You're summer should never be without...

Lemonade! I love lemonade! Seriously if I could drink lemonade every time I'm thirsty...I'd be a happy girl. But unfortunately the calories hold me back. Not that lemonade is bad for you or loaded with an unusual amount of calories, it's just that a girl only has so many calories in a day and I have to draw the line somewhere. So I'm mostly a water drinker.

But when I decide to indulge, or I'm pregnant and can't fight the craving, this recipe is my "go to". It's also great for holidays, parties, and book club dinners. This is what I served last week at our book club dinner, and I probably drank half of it myself!

STRAWBERRY OR ANY BERRY LEMONADE
(Mindi Original)

1 can frozen pink lemonade concentrate
1 quart fresh strawberries or 1pkg. frozen strawberries*
1 quart Lemon Lime Soda (sprite, 7up, or Shasta)

1. If using fresh strawberries, wash and de-stem then place in a blender with ½ C. water. Blend into a fine puree. If using frozen strawberries, allow to slightly defrost. Then place in a blender and puree as above.
2. Take the strawberry puree and place it in a fine sieve. Using a spatula or the back of a spoon, push the puree through the sieve until all the juice has been removed and only the thick pulp and seeds are left. It will take some time, so be patient. It's totally worth it, I promise! It will look like this when you're at the end...

3. Discard the pulp and seeds. You should have about 1 ½ - 2 cups of strawberry juice that looks like this... Pure strawberry juice with out all those bitter seeds. It's the most delicious strawberry juice or sauce you will ever taste. Pure goodness!

4. Mix up the pink lemonade according to the instructions on the can.
5. Right before serving, combine the pink lemonade, strawberry juice and soda.

*You can make this with any variety of berry or fruit for that matter. I've made Raspberry, Blackberry, Kiwi, Mango and Mixed Berry. When I make the Kiwi and Mango I use regular lemonade instead of pink lemonade. I'd love to hear if you try another fun flavor.

Baby it's cold outside...

I knew winter would strike with a vengeance! I had a doctors appointment this morning and the thermometer registered a whopping 9 degrees. Burrrr! Maybe I'm a wimp, or maybe it's because I'm pregnant, but I have not wanted to leave the house all week. It's just so so cold.

That's why I made this yummy stuff. I'm usually not much of a "hot" drink person. Most people think I'm crazy, but I'm not even a hot chocolate fan. So when I am willing, or even craving, something hot to warm my blood...it must be really cold outside!

This recipe was also an excuse to use my POM Wonderful juice. This stuff is yummy and incredibly healthy; Bottled goodness! My mind is swimming with some other creative and delicious applications for this "wonderful" stuff. Also, if your a Costco shopper, there's a $2 off coupon for POM Wonderful juice effective until Dec. 20th.


APPLE ORANGE POMEGRANATE CIDER
(Mindi Original)

4 C. Apple juice or cider
2 C. orange juice
1 C. POM Wonderful pomegranate juice (optional)

1 cinnamon stick

1/4 t. nutmeg

1/4 t. ground cloves

2 T. honey

1 t. vanilla

1. Combine all ingredients into a large stock pot.

2. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for about 30-45 minutes.

3. Serves 4-6.

Monkey Love :)

Who doesn't love a good shake? I've always loved throwing together a quick protein or yogurt shake for an on the go breakfast or lunch. They can also be a very healthy nigh time snack. But most recently I've found them to be the easiest and quickest way to get healthy fruits, proteins and vitamins into my little monkey.

I have several recipes for protein and yogurt shakes, but this is always a hit. I mean what monkey doesn't lover herself a little banana from time to time?


BANANA YOGURT SHAKE
(Mindi Original)

3 medium ripe but firm bananas; broken into pieces
½ C. whole or 2% milk
1 C. low fat vanilla yogurt
1 C. ice
¼ t. nutmeg or Cinnamon

1. In a blender combine the banana’s and milk. Puree until smooth.
2. Add the yogurt, ice and nutmeg. Blend until the ice is finely crushed.
3. Serve immediately.
4. Serves 4. (150 Calories each)

*For a huge boost in sustaining energy, add a scoop of protein powder to this yummy shake.