Iced Coffee

As many of you know, I am currently reading The Pioneer Woman: Black Heels to Tractor Wheels--A Love Story By Ree Drummond and as I was browsing the internet just the other night I came across the picture below which just happened to be the Pioneer Woman's recipe for iced coffee. After seeing this picture, I was immediately inspired to make my own iced coffee served in a mason jar with a colorful straw. I am not a regular coffee drinker, but nothing gives you that extra pep in your step on a hot summer afternoon like an iced coffee!

Perfect Iced Coffee from The Pioneer Woman
Servings 24

Ingredients

1 pound Ground Coffee (good, Rich Roast)
8 quarts Cold Water
Half-and-half (healthy Splash Per Serving)
Sweetened Condensed Milk (2-3 Tablespoons Per Serving)
Note: Can Use Skim Milk, 2% Milk, Whole Milk, Sugar, Artificial Sweeteners, Syrups...adapt to your liking!

Directions
(Adapted from Imbibe Magazine)

In a large container, mix ground coffee with water. Cover and allow to sit at room temperature eight hours or overnight.

Line a fine mesh strainer with cheesecloth and set over a pitcher or other container. Pour coffee/water mixture through the strainer, allowing all liquid to run through. Discard grounds.

Place coffee liquid in the fridge and allow to cool. Use as needed.

To make iced coffee, pack a glass full of ice cubes. Fill glass 2/3 full with coffee liquid. Add healthy splash of half-and-half. Add 2-3 tablespoons sweetened condensed milk (can use plain sugar instead) and stir to combine. Taste and adjust half-and-half and/or sweetened condensed milk as needed.

ENJOY!

Thirsty Thursday: Skinnygirl Sangria

How to Make Skinnygirl Sangria
By Bethenny Frankel

Ingredients

8 peaches, pitted and sliced
4 white plums, pitted and sliced
1 pound green grapes, cut in half
3 bottles Prosecco (an Italian sparkling wine)
One 12oz. can Fresca or diet lemon/lime soda
One 12oz. can club soda

Directions

Combine all the ingredients and let chill for atleast one hour. Serve over ice.



ENJOY!

Skinny Drink

Here's a different take on ice tea that combines the health benefits of green tea with the sweet tang of lemonade. Even better, it's extremely easy to make.

Green Tea Lemonade

Ingredients:

Green Tea Bags
Fresh Lemonade
Water
Ice
Mint (optional)

Directions:

Pour 1 cup brewed green tea over a glass of ice. Add a splash of fresh lemonade, and garnish with a mint sprig (optional).

Each serving only has 14 calories, plus it's loaded with antioxidants.

Drink up!

Drink Up!

Have you heard of this stuff? I first learned about Emergen-C about 3 years ago from one of my co-workers. I had always seen this stuff in the aisles of Target, Walmart, Walgreen's, CVS, and the list goes on, but I never paid it any attention mostly because I assumed it tasted like sh*t!

Well I finally gave it a try almost two years ago when I got off a flight home and felt like I was coming down with a cold. I had no idea what it would taste like or if it would even work, but at that point nothing could make it worse, so I gave it a shot! To this day I believe it kept me from getting sick with it's high dose of Vitamin C, but even it it's not I'm hooked and it tastes great!

Just about every morning I pour two packets of Emergen-C Super Orange into my water bottle and drink away! As I mentioned in my 2011 resolutions, drinking plenty of water has always been a struggle for me, but by adding two packets of Emergen-C and it's extra flavor I am about to drink a bottle of water in no time flat!


After being around several sick friends and family members over the holidays, I thought I would share this product with you. Anything we can do to help prevent our bodies from getting sick this time of year is a good thing. I have been making sure to get my daily dose after all the sickness that has been going around!

Besides including 1,000 mg of vitamin C, Emergen-C includes 7 B vitamins to enhance energy naturally and electrolytes to refuel and replenish post-workout. If super orange and a large dose of vitamin C isn't for you, Emergen-C offers over 20 varieties of vitamin drink mixes and flavors!

Happy New Year!

As I look back on 2010, many memories come to mind. In 2010, I continued to grow and progress to be successful at work, my relationships with family and friends strengthen and grew, celebrated the engagements of cousins and friends, started this blog, traveled to new places, made plans for the future, and made many more memories big and small.

If you have been following my blog from the beginning you probably remember one of my first posts about my New Year's Resolution for 2010 and philosophy if you will on resolutions. Well 2010 didn't change how I feel about making resolutions, but I have put lots of time and effort in to making my New Year's Resolutions for 2011 after successfully completing my resolution for 2010, which was a success by the way! Without further ado...

Katie's 2011 Resolutions

1. Drink MORE water. I don't drink enough water. period. I have always been that way and I want to change that about myself in 2011. It bothers me because I know its not good for my body. Water is a vital part of your body's health and I know my body is severely lacking. It's not that I am choosing other drinks over water, I actually just rarely drink anything. When I am thirsty I usually only drink milk or water with the occasional sweet tea if I go out to lunch or a glass of wine at dinner on the weekends. So here's to drinking more water to keep my body hydrated and healthy in 2011!

2. Read. In 2010 I feel like I got away from reading, wait I know its a fact, I definitely got away from reading. I wouldn't say it's because I lost interest in reading, I really feel as though I just got busy with other interests. My goal for 2011 is to not only get back in to reading, but to make a reading list and to challenge myself to read 10 books in 2011. Anyone want to join me?

3. Try something new. I don't exactly know what I want to try that is "new" to me, but I do have a few ideas. I want this resolution to force me to step outside my comfort zone with the hope that it will become a part of my life from this point forward.

4. Blogging. To continue to grow and create this blog. I have a subcategory of blogging goals for 2011, but I promise there will be some changes, all for the better I hope!

What's your "philosophy" on New Year's resolutions? Do you agree with making resolutions at the beginning of the year or not? What about spending time reflecting on the previous year?

Here's to starting 2011 on the right foot and putting my resolutions in to action!

Halloween Inspired Cocktails

Looking for some Halloween party ideas? Well look no further! I was recently paging through the Pottery Barn catalog that came in the mail and noticed they had some neat ideas for a Halloween party and thought I would share two of their cocktail recipes with y'all.

To be honest, I don't like dressing up for Halloween. If you twist my arm I will certainly do it, but it is not something I plan or look forward to myself. I enjoy Halloween for two reasons: 1) seeing little kids all dressed up and 2) all the candy. Who doesn't enjoy celebrating a holiday that is full of candy and more candy???

Whether you are like me or are the complete opposite and go all out on Halloween, I thought the cocktail recipes below were easy yet creative for any Halloween celebration!

Ghoul-a-tini

Serves 1. To make a batch for a party, multiply recipe by the number of guests.

*Give this classic a Halloween makeover with a pair of onion "eyeballs."

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon dry vermouth
3 ounces gin
2 cocktail onion "eyeballs" for garnish

Preparation:

Chill martini glasses in the freezer or fill with ice and water
Pour the vermouth in a cocktail shaker or glass, swirl around to coat the sides of the shaker then pour it out.
Fill the cocktail shaker or mixing glass with two thirds full of ice cubes. Pour in the gin. Shake or stir in glass for 15-30 seconds.
Strain the drink in to the chilled glass.

**For the "eyeballs" pierce two cocktail onions with a paring knife and place one large black whole peppercorn in the slit of each. Spear the onions with a cocktail pick, place in glass and serve.


Monster-ita
Serves 1. To make a batch for a party, multiply recipe by the number of guests.

Ingredients:

1 1/2 ounces premium tequila
1 ounce fresh lime juice
1 ounce Cointreau or other orange liqueur
1 teaspoon simple syrup
drop of red food coloring
sliced lime, for garnish

Preparation:

Fill a cocktail shaker with crushed ice and ingredients above.
Shake well to blend.
Pour over ice into salted and chilled over sized Margarita glass.
Add lime to garnish: place one drop of red food coloring at the top of the lime and let it drip down like blood.

ENJOY!

Flaxseed & A Smoothie Recipe

Worried about your heart health or lowering your cholesterol? Flaxseed can help! What's found inside each flaxseed or flaxseed meal could be better health.

F is for Fiber. Just two tablespoons of flaxseed meal delivers 4 grams of fiber, as much fiber as 1-1/2 cups of cooked oatmeal! Studies suggest that when flaxseed meal is added to the diet, harmful LDL cholesterol drops, while good HDL cholesterol stays put.

L is for Lignans. Here's where the flaxseed story gets major points. Flaxseed contains high levels of nautral antioxidants called lignans. The lignans in flaxseed can bind with circulating substances that might promote unchecked cell growth. Many plant foods have some lingnans, but flaxseed has 75 times more than any other. To get the lignans that are in just two tablespoons of flaxseed meal, you'd need to eat about 30 cups of fresh broccoli. Lignan in flax seed shows a lot of promise in fighting disease--including a possible role in cancer prevention especially breast cancer.

A is for Alpha-linolenic Acid. Modern diets-even healthy ones- are routinely deficient in omega-3s. Flaxseed is a mega-source for the plant version of omega-3 called alpha-linolenic acid. The oil in flaxseed is about 50% alpha-linolenic acid. Canola and walnut oils, the next highest sources, have about 10%. But most foods have far less. One serving of flaxseed meal contains 2400 milligrams of omega-3.

X is for Excellent choice. Should you consider adding flaxseed meal to your diet? "Absolutely," say many doctors and nutritionists.

How to use flaxseed meal:

• Sprinkle on hot or cold cereal.
• Blend into juice or smoothies
• Sprinkle on salads.
• Add to meatballs or meatloaf.
• Sprinkle on yogurt.
• Mix into casseroles.

Flaxseed meal has a light nutty flavor.

Just recently I’ve started eating yogurt again, Greek yogurt to be exact and I thought what a better way to add protein to my diet then making incorporating it in to a smoothie some mornings for breakfast and it's also an easy way to add flaxseed in to my diet.

Smoothie Recipe

Ingredients:

½ cup of Greek Yogurt (I used raspberry flavored yogurt)

1 banana

2 tablespoons flaxseed meal

Several ice cubes

Splash of Water or Milk


Directions:

Cut banana in to multiple pieces and place in blender. Scoop yogurt and flaxseed and place in blender on top of banana.

Add several ice cubs and a splash of water or skim milk. Blend for 30 seconds.

If smoothie is too thick add more water or milk.

ENJOY!

Summer Beer Punch

Here is a recipe for a refreshing summer punch. It's the perfect drink for a summer cookout or porch party with your girlfriends.

Ingredients:

1 can frozen raspberry lemonade concentrate
1/2 cup vodka
3 and 1/2 beers. I use Mich Ultra and it turns out delicious.
1 cup fresh or frozen raspberries
Sliced lemons and limes

Directions:

Stir all ingredients together, adding the beer and raspberries when you are ready to serve.

ENJOY!

Disclaimer: So I know you are probably wondering what has gotten in to me with posting all these drink recipes, so I wanted to let you all know I am not a drunk. I share these drink recipes with you because they are something that I have enjoyed and shared with my friends in hopes you will do that same while being responsible. I am not preaching, I am just saying!

Bloody Marys

I enjoy Bloody Marys probably a little too much, but I absolutely love a drink that is both salty and spicy. Through my process of sipping and sampling bloody marys from various restaurants, bars, and as a guest in friend's homes, I pin pointed two key ingredients that are necessary for a perfect bloody mary.

We all know there are many choices when it comes to drink mixers, so much so it is overwhelming at times. Most of the time when you are in need of mixer it's for a sugary drink like pina coladas, strawberry daqauris, etc. and how can you really go wrong when its sugar and more sugar. On the other hand, it seems hard to find a Bloody Mary mix that isn't bland. Like I said earlier, the reason why I like Bloody Marys is for the devine combination of salt and spice. Look no further than Zing Zang. It is the only Bloody Mary mix out of a bottle that I have been able to find with spicy flavor. There is nothing worse then vodka and tomato juice if you ask me.

Absolut Peppar. Yes, there is actually a purpose for this flavor vodka. If you are like me when this vodka debuted a few years ago and there was advertisement after advertisement for Absolut Peppar in magazines, I kept thinking to myself, what drink could possibly call for pepper flavored vodka? Then it hit me! Bloody Mary's,duh! And I can tell you from first hand experience it makes a huge difference. It adds extra zing the drink!

Now that you know the two key ingredients for a delicious Bloody Mary, here are some additional ideas of how to take your drink to the next level!

Rim the glass first with lime juice then with Old Bay seasoning or celery salt
Add a celery stalk or pickle spear to the inside of the glass
Add as much horseradish as desired for added spice
Garnish with a slice of lemon or lime and/or a piece of shrimp

ENJOY!

Champagne Magaritas? Yes, Please!

It was a week ago today that I was celebrating my birthday. To keep the celebration going, I thought I would share a recipe that I recently discovered that puts a new twist on one of my all time favorite drinks, margaritas. The twist in this recipe is champagne, which I agree seems strange, but it works! Get ready because this recipe will have you hooked after the first drink! So hooked, drinks like these should come with a warning--it's too easy to drink, even for those who aren't big fans of tequila.

The champagne rounds out the strong flavors of the tequila and lime, adding bubbles and a wonderful flavor that will have you reaching for flute after flute.

Champagne Margaritas

(You can double or triple this recipe to make it for a crowd.)

Ingredients:

Finely grated zest (colored part only) from one lime
1 cup fresh lime juice
1 cup Cointreau
1 cup 100% agave silver tequila
Superfine sugar, if needed for adding sweetness
Half a lime for moistening the glass rims
Coarse (kosher) salt
1 bottle chilled Brut Champagne

Directions:

1. Make the margarita mixture: In a pitcher, combine the lime zest, lime juice, Cointreau, and tequila. Taste the mixture. If you like the flavor (it will be quite tart), leave the mixture as is; if it's too tart for you, stir in a little superfine sugar. Cover and refrigerate until chilled , about 1 hour.

2. Serve: Strain the mixture to remove the zest. Moisten the rims of eight 6-ounce Champagne glasses with the cut side of the lime half. Spread coarse salt on a small plate, then upend the glasses into the salt to crust the rims. Fill each glass halfway with the margarita (it'll take a generous 1/2 cup). Slowly fill the rest of the way with Champagne and hand to one of your lucky guests!

ENJOY!

Making Your Own Spa Cucumber Water

For a refreshing, calorie free, cost free beverage, try adding a couple of slices of cucumber (scrubbed, but not peeled) to a glass or pitcher of ice water. It's heavenly!

Cucumber water improves the taste of tap water. Spa aficionados already experience the benefits of cucumber water for improving the look of your skin. On top of it, the drink is easy to make at home.

Cucumber Water Recipe

*In order for the cucumber to fully release its juice, you need to prepare it the day before your event.

Ingredients:

1 cucumber sliced and peeled + 6-7 cucumber slices for decoration
1 1/2 to 2 liters of filtered water
Half a lemon sliced and unpeeled (optional)
Ice cubes

Directions:

In a pitcher mix the water, cucumber, and lemon (optional). Let it rest in the refigerator for 24hours. If you prepare the water at the last minute. cut the first cucumber in 3 to 4 pieces. Then squeeze the cucumber pieces to release all the juice.

Before serving remove the cucumber slices used to flavor the water. Then stir with a wooden spoon, add some ice cubes, and 6 or 7 fresh cucumber slices.

Enjoy this refreshing drink!