Frozen Hot Chocolate

This is from freebies2deals' instagram! It has become one of our favorite treats this winter! It's the knock-off frozen hot chocolate from Serendipity!

1 cup milk
3 cups ice
3/4 cup hot cocoa mix--or about 5 packets

*Blend all ingredients in blender. Top with whipped cream, chocolate shavings, sprinkles, or crushed candy canes!

Clean Eating Berry-Banana "Ice Cream"

Found this awesome little recipe over at The Gracious Pantry and we all really liked it! I am excited to try different variations to it, too. And just FYI, I cut the recipe in half and it was plenty for my family of 5. Also, it stays very soft in the freezer if you need to save some for later. :)

• 4 cups sliced, frozen bananas
• 2 cups frozen, unsweetened strawberries (I used frozen mixed berries)
• 1/2 cup rice, almond, light coconut or regular milk (any milk will work)

Directions:

1. Place all ingredients into a food processor and blend until you have a “soft serve” consistency in your ice cream.

Note: You will have to take the lid off and scrape/move things around with a spatula several times through this process. It WILL get smooth, so don’t give up. Just keep blending and scraping.

Glowing Green Smoothie

Found this recipe on Linda Wagner's site. She is a nutrition and lifestyle coach in TX. She says she has had clients whose lives have changed because of adding this healthy smoothie into their diet. Anyway, it tastes great and is very healthy. Remember---strong is the new skinny!All you need is a blender and the following ingredients:

• 1-2 bananas
• 1/2 cup frozen peaches
• 1/2 cup frozen mango
• a couple handfuls of spinach
• water
• ice (if desired)

Add enough water to blend and enjoy, that’s it!

Homemade Marshmallows & Hot Cocoa Mix

These are spoons to stir your hot chocolate. Just dip a plastic spoon into melted chocolate and immediately sprinkle with crushed candy canes.

Here's where I found these recipes--they are amazing! I gave these as gifts this year and everyone loved them! I thought the marshmallow recipe looked a little daunting, but they only took me about 20 minutes to make, not counting the time to cut them the next day!

Homemade Marshmallows

1 cup cold water, divided

3 envelopes unflavored gelatin (found in the baking isle of your grocery)
2 cups granulated sugar
1 cup light corn syrup
pinch salt
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
Garnish: 4-5 cups confectioners sugar

Spray (with a non stick vegetable spray) either a half-sheet pan or a 13x9x2-inch baking dish. Then, line it with parchment paper. Sift a few tablespoons of confectioners sugar onto the the parchment paper (this is important as it will help to keep the marshmallow from sticking to the paper too much as they set).
Place 1/2 cup cold water into the bowl of your electric mixer (fitted with a whisk attachment). Sprinkle the gelatin over the water and let stand until gelatin softens, about 15 minutes. You can leave this while you make your sugar syrup.

Sugar syrup: place the sugar, corn syrup, salt, and remaining 1/2 cup cold water in a small saucepan. Stir over medium heat until sugar dissolves and the mixture comes to a boil. Cover the saucepan and let it come to a full boil. Uncover and attach a candy thermometer to the side of the pan. Increase heat to high and boil, without stirring, until the syrup reaches 240 degrees F (Softball stage), about 10 minutes. Remove from heat.

With mixer running at low speed, slowly pour the hot syrup into the gelatin mixture in a thin stream down the side of the bowl. Gradually increase the speed to high and beat until mixture has tripled in volume and is very thick and stiff, about 10 minutes (looks like thick creme of marshmallow - imagine that!). Add vanilla extract and beat to combine, about 30 seconds longer.
Note: if you want to add color or flavor extract (like peppermint) to your marshmallows, I mix in the food coloring to the vanilla and then add. You will see it gradually change color.

Scrape marshmallow mixture into the prepared pan and spread with a damp offset spatula or rubber spatula. The mixture is very sticky! Smooth it out as best as you can keeping your spatula damp. Resist touching the spatula with your fingers or you will enter into a never-ending web of marshmallow that you can't get out of! Although, if you do, it easily cleans up with warm water.

Dust the top of the marshmallow with another few tablespoons of confectioners' sugar and let stand, uncovered, at room temperature until set, about 12 hours. Overnight is fine.

Remove the marshmallow from the pan by first running a small sharp knife around the edge of the marshmallow to loosen it from the pan. Invert the pan onto a large cutting board that has been dusted with confectioners' sugar. You might have to use your fingers to help loosen the marshmallow from the pan. Peel off the parchment paper (the marshmallow will be sticky) and dust the top of the marshmallow with more confectioners' sugar.

Cut the marshmallow into squares using a pizza roller or sharp knife. Dip the cut sides of the marshmallows in additional confectioners' sugar. Shake off excess sugar and store the marshmallows in an airtight container, at room temperature, for up to two weeks. Its important to make sure any tool you use to cut marshmallows is dusted in confectioners' sugar to prevent sticking.

Makes about 24 marshmallows, or more depending on how you cut them.

Homemade Hot Cocoa Mix
2 cups powdered sugar
1 cup cocoa (Dutch-process preferred)
2-3 cups powdered milk
pinch salt
2 teaspoons cornstarch
Mini chocolate chips

Combine all ingredients in a mixing bowl and incorporate evenly by using a whisk until all ingredients are well-blended together. The mixture will be super light and fluffy. Mix in the chocolate mini morsels here and distribute evenly, they are just an added touch for a bit more chocolate flavor.

Fill your mug 1/3 - half full with the cocoa mix (about 1/4 cup) and pour in hot water. Stir to combine. (I printed these instructions on a label and stuck it on the jar).

Homemade Hot Cocoa Mix

I LOVE having this recipe--it is super easy and so cute for gifts! Just put this mix in a cute jar, dip a couple of plastic spoons in chocolate almond bark, and voila!

4 c. instant nonfat dry milk
2 c. sugar
1 c. unsweetened cocoa (I used the dark chocolate cocoa, yum!)
1/2 tsp. salt

*Combine all ingredients and mix thoroughly. Store in airtight container. (I put ours in a big ziploc bag). For hot chocolate, use 1/4 cup mix per cup of boiling water.

Spinach Fruit Smoothies

This is our new favorite breakfast--even my 23-month-old! Trust me, it took a minute for me to wrap my mind around the fact that I was drinking spinach, but if you have an issue with that, just put it in a colored glass :) It's very good for you and honestly tastes awesome!
1 c. ice
1 apple, cut up (leave peeling on)
1 banana, cut up
1 c. orange juice
spinach
*Put in blender; liquefy until there are no chunks. This makes about 3 cups.

Peach Smoothies

These smoothies have become our family's favorite breakfast lately! I canned a bunch of peaches this last summer so I just add a whole quart of peaches, juice and all. If you don't have home-canned peaches, just buy some of the large cans (low/no sugar) or use fresh peaches, peeled and sliced.
-About 4 cups peaches
-2 small containers of yogurt, any flavor (we like strawberry)
-1/2 cup sugar (optional)
-Ice cubes
*Liquefy in a blender to desired consistency!