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The Easiest Strawberry Milkshake Recipe Turns Out to be the Best Strawberry Milkshake Recipe

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Strawberry Milkshake v

Quick & Easy Strawberry Milkshake

Some of my favorite things in live involve fruit.. so much so that I’ve always said if there ever were a fruit shortage, I’d be in a world of hurt…

I live for:

Strawberry Sundaes

Blueberries in Oatmeal

Blackberries on Pancakes

Strawberry Sundaes

Banana Smoothies

Strawberry Smoothies

.. and, last but not least, the obsession that brings us here today – Strawberry Milkshakes. I have been tinkering over the years with them for several reasons. I love them and couldn’t possibly survive a week without one. Have I ever tried? Heck no… who’d want to tempt that kind of fate?! I don’t order Strawberry milkshakes from restaurants because some milkshakes have gluten in them and I’m afraid of cross-contamination. Soooo, that has left me to my own devices – well the devices of me and my blender (Hamilton Beach Power Elite on Amazon).

I’ve tried milkshakes with vanilla, without vanilla, with added sugar, without added sugar, with all forms of vanilla and/or strawberry ice cream, with frozen strawberries, with fresh strawberries… oh, you name it, I’ve experimented with it. And loved every strawberrylicious sip!

The one I made recently was at the end of a very, very, very busy day (and, given that it’s 2020, it was of course a very emotionally charged and stressful day… 2020’s aesthetic). All I wanted was a basic glassful of strawberry comfort.

I  took 12 large strawberries, washed them and chopped them into chunks. I threw them into my blender and added 2-1/2 cups vanilla ice cream and 2 cups whole milk. The blender did its magic and the result was a knock out milkshake. As you can see, I didn’t even add whipped topping to the top followed by the obligatory “food blogger’s slice of strawberry on top.” Heck, I’m lucky my tired self even remembered to take a picture at all!

Who knows, maybe next time I’ll top it all off with a little whipped cream and position a big beautiful strawberry wedge on top. Maybe I’ll order special “milkshake glasses” by then. We’ll see. If 2020 gets its act together, I’ll do the same!


ChocZero: Sugar Free Chocolate Squares (Perfect for the Keto Diet)

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ChocZero Sugar Free Chocolates Review

ChocZero Sugar-Free Chocolate Squares

One of my greatest passions in life is chocolate. If I weren’t so allergic to pain, I’m fairly certain I’d get one tattoo – the word CHOCOHOLIC (all caps, non negotiable) somewhere on my person.  I mean, the world deserves to know what they’re dealing with.

True Story: 10-12 years ago (time flies when you’re eating chocolate), I literally made a couple of New Year’s Resolutions that I knew, beyond a shadow of doubt, that I’d be able to keep. It was half playing-around with my daughters and half let’s see what it feels like to actually keep New Year’s Resolutions throughout the year. What were the things I knew I’d stay loyal to?

  1. Tell my family… including cats, naturally… that I love them everyday (awwwwwww).
  2. Read from an Agatha Christie mystery daily. I read and re-read her mysteries and have been in the midst of reading one for half of my life.
  3. Eat chocolate every single day.

10-12 years later and I’m still going strong. With each. Please don’t ask about learning to speak Italian, drinking more water, never drinking sweet tea, or learning to play the piano. Thank you.

I was recently sent ChocZero Chocolate Squares in exchange for telling you about them. My first thought was, “Yay! Chocolate!” but then I began to worry… after all, I am as big of an expert when it comes to chocolate as is possible. I know chocolate. I breathe chocolate. So, I started to worry that I might not be able to give a raving review of the chocolate!

What worried me? Well, the fact that it is… are you sitting down… sugar free. That concerned me – but, strangely enough, it shouldn’t have. In fact, the fact that these chocolates aren’t overly sweet actually allows you to taste the chocolate better.

That, y’all, is a very positive thing.

ChocZero Sugar Free Chocolates

ChocZero Sugar-Free Chocolate Squares

ChocZero uses a zero-calorie, low carb natural plant called monk fruit to create delectable chocolate that’s low carb and sugar-free. Indulge in some more chocolate minus the sugar crash and extra calories. Whether you’re on the keto diet or simply hoping to reduce your sugar intake, ChocZero has savory options to fit a healthier lifestyle.

Perfect for the Keto Diet or “Lazy Keto” Diet (or anyone cutting back on sugar)

While my family doesn’t strictly follow the Keto Diet, I do incorporate A LOT of Keto recipes and philosophies into our meals. Cutting back on carbs is important to me but cutting back on sugar is far more important. I regularly eat potatoes but am trying very hard to cut as far back on sugar as I possibly can. ChocZero makes it easier to enjoy chocolate, thanks to their monk fruit sweetener.

My favorite way to enjoy these ChocZero Sugar-Free Chocolate Squares is given below the deliciousness….

ChocZero with Ghee and Salt

As I’m sure I’ve mentioned on the food blog before, I am a Ghee FANATIC. I saute’ chicken tenders in it, melt it for popcorn, slather it on toast… it has a flavor that, as far as I’m concerned is nearly as addictive as chocolate.

Soooo, it was just a matter of time before my two worlds collided – with a little salt thrown in for good measure.

Every single day, I take a square of chocolate (dark, usually but medium is just as delicious), add a little ghee on top, then sprinkle the whole shebang with pink Himalayan salt or sea salt. It has to be one of these and the reason is a very technical one… they look cooler.

Very technical.

The absolute best ghee on the market is Ancient Organics Ghee. Trust me on this one – I’ve tried them all and, for whatever reasons, no other ghee even come close.

My beloved Ghee and ChocZero make an unbeatable team and I do believe I’ll get up from here and have one. Oh, heck let’s make it two, want to?

ChocZero Sugar Free Chocolates, Ghee and Pink Himalayan Salt


“Candy Cookies” – No Bake Peanut Butter and Oatmeal Cookies (With Gluten-Free Option)

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Candy Cookies or No Bake Peanut Butter Cookies

Over the years, I have baked, sliced, cut, and molded every kind of cookie imaginable. Given that I am the human equivalent of Cookie Monster who also happens to love to bake – this is completely understandable. Expected, even.

What isn’t understandable or expected, however, is the fact that one of my absolute favorite cookies is one of the simplest.

What’s more, it doesn’t even have to be baked. No need to turn the oven on for these guys!

Most people refer to this type of cookie as “No Bake Peanut Butter and Oatmeal Cookies” or “Haystacks.” When my daughters were little, I would actually shape them into little haystacks because they got such a kick out of how they looked.

Today, however, I just drop them by a tablespoon onto parchment paper and allow them to spread. I have always referred to them as “Cookies that are Really Candy,” I recently began calling them Candy Cookies. By gosh… that’s what they are after all!

Below is the easy as it gets recipe.

Notes:

  • For gluten-free cookies, use gluten-free oats. I use Quaker Gluten-Free 1 Minute Quick Oats… available online or in just about any store.
  • If you want “haystacks,” use a teaspoon when you drop onto the paper. As the mixture cools, shape the cookies into cute little haystacks.
  • For the “Candy Cookies” pictured here, use a tablespoon to drop the mixture onto the parchment paper.
  • Keeping the ingredients for these cookies on hand at all times is always the right thing to do – especially during the months leading up to Christmas. You never know when you’ll need to whip up a batch of something delicious to give as a “Well.. of course I got you something too!” gift. Been there, cooked that.

I preach a lot about parchment paper and it’s many, many, many, many wonders but, when it comes to candy and cookies, it is all but downright necessary. I give a lot of my candy and cookies to family members and having parchment paper on hand to put between layers makes my life easier and everything neater for those who dive right in!

Seriously, once you start using parchment paper regularly, you’ll wonder how in the world you ever got along without it.

Easy Christmas Cookies

Butter Pecan Milkshake: A Favorite Ice Cream Makes a Favorite Milkshake

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Butter Pecan Milkshake

One of my favorite ice cream flavors is Butter Pecan – love it so much, in fact, that I’ve been known to question the sanity and taste of those who don’t like it.More than once.I’ve seen lots of recipes that call for vanilla ice cream and “butter pecan flavoring” – I suppose they’re trying to dodge the bits of pecan that accompany a milkshake made with butter pecan ice cream? If you’re in that camp, feel free to go that route… but, personally, I live for for the bits of pecans.

So good!

The recipe below makes one milkshake (or two small servings).


Gearing Up for Summer: Banana Milkshakes!

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Banana Milkshake

 

I’ve always been a huge milkshake fan (truth is, I’m obsessed) but adoring bananas and using them at every conceivable opportunity is new. Let’s say it’s grandbaby new. My grandbaby Maddox is 16 months old and has been in love with bananas for a few months now. Literally, one of the first CLEAR words he ever said was his version of “banana” (which sounds so precious I’m grinning like an idiot just imagining it).

I put them in his smoothies and, now that warm weather is here, I’m experimenting with different banana milkshake recipes. The one below is one of my favorites. The extra pinch of cinnamon really does something for it. Another tip: Use good vanilla ice cream. It honestly makes a difference.

I normally top my milkshakes with whipped cream and even a cherry if I’m feeling a little extra… but this particular milkshake would soon be going into a sippy cup, so it’s kind of “naked!”

The “Number of Servings” given here is 2 – but, I guess, really, it depends on the size of servings! In other words, if you’re making milkshakes for more than one person, keep your ingredients handy, you may need more than you bargained for.

Note: I  haven’t tried this milkshake with any types of milk other than whole milk (yet), so I cannot say with certainty how almond, coconut, or soy milks would work. However, I use them frequently in smoothies and they usually bring a little extra something to the party.


Best Fudgy Brownie Frosting Recipe – You’ll Want to Eat it Straight Out of the Pan

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Brownies Baked in a Pie Plate with Fudgy Brownie Frosting

Brownies, Baked in Pie Plates and Frosted with a Fudgy Frosting

A few weeks ago, a familiar mood hit me… an “I MUST MAKE SOMETHING CHOCOLATE!” mood that has come to define me. I mulled over the usual cast of chocolate characters – chocolate cupcakes, chocolate cake, cookies, brownies, and fudge. Brownies won and I started rounding up the needed ingredients.

I found that I didn’t have any walnuts, but decided to forge right ahead in spite of the absence of a favorite brownie ingredient. I decided (as I always do when my brownies won’t have nuts) that I’d simply make a fudgy chocolate frosting for the brownies and the absence of walnuts wouldn’t even be missed.

I was right.

As I was mentally dreading the all too familiar brownie-baking-battle (trying to get the center SET without the corners becoming so hard they could knock out a mouse), I had an idea. Why not divide the brownie batter in two and bake them in pie plates?

I didn’t know of any mice who needed konking, so I grabbed a couple of glass pie plates, greased them, and proceeded just as I would if I’d been using a square pan.

I seriously doubt I’ll ever bake brownies in a square pan again.

Brownies Baked in a Pie Plate with Fudgy Brownie Frosting

Pie Plates Keep The Crusty Corners Out of the Picture!

The outside, smaller cuts were triangular (a small price to pay for having the outside of brownies that are just as moist and delicious as the center pieces) but the rest were able to be cut into squares – you’d never know they were baked in a pie dish.

I made my favorite Fudgy Brownie Frosting and iced them once they cooled off. They were outstanding.

If you attempt the pie plates method with your favorite brownie recipe (or mix), just be sure to start checking on them before the traditional time limit. They tend to cook a little faster when they’re divided into two separate dishes.

I made a single batch of the Fudgy Brownie Frosting and it was just enough for the two pie plates of deliciousness. If you’re making a large batch of brownies, you might want to double the recipe. This is chocolate deliciousness at it’s finest!

 

 

America’s Favorite Jelly Bean Flavors, By State

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What’s your favorite flavor of jelly bean? Mine are grape, cherry and strawberry – pretty crazy about each, but if I had to pick one, it’d be grape. I was really shocked by the results of the favorite jelly bean flavors around the country (see the interactive map below). Licorice?! Seriously?? That’s undoubtedly my LEAST favorite, and here it is a favorite with a lot of people. In fact, it’s the favorite in my own state (Kentucky).

People, what are you thinking?! Grape’s where it’s at. Or cherry or strawberry…. watermelon or green apple, even.


I’m giving myself a craving for jelly beans now. I’ll leave you with the map and see if I can find some in our Easter candy dish. Some grape ones, that is.

Source: 10+ years online candy sales data from CandyStore.com.

Interactive Map Credit: Candy Store


2017 America’s Favorite Halloween Candy (Interactive State by State Map)

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Can you even believe Halloween is so close?! Blows my mind just how fast time passes. I’m actually pretty bummed about it because I LOVE this time of year (September – January) SO much that I want it to crawl at a snail’s pace. Unfortunately, it runs at a cougar’s pace and is over before you know what hit you.

Halloween (the first “holiday” of the stretch) is just days away and candy is on all our minds! The fun interactive map below will show you each state’s favorite Halloween candy. Simply hover your cursor over your state to see the favorite candy for your area.

Source: CandyStore.com.

If you’re unable to see a large enough version of this map, click through the link above for a much, much larger map.


Latte Pops with Eagle Brand Sweetened Condensed Milk

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Latte Pops with Eagle Brand Sweetened Condensed Milk

All cooks have their favorite, “go to” ingredients – many of us actually share a lot of the same faves:

  • butter
  • garlic
  • freshly cracked black pepper
  • Kosher salt
  • cumin
  • cayenne pepper
  • garlic powder
  • vanilla extract
  • EVOO
  • etc.

Then there are those of us who have our own unique favorites that we wouldn’t dream of EVER running low on, let alone out of.

In addition to those above, a few of mine are:

Yes, sweetened condensed milk and yes, it must be Eagle Brand. It’s simply better, period.

I use sweetened condensed milk in so many different ways, a good 3 cans has to be in the pantry at all times. If it got under 2, I’m pretty sure a culinary nervous breakdown wouldn’t be far away.

Three of the ways I use Eagle Brand the most are…

  1. I add a can to cake mix batter – it makes the cake more moist and (as you’d expect) richer. Gluten-free cakes tend to dry out sooner than other cakes and Eagle Brand keeps this from happening. Magic!
  2. I also use Eagle Brand often… make that OFTEN… when making “Coffeehouse” type fraps and lattes. There isn’t any need to add sugar, obviously. Just combine the sweetened condensed milk and coffee (hot or iced) in a blender and you’re set.
  3. Eagle Brand makes the best pies of all time, including my personal favorite Sweet Potato Pie recipe. Trust me, save this one for Autumn. You’ll want it for Thanksgiving as well as the days leading up to it!

This summer I came up with another favorite way to put this particular favorite ingredient to use – Frozen Latte Pops. Again, as is the case with anything you make with Eagle Brand, it couldn’t be simpler.

I pour iced coffee and Eagle Brand into frozen Popsicle molds and freeze them until solid. It doesn’t get any easier than that, right? Sometimes I add a splash of Vanilla Syrup along with the “magic” and coffee, but it isn’t necessary.

These pops taste Heavenly and I get a giddy kick out of the white stripe at the bottom. That white stripe is pure deliciousness.

If you don’t have Popsicle molds, fill an ice cube tray up with the combination and freeze. When solid, crush the yumminess up with a spoon and…. well, you know what to do at this point.

For wonderful Eagle Brand Sweetened Condensed Milk Recipes, visit their website.

Latte Pops with Eagle Brand Sweetened Condensed Milk

Miss Ellie’s Coffee Cakes: Cinnamon Coffee Cake (With or Without Nuts)

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Miss Ellie's Cinnamon Coffee Cake
Next Monday, I’ll publish my review of some of Miss Ellie’s wonderful Coffees on the food blog, but since today is National Coffee Cake Day, I wanted to tell you about her coffee cakes TODAY.

I’ll just say, right upfront that I cannot eat these beautiful cakes (I have to totally avoid gluten/wheat for health reasons)… but I can smell them! One was sent along with my coffee and while my family enjoyed eating it, I at least had the pleasure of admiring it with my eyes and nose.

The coffee cake pictured is the Traditional Cinnamon Coffee Cake (No Nuts) and word around the house is that it tastes even better than it looks or even smells.

Miss Ellie's Cinnamon Coffee Cake and Miss Ellie's Coffee
Given that it smells like Heaven’s own bakery, I can only imagine how wonderful it must taste.

Other Miss Ellie’s Coffee Cakes:

I will tell you much more about Miss Ellie’s coffees in the coffee review Monday morning, but suffice to say this: You absolutely should head over to Miss Ellie’s Website and order a coffee cake today and you absolutely positively should order a bag of coffee to enjoy with it.

Great coffee cake and exceptional coffee… that’s what I call a perfect match.

Miss Ellie's Cinnamon Coffee Cake