Category Archives: Drink

Guilt Free Shamrock Shake

With St. Patty Day around the corner, I am totally getting in the mood to be green. I have all my green shirts lined up for the week and I am ready for the party to start. Even better, I will be at William Sonoma on St.Patty Day cooking up some yummy treat to promote my Greensgrove Class coming up. Come try some of my yummy creations. Sign up today for the class. We still have seats available click HERE.

To help celebrate I figured I would make a healthy version of the Famous Shamrock Shake.

Ingredients:

1/2 Avocado

1 Cup Milk

10 Mint Leaves

1 Cup Fresh Spinach

2 Scoops Vanilla Protein Mix like Herbalife *Optional

1 Tbs Honey *Optional

Throw into a blend and enjoy!!!

20130312-081840.jpg

20130312-081907.jpg

Herbalife!!! Time to get healthy and lose some weight!

I love to be able to introduce new products that I truly believe in. Today I learned about a great gluten free nutritional product line that is worth it’s weight in gold. Herbalife has a gluten free line!

If you’re trying to get healthy, eat balanced and lose weight it can be tricky. Luckily with blogs and guides like mine it is easier to make great meals but when you’re short on time and living a busy life it is hard to always make healthy choices. Especially being gluten free, most grab and go stuff is high fat and high calories making weight loss a challenge.

Have you considered including supplements into your daily routine. This could be replacing a protein shake for your breakfast or lunch. Maybe having a low cal protein bar for a snack. Luckily HerbalLife a leading supplement company for years has developed a gluten free line and the products are outstanding. I visited one of the locations in PA and had a chance to sample some great product’s and was blown away by the taste and effectiveness to curve my hunger.

I am always on the road running around and it’s often a challenge to find a healthy high protein snack that is gluten free and grab and go. I have become good at preparing food but now all I need to do is bring a shake along with me and I can be for the day.

This stuff is proven to have you feeling great and losing weight in only a few weeks. I am very selective on what I market but this stuff really is impressive. If you’re interested in trying some of it out are read more then check out the site below and let me know what you think. You can order direct from the site and the prices are amazing.

If I get a lot of interest I will start to review each product in the line and come up with some great shake and recipe ideas to make it fun. If you live in the Philadelphia or Malvern area let me know and I set you up to try some stuff out.

Herbal Life: Click Here To Check It Out

hebal life

Herbalife protein shakes and snacks, vitamins and dietary supplements, energy and fitness drinks, skin and hair care products, combined with healthy eating and exercise, can help you lead a healthy, active life.

Herbalife is committed to developing innovative, effective products that are based on the highest research, development and manufacturing standards. We’re fully dedicated to setting the standard by which all nutrition companies are measured.

Weight Management

Trying to maintain weight? Our science-based Weight Management products, including Formula 1 Nutritional Shakes, help millions around the world look and feel great every day.

Energy and Fitness

Whether you’re a serious athlete or a weekend warrior, Herbalife Sports & Fitness products support recovery and performance through good nutrition.

Targeted Nutrition

Our Targeted Nutrition products offer a balance of essential nutrients to support heart health, stress management, men’s and women’s health, digestive health and more.

Outer Nutrition

Nourish skin and hair with Herbalife outer nutrition products – your secret to maintaining a healthy, youthful appearance.

Skinny Strawberry Milk

As a kid I loved the strawberry powder that I would stir in milk almost daily. Something about the tangy, fruity flavor that makes milk a very special treat. It’s been many years since I have had it but I came up with this completely by accident. I was working on another recipe whenI realized what I did. Not only did I recreate the nostalgia but I made in low cal and guiltless.

Ingredients:

1 Pack Sugar Free Strawberry Jell-O Mix
1 3/4 Cups Powder Sugar
Milk of your Choice

In a jar or container place sugar and jell-o. Place lid on top and shake like crazy.

When your ready to serve add 1 Tbs of mix to 8oz of milk and stir or shake. Enjoy!

20130115-075415.jpg

Skinny Holiday Hot Chocolate

I love every type of hot chocolate imaginable. I am lucky to live in a city with tons of special little hot chocolate places. Since I like to lighten things up this is my recipe that will make you next mug of steamy hot chocolate completely guiltless.

Ingredients:
2 Tbs Coco Powder ( Hershey makes a great one)
1 – 2 Tbs Any Sugar
2 Cups Water
1/4 Cup Skim or Almond Milk
1/2 tsp Salt
1 tsp Vanilla
* Cinnamon or Spice Optional
** marshmallow, whip, peep or candy cain for garnish

Place everything in a small pot and whisk well. Bring mixture to a boil and lower to a simmer. Simmer uncovered for about 15 minutes whisking frequently. Cook until thickness you desire is reached. Serve with any topping you want. I love using festive peep for the holidays.

20121219-084224.jpg

20121219-084247.jpg

All Natural Whiskey Sour

I have really been getting into the new speakeasy trend in the city. A fun bar that is kinda hidden, has fancy drinks and makes you feel like your doing something different then the normal bar scene. I love to learn about the fancy cocktails and what makes them worth the extra few bucks. Normally its the extra effort or more expensive ingredients. When I try something new I love to re-create it.

After my birthday this year my friends were all talking about this go-go bar that has amazing Whisky Sours made with egg whites. Once I tried it I was in shock. As exotic as it sounds this stuff is good. No sour mix and this stuff is smooth. Give it a try.

Ingredients:
2 oz Whiskey
Juice of one Small Lemon
2 tsp Sugar
1 Egg White

The trick to this is all into the shaking. Place the egg white into a container with a screw top like a quart container or something smaller. Close lid tight and shake it like crazy till you get a really nice foam. Then add sugar and shake again. Last add lemon and whiskey and shake again.

Depending on how you like it either serve over ice or shake with ice and strain. I love using liquor rock that you keep in the freezer and they never melt.

Serve in a fun glass and enjoy!

20121219-082809.jpg

Pumpkin Break Down

With all the cooking I do it is important for me to not waste anything. This even includes all the pumpkins that are around my apartment as fall decorations. I don’t see the reason to buy the canned stuff when you make it from any pumpkin the remains after the season. One nice size pumpkin can make about 8 cans worth. I normally break down my pumpkin after Halloween and use it in all my holiday cooking. Pumpkin uses are endless as a great sub to oil in cakes, thickeners in sauces, base for soup, festive smoothies and much much more.

My family jokes that I am a little pumpkin obsessed but no one ever complains when something new and fun comes out of the over. Stay tuned for many great pumpkin inspired recipes to come.

Pumpkin Break Down Procedure –

1 Large Pumpkin ( I recommend 8-10 Pounds)

Water

4 Quart Size Freezer Containers

Start by cutting the pumpkin in quarters with a large knife but be very careful! Pumpkin are tricky and the knife can slide easily. Remove the stem and seeds (save seeds for later roasting).

Place a small amount of water on a backing sheet to about a 1 inch depth. Place pumpkin pieces skin side up on try and bake at 350 degree’s for about 45 minutes or until it is fork tender.

Remove pumpkin from tray and allow to cool for 35 minutes. Scrap pumpkin away from skin and place into large bowl. Depending on the type of pumpkin the flesh may be stringy and this is fine. Once all the pumpkin is removed from the skin strain the water either by hand or in colander over night.

Place pumpkin in separate freezer ready containers or even in zip lock bags. It is very helpful to measure it out and label the container so that you know home much to De-frost for any recipes. I like to use a kitchen hand food hand blender or food processor to pure the pumpkin before freezing. This will create the same exact product you find in the canned pumpkin from the store.

Enjoy!

20121128-171131.jpg

20121128-171140.jpg

Guilt Free Chai Tea

As soon as the trees change colors and the air starts to become crisp I think pumpkin and spice. Nothing better then the powder chai tea latte that they sell at every coffee house and cafe in town. But most of the mix they use are high calorie and surprisingly gluten free. This recipe makes a ton of the powder and in a small jar would make great birthday gifts. At 30 calories a serving and fat free I promise you want tell the difference.

Ingredients:

1 Cups Splenda

1/4 Cup Pumpkin Spice

1 1/2 Cup Instant Tea (Lipton make a great powder version)

1 1/2 Cups Powder Fat Free Milk

1 1/2 Fat Free Sugar Free French Vanilla Coffee Mate

Pint Salt and Pepper

Place it all in the a food processor and mix really well. It takes a bit to mix well but you will end up with a fine powder. Pour into an airlock container.

To serve: Place 3 Tbs ( 1/8 cup) in an 8oz mug of hot water, stir and enjoy.

20121114-084751.jpg

Green Hot Toddy

With the start of fall comes the sniffles. No better cure then a wonderful hot mug of heaven.

Ingredients:

1 Oz Whisky
1 Green Tea Bag
1 Tbsp Honey ( We Bee Brother Honey)
1 Lemon
Hot Water

Place whisky, honey and two lemon rounds in mug. Pour in hot water and add tea bag. Allow tea to steep for five minutes. Remove bag and add one tablespoon lemon juice. Stir well and enjoy.

20121014-234802.jpg

Guilt Free Mocha Java

Every-time I am in the local coffee house I try to justify giving into the decedent sweet and chocolate infused mocha coffee. Not only will I get my caffeine fix but my chocolate craving will be under control. Just adding sugar free chocolate syrup won’t compare to a gooey creamy 350 calories beverage on the menu. Its my goal to always recreate things like this into something I don’t feel guilty about. Well, after many attempts I did it. Give this one a try to fill that craving next time.

Ingredients:

2 Cups Fresh Coffee
1 1/2 Tbsp Splenda
1/2 Tbsp Agave
2 Tbsp Coco powder
1/2 Cup Almond Milk

Place all ingredients in a pot bring to boil while whisking. Then lower to a high simmer and allow to reduce for about 15 minutes. Serve warm or cool over ice.

20120921-064340.jpg

Thyme Martini

The We Bee Brothers don’t just make the best honey but they also like to get creative. I recently got a sample of their thyme honey and the second I tried it all I could think was cocktail. You have to give this one a try.

Ingredients:
1/2 Lemon
1 tsps We Bee Brothers Thyme infused honey
1 oz water
1 oz vodka

Heat water and add honey. Stir until honey is dissolved. Pour honey mixture into a shaker along will juice of lemon, vodka and a few piece’s of lemon peel. Shake well and add one ice cube. Shake again and then strain into nice glass removing ice cube. Garnish drink with lemon wedge and peel. Enjoy!

20120905-013408.jpg

20120905-013417.jpg