Homemade Chocolate Milk Mix

So the hubby and I are really trying to eat healthier and more natural. There is so much crap in our food that really has no business being there.  We have really been trying to buy products that have ingredients that we can pronounce, which sadly is harder that it should be. We've even switched the dog food and they seem to be much happier for it.

Ryan loves his chocolate milk and he usually uses NesQuick.  Over the weekend while at Sam's we were going to grab another huge container of it.  Just out of curiosity we flipped it over to look at the ingredients. This is what we found...Sugar, Cocoa Processed with alkali, soy lecithin, salt, artificial and natural flavors, maltodextri. Needless to say that got put right back on the shelf and I decided to make my own.  

Homemade Chocolate Milk Mix

1 1/2 tsp Cocoa powder

2 tbsp sugar (you can use more of less depending on how sweet you want it)

1 ounce of water

11 ounces of milk

Combine the first 3 ingredients in your glass and microwave for 15-30 seconds.  This will help dissolve the sugar and make them easier to mix together.  Add your milk, stir, and enjoy:~)   It's not as simple as NesQuick, but it does taste better.

My only issue with this recipe is that the warm water make the milk warmer than I like it.  I'm going to try powdered sugar and no microwave next time.  I'll let you know how that goes.

 

Iced Pumpkin Cookies

It's October which means it's time for all things PUMPKIN! I found this recipe the other day on the food network website and I have to say I'm extremely pleased with it.  If you are one of those people (I am) who like a cake like cookie this is for you.  The recipe says that it yields 6 dozen; however,  I don't think I got that many.  Honestly I'm not entirely sure how many I got because my husband kept eating them.

Ingredients

• 1 cup unsalted butter


• 1 cup sugar


• 1 cup cooked, pureed pumpkin (fresh or canned)


• 1 egg


• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract


• 2 cups unbleached allpurpose flour


• 1 teaspoon baking powder


• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda


• 1/2 teaspoon salt


• 1 teaspoon cinnamon


• 1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg


• 1 cup walnuts, coarsely chopped (I omitted these...)


• 1 cup raisins ( ...and these)

Icing:

• 2 cups sifted confectioner's sugar


• 1/4 cup butter, softened


• 1 teaspoon vanilla


• 3 tablespoons whipping cream, fresh orange juice or rum

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cream butter and sugar until fluffy. Add pumpkin, egg and vanilla and mix well. Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg. Stir into butter mixture until well blended. Add nuts and raisins. Drop by teaspoonful onto parchment covered baking sheet, about 2 inches apart. Bake about 15 minutes, or until golden. Cool.

 Icing: Cream confectioner's sugar and butter. Add remaining ingredients and beat until smooth. (If icing is too thin, add more confectioner's sugar; if too thick, add more cream, orange juice or rum.) Drizzle over cookies.

Enjoy!

 

Favorite Finds Friday!

TGIF!!!!!!!!! It has been a week full of playing catch-up for me.  I think I have finally gotten on top of things.  And I promise I have a something other than pictures to post next week:~)  But until then here are some a few neat things I have come across lately.

1. Better Oats - http://www.betteroats.com/

I found these at Fred Meyer a while back and I am completely hooked.  They really are better than the instant oatmeal I was using.  They are made with real ingredients and the big plus for me is that they contain flaxseed already.  They taste fantastic and at my grocery store they are cheaper.  Which in my book equals awesome!

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2. Grocery IQ for iPhone - http://www.groceryiq.com/groceryiq/index.html

This app rocks.  My favorite thing about it is that I can put in prices and it will keep a running total for me.  Really helps me stay on budget.  You can scan items into your list, which helps in building your list and it also has a function that allows you to keep track of your coupons and savings card.  Unfortunately Fred Meyer is not in it so I haven't been able to use it. I any of you gets a chance to try it please let me know what you think!

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3. Embroidered Effects - http://www.sublimestitching.com/embroideredeffects.html

I picked this book up at B&N a while back.  I really wanted to get into embroidery and I loved the modern designs in this book.  I already knew several stitches and have bits here and there, but I've never really gone full into it.  This book has very clear instrustions and great tips.  She also has included several reusable, heat transfer patterns.  So far I'm throughly enjoying it.

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Favorite Finds Friday!

1. Envirosax - http://www.envirosax.com/certified-rpet-series.html

I bought one of these a few months ago and I LOVE IT!!!! I am forever forgetting my grocery bags at home and this cute little bag rolls up and fits nicely in my purse so I always have at least one with me.  The company has several different types/sizes of bags, prints and colors, and combo packs available.   

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2. Giovanni Shampoo - http://www.giovannicosmetics.com/

I try really hard to use sulfate free shampoo and they aren't easy to find. Its is also not easy to find one that lathers nicely and works through my thick hair without having to use the whole bottle.  A friend of mine introduced me to this shampoo and I gotta say I'm digging it.  It has no sulfates and is organic.  It smells awesome. The conditioner is thick and creamy.  And it lathers really well and works through my thick hair with only a small amount.  

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3. Fruit Leather - http://www.stretchislandfruit.com/

Mmmmmmm! They taste fantastic and dare I say it.....are healthy too! These yummy little snacks are 100% real fruit and no added sugar. They are great to keep in the car or your purse for a quick snack. Just try not to eat the whole box in one sitting:~)

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4. Angry Birds for the iPhone - http://www.rovio.com/index.php?page=angry-birds

My husband put this on my phone the other day and I am completely addicted!! It is a great puzzle-esque game that has loads of replay value.  Each level offers up a new challenge and there are tons and tons of levels.  Plus its only $0.99 on iTunes.

 

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Making, cooking, drinking...

Making : a ruffled tube top

Cooking : white chili

Drinking : coffee

Reading: The Wheel of time (Shadow Rising) by Robert Jordan

Wanting: the weather to be beautiful when my family visits

Looking: my finally finished house:~)

Playing: nothing at the moment

Wasting: time meandering through the internet and looking at craft blogs

Sewing: see Making

Wishing: if I tell you then it won't come true:~)

Enjoying: coffee and my morning shows

Waiting: a visit

Liking: that tomorrow is Bunco night at my house!

Wondering: how the heck i'm going to wrap up my bunco prizes

Loving: my wonderful husband

Hoping: that my wish comes true

Marvelling: at how quickly time has flown by

Needing: to get moving for the day

Smelling: nothing...my nose is completely clogged.  darn allergies.

Wearing: pj's

Following: WAY too many craft blogs

Noticing: that it has stopped raining

Knowing: that God has a plan and my best interesting at heart.

Thinking: about my plans for the day

Bookmarking: too many websites that in time I will forget about.

Opening: email

Giggling: a picture of my friend on her travels

Feeling: at peace

I stole this from a wonderful friend who stole it from here.

Cookin' with Moose

Last September Ryan shot his very first moose. Size wise it wasn't huge, but he was pretty excited.  Now we have a big ol' freezer full of meat.

I've tried several times using the meat in my regular recipes, using moose instead of beef.  It never goes over so well.  Neither one of us can get past that "gamey" flavor.  So, what do you do with a freezer full of meat that you don't particularly like?....You suck it up and learn to like it.  So, last time we were at Fred Meyer we made a stop in their tiny book section and found a Moose Cook Book.  I figured that someone had to have come up with a way to season it to mask some of the not-so-yummy flavor.

I have made three recipes out it and so far so good:~) I have made an Enchilada casserole, Chili con Carne, and Macaroni and Moose. The Macaroni and Moose was an interesting one.  It called for cinnamon and nutmeg which I thought was rather odd.  I wouldn't think to add those spices to ground meat.  But Ryan said it was actually really good.  His favorite at this point was the Chili con Carne.  I added jalapeno's to the recipe which, Ryan informs me, made it perfect.  And it was quick and simple, which made it perfect for me. 

 

Favorite Finds

1. http://www.preserveproducts.com/  - I stumbled across this website while meandering through the internet and was pretty excited to find that they have ultra soft toothbrushes, which are impossible to find, and they will ship to Alaska.  The fact that they are made of recycled yogurt cups and can be mailed back to be recycled again just makes them even more fantastic! Whats really neat is that you can purchase a toothbrush "subscription" where they mail you a new brush every 3 months for a year.  

2. FoodSaver canisters - We finally broke down and brought a food saver. Whats so neat about them is that now they do more than just bags.  They have canisters and left over containers that you can vacuum seal as well.  Right now I have all mine full of produce.  You know that stuff that usually goes bad in a week and ends up getting thrown out because you either forgot you had it or didn't use it fast enough.  I've had strawberries in one of the larger canisters for a little over a week and they still look and taste as wonderful as they did the day I bought them.