It’s that time of year again, when people start looking forward to drinking green frosty drinks. I looked at three shamrock shake recipes, a regular shake, a diet shake, and a lactose free shake.

The first recipe I wanted to look at was the traditional shamrock shake. It looks super easy and you might just have the the stuff to make it in your home. Here is what you need:

• 3 cups vanilla ice cream
• 1 3/4 cup whole milk
•  1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract
• green food coloring
• whipped cream and cherry (if wanted)

In a blender put in ice cream, whole milk, peppermint extract and food coloring.

Mix until smooth.

When adding food coloring add just a few drops.

In this case a little goes a long way.

The next recipe I looked at was a diet shake. What you will need is:

• 3 1/2 bananas
• 5 spinach leaves
• 1 tablespoon mini chocolate
• 3/4 teaspoon peppermint extract
• 2 tablespoon low-fat wiped cream

Put all the stuff in a blender and mix it up. With the food coloring a little goes a long way. If you feel that you are having a hard time hiding the spinach leaves with the amount of peppermint extract just add a little more at a time to hide the taste.

The last recipe I looked at was a lactose free shamrock shake. What you will need is:

• 2 cups vanilla soy milk ice cream
• 1  1/4 cup unsweetened vanilla almond breeze
• 1/4 teaspoon mint extract
• 8 drops food coloring

Mix in blender until smooth.

Holiday Recipes

Here are some delicious, easy recipes for this holiday season!

Homemade Cheesy Potatoes

3 pounds Russet Potatoes, peeled

4 tablespoons Butter, divided

1/2 cup Yellow Onion, diced small

1 clove Garlic, minced

2-1/2 tablespoons All-Purpose Flour

1/2 cup Low-Sodium Chicken Broth

1/2 cup Whole Milk

1 cup Sour Cream

3 Green Onions, sliced

3/4 teaspoon Kosher Salt

1/2 teaspoon Black Pepper

1 cup grated Sharp Colby Cheese

Directions:

1. Peel a pound of potatoes
2. Slice the potatoes into planks, then strips and dice into cubes. Add the potatoes into a pot of cold water, bring to a boil and cook for 8 minutes. Remove and drain the potatoes and set into a sink. Let the potatoes cool.
3. In a 10-inch skillet add three tablespoons of butter. Over medium-low melt the butter and then add in the diced onions. Cook until just softened and add in the minced garlic. Cook for one minute.
4. Add small amount of four in the flour and stir, cooking for 2-3 minutes. While stirring, pour in the 1/2 cup of broth and 1/2 cup of whole milk. Continue to stir until thick, about 5-8 minutes.
5. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the cup of cold sour cream.
6. In a large bowl add in the cooled potatoes, onion and sour cream mixture, green onions, salt, pepper and grated Colby cheese. Stir to combine and pour in the prepared pan.
7. Bake at 350 degree oven for 1 hour or until bubbly and lightly golden. Let cool for 20-25 minutes before serving.

Green Bean casserole:

1. 1 can of Cream of Mushroom Soup  
2. 1/2 cup  milk
3. 1 teaspoon  soy sauce
4. 1 dash  black pepper
5. 4 cups cooked cut green beans
6. 1 1/3 cups french fried Onions

Directions:

1. Stir the soup, milk, soy sauce, black pepper, beans and 2/3 cup onions in a bowl.
2. Pour into a casserole dish.
3. Bake at 350°F. for 25 minutes or until the casserole is hot and bubbling. Stir casserole and sprinkle with the remaining french fried onions.
4. Bake for another 5 minutes or until the onions are golden brown.

Chocolate Chip Cookies:

1. 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
2. 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
3. 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
4. 1/2 cup granulated sugar
5. 1 cup packed light-brown sugar
6. 1 teaspoon salt
7. 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
8. 2 large eggs
9. 2 cups semisweet and/or milk chocolate chips

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. In a small bowl whisk together the flour and baking soda and set aside.
3. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the butter with both sugars, beat on medium speed until light and fluffy. Reduce speed to low and add the salt, vanilla, and eggs. Beat until well mixed.
4. Add in the flour mixture and mix until just combined. Stir in the chocolate chips.
5. Drop tablespoon-size balls of dough about 2 inches apart on baking sheets lined with parchment paper.
6. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes.
7. Remove from oven, and let cool on baking sheet 1 to 2 minutes.
8. Let cool completely.

Eggnog:

1. 4 cups milk
2. 5 whole cloves
3. 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
4. 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
5. 12 egg yolks

Directions:

1. Combine milk, cloves, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla, and cinnamon in a saucepan and heat over lowest setting for 5 minutes. Slowly bring milk mixture to a boil.
2. In a large bowl, combine egg yolks and sugar. Whisk together until fluffy.
3. Whisk hot milk mixture slowly into the eggs. Pour mixture into saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring for 3 minutes, or until the mixture is thick.
4. Do not allow mixture to boil. Strain to remove cloves, and let cool for about an hour.
5. Stir in, cream, 2 teaspoon vanilla, and nutmeg. Refrigerate overnight before serving.

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SWEET AFTER SCHOOL SNACK!

Tired of having nothing to eat at home. Well, have I got the answer for you. I have an easy recipes that you can have done in a flash.

This recipe is the 2 minute apple crisp

All you need is

• Slice and peeled apple
• 2 tbsp quick cooking oats
• 2 tbsp of flour
• 2 tbsp brown sugar
• 1 tbs butter
• ¼ tsp of cinnamon
• pinch of salt

What you need to do is you need to get a mug.

• Once you get the mug you put the slice peeled apple in first.
• Microwave the peeled apple slices for 60 seconds.
• Then you add the 2 tbs of quick cooking oats.
• Then the 2 tbsp of flour. 1 tbsp of brown sugar. 1 tbsp of butter. ¼ tsp of cinnamon.
• Then finally a pinch of salt.
• Microwave the mug for 30 seconds.
• And then take it out and stir it.
• Then put it back in for another 30 seconds.

Exactly 2 min it’s great for a afternoon snack or for some dessert after lunch.  

Do you like popcorn? Do you like candy? Have you thought about trying to combine the two? If so, then a popcorn ball may be for you.

Online, there are many recipes. I decided to compared these three recipes. I thought that all of the recipes were good, but I thought that the Martha Stewart one was the best of the three. I thought that the Food Network one was simple, but it was just missing something. I thought that the Karo Syrup one was good too, but it was not my favorite.

Food Network

Things you will need

• 2 cups suger
• 1 1/3 cup water
• 1/2 cup light corn syrup
• 1 teaspoon white vinegar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 18 cups poped corn

Here is what you need to do

1. In a medium saucepan, combine sugar, water, syrup, vinegar, and salt. Cook over high heat until mixture reaches 255 degrees F
2. Stir in vanilla. Pour over popped corn, tossing gently to coat.
3. When mixture is cool enough to handle, press popcorn into 3-inch balls with lightly greased hands. Cool completely on waxed paper.

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/paula-deen/popcorn-balls-recipe.html

Martha Stewart recipe

• 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, plus more for buttering hands
• 1 package miniature marshmallows (10 ounces)
• 1/4 cup light brown sugar, firmly packed
• 3 quarts popped popcorn

1. Melt butter in a large heavy pot over low heat. Add marshmallows and brown sugar and stir until melted. Remove from heat.

2. Pour popcorn and cranberries, or English toffee bits if using, into pot; toss well. With buttered hands, shape into 2 1/2-inch balls. Set on parchment lined baking sheet to dry slightly.

http://www.marthastewart.com/339167/popcorn-balls

The last recipe is from Karo Syrup

• 3 quarts (12 cups) popped popcorn
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup Karo® Light OR Dark Corn Syrup
• 1/4 cup butter or margarine
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon Spice Islands® Pure Vanilla Extract
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1. Spray large roasting pan with cooking spray; add popcorn and place in 300ºF oven until warm. (Popcorn can also be warmed in a large microwave safe bowl for 1 to 2 minutes on HIGH (100%) power.)
2. Combine sugar, corn syrup, butter and salt in a heavy 2-quart saucepan. Stirring constantly, bring to boil over medium heat. Continue stirring and boil 2 minutes.
3. Remove syrup mixture from heat; stir in vanilla and baking soda. Pour syrup mixture over warm popcorn stirring to coat well. Cover hands with two plastic bags, spray bags lightly with cooking spray. Working quickly shape twelve 3-inch popcorn balls.
4. Cool completely. Wrap individually in plastic wrap.

http://karosyrup.com/Recipe/Popcorn_Balls

Get ready for fall with easy, healthy, and creative snacks to satisfy your sweet tooth. Get inventive with the typical fall foods such as pumpkin, apples, and caramel. It’s easy to convert such sweet goodies into healthy snacks with simple to make recipes. Here are a few examples of recipes that are fun and easy to make at home and to take advantage of the delicious seasonal foods of fall.

Inside out Apples : A Creative Twist to Making Caramel Apples More Enjoyable.

If you enjoy caramel apples and creative ways to try new things, here is a recipe perfect for you! This snack gives the traditional caramel apple an interesting twist that makes it more fun to eat and share among friends. All this recipe requires is caramel of your choice and your favorite type apples. Depending on the amount of people that are being served, you decide how much you think you will need to serve this recipe.

First, cut the apples in half vertically.

Then, with a deep spoon, hollow out the center so that there is no longer a core.

After, melt the caramel at a low temperature and pour into the hollowed apple until full.

Then let the apple halves sit in the fridge for about 30 mins or until the caramel has hardened.

Once it has hardened, cut the apple into slices to serve.

Lastly, enjoy this delicious snack and share with friends!

More on this recipe on this link : https://betterhalfweddings.wordpress.com/2012/11/19/inside-out-caramel-apples-slices/

Apple Pumpkin Muffins : Zero Sugar and All Natural Ingredients.

These muffins combine all the fall favorite flavors. This muffin recipe requires apples, fall spices (pumpkin spice and cinnamon) and the basic baking goods that are needed to create these tasty treats. These muffins are also a healthy alternative snack due to natural ingredients and the use of honey instead of sugar for sweetening. More information on this recipe and baking instructions see the link below:

http://weelicious.com/2010/10/18/pumpkin-apple-muffins/