Category: Cooking

The Tastiest Coffee Flavors to Conquer Your Morning

coffee flavors Coffee drinkers love their brew and most have a typical routine. When they need coffee, they need coffee – so much so that the average coffee drinker has almost three cups per day.

Are you part of the coffee lover club? Maybe you’re shopping for a close friend who is obsessed with the brew?

Either way, perhaps it’s time to consider changing things up a little!

In this article, we’re getting down with some of the tastiest coffee flavors to help jumpstart your morning.

Ready for a deeper dive?

Great! Let’s take a closer look.

The Tastiest Coffee Flavors to Conquer Your Morning

Channel the Campfire and Drink it Too

Sweet, dessert-inspired coffee is a great option for your morning pick me up. And, the options are almost endless, ranging from basic French vanilla to coffee flavors like banana foster.

A popular trend of late is the S’mores flavored coffee. With this one, you get chocolate, marshmallow, and graham cracker goodness all with your daily caffeine jolt.

Positive vibes and nostalgic feelings about childhood anyone? Yes, please!

Other popular options here include caramel flavors, coconuts, and even delicious cookie dough.

Donut Inspired Coffee

Many brands offer donut inspired coffee flavors. Check these out if you want to feel like you’ve had a donut for breakfast, without the guilt!

Glazed donut flavor does exist, but if you want something a little less sweet, you can find blueberry flavored coffee too.

Chocolate Lover’s Dream

If you love coffee and chocolate (who doesn’t?), there are multiple options for you.

If you’re using a simple coffee with no flavors added, consider adding some cocoa powder to achieve a chocolatey deliciousness.

Looking for something a little more exciting?

Try experimenting with different flavors. Here, if you want to be right on trend, coffee flavors like German Chocolate Cake, Chocolate Hazelnut, or Mocha Chip are all the rage.

Kick Up Your Go-To Flavor

Your morning coffee has lots of health benefits, and if you’re a creature of habit, the idea of adding coffee flavors might scare you.

Shudder the thought!

If this is the case, don’t worry! Changing up how you prepare your coffee instead, can bring some excitement to your daily mug.

Maybe you can change to iced coffee for a day?

Pro tip alert! Use yesterday’s leftover cover to freeze into ice cubes. Then brew your coffee over these cubes. That way, you’re sure your coffee won’t get watered down.

This will also be helpful on those hot summer days where you still need your caffeine. You can even include cream and sugar before freezing the cubes.

Of course, another summer favorite treat is ice cream. Try a coffee flavored sugar-free ice cream recipe to change up your routine.

Upgrade Your Appliance

Typically use a traditional coffee pot for your early morning brew?

Consider testing out new methods like a French Press. For this, take a look at the best coffee grinder for French Press to make sure you have the best experience.

Adding Extra Spark to Your Morning

So, there you have it.

These are some of our favorite, sweet coffee flavors. Not only do they get us up and running in the mornings, they add a pep to our step as well.

Did we miss out on your favorite flavor? Got any ideas for our early morning coffee brew? Be sure to let us know!

5 Amazing Sugar Free Ice Cream Recipes for Summer

sugar free ice cream recipesAlthough frozen desserts have existed since the second century, the road to modern ice cream was a rocky one (pun intended). Ice cream was first tasted by the public in 1660. Before then, it’d been a specialty on royal and noble tables alike.

The popularity of this cold treat exploded and remains popular to this day. But store-bought ice cream has two problems. Not only is it high in sugar and other unhealthy ingredients, but it’s expensive.

The solution? Make your own ice cream from home with sugar free ice cream recipes. Keep reading to learn how.

Sugar Free Ice Cream Recipes

Whether a chocolate fiend, a vanilla fan, looking for something fruity, minty, or a coffee aficionado, there’s a low carb ice cream recipe here to suit all of these preferences. They’re also great for those who love save money on groceries since many ingredients are household staples.

Sugar Free Vanilla

For this basic and delicious flavor without all the sugar, you’ll need the following ingredients:

  • Whole milk (1 cup)
  • Sugar substitute such as Splenda or natural stevia sweetener (3/4 cup)
  • Kosher salt (just a pinch)
  • Heavy cream (2 cups)
  • Vanilla extract (1 to 2 teaspoons)

Once you have all of your ingredients, combine the milk, salt, and sugar substitute. You can use a whisk or a hand mixer. Keep mixing until the sugar substitute is dissolved.

Next, add the heavy cream and vanilla extract, and stir. Cover the bowl and stick it in the refrigerator for at least an hour. You can keep it in there as long as overnight.

The next day, use your ice cream maker to thicken the mixture. This will take about a half hour or so.

Dairy-Free Mint Chocolate Chip

If you love mint chocolate chip ice cream, but dairy doesn’t love you, don’t despair. Make this recipe instead. You’ll need these ingredients:

  • Full-fat coconut milk (15 ounces)–Chill it first.
  • Non-dairy milk (1/2 cup)
  • Vanilla extract (2 teaspoons)
  • Peppermint extract (1/4 teaspoon)
  • Honey (3 tablespoons)
  • Fresh spinach (1 cup)
  • Unsweetened chocolate (2 tablespoons)–Chop it.

Blend everything but the chocolate chip for about a minute, until the mixture is smooth. Churn the mixture in your ice cream maker for about 15 minutes. Toss in the chocolate and churn for another five.

Chocolate

Does it get any better than low-carb chocolate ice cream? If not, make sure you have these ingredients:

  • Heavy cream (2 cups)
  • Unsweetened cashew, almond, or coconut milk (1 1/2 cups)–Divide it.
  • Cocoa powder (1/2 cup)
  • Sugar substitute (1/2 cup)
  • Egg yolks (4)
  • Unsweetened chocolate (3 ounces)–Chop it.
  • Vanilla extract (1/2 teaspoon)
  • Liquid stevia extract (1/4 teaspoon)

Start out by making an ice bath. Let that sit while you combine the cream, 1 cup of the milk alternative, cocoa powder, and sugar substitute. Use medium heat while you whisk them together.

Whisk the egg yolks in a separate bowl, adding 1 cup of the hot cream mixture. Keep whisking as you do this in order to keep the yolks from scrambling. Add them back into the saucepan–keep whisking!

Keep cooking until the mixture can coat a spoon.

Add the chocolate and let it sit for five minutes before whisking until the mixture is smooth. Then, set the mixture over the ice bath for ten minutes before refrigerating it, covered, for no less than three hours.

Whisk in the rest of the milk substitute, vanilla, and stevia. Pour the whole mixture into your ice cream maker and churn.

Lemon Curd

Another one of our low-carb sugar free ice cream recipes is perfect for citrus lovers. If you like lemon, you’ll love this recipe. Here’s what you need for the lemon curd:

  • Large eggs (3)
  • Large egg yolks (3)
  • Sugar substitute (1/3 cup)
  • Lemon juice (1/4 cup)–Squeeze it fresh if you can.
  • Lemon zest (1 tablespoon)
  • Butter (6 tablespoons)–Cut it up into pieces.

For the ice cream, you’ll need:

  • Heavy whipping cream (1 3/4 cups)
  • Powered sugar substitute (1/4 cup)

To make the curd, begin by whisking the eggs, yolks, and sugar substitute. Add the lemon juice and zest. Hold the mixture over a pan of simmering water, but don’t let water touch the bowl.

Keep whisking for up to ten minutes or until the mixture thickens. Take it off the heat and add the butter. Let it stand a moment and then whisk the mixture again until it’s smooth.

Cover and chill, for at least three hours.

Meanwhile, make the ice cream by whisking the whipping cream, sugar substitute, and lemon curd. Churn this mixture and you can begin to enjoy your ice cream!

Coffee

If you love the flavor of coffee, you’ll love this no-churn recipe. Here’s what you’ll need:

  • Heavy cream (2 1/2 cups, divided)
  • Unsweetened almond milk (1 cup)
  • Powdered sugar substitute (1/2 cup)
  • Butter (1 tablespoon)
  • Xanthan gum (1/4 teaspoon)
  • Instant coffee (1 1/2 tablespoons)
  • Vanila extract (1/4 teaspoon)
  • Liquid stevia extract (1/4 teaspoon)

Mix together 1 cup of cream and almond milk over medium heat. Bring the mixture to a boil and then reduce the heat and simmer, stirring often. Keep at it for one hour to 90 minutes, until the mixture is reduced by half.

Take the mixture off the heat and add the powdered sweetener and butter, whisking until the mixture is smooth. Add in the xanthan gum, instant coffee, vanilla and stevia extracts. Keep stirring until the coffee grounds dissolve.

Cool the mixture. With the remaining cream, whip it until it forms peaks. Fold in the milk mixture and keep whisking until everything is combined.

Freeze the mixture for five to six hours.

Serve It Up

Scoop these flavors into a bowl or mix them together for a cool treat to beat the heat.

Which flavor is your favorite? How do you satisfy your sweet tooth in a low-carb way? Share your choice in the comments section below.

How to Eat Local and Not Break the Bank

eat localEating healthy and eating local go hand in hand. However, many people believe that to eat local, you have to spend a lot of money.

This couldn’t be further from the truth!

Eating local can save you money, especially when purchasing produce. Grocery store product items can be expensive, since most of the produce is imported from another state.

More often than not, the produce at the local farmer’s market is more affordable. Plus, produce at a farmer’s market is also fresher!

Eating local without breaking the bank is possible. Keep reading to learn how you can eat nutritious and local food while keeping money in your pocket.

How to eat local on a budget

There are several ways to make your eating local without spending a lot of money. Here are 3 ways!

1. Visit the local farmer’s market

Odds are, your city or town hosts a weekly farmer’s market. Here, you can find all sorts of produce. You’re also likely to find:

  • Free-range meat
  • Poultry
  • Eggs
  • Bread
  • Dairy products

Studies have shown that farmer’s market produce is less expensive than what you’ll find at the grocery store.

2. Eat food that’s in season

Your grocery store offers all sorts of produce, all year long. While it’s nice to be able to buy a pear in February, you pay for it!

To save money and to eat the best tasting produce, always buy in season. When produce is in season, there is likely plenty of it to go around! Produce that is in season is also more likely to be available in your grocery store.

Unsure of what’s in season and when? No worries! Use this guide to figure out what’s in season when you go shopping.

3. Join a community supported agriculture (CSA)

Fresh food available for a flat price? It’s a reality! By joining a CSA, you’re able to have fresh produce all year round.

A CSA allows you to buy a share of the farm’s harvest. Prices depend on location and the produce you select.

However, the cost is often less expensive than what you’ll pay at the grocery store. Shop around and find a local CSA that meets your budget!

Benefits of eating local food

There benefits of eating local are endless. If you need some convincing, here are a few benefits you can’t pass up!

Local produce is fresh

Grocery store produce has often traveled thousands of miles. Local produce is fresh from the farm. Fresh local foods provide premium nutrition for your body. Isn’t it ideal to eat locally and healthily?

Support the local economy

Spending money at a local farmer’s market does a lot for the local economy. Local farmers use the money to keep their farms going.

The money you spend also stays within the community. It isn’t being sent to companies in other states or across the world!

Local produce lasts longer

Local produce doesn’t have to travel hundreds of miles. It isn’t handled by pickers, packers and then shelf stockers. Instead, the produce is literally picked, placed and ready to be sold.

This means your melons will be truly vine-ripened. Your peaches will fall apart as you eat them!

Eating local: do good by you and your community

Eating local healthy food is possible, and it doesn’t have to be expensive. With these tips, we hope you’re inspired to eat local and cook great meals.

Support your local farmers. Support your health. Eat local produce!

A Beginner’s Guide to Good Nutrition

cookingGood nutrition is an essential part of living a healthier life.

But eating nutritiously isn’t just a matter of eating fruits and vegetables. You’ve got to eat a balanced diet that works for your unique lifestyle. It’s also important to control your appetite and avoid overeating.

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the average American diet exceeds the recommended intake levels of the following categories, “calories from solid fats and added sugars; refined grains; sodium; and saturated fat.”

Are you just starting to consider a nutritious diet?

Read on for our beginner’s guide to good nutrition!

Avoid Processed Foods

Walk around your local grocery store and you are bound to find hundreds of processed food options.

Foods like potato chips, certain meats and cheeses are just some of the processed foods you should avoid. Processed foods are often high in calories and provide a limited amount of nutritious value.

In order to limit your fat intake, you should cut these out of your diet. If you can’t bring yourself to give up these foods completely, eat them sparingly from time to time.

Eat Smaller Portions More Often

When you overeat, you put more food in your body than it can process. This can be what contributes to fat being stored and limiting your ability to lose weight.

Instead of eating the three ‘traditional’ meals of breakfast, lunch, and dinner, try decreasing portion size and eating more often.

This is a good alternative to using diet pills and supplements to help you control your weight.

Try eating six smaller portions throughout the day. In order to curb hunger, include foods like chicken, which is high in protein and low in fat. Also try to include natural yogurt for digestion, and fresh fruits and vegetables for energy.

Eating smaller portions will take some adjusting at first, but doing this will allow your body to make the most of the nutrients in each meal.

Drink Lots of Water

Your nutritious diet doesn’t end with what you eat. You should also drink lots of water.

Your body is made up of 60% water and water helps regulate your digestion, hydration, and circulation, among others. But the benefits of drinking water don’t stop there.

When you drink a glass of water before a meal, you will find that you eat less. This helps your portion control and prevents overeating.

Choosing to drink water more often helps you limit your intake of sodas and other sugary drinks. Those should be eliminated from your diet as much as possible, as they can help contribute to fat retention.

Good Nutrition Works

When you make changes to your lifestyle, it takes discipline and a willingness to adapt.

But taking the time to pay attention to what you are eating and drinking (and how much of it at a time) will be an important part of living healthier.

Being nutritious is also just one way to be healthy. You should also try to be physically active to maximize the benefits of your new way of life!

Lucky Charm Snack Mix!

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Do you like to celebrate St. Patricks Day? If so, then you will like this tasty snack! Thanks to The Salty Marshmallow they have created this super easy and delicious snack using Lucky Charms!
When you click the link it will take you to a list of ingredients and directions on how to make this for your family! My kids are excited to make this!

Let us know in the comments below what you thought about this easy Lucky Charm Snack Mix!

Spring Dipped Sugar Wafers!

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Do you love making special treats around the holidays, but you find yourself short on time or maybe patience? Well I have a super simple and easy recipe for you and your kids to make! Even my 3 year old can make these with a little bit of assistance! Below you will have the ingredients and directions to make these Dipped Wafer Cookies!

Ingredients:
*Sugar Wafers
*Melting Chocolate or Frosting as alternative
*Sprinkles

Directions:
1. If you are using melting chocolates then you will want to place them in a microwave-safe dish and follow the directions on the bag for melting. It’s usually 15-30 seconds stir until melted and smooth!
2. Open sugar wafers and dip in melted chocolate (caution, it will be hot) if little ones are helping, then you might want to use the frosting instead.
3. Add sprinkles to the chocolate or frosted ends of your sugar wafers!
4. Place on a plate, serve, and eat!!

If you liked this recipe then make sure to check out our others over here! Leave a comment below on what you thought about this tasty treat! Happy Cooking!

Grilled Hawaiian Chicken Kebabs!

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Are you tired of the same dinner over and over again? Do you often get stuck in a rut? I know I can answer YES to both of those questions more than once! Well, ladies and gentlemen, I have a new favorite recipe and to my surprise, even my picky kids LOVED this one! Last night I was scouring Pinterest for the latest and greatest recipe and came across Hawaiian Chicken Kebabs from Cooking Classy! Once you click on that link, your dinner options will be transformed into something wonderful and delicious! It only takes a few ingredients and BAM you are done! Let us know what you thought about this recipe in the comments below. Happy Eating!!