Drink

December 17, 2015

Dairy-Free Hot Cocoa Mix In a Jar

This dairy-free hot cocoa mix in a jar is super delicious and also makes a great gift! Free, printable tags are included. Scroll down to view and print.

I can’t think of a more perfect drink to enjoy with my family around the holidays than hot cocoa! Whether you’re watching classic Christmas movies or sitting around the fire, hot cocoa is such a warm and delicious treat that the whole family can enjoy! This mix makes a comforting, rich, and chocolatey mug of cocoa—everything a good cup ought to be!

Here’s an easy mix that you can create to make a cup of delicious cocoa anytime and in just a matter of minutes! I use a special blend of coconut sugar, dark cocoa powder, and mini chocolate chips to make this mix. The coconut sugar adds such a delicious flavor and the dark cocoa along with the melted chocolate gives it the richness that I love. Ah, it’s just so yummy!

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July 24, 2015

Blueberry-Lavender Fauxjito

This blueberry-lavender fauxjito is a refreshing twist on a classic mojito. Full of wholesome ingredients and takes only minutes to make.

It’s the middle of July and I am now beginning to see just how hot the midwest can get. Apparently, the mild temps of last summer, our first year in Oklahoma, was a fluke. My hopes for another easy, breezy summer are dashed each time I take a step outside and get slapped in the face with a thick blanket of hot moisture. I can take the near 100 degree temps, it’s the 80+ percent humidity that’s the kicker.

Humidity and thick, wavy hair do.not.get.along. I’ve come to accept that my hair must be tamed by braid, bun, or hat for the next few months. Oh well, at least it saves time getting ready….

February 25, 2015

Raspberry Green Tea Lemonade With Chia

A refreshing raspberry green tea lemonade with chia seeds! It’s both healthy and delicious!

I am a sucker for overpriced drinks. I seriously should’ve bought stock in Starbucks. Lately, I’ve been loving these bottled chia drinks at the checkout line. It’s one little yummy treat I get all to myself (that is, unless my husband’s around!)

$4 here and there does start to add up though. The good news is that it’s very easy to make them at home. The even better news is that it’s just as delicious AND more cost effective! Your wallet says “yay!”

I wanted to make a refreshing flavor combination using simple ingredients, preferably ones I already had on hand. I decided to use green tea, raspberries, lemons, honey, and chia seeds. I think it made a wonderful combination too!

This drink is not only delicious, it packs a powerful nutritional punch:

Green tea contains helpful antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties
Lemons are rich in vitamin C and can help flush the body of toxins
Raspberries also contain antioxidants, many nutritious vitamins, and help with digestion
Chia Seeds are a superfood high in fiber, antioxidant rich, and full of omega-3 fatty acids

In order to get the chia seeds evenly dispersed, it’s best to gel the chia seeds in water before mixing them with the other liquids. Otherwise they will sink to the bottom and then you’ll get big clumps of chia gel in your last few sips. That even sounds gross to me..and I love chia seeds!

When the seeds are gelled and have soaked up all of the water, it should be thick and pudding-like. That’s when you know they’re ready to mix with the raspberry tea and lemon juice. Mix it together and serve immediately or chill until ready to use.

*Gelling the chia seeds takes several hours, so prepare it and let it sit in the fridge overnight, if possible.

It’s that easy, friends. Although, I must warn you, this drink is so yummy you may need to double the recipe (especially if you have to share:) The flavor possibilities are endless too. I can’t wait to test out some new combinations! Hope you all enjoy this deliciously refreshing chia drink!

Raspberry Chia Lemonade

★★★★★

5 from 2 reviews

Author: Joscelyn Abreu
Total Time: 15 mins
Yield: 2 servings 1x

Print Recipe

Description

A refreshing green tea lemonade with fresh pureed raspberries and nutrient rich chia seeds. Healthy and delicious!

Ingredients

Scale

1 cup purified water
3 tbsp chia seeds
2 green tea bags steeped in 1 cup water and cooled
1 cup raspberries boiled with 1/4 cup water
juice of 2 lemons, about 1/2 cup
1/4 cup honey or other sweetener of choice, possibly more to taste

Instructions

Gel Chia Seeds:

Combine 1 cup purified water with 3 tablespoons of chia seeds.The chia seeds need several hours to gel, so do this ahead of time, the day before if possible.

Steep Tea:

Steep green tea bags in 1 cup of hot water for 2-3 minutes. Discard tea bags and let cool.

Make Raspberry Puree:

In a saucepan, combine raspberries with 1/4 cup water and bring to a simmer over medium-high heat. Mash raspberries to release their juices. Strain through a fine mesh sieve and mash out as much juice as possible. Discard raspberry pulp. Combine the raspberry juice with the green tea.

Blend It All Together:

In a small pitcher or bowl, blend together chia gel, raspberry green tea, lemon juice, and sweetener. Add more sweetener, to taste. Serve immediately or chill slightly before serving. Makes 2 servings.

Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 5 mins
Category: Drink

January 19, 2015

Easy Almond Milk Cappuccino

This easy almond milk cappuccino is dairy-free, free from sugary syrups, vegan and paleo friendly. It’s ready in a matter of minutes and made in the comfort of your own kitchen. It’s so delicious and super easy to make! No more trips to the coffee shop. You’ll save so much money!

I must admit that my trip to Italy a year and a half ago ruined American coffee for me forever! They had the best little cups of coffee I think I’ve ever had. I say little because they truly looked like something from my daughter’s play tea set.

Their coffee is definitely about quality over quantity. A couple good shots of espresso and some foamed milk trumps 20oz. of weak coffee any day. Sure, there are many shops that know how to make a great cup of coffee, but around here, the average cup of no-brand coffee leaves much to be desired.

After we got back from our trip, my mom gave us an espresso machine for Christmas. She was probably tired of hearing us complain how we hadn’t had a good cup of coffee since our trip;).

Although it’s not exactly the same, (just like drinking coconut water in your kitchen is not the same as drinking fresh water out of a coconut on a beach in Hawaii) we can at least make cappuccinos at anytime, in just a matter of minutes!

The machine we have does have a steam wand on the side, which for me is a hit and miss, and at any rate seems to work best with dairy milk. I get major migraines when I eat too much dairy, so non-dairy milk it must be for me.

My favorite non-dairy milk to drink everyday and to use in coffee is almond milk, although I’ve used coconut and soy too, with success. I got this inexpensive little milk frother (like this one) and it was the best few bucks I’ve ever spent!

I use it daily and it does a great job with minimal effort…I love gadgets like that! If you don’t happen to have a milk frother, you can totally just heat up the milk and skip the frothing step or follow this nifty tutorial from thekitchn.com.

I first start by heating the milk. You can heat it up in the microwave for 30 seconds or in a small saucepan on the stove. You just need it to be very warm. I also like to add a bit of sweetness to my milk so before I begin to froth I add a spoon (or three) of sugar. Some say it can make your milk not froth as well, but that’s just the chance I take. To me taste>appearance. Always.

Also, the milk you use matters. Some brands don’t froth up very well. Homemade almond milk works well for me. You can find my easy recipe here. The tip to froth homemade almond milk is to not add too much water. 1:2 or 1:3 nuts to water ratio is what I recommend for frothing.

For store bought almond milk, I’ve found that Blue Diamond, 365 brand Organic Almond Milk from Whole Foods, and Califia Farms almond milk all work well.

Mmm, it’s a fluffy milk cloud 🙂 It took all of 3 minutes to make this drool-worthy cup of coffee! Just think of all the money you’ll save by not having to frequent the coffee shops so often!

That savings totally justifies buying a little milk frother. Trust me, your tastebuds will thank you later!

If you’ve ever seen my instagram, you totally know that I enjoy this coffee very regularly 🙂 I hope you like this cup of dairy-free yumminess as much as I do!