Oatmeal Smoothie (Martha Stewart)

I have been up most of the night and early mornings with a new baby so i have needed a quick breakfast. I have grown to despise cereal in a real hurry so when i found this recipe i was excited. I happened to have everything on hand except the coconut water so i substituted it for the cup of fruit juice instead. This was a real quick fix and my family and i enjoyed it very much! Bonus, it's 100% guilt free!

• YieldServes 2-4

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Ingredients

• 1 cup ice
• 1/2 cup frozen raspberries
• 1/2 cup plain low fat yogurt
• 1 banana
• 1/2 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 1 cup coconut water (or other liquid, such as juice)

Directions

1. Place ice and raspberries in the bottom of blender, and all other ingredients on top. Whirl until completely smooth. Serve.

Non-alcoholic Lava Flow

Need something at the Superbowl party besides your usual soda? This drink is yummy goodness for the whole team! Add a little flare to your straws with the Giants or Patriots helmet, or go simple with a fresh pineapple wedge.

Ingredients:

1 C half and half

2 TBS coconut cream (Coco Lopez)

3/4 C pineapple juice

2 C Ice

1 C blended frozen strawberries

Directions:

1.)Blend strawberries and pour it evenly in the bottom of four clear glasses.

2.)In a blender put ice, half and half, coconut cream, and pineapple juice and blend until smooth.

3.) Quickly pour white blended mixture into the middle of glasses, the strawberries should come up the side of the cup and create the lava look.

Caramel Apple Cider (Our Best Bites)

Do you ever get sick of hot chocolate all the time during the winter?? My kids do so I was looking to switch it up a little and you all know how much I love Our Best Bites :)

I give you Caramel Apple Cider that is just as good as it sounds!!!! It was a big hit by both kids & adults!!

1/2 gallon apple cider (64 oz or 8 C)
1/2 C orange juice, fresh squeezed or good quality bottled like Simply Orange
1 orange
8 cloves
2 cinnamon sticks
1/4 t ground allspice
1/3 C jarred caramel sauce* more to taste if needed

optional: caramel flavored syrup sweetened whipped cream (or from a can is fine!) *For a delicious twist, substitute maplesyrup for the caramel sauce in this recipe.

Pour 8 cups of apple cider into a large stock pot on the stove pot. Set heat to medium-high. Add orange juice, cinnamon sticks, and allspice.

Thoroughly wash your orange and then gently stab the whole cloves into it. If you find it hard to do that without destroying the cloves, use a toothpick to poke little hole first and then insert the cloves. (If you are doubling the recipe, you can still just use one orange, just double the number of cloves you poke into it).

Gently drop the whole orange into the pot. Bring cider toa boil and then reduce heat to a low simmer. Simmer on low for 60 minutes and longer if you wish. If you’re keeping the pot on the stove for an extended period, keep an eye on the orange. If at any time it splits open, remove it from the pot. If the white pith is exposed it will add a bitter taste to your cider. If you’re going to have the pot warming for hours on end, take out the orange. After you’ve simmered for an hour, add caramel sauce and stir to combine and dissolve. Add more caramel to taste if needed.

When ready to serve, ladle into mugs, top with whipped cream, and give it a drizzle of caramel and a sprinkle of cinnamon.