Friday Favorites – Week 214 – With 5 COOL Drinks

friday favorites

I’m so happy things are finally warming up around here. That means it’s time for warm weather desserts, especially ice cream, shakes, and other frozen delights! In anticipation of the hot summer months, I’m featuring 5 COOL Drinks!

Guest Post Opportunity!!  Speaking of the hot summer weather, last year I hosted a series of guest posts featuring summer recipes from our bloggy friends, and I’d love to continue that tradition this year!  Your summer recipe could be a dessert (ice cream, pies, cakes, etc.) but it doesn’t have to be.  Summer salads, barbecue recipes, and anything else summer related is also welcome.  If you would like to be a part of my summer recipe series, please send an email to simplysweethome@hotmail.com and I’ll be sure to add you to my invite list! [Read more…]

4 Low-Fat, Low-Calorie Treats with TEN Drinks #TENways

This shop is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group™ and Dr. Pepper Snapple Group but all my opinions are my own. #pmedia #TENways  http://my-disclosur.es/OBsstV.

Ten Drinks

Spring is finally here, and swimsuit season is just around the corner!  A well-balanced and low-calorie diet, along with exercise can help you get in shape and stay in shape for the summer season, but it is not easy to give up the foods and drinks we love.  The Dr. Pepper Snapple Group is here to help with their Four TEN products  are.  Full of flavor and only ten calories per serving, the Core Ten products are a great low-calorie alternative to your favorite drink.   The TEN beverages include 7UP, Sunkist, A&W, and Canada Dry. [Read more…]

Nutella Hot Chocolate

Nutella Hot Chocolate

I just love hot chocolate in winter!  Usually I go for a little milk and the powdered mix.  (It’s simple. It’s good!) But here lately I’ve been wanting to experiment with a little Nutella.  With just two ingredients (milk and Nutella) you can make a perfectly delicious cup of Nutella Hot Chocolate: [Read more…]

12 Favorite Foods of 2013

12 Favorite Foods of 2013

To celebrate the New Year, I’m looking back at some of last year’s posts.  Today I’m presenting 12 of my favorite foods of 2013.  We’ve got main courses, cookies, pies, cakes, drinks, and more! Hope you enjoy! [Read more…]

Spiced White Hot Chocolate on a Stick from Maysem at Ode to Inspiration

Today I am happy to present a guest post from Maysem at Ode to Inspiration.  If you like hot chocolate, I’m sure you love her recipe!
Ode to Inspiration Button

With the cold season already here, we need to keep warm! What sweet way to keep warm than with a nice cup of hot chocolate! Today I’m sharing one of my favorite hot chocolate recipes… Spiced White Hot Chocolate on a stick!

Spiced-White-Hot-Chocolate-on-a-Stick

Ingredients:

24 oz White Chocolate (best-quality chocolate is recommended)

1 can (14 oz) Sweetened Condensed Milk

1/2 cup Heavy Cream

2 teaspoons Cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon Nutmeg

Cooking Spray

Popsicle Sticks

Steps:

1. Line an 8 x 8 dish with aluminum foil and spray it with cooking spray. Set aside.

2. Place the chocolate in a large bowl. Set aside.

3. In a small sauce pan, combine the condensed milk and heavy cream. Over medium-low heat bring the mixture to a simmer stirring frequently.

4. Pour the mixture over the chocolate and let it sit for a minute. Then stir the chocolate until it’s melted and smooth.

5. Add the cinnamon and nutmeg to the chocolate, and stir until well combined.

6. Pour the chocolate in the prepared 8 x 8 dish. Refrigerate for 4 hours or overnight.

7. Once set, slice 25 pieces and insert popsicle sticks in each piece. Feel free to sprinkle each piece with some cinnamon.

Tip: I find it easier to cut the chocolate when it’s removed from the dish. To remove, just lift the chocolate with the foil. For smooth cuts, heat a knife in a hot cup of water, wipe dry, and then cut. Wipe knife after each cut and reheat knife if necessary.

Spiced White Hot Chocolate

When ready to serve, stir in a cup (8 oz) of hot milk. Garnish it with some marshmallows and cinnamon. Keep warm and enjoy!

These can be stored in the refrigerator in a tightly covered container for up to 2 weeks. They can also be stored in the refrigerator in individual plastic treat bags.

Spiced-White-Hot-Chocolate-on-a-Stick-Snowman-Shaped

To have more fun with this recipe, use small cookie cutters or molds to create cute shapes. For cookie cutters, use a 9 x 13 baking dish instead. Lightly spray the cookie cutter before cutting. For molds, lightly spray each cavity. The little ones will love the fun shapes… us big ones too!

I hope you enjoyed today’s recipe. I’d love to have you stop by Ode to Inspiration for more fun ideas. You can also follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram. Hope to see you around!

 

Thanks so much to Maysem for being here today! Be sure to follow her over at Ode Inspiration!

Friday Favorites – Week 195 – with Holiday Drinks

friday favorites

Hello! Welcome to another edition of Friday Favorites!  I’m really enjoying your holiday posts and am happy to be featuring some holiday drinks this week!

But before we get to this week’s features, I’d like to invite you to enter a couple of my giveaways, which are ending soon.

Diamond Candle Review and Giveaway

First off, I’m giving away a Diamond Candle, and this was a short giveaway, so it’s a LOW ENTRY giveaway, which means you have a great chance to win!

Ornament Wreath Giveaway

And then I’ve just a couple of days left for my Ornament Wreath Giveaway! [Read more…]

Guest Post: Campari Cranberry Orange Mimosa from Diane at Simple Living and Eating

Today we’ve got another holiday treat! Today’s is an adult friendly treat, perfect to serve at your holiday cocktail parties. It comes to us from Diane at Simple Living and Eating.  She is sharing her Campari Cranberry Orange Mimosa!

Campari Cocktails

Hi I’m Diane Balch and I am coming to you from Simple Living and Eating a blog dedicated to the Mediterranean Diet and Lifestyle. [Read more…]

Banana Pudding Milkshake

Banana Pudding Shake with Blue Belle
Today I have an amazingly simple treat for you!  Growing up, I absolutely LOVED banana pudding in the summer time! Last year I tried Chick-Fil-A’s Banana Pudding Milkshake and was absolutely in love, but of course, they only had it for a limited time.  So this spring I found myself basking in the glory of Zaxby’s Banana Pudding Milkshake, which is just as equally delicious!  I now hear that it will be a permanent menu item at Zaxby’s….and indeed, they’ve just now brought back the shake at Chick-Fil-A (again, for a limited time).

But the other day I decided that I wanted to make my own.  I remembered trying some banana pudding ice cream by Blue Belle years ago, so I went to Wal-Mart with high hopes and was very excited to find this ice cream in my freezer. Yay!  Now I can have a banana pudding milkshake any time I want, and I get a lot more shake for my buck!

By the way, I made this shake using my Ninja! That thing is awesome!

[Read more…]

Friday Favorites – Week 175

friday favorites

Hello all! Welcome another fun edition of Friday Favorites! This week we’ve got a free round of drinks for you from our bloggy friends! Hope you enjoy. I can’t wait too see your posts like up below!

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Guest Post: Sparkling Strawberry Lemonade from Melissa of Melissa’s Cuisine

I’m very excited to present some guest recipe posts this months from some of our Friday Favorites bloggers!  If you wish to share one of your recipes as a guest blogger, I’d love to give you the opportunity. Just shoot me an email.  This month, our guests are sharing some favorite summertime recipes.  We are starting with Melissa from Melissa’s Cuisine.

[Read more…]