Coca-Cola, more than just about any logo or brand you can think of, symbolizes true Americana. That’s why (along with the upbeat attitude and great taste) so many people are drawn to Coca-Cola collector’s items. My mom collected Coca-Cola metal trays, bottles, and a whole host of other products and when she suddenly and unexpectedly decided to move on to Heaven, I gave all of her beloved Coca-Cola products a place to call home.
I’ve fallen in love with the logo and collector’s items, myself, and now consider myself a collector of all things Coca-Cola. I think it’s a great image, a great logo, and a big, beautiful slice of American history.
Click through any of the links for LOTS more. You’ll find vintage metal signs, tumblers, towels, and things you never even thought of. The website also features Sprite, Diet Coke (a personal favorite!) and Fanta.
By the way, speaking of Coca-Cola, have you ever tried Coke Zero? In my opinion, it tastes just like regular Coca-Cola… fantastic! For some reason (probably has a lot to do with baseball games and picnics), Coke tastes like summer to me. A hot dog and an ice cold Coca-Cola… it’s always the right time for that combination.
I’m a Starbucks fanatic and a green tea addict – so it’s only logical that I’d be a Starbucks Green Tea Frappuccino fanaddict. When the weather’s cold, I almost always go with Chai Tea Lattes, Skinny Caramel or Mocha Lattes, or hot tea – but when the weather begins to warm up, they know what I’m there for.
My youngest daughter, Stephany, and I are completely hooked on the Green Tea Frappuccinos made with whipped topping on top and drizzled with raspberry syrup. Some people like the syrup mixed in with the green tea, itself – but it’s much prettier and much tastier if they just drizzle some on top. We both threw ourselves into one yesterday while out enjoying every single digit of the 49 degrees. That may not sound too warm, but it is when your weather’s been in the 20’s longer than my aunt was. She outsmarts the rest of us. She spends about 20 years in each decade.
While driving along slurpping, ooohing, and ahhhing, I thought how outstanding Starbucks Raspberry Syrup would be on smoothies, ice cream, pound cake, white cake with white icing, cool whip covering strawberries or hot green tea, my hand… This stuff is that good.
I jumped online and found that you can order some of your very own. In fact, you can order any of their remarkable syrups and get all kinds of remarkable in your kitchen. Think about the possibilities with each of these:
Click through any of the flavors listed for more information – there are also Sugar Free versions available. My mind just doesn’t spend much time with the words sugar free. Sometimes when I’m huffing and puffing on the treadmill I wish it did. But, there you have it.
I’d recommend each one of these perfect syrups for flavoring coffee and/or using in the seductive manners I described. Whatever you do, you MUST grab a bottle of the Starbucks Raspberry Syrup and a bottle of the Starbucks Caramel Syrup.
You can have a lot of success making Starbucks-like drinks at home, but having great coffee, great tea bags, and these flavored syrups are essential. And delicious!
Wow, I didn’t see this one coming. As you know, I am the epitome of a coffee expert. My husband and our oldest daughter (Emily) are the same way. What can I say, we know our java. We always have a fresh pot of coffee brewing in the kitchen and we certainly know the spots around town with the best coffee when we need a quick fix away from home.
Emily and I are completely wild about Burger King’s coffee. For some reason, it is just always tastes outstanding. Apparently it’s about to get even more outstanding, if that’s possible. Starting this summer, new coffee will be served at Burger King’s nationwide.
Burger King will roll-out Starbucks Corp.’s Seattle’s Best Coffee to more than 7,000 of its restaurants in the United States. Burger King’s brand, BK Joe will be forced into retirement. Emily and I will miss it something fierce.
John Schaufelberger, senior vice president of Burger King’s global product marketing and innovation, told The Associated Press that coffee switcheroo is part of a continued effort to improve its breakfast business. He called Burger King’s morning menu one of their “top strategic priorities.”
Seattle Best Brand, which I love by the way, is one of coffee giants Starbuck’s babies. Starbuck’s acquired the Seattle’s Best brand in 2003. Seattle’s Best Brand is already served at 9,000 Subway franchises.
I bought a new blender yesterday with one thing in mind – Smoothies! I’ve tried out a few and I’m completely hooked. So far, my favorites are Blueberry Smoothies, Strawberry Smoothies, and Banana Smoothies.
A banana smoothie is a healthy, quick cold treat that you can make any time of year, not just in summer. There are a variety of ways to make a banana smoothie, but in this article we’ll stick with the basics.
Here are the tools and utensils you’ll need to make your banana smoothie:
A blender
Knife to cut up your banana
Serving glasses
Measuring cups
And here are the ingredients that we’ll be using to make our banana smoothie:
1 ripe banana
1 cup of crushed ice
1 cup of cold milk
1 tbsp of brown sugar
Here’s how to make the perfect banana smoothie every time
Some people like to freeze their banana first before adding it to the blender, but I find it turns out great using a regular room temperature banana.
Peel your banana and break it or cut it up into pieces and add it to your blender. Then pour in the ice, milk and add the brown sugar.
Turn on your blender and hold the top of the lid firmly in place. This is important because with something hard like ice inside, there’s a possibility that the lid could get knocked off and then you’d end up with a mess. If you don’t have crushed ice, use ice cubes instead, but pulse the blender a few times to break the ice cubes into smaller pieces.
Blending time should take about 30-60 seconds, but make sure your banana smoothie has a smooth creamy texture before serving.
When the mixture is finished blending, pour it out into a glass and if you decide to use a straw to drink from, use bigger straws to make it easier.
Video: How to make a banana smoothie
(I have no idea who this is in the video below – I just thought it might be helpful for my readers!)
I’ve become a Smoothie addict, so you’ll be seeing plenty of smoothie recipes, tips, and what not. I’m working on iced coffee drinks as well…. I’ll bet you already assumed that. So transparent.
I LOVE flavored water madly. I rely on it to get my recommended daily amount of water – gotta admit, unflavored water and I aren’t the closest of friends. I haven’t tried Hint Flavored water yet, but as soon as I find them locally, I’ll let you know how fabulous they are. If you find them before I do, come back here and let us know in the comments how much you love them – the rest of us will turn a nice shade of green.
Below are a couple of fantastic-sounding recipes to try. I’d try the Blackberry recipe in an instant – as for the mango, I’ll leave that one for you. I’d deathly allergic to mangoes!
HINT Mango Breeze
Ingredients
· 5 oz Mango-Grapefruit Hint
· 1/4 mango
· 2 Grapefruit slices
· Ice
· 1 piece of mango for garnish
Cooking Directions
Mix ingredients together in blender. Serve with piece of mango as garnish.
Blackberry Mint Breeze
Ingredients
· 5 oz Blackberry HINT
· 5 fresh mint leaves
· Blackberries
· Ice
· Blackberries for garnish
Cooking Directions
Muddle a few blackberries and mint leaves well. Mix with Blackberry HINT in shaker. Shake well over ice. Pour into martini glass and garnish with blackberries.
— Photos and Recipes from Hint Naturally Flavored Water. You can check their website for ordering information. Cheers!
I’ve been straight up addicted to Rice Dreams Vanilla Rice Drink for quite a while now. It sits deliciously on my list of Top 10 Favorite Healthy Foods and Drinks. Recently, I tried Full Circle’s Organic Original Ricemilk and was very pleasantly surprised. In fact, when my Top 10 list grows to a Top 20 list, you’ll find Full Circle ricemilk amongst the winners.
Full Circle Ricemilk is low in fat, with no soy protein and no cholesterol. Of course, none of that would mean jack if it weren’t good – which it most certainly is!
On the back of my most recent container was a great-sounding recipe for a Fruity frosty. I thought it sounded like something you might be interested in, so I thought I’d share.
STRAWBERRY BANANA FROSTY
Makes 3 Servings
3 Cups Full Circle Original or Vanilla Ricemilk, chilled
1 Ripe Banana
1 Cup Strawberries
Place all ingredients in blender and puree until smooth. Serve immediately or refrigerate.…. and call me when they’re ready!
Oh Joy! Oh Happiness! Oh Unspeakable pleasure! I’m sure you’ve guessed by now that I’m either in the middle of a cup of coffee, a chocolate experience, a delicious cookie, or am currently going one on one with candy of some sort.
I’m actually sort of out-doing myself right now. I just finished my pot of coffee and am losing myself in the best cup of hot chocolate I’ve EVER had. Did you catch that? – - – - EVER!
As always, I made my favorite Hot Chocolate recipe (It’s the one on the back of Kroger’s Baking Cocoa – funny, huh? I’ve tried every hot chocolate recipe known to exist and the best one is on a container of baking cocoa…and a store brand at that! What!?) This recipe always, always, always makes an outstanding cup of hot cocoa. However, I was feeling pretty full of myself this morning, so I kicked it up a notch. Right before I laddled the hot chocolate into our eager holiday mugs (my oldest daughter Emily is always my partner in hot chocolate adventures), I stirred in a little Hershey’s chocolate syrup.
Then, I poured the chocolate, aromatic, liquid Heaven into our cups. I topped hers off with three Chocolate Chipetta Plush Puffs Gourmet Marshmallows – the look on her face was all I needed to tell me that she was in Chocolate Heaven and didn’t want to ever return. I took a sip and I must say – it doesn’t get any chocolate-y-er than this. YUM!
I topped my hot cocoa off with 3 Caramel Swirl Plush Puffs Gourmet Marshmallows. Then, with my intentions clear, I sprinkled on a little Sea Salt. You got it! I was aiming for the effect of Starbuck’s Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate. I honestly, humbly, and with chocolate and marshmallow goo on my face believe I outdid myself. This was a truly remarkable, ridiculously delicious cup of hot chocolate. I’ll just go ahead and say it – it’s even better than the drink Starbucks once made (then heartlessly yanked away!). The delicious caramel flavoring in these marshmallows isn’t just delicious – it’s slap your face delicious.
The same is true of the Chocolate Chipetta Plush Puffs Gourmet Marshmallows. I know my chocolate, and these are premium, first class chocolate marshmallows. They earn the term Gourmet with every single bite.
I’ve thrown the Chocolate Chipetta Plush Puffs Gourmet Marshmallows on top of a dollop of homemade whipped topping in coffee and highly recommend it! Think about it: Coffee, chocolate, candy… all in one place. It makes a remarkable cup of coffee that tastes like it came from a coffeehouse.
I’ve also tried the Luscious Lemony Meringue Plush Puffs Gourmet Marshmallows. If the amazing smell of these gourmet marshmallows doesn’t knock you out, the flavor will. Heavenly! I toss them on top of hot tea – for those of you who (silly gooses!) who don’t care for green tea, these gourmet marshmallows will make the experience one to remember. You’ll drink every last drop.
The different flavors of gourmet marshmallows are outstanding on smores, too. I just build them and put them in the microwave. Everyone loves them. They’re perfect, beautiful, and delicious snacks for eating during ballgames, holiday specials, reruns of Andy Griffith, or your favorite Food Network show.
I’ve also toasted them (on the stove) and used them as dips for chocolate and caramel sauces. Amazing… that’s the best word for the experience… amazing!
There are Peppi-Mint, Cinnamon, and Vanilla Bean varieties that I’ve yet to try. I’m especially eager to meet the Peppi-Mint and Vanilla Bean flavors. Oh the plans I have for them!!!
Do yourself (and the people you’d consent to share with) a wonderful favor and head over to Plush Puffs Gourmet Marshmallows to read more and, best of all, to order your own gourmet marshmallows. These are NOT, NOT, NOT like traditional, store-bought marshmallows. It’s like the difference between an eagle and a housefly.
In the quest to eat healthier and, even more importantly, to feed my family healthier foods and drinks, I have stumbled upon one blinding fact: If you don’t buy it, it won’t be eaten. This fact, of course has a twin: If you buy it, chances are good that it will be eaten.
Fancy that, potato chips left in Kroger stay in Kroger. Soft drinks unpurchased will be unopened.
Cool!
Naturally, some “healthy” foods and drinks fall flat and my husband and daughters let me know they have no desire to ever see it again. However, I’ve been delighted to find that 98 percent of the foods and drinks we’ve tried have become MUST HAVES in our house – and I never allow us to run out… or even low.
Below are my top 10 current healthy food/drink favorites. Some are new to me while I’ve been enjoying others for some time now.
Diet Arizona Green Tea with Ginseng. This is THE miracle worker drink – the drink that got me off of my diet soft drink obsession. I used to go through a 2 liter of Diet Dr. Pepper daily. I tried to switch to other drinks, but to no avail. I’d always go back to “the stuff.” Then I happened upon Diet Arizona Green Tea with Ginseng and have that was that. I think it’s outstanding.
Vanilla Rice Dream Refrigerated Non-Dairy Beverage. How’s that for a mouthful? I just call it the one way I get my calcium. Not only am I a little lactose-intolerant, I’m honestly not too fond of the taste of milk. I always wanted to up my calcium intake but didn’t know quite how to go about it… not with a smile on my taste buds, anyway. Fortunately, Vanilla Rice Dreams doesn’t just make my taste buds smile, it makes them sing, dance, and break out in giggly fits of joy. I love it on cereal as well as straight from the glass. As a matter of fact, I’m enjoying every sip of a glass right now – as I do every evening. It seems to make my sleep even sweeter. Rice Dream is also available in Original, which is also fantastic. Look for them both in the health food section of your favorite grocery store. I just noticed on their website that they have non-dairy frozen desserts. I haven’t, yet, had the pleasure.
Nutri-Grain Apple Cinnamon Bars. Perfectly delicious! I keep intending to try the other flavors, but this one is so remarkable that I can’t tear myself away.
Butterball Turkey Bacon. I’ll admit, my husband isn’t sold on this one, yet. However, my daughters (the two who aren’t vegetarians, that is) and I absolutely love Butterball’s turkey bacon. I’ve tried different brands and Butterball is definitely the best. Makes sense, right?
Stonyfield Farms Organic Yogurt. You can taste the quality and commitment to excellence in each bite. This stuff is creamy and dreamy.
Stonyfield Farms Cream Top. Use Stonyfield’s Cream Top in place of sour cream on bean burritos, potatoes, or anywhere else – no one will ever know the difference. Stonyfield products are often found in the health food section of your grocery store. Personally, I’ve never seen them grouped with the other yogurts.
Sargento’s Reduced Fat Cheeses. Each time I take a bite of one of Sargento’s reduced fat cheeses I think, “Nuh-huh. No way are you reduced.“ Then, I double-check the package, and return to my sandwich, panini, or folded cheese that creates its own little sandwich – sans bread. I’ve used the shredded reduced fat varieties in salads, scrambled eggs, on pasta, pizza, and so on. The slices? I’d challenge you to name one thing I haven’t slapped them on. The reduced fat Colby Jack is stupid good. They even offer string cheese that has been reduced in fat. (Although the taste will make you say, “Nuh-huh.“)
Quaker Oatmeal Squares. I’m huge on cereal – especially now that Rice Dreams has entered my life. For a great, eye-opening article on Choosing the Healthiest Breakfast Cereals, click the link. I had to smile when I saw some of my favorites on the list. Only problem is, where oh where are Coco Crispies?!
Truvia. Nature’s perfect sweetener, and as always – nature knows what it’s doing. If you’re wanting to pull yourself away from artificial sweeteners (and, come on, shouldn’t we all put as much distance between ourselves and artificial anything?) – give Truvia a try. I love it muchly.
Eggland’s Best Cage Free and Organic Eggs. As someone who loves making, serving, and eating breakfast food, I’m delighted with the taste and quality of these wonderful eggs. As someone who loves animals so much it makes her head spin, I’m overjoyed that they’re Cage-Free. From Eggland’s Best.com:Q. What does “cage free” mean? A. The hens selected to lay Eggland’s Best Cage Free eggs are not kept in cages and are free to roam. The hens are provided with sunlight, shade, shelter, an exercise area, fresh air, and are protected from predators.
Q. What does Organic mean? A. Eggland’s Best Organic brown eggs come from cage free hens that are fed a certified organic version of the patented, all-natural, all-vegetarian Eggland’s Best hen feed.
I hope you’ll start experimenting with healthier foods in your own home. I wholeheartedly recommend each of the above. I would like to give an extra little push for Cage-Free eggs. I promise you, once you start buying Eggland’s Best Organic and Cage-Free eggs, you won’t want any other eggs… ever.
EDIT: I tried the Nutri-Grain Blueberry Cereal bar today. It’s every bit as delicious as the apple cinnamon variety! Truly, truly delicious. It tastes like a little blueberry pie without the scads of calories. Next up? Strawberry!
The following “recipes” are from Kahlua – a name synonymous with elegance and quality – with a kick of sweetness that never disappoints. I’m sure your mouth is watering right about now, so I’ll just get right to it!
Snow White
1.5 parts Kahlúa Hazelnut®
1 part vanilla syrup
Steamed milk
Combine ingredients in mug and stir to combine. Top with whipped cream.
Snowcap
1 part Kahlúa Mocha®
1 part ABSOLUT Vanilia®
Hot chocolate
Combine ingredients in mug and stir to combine. Top with whipped cream.
What is Matcha Powdered Green Tea?
Matcha is premium green tea powder from Japan used for drinking as tea or as an ingredient in recipes. While other green teas are grown throughout the world, matcha is unique to Japan. It is the heart of the Japanese way of tea and has been celebrated in the traditional Japanese tea ceremony for hundreds of years. - MatchaSource.com
I am, as I’m typing these words, enjoying an amazing Iced Green Tea Latte. No, I haven’t been to Starbucks (not today, anyway). I made this beautiful and delicious green drink at home using Matcha Green Tea powder from Matcha Source. It’s the first time I’ve used Matcha, but it most certainly won’t be the last.
In preparing for this review, I actually brewed two hot Matcha Green Tea Lattes – one for myself and one for my daughter Emily – she LOVES hot tea but is proving to be a hard one to win over to green tea (don’t know where I went wrong with this girl). I also made an Chilled Matcha Green Tea Latte because I’m addicted to Starbucks Green Tea fraps and have always wanted a way to capture the magic at home.
Emily didn’t know what I was brewing (literally) in the kitchen, so she didn’t know what to expect when I walked up behind her and handed her a hot mug with a little cool whip on top. I’m forever making different types of hot chocolate, lattes, and teas in the kitchen – so her hopes were high. When she saw the green color, though, her smile sort of straightened out and she said, “Oh, Lord.” She knew her green tea loving mom was at it again. My family just never knows what sort of herbal or green teas I’m going to come at them with next!
She took a drink and said, “Wow! That’s actually delicious.” She then finished the entire cup before I could make it back into the kitchen to get back to mine! I sat down at the table, trying to decide if I liked the iced or hot best and she brought me her cup to show off – she pointed out that she’d even “cleaned” the bottom where a few specks had remained. And I hadn’t even sweetened the drinks at all!
One glass of matcha is the equivalent of 10 glasses of green tea in terms of its nutritional value and antioxidant content.
I believe I might like the chilled Matcha Green Tea Latte a little better than the hot, but it’s almost too close to call. Maybe it’s because it’s summer and ice cold drinks just seem so right. I do know that I intend to keep Matcha Green Tea powder on hand from now on.
Matcha Green Tea Health Benefits:
Rich in Antioxidants: Antioxidants slow down the aging process and help the body to fend off diseases. Matcha tea is actually higher in antioxidants than blueberries and spinach. Somebody had better tell Popeye! A testing method known as ORAC – short for oxygen radical absorbance capacity, evaluates the antioxidant levels found in food. According to research done by Tufts University, the ORAC capacity of matcha green tea is exponentially higher than other foods known for their high antioxidants levels such as blueberries and spinach.The ORAC rating of matcha is 1300 units/g, compared to 105 units/g for pomegranates and 91 units/g for wild blueberries. If that’s not worth a WOW! – nothing is.
Contains Catechins Only Found in Green Tea: Catechins are a class of antioxidants that are found only in green tea. What’s more, this class may be the most powerful of all antioxidants. And of the catechins, EGCg (epicgallocatechin gallate) is the catechin with broadest and most potent cancer-fighting properties. Sixty percent of the catechin content of matcha tea is EGCg. One gram of matcha contains 105 mg of total catechin content, or roughly 61% EGCg.
Naturally Mood Enhancing: I’m not sure what the properties or explanations are, but Green Tea simply makes you feel good, and since Matcha Green Tea is green tea on hyper drive, it makes you feel all kinds of good.
Zero on the Glycemic Index: Will not raise insulin levels
Cleanses the Body of Toxins: Chlorophyll, the pigment which gives leaves their green color, helps to remove heavy metals and chemical toxins from the body. Because matcha powdered tea is fully ingested when consumed, unlike tea leaves which are infused then discarded, and because matcha is shade grown, a process which increases the chlorophyll content in the leaves, matcha tea is a chlorophyll rich food.
Sugar-free and High in Fiber: It also gives you more energy – which leads to more activity. Green Tea is a dieter’s best friend!
Helps you relax: Matcha contains L-theanine, an amino acid known to relax the mind.
I can promise you this: The Matcha Green Tea Latte and Chilled Matcha Green Tea Latte are fantastic. I can’t wait to try the Matcha Smoothie (below).
Matcha Green Tea Smoothie
1/2 cup yogurt
2 tbsp honey or sugar
1 tsp ingredient grade matcha
1/2 cup ice cubes
Blend ingredients together in electric blender. Pour into a tall glass. Experiment with adding berries, bananas and fruit juice.
For more recipes and to place an order for your own Matcha Green Tea Powder, visit their website. Below are a few links that’ll serve you well!
More recipes featuring Matcha Green Tea Powder, the surprise ingredient of the summer! These recipes include Matcha Green Tea Ice cream, Matcha Buttercream Frosting (yes, please), Truffles, poached eggs, cookies and more. My family is in for so much green goodness they might just develop a Kermit-like complexion.
Be sure to visit MatchaSource’s shop for Matcha utensils, bowls, teas, etc.
