Tropical Milkshake

You probably do the normal chocolate and vanilla shakes but Sonic with all their new flavored milkshakes really pushed me to try something new with ice cream and make my own paradise shake!  Drinking a tropical shake kind of makes you think you are in Hawaii. :)  Well, close your eyes as you drink the shake and maybe you'll think you are in Hawaii!

Tropical Milk Shake
3/4 cup milk
2 medium rip bananas
3 cups vanilla ice cream
1 can (8 oz.) chunk pineapple undrained

Topping:
2 Tbls flaked coconut toasted

In your Bosch Blender, process all the ingredients until smooth.  Pour into chilled glasses and top with toasted flaked coconut.

Burn a gardenia candle for the Hawaii affect! :)

Note from Paula: not to knock going to Sonic Drive-In or any other place for a fun milk shake, just note it is the flavorings/ingredients that make the variety.  Break out of your rut and add something new to your homemade shake!  I simply thought about things that "sounded tropical" and added them to my typical vanilla shake!  Your Bosch blender will help you make wonderful shakes!!

Peachy Buttermilk Shake

I am on a peach kick because peaches are in season and so sweet and fresh.  I also happened to buy a 1/2 bushel from our famous Livesay Orchard in Porter, OK!.  Can I say sweet...delicious...can't eat just one?!  I have to use great restraint to not gorge myself on peaches.  So the next best thing is to create multiple foods using these wonderful peaches.  I have posted Peaches and Cream muffins and peach fruit leather.  Now, I have created a peach milkshake with a zing!  Enjoy some peaches today!

Peachy Buttermilk Shake
1 cup buttermilk
3 cups sliced peaches
1 cup vanilla ice cream
1/4 cup raw sugar
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

Place all the ingredients in your Bosch Blender and process till smooth.  Pour into chilled glasses.  Makes 3 cups.  Obviously, I doubled...tripled this recipe as we wanted a lot of shakes.  I have made a small amount for the ingredient list to accommodate those who don't want to make the mega amount I tend to always do!   Our milkshakes went fast and were so refreshing for the hot summer.  Hope you enjoy your peaches and shakes as much as we do/did! :)

Refreshing Raspberry Lemonade!

Anyone needing a cold refreshing drink on a hot summer day?  Is the pizzazz of  home made lemonade gone?

I decided to make a simple change and it made everyone want a glass of lemonade...I added raspberries.  I used to add strawberries to our lemonade but then the kids started seeing this in all the restaurants and my 'special lemonade' became normal, every day drink. :(   It was interesting to see how a simple change could reignite their love for lemonade.  

Raspberry Lemonade
In your Bosch Blender blend:
2 cups fresh raspberries
1 cup fresh squeezed lemon juice*
1 cup Xagave

Add the juice concentrate to 3 quarts of water. Many don't like the seeds and grainy taste raspberries have.  If this is the case for your family, simply strain the lemonade before you serve it...this will leave you with the raspberry lemonade taste minus the pulp. 

Garnish with fresh strawberries and add some lemon slices.  It is always pretty to see lemons floating in the pitcher.

*The Bosch Citrus Juicer is perfect for helping you to make FAST lemon juice.

Hummus

I am beginning to wonder if I am cooking at all this summer!  My daughter in laws have been cooking up a storm and bringing me their wonderful foods to taste and take pics.  I have been cooking many recipes side by side with them so I guess that counts for me 'cooking' the food.  However, I do want to give the credit of the recipes to them.  They are wonderful cooks and love experimenting.  Hurray for so many cooks 'in the house.'

I put that in quotes as they are not in my house, but I go to their houses to visit and cook with them.  I love as I get to enjoy the grandbabies while there.  What bliss.

So without further ramblings....on to the recipe!

Hummus
1 can chickpeas (16 oz. can)*
1/4 cup liquid from can of chickpeas
3-5 Tbs lemon juice
1 1/2 Tbs tahini**
2 cloves garlic (crushed)
1/2 tsp salt
2 Tbs. olive oil

Drain chickpeas and add all the ingredients into your Bosch blender.  Pulse the blender (this is the "M" setting); and then, turn blender to speed 2 or 3 to full blend/mix the ingredients.

Serve on pita chips or warmed pita bread.  Delicious.
*Chickpeas are also known as garbanzo beans.  Did you know you can grind garbanzo beans in your Nutri Mill grain grinder??!!  I haven't tried making the dip with garbanzo flour but sounds like an interesting twist to this recipe.

**Tahini is a roasted sesame seed butter.  You could roast your own and simply put them in your seed mill (click here) and you could make fresh tahini.  This would be for small amounts.  If you are wanting a large scale of this, you would want to use the Bosch Food Processor accessory with the bottom blade. (Click here)  I love my Bosch Universal mixer for all the wonderful attachments which help me in all my kitchen cooking needs.

Note from Paula: We doubled this recipe and I would definitely recommend doing so.  We were practically licking the bowl to get the last of the humus out of the bowl.  I am not a fan of many humus recipes but this one is a keeper!  It is a keeper because it tastes good but it also fits my mantra of fast and easy!  Pull out your Bosch blender and you have a quick appetizer...main meal?...that is a real crowd pleaser!  Yum.

Bosch Blender Ice cream

1 cup half & half
1/2 cup Xagave (Click Here)
1/2 tsp. vanilla*
4 cups ice
4 drops green food coloring**
Mix all ingredients in the Bosch Universal blender and blend on high until creamy.

*We added mint instead of vanilla in honor of St. Patrick's Day!
**We added green food coloring in honor of St. Patrick's Day!
Serve with chocolate syrup or mini chocolate chips.
Makes 8 servings.
Note from Paula: This is a fabulous recipe that is quick. Remember since its base is ice it will melt quickly so this is a fun recipe to make on the fly. Yum.

Blender Potato Soup!

So is your stomach reeling from all the rich food from this past two months? Mine is. We have a dessert bar station for the entire month of December. In fact, the last cookies are still there along with multiple crumbs. I feel sick even looking at the bar!

It is time for soothing soup which really hit the spot for our family who have had way too much rich food.

This soup is so easy...yes, there is that word again! This is my middle name when it comes to cooking, "easy!" I guess this is my mantra for life as I also have the standard for any dish that comes into our home, "if it doesn't go in the dishwasher, it doesn't stay in my home!" Okay, I have digressed from my post about yummy Potato Soup.

6 large baked potatoes (bake these ahead; peel)
3 medium onions chopped
1 bunch green onions chopped (about 10 green onions)
1 stick butter
6 cups chicken broth
1/4 tsp nutmeg
2 cups 1/2 and 1/2

Bake the potatoes and cool/peel. Saute onion/green onions in butter. Add chicken broth and nutmeg. Add cut cooked potatoes. Blend liquid ingredients in your Bosch blender.

Return to the stock pot. Add 1/2 and 1/2 gradually and re-heat. It can easily burn so you are only needing to heat the soup.

Garnish with shredded cheese and a dab of sour cream.

Blender Pumpkin Bars

This is a great EASY fall dessert to whip up when you have unexpected company OR need a quick snack when the kids get home from school. So easy; so good!

from Natural Meals in Minutes (Click here)
Remember you can contact me to defer shipping costs on cookbooks! :)

1/2 cup water
1/4 cup mashed pumpkin
2 T olive oil
1 egg
1/2 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup Xagave (Click Here)
3/4 cup whole wheat pastry flour (Click here)
1/3 cup rolled oats
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/8 tsp salt
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg

Blend in your Bosch Universal Blender. Pulse till ingredients are mixed. Pour into greased 8x8 stainless steel pan (Click here to see pan). Bake 15 minutes at 350 degrees or until knife inserted comes out clean. Serves 8

Orange Julius

from Sensible Cooking Cookbook* (Click here)

1 cup milk
1 cup water
1 (6oz) can frozen orange juice concentrate
1/2 cup Xagave
1 tsp vanilla
12 ice cubes

Put all ingredients in Bosch Blender. Jog "M" (momentary) switch 5-6 times. Immediately turn to speed 4 and blend until smooth.

*For book orders, I can adjust the shipping! Give me a call or email to check out lower shipping costs.

Note from Paula: Tip for using your Bosch Blender!! When blending any frozen drinks, always jog "M" (momentary) switch to unlock food from blade assembly after ingredients have been added!

Blender Mayonnaise

Just in time for your Memorial cookout, you can make homemade mayonnaise to go with your homemade ketchup. I had an earlier post telling you how to make your own low sugar, wonderful tasting, homemade ketchup!

This blender mayo is so easy to make and has a great flavor. The key to making great mayo is the speed in pour the oil and the Bosch blender funnel allows the oil to flow at just the right speed to make this great tasting mayo.

Bosch Blender Mayonnaise!

Place in blender:

1/4 cup oil
1 1/2 Tablespoons vinegar
1 egg
1 teaspoon honey
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon dry mustard

Turn blender to speed 2 - slowly add the following through the hole in the blender cover:

3/4 cup oil.

The mayonnaise will thicken before your eyes! Stop the blender and scrape sides and blend again. This recipe makes very thick mayonnaise.

Note from Paula: If mayonnaise does not thicken, pour 1/2 cup of mix back into measuring cup. Add another egg to blender; turn on and slowly pour mix back in!






Have fun making some for your cookout this weekend. We usually do the whole hamburger meal but this momma is tired and we are having hotdogs. My kids are thrilled as this is a rare occurrence in our home. I think I will let them eat the hotdogs while I make myself veggie kabobs.

strawberry lemonade

Did you know that one cup of strawberries has more vitamin C than an orange? So does this count when I eat a cup of strawberries in my strawberry scone?

Strawberries are an excellent source of the water-soluble nutrient. In fact, a serving of eight medium strawberries provides 96 milligrams of vitamin C or 160 percent of the recommended Daily Value (60mg). That's more vitamin C than one medium orange, which contains 74 milligrams of vitamin C. (http://www.calstrawberry.com/health/vitaminc.asp)

Did you know you can use a frozen strawberry in lieu of ice water? Picture a wonderful strawberry lemonade with frozen strawberries floating in lemonade.

Strawberry Lemonade!!
a Sutton creation!

2 cups cups strawberries
6 lemons*
1-2 cups Xagave
3-4 cups cold water

Puree 1 1/2 cups of strawberries and 2 tablespoons lemon juice in your Bosch blender until smooth.

You can remove most of the strawberry seeds by forcing it through a fine sieve but we enjoy everything about a strawberry, so I took all the blended strawberry mixture.

Blend together pureed strawberry mixture with remaining lemon juice. Add 1 cup Xagave and water in a large pitcher. Taste, add more Xagave if you like it sweeter!

*Use your Bosch citrus juicer to make fast lemon juice!




Another tip:
Use the lemon rind to clean stains on your counter. Well...not your granite counter. The lemon will get most the stains out and leave your kitchen smelling wonderful.

Natural Strawberry Jam

from "Delicious Meets Nutritious" Cookbook (Click here)
I can manually adjust cookbook shipping costs. Feel free to call me, if you are interested in this cookbook. :)

Ingredients:
2 quarts strawberries*
3 cups Xagave (Click here)
Juice from 1/2 lemon
1 tsp. lemon zest

Steps:
Lightly blend strawberries, Xagave, lemon juice and zest in blender (you want to keep it chunky). Pour mixture into pot, bring to a boil and reduce to a simmer. Let simmer for 45 minutes, stirring occasionally. Pour jam into an air tight container. Jam will store in your refrigerator for several months.

*Use this same recipe and you can make raspberry jam or peach jam. Excellent flavor and great jam.

Note from Paula: Not sure we will ever be able to go back to store bought strawberry jam. Not only is the flavor better but I know we are not getting the high sugar of store bought jam. You can also use this jam on your pancakes or waffles...yum! :)

Natural Ketchup made Easy!

More ideas for a nutritious cookout! Don't know if you have read the ingredients for store bought ketchup but it is loaded with sugar plus other junk type ingredients. Now, you can make your own and cut the sugar. Have fun making this ketchup to add to your wonderful summer of grilled food.

We have made our ketchup and put it in a mason jar in the fridge.

Tangy Ketchup from "Delicious Meets Nutritious" Cookbook (click here to see more!)
I can manually adjust cookbook shipping costs. Feel free to call me, if you are interested in this cookbook. :)


Ingredients:
1 6oz. can tomato paste
1 8 oz. can tomato sauce
1/4 cup water
1/4 cup Xagave (click here!)
1 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. cumin
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 tsp. onion powder
1/2 tsp. chili powder
Pinch of cinnamon (optional)
3 tbsp. cider vinegar
3 tbsp. white wine vinegar

Steps:
Mix all ingredients in your Bosch blender and blend until smooth. Store in a plastic squeeze bottle.

Will store in the refrigerator for several weeks.

Tips and Notes:
For a sweeter ketchup, add extra Xagave. For a spicy version, cayenne pepper give it a bit more kick.

The best part of using Xagave is that it is about 1/2 the calories of the leading brand ketchup! Most ketchup are filled with high fructose corn syrup! Now you can enjoy ketchup without all the sugar.

Stay tune for more cookout ideas!

Bosch Blender Mint Ice Cream

Happy St. Patrick's Day!! :)

Here is a quick treat for St.Patrick's Day! Did this day creep up on you like it did on me? You may be like me and not into all the holidays yet your kids seem to remember all of them and love them. I find them asking me that morning, "So what special treat are we having to celebrate St. Patrick's Day?" Oops! It caught me by surprise. Like, do we have this holiday every year in March?! :) So my wonderful daughter pulled out our Xagave Cookbook, (Delicious is Nutritious, click here) This is a favorite cookbook of ours. We love the colorful pictures and the tasty, easy to make recipes. BTW, I can adjust the shipping costs on Paula's Bread web site cookbooks manually to reflect cheaper shipping.

Blender Vanilla Ice Cream from Delicious Meets Nutritious
(We added mint instead of vanilla in honor of St. Patrick's Day!)

1 cup half & half
1/2 cup Xagave (click here)
1/2 tsp. mint extract
4 drops green food coloring
4 cups ice

Mix all ingredients in the Bosch Universal blender and blend on high until creamy.

Serve with chocolate syrup or mini chocolate chips.

Makes 8 servings.

Note from Paula: This is a fabulous recipe that is quick. Remember since its base is ice it will melt quickly so this is a fun recipe to make on the fly. Yum.

Strawberry Yogurt Shake

A Hannah creation!

2 cups plain yogurt
1 cup milk
1/2 cup honey or xagave (click here for sugar substitute)
1 1/2 cup frozen strawberries
1 1/2 cup frozen blueberries
1/4 tsp. almond extract


Simply add them in order. This is a die for smoothie. Full of protein via yogurt. Also note, the old classic blender fits the new Bosch Plus. This is one of the wonderful things about the Bosch is that your machine is not obsolete nor your parts.

Berry Blueberry Malt

from: 1-2-3 Smoothie by Rita Bingham (click here to see smoothie book)

6 almonds
2 cups milk
1/ 1/2 tsp. vanilla
2 Tbs malted milk powder
1 cup frozen apple juice concentrate
1 1/4 cup frozen blueberries
1 1/2 cup frozen bananas

Simply add in order of recipe. We added 1 tsp.almond extract as we love almond!




Note from Paula: When blending your frozen fruits you need to cut them in small chunks as fruit is fibrous. The frozen banana will be like a tough rope and strawberries are fibrous rocks.

Fast Morning Meal!

Have you ever woken up wishing breakfast could be fast like cereal but nutritious like a power packed smoothie? Here is your solution! Put all these frozen fruits in your blender the night before and then put the blender full of the frozen fruits/yogurt in your fridge. It will slow thaw through the night. Simply blend in the morning! It will still have the texture of a frozen smoothie with no time needed in preparation that morning!

Here is our power packed favorite smoothie! This smoothie is power packed because you have strawberries, blueberries, peaches for A, C, B1. B2, vitamins; bananas for potassium; yogurt and milk for protein. If you still need sweetener for your smoothie add xagave or honey to taste.


All frozen fruits!

1 cup chopped strawberries

1 cup chopped peaches

1 cup blueberries

1 banana

2 cups plain yogurt

1 cup milk

Remove from fridge and blend! How easy it that? Enjoy.

'Bosch Blender Quiche'

This is an easy way to fix dinner. Use your Bosch Blender to the max! The blender will prepare the pie crust and cream the eggs...it is sooo easy to make and great for when you really don't have time to prepare dinner. My friend Carlene shared this recipe with me several years ago and we love it!

Blend:
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
4 eggs
3 T Butter
2 cups milk
1/2 t salt
Pour into buttered pie pan.

Sprinkle the following ingredients over your egg mixture:
1/2 # grated cheese
1 chopped onion (optional)
crumble bacon (optional)

Bake 400 degrees; 30-40 minutes.

Note from Paula: You can turn this simple quiche into a spinach quiche or salmon or...you get the picture. What toppings you like in a quiche sprinkle on top of the egg mixture. It will bake in the quiche evenly. This is a wonderful meal and so easy. Definitely a meal you want to keep ready for those harries days.

Bosch Blender

What Can The Bosch Blender Really Do?

Many have wondered the power of the Bosch Blender and what exactly could they blend with it. Is it a worthwhile accessory? Too many have had the counter blenders that never really blended properly and simply took up space on the counter.

The Bosch Blender is not your average counter blender. You will be able to make wonderful smoothies, crushed ice, protein drinks, graham cracker crumbs, chop nuts, and much, much more! Many have asked how it compares to the Vita Mix. The Vita Mix is a great machine but it doesn't really blend the food well. Thus, Vita Mix gives you a plunger to mash the food down to get to the bottom blender blades. The Bosch blender genuinely swirls the mixture in the blender giving you a full mixing of your drink. The Bosch blender does a great job blending/mixing your food.

The biggest advice to be given for the Bosch Blender is starting the blender before you fill it with food or ice. Usually what makes a blender break is cramming it full then turning the motor on. Just as trying to run in water is difficult, cramming the food in the blender is forcing the blades to turn while the motor is immediately put at a high speed. Best is to start the blender then, add the food products or ice. Frozen fruit need to be chopped before putting it in the blender due to fruit being so fibrous. Cutting the fruit in smaller chunks will prolong the life of your Bosch Blender. It is a fabulous addition to your Bosch Kitchen Mixer and you will love the drinks you will be able to create.