Italian Soda

A couple months ago I was watching Studio 5 and they showed a great idea to have at a party, an Italian Soda Bar! I wanted to have a party all Summer, but since I was so sick, I was never really in the mood. Luckily when we started planning our "MOM Dinner" I knew this would be perfect. I absolutely LOVED this drink. I personally don't think you need to add a lot of flavoring. It makes it a little bit too sweet. This would be a perfect thing to make for a party, a girls lunch, book club...you name it! 

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons Torani syrup

Ice

Club Soda or S. Pellegrino

Half and Half

Whipped Cream

Fill 16 ounce glass with ice (I personally think Sonic Ice is the best). Add 2 tablespoons syrup, then fill glass 3/4 the way full with soda. Followed by Half and Half. Top with whipped cream. Stir a little with your straw...and sip up!

Tips:

*I bought the syrup at Harmons, however any Italian Market would have it. Our flavors were raspberry, strawberry and peach...and all three tasted great!

*Tai Pan sells the really fun soda glasses for less than $2.00 each!

*The straws were purchased at Orson Gygi, but Etsy also has some really great straws. 

Raspberry Lemonade

I can't believe next week is Memorial Weekend...the official kick off to Summer. Though these temps here in Utah are no where close to Summer this week...though I am not going to lie...it is ok because I am in the process doing the finishing touches on the basement so we can get carpet, planning my daughters birthday parties, and getting things ready for our neighborhood yard sale this weekend. So it can be a little chilly...at least until Thursday.
Raspberries seem to be "my thing" lately. I absolutely love them. They are the perfect accent not only in color, but flavor, for this drink. So make yourself a pitcher, and enjoy!

Ingredients:
1/2 cup fresh lemon juice (2-3 lemons)
1/2 cup sugar syrup
6 splashes of club soda
1 cup frozen raspberries
lemon slices for garnish

Sugar Syrup:
2 cups water
4 cups sugar

In saucepan bring sugar and water to boil. Boil for about 2-3 minutes until sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat, and let cool. Syrup will last approximately 3 weeks.


In large pitcher combine lemon juice, sugar syrup and 1 quart of cold water. Mix well. Chill for an hour. Right before serving, add raspberries, lemon slices and club soda. Feel free to garnish each glass with a little more lemon and raspberries.

Citrus Water

Sometimes water can be plain old boring at parties. So spice it up a little! My mom makes this for a lot of holidays and also for any baby or wedding shower we have. It is super simple yet so good.

Ingredients:

5 quarts of water

3 cups sugar

1 tablespoon citric acid

1 tablespoon lemon extract

Mix together, add ice, lemons and limes (for color), and enjoy!

Orange Julius

Classic, smooth, refreshing... all words that you think about when you hear Orange Julius.  This is a quick and simple recipe to bring back the old school memories of a classic smoothie.

Ingredients:
1 can of Orange Juice concentrate
1 1/2 cups of milk
2 tsp vanilla
3 tbsp sugar
1 cup ice.

Blend all the ingredients together in a blender until smooth.  If it's too runny add more ice, if it's too chunky add more milk.  Pretty simple, and pretty good.  Enjoy!  

Orange Sunrise Smoothie

My sister in law, Katie is the best. She shared a whole bunch of smoothie recipes with me. They are perfect because I have the cutest little 4 year old. We have to go to "food therapy" with him at Primary Children's because of the fact that he eats very little...and is one of the pickiest eaters you will ever meet. We found out that part of his problem is touch and texture. Our therapist said that are first step to solving his problem is to have him help us make food. So with smoothies, he has to help put the fruit in the smoothie. It took him a few times before he was actually ok touching the fruit...but after a few weeks, he actually tasted a bite of a strawberry and a bite of an apple for the first time. It was such an accomplishment in our home, I wanted to cry! If you are interested in hearing more, feel free to email me! But in the mean time, enjoy this recipe!

Serves 4 6 ounce glasses
Ingredients:
10 ounces orange juice
2 scoops non-fat frozen yogurt
6-7 frozen strawberries
1 banana
1/2 to 1 cup crushed ice

Mix in blender until smooth. Enjoy!

Hot Chocolate Per Favore! (Ciobar)

It was FREEZING in Venice, Italy when we went back in March. We stopped by the cutest little cafe and my husband ordered this hot chocolate for me. Now normally I am not a hot chocolate fan...but this is like none you have ever tasted.

2 tblsp Cocoa (bitter, no sweet stuff)

4 tblsp sugar

2 tsp flour

1 cup milk

1 cup heavy cream

1 tsp corn starch

In a saucepan mix the cocoa, sugar and flour. In the cold milk, whisk in the cornstarch, and then mix in the heavy cream. Over the heat, add the wet mixture, two tablespoons at a time. Whisk until entirely incorporated, then mix in two more. Do this until the mixture becomes smooth and dark. Make sure all lumps are gone. Add the rest of the liquid, and stir continuously over medium high heat until the mixture begins to thicken. You want it to be just shy of pudding consistency. Serve with some whip cream and a cold day... fantastic.

Wassail

I wish I would have gotten a picture of this...this recipe comes from my neighbor Karene. The smell was heavenly!

Prepare:

orange juice as directed on can

Dissolve:

1/2 cup sugar in 2 cups boiling water

Add:

1/2 gallon apple juice or cider

1/2 cup lemon juice

2 cups orange juice

5 whole cloves

2 whole cinnamon sticks

Heat for several hours in pot or crock pot. Perfect drink on a cold day or for a holiday party!

Brain Builder Smoothie

This recipe is sure to wake you up with the fresh flavor, and vitamins... it also helps that the blender is loud!

1 frozen can of orange juice concentrate

1 cup frozen berry mix (raspberry, blackberry, blueberry, etc)

1 banana

1 1/2 cups fat free milk

Optional

1 scoop vanilla whey protein powder (for muscle building as well)

1 tbsp sugar, or honey if it isn't sweet enough for you

Combine all the ingredients in the blender and mix until smooth. This is a great way to get your kids to eat fruit, and with the powder a great way to get them protein as well. This will also help you start your day very alert and ready for anything.