Tag: #recipe

Zoku The Art of Slush Recipe Book and Slush & Shake Maker

Slush review

After spending weeks stuck under a heat dome with record breaking temperatures, I know everyone is looking for fun ways to cool down. So when I got the chance to try a Slush and Shake Maker along with The Art of Slush Recipe Book by Zoku I knew it was just what I needed on these hot days.

About Zoku

Zoku is known for their housewares and prides themselves on making family memories around their products. Zoku has Quick Pop Makers, Ice ball molds, Slush & Shake Maker, Iced Coffee Maker, Ice Cream Makers, Pop & Ice Molds, Travel Tumblers as well as recipe books.

“The team at Zoku was inspired to start a Slushy Revolution. In our desire to live heathier and eat mindfully,we noticed that slushies (and slushy makers) had been left behind in the shuffle-sure they came in various colors and flavors, but they have certainly never been categorized as gourmet or healthy. Thats why we’re so excited to share these delicious, wholesome recipes for the Zoku Slush and Shake Maker with you.”

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This Mamas Experienceshake image

Once I received my Slush and Shake Maker I hand washed the inner core, made sure it was completely dry and then placed it upright in my freezer over night (recommended 8-18 hours). This gave me time to go through The Art of Slush recipe book to try and pick a recipe.

The Art of Slush begins with a fun intro starting with the History of Slush and some fun facts including the quickest way to relieve brain freeze ( placing your tongue on the roof of your mouth to warm the palate). The intro will help you choose your sweeteners, dairy, fruit and gives you lots of tips such as adding alcohol for adult drinks. Then it moves to the good stuff, the recipes! With 22 Slushy Recipes, 12 Milkshake Recipes and 8 Smoothie Recipes your going to have a hard time just picking one. So instead I picked one of each.

I decided to start with a smoothie for breakfast, so I chose the Mango Lassi on pages 88-89 in The Art of Slush Recipe Book.

Mango Lassimango slush

Serves 2

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups (9 ounces) Chopped Mango, peeled and pitted ripe mango (approximately 2 mangoes)

1 cup Greek Yogurt

1/3 cup half and half

optional: light agave nectar, to taste (I didn’t feel it was necessary)

Directions: Puree the mango, yogurt and half and half in a blender. Taste and add agave nectar, if needed; blend again. Pour into the Slush and Shake Maker; Stir until think.

The Mango Lassi was a perfect start to my day, I was easily able to cut the recipe in half. Although the inside of the cup looks small don’t let this fool you. The Slush and Shake Maker is a generous portion for one person (but lets be honest as a mom nothing is just for me and I shared my breakfast with my one year old). The inner core is super easy to wash dry and place back in the freezer while I picked out my next recipe.

I love everything coffee so my next recipe to try is the Vietnamese Iced Coffee Slush on pages 46-47.

coffee ingredVietnamese Iced Coffee Slush

Serves 2

Ingredients:

2 cups filtered water

3/4 cup dark roast coffee

1/2 cup sweetened condensed milk

Directions: Bring the water to a boil in medium-sized saucepan. Add the coffee, stir to incorporate, and let steep 5 minutes. Strain the coffee through a cheesecloth-lined strainer into a clean container. Stain again if you see any coffee grounds in the coffee. Cool, then refrigerate until cold, about a hour. Whisk in the condensed milk. Pour into the Slush and Shake Maker; stir until think.

This is by far my favorite recipe, it has changed my whole outlook on iced coffee. I did cut this recipe in half (which is probably for the better because I could have easily enjoyed the whole recipe by myself). The hardest part of this cold coffee recipe is waiting for it to turn slush.

The third recipe it I chose was the Cookies & Cream Milkshake on pages 52-53

Cookies & Cream Milkshake

Serves 2oreo shake

Ingredients:

1 cup vanilla ice cream

1/2 cup whole milk

optional: 2 tablespoons cookie butter

1/2 cup chopped Oreo cookies (approximately 5 cookies), divided

garnish: 2 Oreo cookies

Directions: Puree the ice cream, milk, and cookie butter if using. Pour into the Slush and Shake Maker and add one-half of the chopped Oreos to each maker; stir until thick. Garnish with an Oreo.

Once again I did cut this recipe in half. I love that I am able to make a dessert for one and not have a ton left over. My milkshake for one was a perfect cool treat on a hot day. Every recipe I tried was super easy and very tasty. Maybe I will get adventurous and try and make my own recipe next time.

The Blonde Italian Review

Tomatoes. One of the most versatile foods. It’s a fruit, but used like a vegetable. But I love that it’s the official state fruit of Ohio, my reighing home. This fits The Blonde Italian so perfectly. Lauren, the owner, head chef and creator of The Blonde Italian is a fellow Ohioan. Each product The Blonde Italian makes is proudly made in Ohio. Lauren has hand crafted each recipe to perfection and now is happily supplying hungry consumers with her amazing dips, sauces and salsas. Cooked tomatoes are actually better for you than raw ones, as more beneficial chemicals are released. Tomatoes are also packed with vitamins A and C, calcium, potassium. There are so many awesome reasons to enjoy The Blonde Italian’s product line. If you have always loved trying new foods and are a fan of Italian cuisine, then why not travel to Italy to get the real experience. If you like the idea of this, then you may want to check out sopranovillas who can help you the perfect accommodation for your holiday.

The Blonde Italian products are available in many Ohio specialty food stores as well as on-line.

Follow The Blonde Italian

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Mama’s Experience

My husband and I have never, and I mean never, tasted tomato sauces like The Blonde Italian before. My first use was the Crime In Italy sauce over Italian sausage. After the meal was done my husband asked if we could have the same meal the next day! We were literally using our forks to scoop all the sauce off our plate, not wanting to miss a bite. We didn’t want to waste any of this mind blowing sauce. Each and every product from The Blonde Italian’s line that we tried my husband and I would look at each other and be like, “How is it possible we lived without this stuff?” I mean it’s tomatoes. I have eaten hundreds of sauces, dips and tomato based products throughout my life. It’s a staple in our diet. Having children we eat pasta with red sauce weekly. We are so happy to know we have The Blonde Italian in our pantry now which can be used with so many dinners and dishes.

Giavanna’s Garden Garlic Seasoning

The Blonde Italian Garden GarlicThis is a garlic lovers dream! You just add more oil to this highly concentrated garlic mixture to make all your favorite dishes. Sure, you can buy plain old garlic in the jar at any local grocer. But this mixture is the elevated version of garlic. With perfectly balanced Italian seasonings used along side the fresh garlic, The Blonde Italian has created a seasoning worth your attention.

This can be used in many types of dishes: chicken, beef, fish, vegetables, bread dip….the options are limitless

The evening that I used this sauce I steamed some brussel spouts. I then took the water out of the pan and added in 2 tablespoons of Garden Garlic. It was awesome. I will be doing this again next week but plan on baking it in the oven with the Garden Garlic sauce, I think this will add some depth that can easily be gained with this sauce.

The Blonde Italian Brussel Sprouts

Sister Mia Savory Salsa (comes in mild or hot)

The Blonde Italian SalsasSalsa is something most all people love. In my household it is a party staple. A big old bag of chips with a jar of salsa will always be found at any party we host. Over this past Memorial Day weekend I served the The Blonde Italians salsa at our little get together. It was gone in a flash! Every person tried it and come back for another scoop. This salsa is chunky and what I would call ‘meaty’. It holds texture and it not just watered down tomatoes in a runny soup. These salsas keep their tomato texture, soft yet slightly firm. Each jar is seasoned with jalapeno peppers to add a kick. I love spicy foods, but if you don’t the hot will be out of the question too hot for you. Even the mild has a slight kick to it, so take a small bite at first. It had more kick for a mild then I expected.

The Mother Everything Sauce

The Blonde Italian Mother Everything SauceThe title says it all. This sauce does it all. From pasta to Eggplant Parmesan, this sauce holds up to any dish. Many recipes and dishes call for some tomato sauce. You can easily substitute in equal parts Everything Sauce for tomato sauce. It makes an amazing pizza sauce. My family loves to make little personal pizza on naan bread. It’s like a pita bread, thin bread that is unleavened. My family is big into the sauce that goes on our pizza’s. Being from Chicago, I understand that all parts of the pizza needs to be at their prime to truley make a perfect pie. The sauce can’t just be a bland sauce that is runny and lacks real depth. You need to have that slight seasoning that lays under the melted cheese. That sauce is where the flavor is held. If you miss that aspect then your pie will not be the epic slice you are craving. With The Mother Everything Sauce, you can guarantee a perfect pizza.

The Blonde Italian Pizza

Crime In Italy Sauce

The Blonde Italian Crime In Italy SauceThis sauce has changed our lives, and for the better. My husband and I have eaten this sauce with a spoon. It’s that good. No joke. You may think all tomato based sauces are the same. Tomatoes and spices. Straight forward enough. There is something The Blonde Italian did to this particular sauce that stuck a cord with my family. We are obsessed with it. The key to this sauce it that she added some Irish spices to this sauce, which as her grandmother would have said is a “Crime In Italy,”…and the name stuck.

We have tried it out on several dishes. We poured a whole jar over a raw Italian sausage and baked in the over to cook it. We used it over turkey burgers and beef burgers. Each time the sauce was the star of the dish instead of the protein. What sauce do you know of that can hold up to the protein? When you try this sauce don’t just get one jar! Grab a few because you are going to want more right away.

crime in italy sauce

Simmer Sauce


The Blonde Italian Simmer SauceSimmer Sauce
is just like it sounds. A perfect sauce to use when slowly cooking your meal. We choose to use this sauce over a long tube of Italian Sausage. I placed the raw sausage in a cast iron skillet. Then I poured the entire jar of Simmer Sauce on top of the sausage. Not all over the skillet, just over the sausage so that it would really soak in the flavors during cooking, and so that the sauce wouldn’t burn and evaporate. Keeping it close together is the best option. You can also do this in a small glass dish so that the sauce isn’t spread out too much. This is such a complimentary meal. The seasonings in the sausage matched perfectly with the seasonings in the Simmer Sauce. This is definitely a staple meal in my house now.

The Blonde Italian Simmer Sauce on Sausage

Virgin Vodka Pasta Sauce

The Blonde Italian Virgin Vodka SauceVodka sauce is one of the most popular types of red sauces around. It is considered as a tasty sauce which you can get at cooking holidays in italy Its really a staple. This sauce has all the pop and awesomeness of a Vodka sauce, but without the Vodka! This non-alcoholic sauce is perfect for all dishes involving pasta sauce. Its creamy, smooth and flavorful. The Blonde Italians perfected this sauce by blending tomatoes, spices, garlic and sweet creme! YUM!

Typically Vodka sauce is used alone. The sauce is creamy and stands up without any help. The night we used this sauce I threw caution to the wind and added the Vodka Sauce to a pound of ground beef. It was so good! My toddlers both slammed on their pasta the night we did this.

The Blonde Italian vodka sauce

The Blonde Italian Tom BTom B. Tomato-Basil Bruschetta

Bruschetta, can you get more Italian than that? One of the best appetizers and snacks that I can think of. Hearty enough to be a full meal or easy enough to be a side dish, this fast and simple dish is something you should always keep in your back pocket. You can simply place this Bruschetta on top of a cracker, a piece of dried bread or make your own homemade appetizer! In the photo here I just took a few piece of Italian bread, slightly brushed them with olive oil. Baked the bread for about 10 minutes and then topped with Bruschetta and some fresh Parmesan cheese.

Brusshetta

3 Ingredient Cookies

3 Ingredient Cookies

3 ingredient cookies

My family loves cookies, but do don’t love the calories that are often associated with them! If you are looking for a healthy and easy new cookie, this is the one you want to pin! When using the ingredients I mention below in their correct proportions, this recipe makes 12 cookies which equal to be about only 75 calories each!

3 ingredient cookies

Ingredients
  • 2 bananas
  • 1 cup of Rolled Oats (I used Happy Rolled Oats by Bakery On Main)
  • 5 tablespoons of chocolate chips
Instructions

ingredient

Mix bananas, rolled oats and chocolate chips.

Roll into balls and place on baking sheet.

Bake at 350º for 15-16 minutes.

 

Kickin’ Avocado Dip

Kickin’ Avocado Dip

Kickin’s Avocado Dip was created for Door to Door Organics. Most ingredients can be ordered through Door to Door Organics.

 

Ingredients:

  • 2 avocados
  • 4 green onions
  • 1 cup sour cream
  • 1 jalapeno
  • dash of salt
  • lemon juice (to preserve)

ingredients

How To:

1. Mash 2 avocados with the sour cream until smooth.

2. Mince jalapeno and onion.

3. Fold in jalapeno, onion, blue cheese and salt to taste.

4. Serve with peppers, chips or pretzel (sprinkle with lemon juice to prevent browning).

dip1

Asian Flank Steak

Asian Flank Steak

This recipe was custom designed for Door to Door Organics. You are able to purchase all ingredients through Door to Door Organics

Ingredients:

  • 1 flank steak
  • 3 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce
  • 1/3 cup soy sauce
  • 2-3 garlic cloves (minced)
  • 1 heaping tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • dash of pepper
  • mushrooms
  • green onion

How to:

Mince garlic

garlic

Place 2 tablespoon olive oil, mustard, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, pepper, salt, garlic & steak into a zip up plastic bag

bag ing

Try to remove the majority of air from bag to allow the flank steak to truly marinate

in bag

Refrigerate. Let marinate for up to 8 hours

Cook at 375 degrees for 30 minutes (until at least 140 degrees internally), flipping half way

…while meat is in the oven…

Chop green onions and mushrooms

mush

Saute green onions and mushrooms in a pan with approx 1 tablespoon olive oil

cooked meat

Enjoy!

close up done

 

Rosemary Garlic Lamb Chops

Rosemary Garlic Lamb Chops

Ingredients:

  • 4-6 lamb chop ribs
  • 2-3 garlic cloves
  • 3 sprigs of fresh rosemary
  • coconut oil (or butter)

How to:

  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees
  2. Finely mince garlic and rosemary (I used a Ninja blender)
  3. Heat a dutch oven (or oven safe fry pan) to high heat, melting the oil (or butter)
  4. Rub lamb with garlic & rosemary mix
  5. Cook chops on 1 side for 2 minutes
  6. Cook chops on other side for another 2 minutes
  7. Place in oven and bake for 2 minutes
  8. Enjoy!

rawcooked

Wookie Cookie Recipe – May the 4th Be With You

Wookie Cookie Recipe – May the 4th Be With You

for original recipe click here

Ingredients:

  • 2-1/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
  • 1 cup packed brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup white sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1-1/2 tsp vanilla
  • 1 cup milk chocolate chips
  • 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

4

Combine flour, baking soda, salt and cinnamon in a mixing bowl.

Whisk well.

3

In a separate bowl or in your mixer, combine butter, brown sugar and white sugar.

Using an electric mixer set on high speed, beat together until well-blended and creamy (about 3 minutes).

Beat in your eggs and vanilla.

Mix until completely combined.

2

Add the flour mixture and beat until completely combined.

1

Using a wooden spoon, mix in your chocolate chips.

8

Scoop up a rounded tablespoonful of the dough and drop onto baking sheet.

7

Bake in a 375 degree Fahrenheit oven until golden brown – about 10 minutes.

Let cookies cool in pan for 5 minutes then transfer to a wire rack to completely cool.

6

5

Zoku Quick Pop Maker Review

review Zoku

Zoku Quick Pop Maker Review

 

Zoku is known for their housewares, one of which being the Quick Pop Maker. If you have not heard of Zoku and their fun, creative and unique product line, then take a look at some of their amazing product’s here. They are most known from their Quick Pop Maker and Ice Cream Maker. This article will focus on the Quick Pop Maker.

“Freeze ice pops in as little as seven minutes with the patented Zoku Quick Pop® Maker! Make striped pops, yogurt pops, or even flavored core pops right on your countertop without electricity. To enjoy Quick Pops at a moment’s notice, simply store the compact base in your freezer.”

The moment I opened the box that the Quick Pop Maker came in my friend said, “It’s so pretty!” Shortly followed by, “It is so compact, it wont take up hardly any room in your freezer!” She was spot on. This product is so ascetically pleasing that you can set it out at a party and people will be visually drawn to it. But looks are not everything. It’s what is on the inside that counts too. Zoku spent months on research, testing and prototypes to create what we have available for purchase today. The patented cold core can freeze liquids and yogurts in only 7 to 9 minutes! Instant satisfaction.

Triple-Main-2_large

How To:
  1. Freeze your Quick Pop Maker for 8+ hours
  2. Insert pop sticks into the molds
  3. Pour chilled juice into the molds up to the fill line
  4. Watch it freeze for 7-9 minutes

Watch How To Video Here

Character_Kit-TN-4_8bca4c76-b459-42e8-9747-c7f0b63576cbThe Quick Pop Maker comes in 3 sizes, Triple Quick Pop Maker, Duo Quick Pop Maker and the Single Quick Pop Maker. There are more accessories then you can imagine! Some examples are the Character Kit.

“Give your pops some personality with the Zoku Character Kit. Create animals, faces, and your own designs or follow the included instructions to bring your pops to life. Go ahead, play with your food!”

The Social Media Kit lets you make fun designs like a thumbs up symbol, a winking smiley face and other Chocolate_Station-TN-4_54d7d1a5-8636-409d-acdf-75a70ee18293emoticons, letters and numbers and many more options. They have a Storage Case, which is so helpful. You create your liquid, make 3 delicious pops but your tummy fills up. This storage case allows you to store up to 6 pops. Perfect for grabbing a pop in a pinch.  They also went the extra mile and created a Chocolate Station!

“Dip, drop, drip and drizzle your way to enjoying your Quick Pops like never before. The Zoku Chocolate Station adds chocolate shells, sprinkles, and toppings to your favorite Zoku Quick Pops! Pick one up and enjoy gourmet pops at your chocolate-covered fingertips.”

ZK123_Frog_4Once you get addicted to your Quick Pop Maker you are able to expand your collection with Pop & Ice Molds. These molds do not instantly freeze your pop, but instead need to be placed into a freezer for several hours. They have Round Pop Molds, Fish Pop Molds (I adore the whale and scuba diver), Character Pops (check out Stewie the Turtle and those sweet little legs), and even an Ice Ball Mold. The Ice Ball Mold allows you to make one large ice ball to keep you drink cool over a long period of time without a quick melt causing a diluted drink. Perfect for keeping your drink tasty and cool on hot summer days.

Zoku Quick Pop Maker’s are available at the following retailers:

Zoku Tips and Tricks

  • Always put the stick in first, before pouring.
  • DON’T over pour. It leads to it being more difficult to remove. Pour slowly until you get a feel for the depth.
  • Do not wait too long to remove pop from maker. It gets harder to remove.
  • Turn the remover tool until you see the pop start to move away from the sides. The pop is now free. Untwist the removal tool before removing your pop.
  • NEVER yank the stick if your pop is stuck.
  • If your pop is stuck because you overfilled it, pour some cool water on top. If that doesn’t loosen it then use lukewarm water.

How to Make Watermelon Zoku Quick Pops

This is such a kid friendly recipe. You can have your a toddler assist you in making this pop. Watermelon has such a high water content, that makes it a perfect beginner pop to try with your child.  The beauty of Zoku Quick Pop Makers is that you can add the ingredients that you desire. I am able to give my children healthy and dye free pops any time. 

  1. Take 1/4 of a watermelon and chop into small, bit-sized pieces
  2. Add 2 tablespoons of sugar to the melon pieces
  3. Blend melon and sugar using a handheld mixer
  4. Pour mixture into Zoku Quick Pop Maker
  5. Let freeze for 8 minutes
  6. Enjoy!

beginning

pouring done

main water

How to Make Creamy Blueberry Zoku Quick Pops

Another super kid friendly recipe. They can help you scoop the ice cream, pour the milk and even wash the blueberries!

  1. Place clean blueberries into blender or hand mixer safe container
  2. Scoop 1 – 1.5 cups of vanilla ice cream into mixture
  3. Add 1/3 cup of milk
  4. Blend well (if too thick to pour into mold add milk)
  5. Pour into Zoku Quick Pop Maker
  6. Freeze for 8 minutes
  7. Enjoy!

 

Dorothy

blue up close

 

Now that you see how awesome this Triple Pop Maker is, you can try to win one for yourself!
Click here to enter (Runs 4/14/15-4/28/15)

Giveaway Zoku

Honey Mustard Sauce

Honey Mustard Sauce

Honey mustard is one of those sauces that makes you excited, like drooling excited. Now you can make your own and its easier then you might have thought. One way to really make it special is to use The Mustard Man’s ‘Simply Horsey’ mustard as your mustard base. This gives it that light kick you want in a good honey mustard.

This is the perfect dip for your Easter ham and for those left over Easter Ham sandwiches!

Ingredients:

How to:

Take 3 tablespoons of Mayonnaise

mayoAdd 1 tablespoon honey

honey

Add 3 tablespoons of The Mustard Man ‘Simply Horsey’ mustard

all

Mix well and enjoy!

done with mama

 

St Patrick’s Day Sweet & “Simply Horsey” Corned Beef

St Patrick’s Day Sweet & “Simply Horsey” Corned Beef

This was the best corned beef my husband and I have ever eaten. That is saying a lot considering how many exclusive places in Ohio and Chicago we have gotten ‘famous’ corned beef from.

Ingredients:

  • Corned beef (with pickling spices; should be in with the beef)
  • 3 tablespoons of “Simply Horsey” Mustard
  • 1 tablespoon of honey
  • 1-2 tablespoons of brown sugar
  • 2 large potatoes (peeled and cubed)
  • 2 large carrots (peeled and sliced) OR half a bag of baby carrots
  • 1 cabbage

1. Place corned beef and pickling spices in a crockpot with 2 cups of water.

1 m

2. Chop carrots, cabbage and potatoes.

2 m

3. Cook corned beef, alone, for 6-7 hours on low.

4. Add vegetables in the last 60-90 minutes of cooking time.

5. Remove the corned beef and place in a baking dish.

6. Mix the “Simply Horsey” mustard and honey.

3 m

7. Using a spoon or a brush, coat the top and sides of the corned beef.

4 m

8. Bake at 350 for 10 minutes.

9. Remove from oven and sprinkle the brown sugar on top. Bake for another 10 minutes.

5 m

10. Serve with vegetables. Enjoy!

6 m

7 m