter-in-love and son to try, and he was NOT happy when he realized there wasn't more.

(So of course, I quickly took more over to them...along with the recipe).

Put some of this mix in a pretty bag inside a coffee mug - add a bow and the recipient will be very pleased. 

 I love that you can use lite or sugar free products to suit dietary needs, and the results are still out-of-this-world-yummy! 

PUMPKIN SPICE MOCHACCINO MIX

3 c. regular powdered creamer

2 c. plain hot cocoa mix

(I used sugar free)

1/2 c. vanilla creamer (I used sugar free)

(the original recipe used marshmallow mocha creamer - sometimes found at Aldi's - I couldn't find it)

4 TB. pumpkin pie spice

(I have a recipe for making your own here)

1 TB. ground nutmeg

1 rounded cup instant coffee

(I used decaf)

Mix all ingredients well until smooth and there are no lumps.  Store in air tight container.

In bottom of your mug, place 3 rounded Tablespoonsful of the mix.  Add 1 c. heated milk. Stir well until dissolved and enjoy.

It tastes great using hot water too, but milk gives it an extra boost.

Certainly feel free to drizzle with caramel syrup just to make yourself feel really pampered!

(If you want it to dissolve easier, try mixing a cup of mix at a time in the blender until it's becomes more powder-y, but I don't think it's necessary with this recipe.)

Linked to Ingredient Spotlight
Melt in Your Mouth Monday
Recipe of the Week: Drinks
Homemade Holiday

Easy and Delicious Hot Cocoa

I love chocolate!  And making hot cocoa from scratch is such a delight.

So when I read my good friend Angie's post at A'lil Country Sugar  - about making hot cocoa, I got up from my chair and went right to the kitchen to give it a try.

How can you go wrong melting a chocolate bar in warm milk to drink?  Oh my!!  To die for!

(Of course, enjoying it from a cutsie mug helps too - I received this one as a Christmas gift.  It just seems to make everything taste better. *-*)

This is Angie's version -

Hot Chocolate With Marshmallow Creme

8 oz. 2% milk

2 oz. heavy whipping cream

2 TBS light brown sugar

Heat on medium heat until the mixture bubbles around the edge.

 Remove from heat and add 2 oz. finely chopped chocolate of your choice.

Whisk gently until the chocolate is melted and well combined. You can adjust your chocolate amount to your liking. If you need to add more than 2 oz. add more.

Top hot chocolate with marshmallows or marshmallow creme and chocolate shavings.

The changes I made were....I used 1% milk, fat free half and half instead of whipping cream, and used this special dark chocolate candy bar. 

After all - dark chocolate is healthy for you - how can you go wrong with this healthy treat?

You can't!!!

(I was fortunate to have two of these candy bars and used 1-1/4 - they are 1.45 ozs each)

It was wonderfully delicious and I enjoyed every sip.  I used mini marshmallows because I didn't have the creme.  I'm not a big marshmallow fan, but when these puppies melt in the warm cocoa, I just LOVE them.

It feels like such an indulgence!

And that's always a good thing when you're trying to stick with healthy eating.  I think it's a very good thing to splurge now and then. 

Good for the mind, AND the soul...not to mention the body.

Especially on a cold snowy winter's day.  One terrific way to warm up!

From my "365 Reasons to Eat Chocolate" calendar....

If you are planning to start an exercise program, you will need the extra energy that chocolate brings.  If you are not planning to start an exercise program, you probably don't need an excuse to eat chocolate.   (Or drink it either)

MAKES SENSE TO ME!!

Keep smiling!!

Good-for-you Orange Creamsicle Smoothie & Weight Loss Tips from WW

Need a little 'pick me up'?   This is a healthy and filling drink that you're sure to enjoy.  It tastes like a creamsicle in a glass! It's great for breakfast or an after school snack. 

I was sorting through a old pile of recipes and this one crossed my path, so...I made it for hubby and me to have an after-dinner treat and it was so delicious.  He wanted more, but it was gone.  I'm sure we will try it again soon.  I always have these ingredients on hand.

Try it, you'll like it.

ORANGE CREAMSICLE SMOOTHIE

1 cup skim milk

1 (6 ozs) container (Greek) low/non-fat vanilla yogurt

1/3 cup frozen orange juice concentrate, partially thawed

1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

5 ice cubes, crushed

Combine milk, yogurt, orange juice concentrate and vanilla in blender.  Blend 15 seconds to combine ingredients. Add ice cubes and blend about 20 seconds longer until frothy.  Serve immediately - serves 2.

Nutritional info per serving: (using low-fat yogurt) 198 cals., 1.5 gr. fat, 10 gr. prot., 38 gr. carbs, 1.5 gr. fiber, 128 mg. sodium

This recipe is linked to Sweets for a Saturday

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Sometimes I just need a little pumping up to keep me on the right track headed toward weight loss, so when I came across these

7 tips from Weight Watchers to help you slim down

I just had to share! Hope they give you inspiration also!

1.A spoonful of sugar can add up over the course of a year. Add one less teaspoon of sugar (15 calories) to your cup of morning and afternoon coffee each day and you'll save about 10,000 calories—the equivalent of about 3 pounds per year.

2.Slim down that bowl of cereal: Switch from 1 cup regular whole milk to 1% milk (about 50 calories less per cup) every day. Once your taste buds adjust, you'll be thrilled! That's a tad more than 5 pounds lost by this time next year.

3.Take the scenic route. Park your car as far as possible from the entrance to your office, the shopping mall or a restaurant and get those legs pumping. Ten minutes of daily moderate paced walking (five minutes each way burns about 20 calories) can take off over 4 pounds a year.*

4.Get your vitamin C boost with a whole orange (60 calories) instead of a cup of juice (110 calories) each day. Your 12-month weight loss: 5 1/4 pounds.

5.Go calorie-free by switching from regular to diet soda (150 versus 0 calories per can). If you drink one can per day, that's nearly 16 pounds lost in a year.

6.Flavor your sandwiches with very low-cal condiments like mustard or vinegar instead of calorie-packed mayo. Leave off 1 tablespoon (100 calories) every day and you're looking at close to 10 1/2 pounds a year.

7.Downsize, don't super-size, fast food meals. Opt for a small McDonald's French fries (250 calories) instead of a large order (570 calories) at your weekly fast-food meal. You'll enjoy the same great taste all year long but with an added bonus: almost 5 pounds lost.

Linked to Ingredient Spotlight
                 Breakfast Ideas Monday
           Ingredient Spotlight - Yogurt

I LOOOOOVE RASPBERRY ICE TEA! DO YOU??

(Hmm....I just found this draft in my posts...my intention had been to share it earlier in the summer, but I figured 'better late than never', so..  Even though it's a bit late, I hope you will enjoy it - you can use raspberries from the freezer if you prefer).

Raspberries are my favorite all-around fruit - any way they're served.

credit: K. Kendall

When we go out to eat, I love to order raspberry tea - this recipe for tea is simple to make right at home. Hope you enjoy it often....

Feel free to sweeten it with Splenda....YUM! Click on the
link for the recipe - it's printable at that site.



MAKE-YOUR-OWN RASPBERRY ICED TEA