Are you staying frugal?

What I've been eating lately:

Lemon-Dill Chicken, Citrus & Beet Salad. Grilled Marinated Pork Chop, Roasted Sweet Potato, Lettuce Salad, Caprese Salad. Vanilla Mint Protein Shake.

Yeah, the oranges/beets/tomato/sweet potatoes are not really low-carb. But they are seasonal indulgences and eaten in small amounts (usually, ha ha). The coffee syrup behind the shake is actually J's, not mine.




What I've Seen Lately Snapshot:

Zinnias in the garden - what a brilliant pop of color. I love clipping them and having them on the kitchen table. Bugs seem to get pretty amorous in the raspberries - somewhere on this blog I believe I still have a pic of grasshoppers being... "romantic". Raspberries, lettuce and sugarsnap peas are the goodies going on in the garden. Last - holy cow. That's a giant mosquito.

Frugal Front Lately:

> adding up amounts to get a monthly average of what we're spending on food so that I can figure out a budget
> removed a stain from a silk tie for D for his work uniform (method below - if you're willing to take the risk)
> saved over $13 with coupons at Walmart on a $70 grocery trip
> found I was overcharged $4.64 on a separate trip to Walmart, will bring to customer service next time going there
> continuing to hang the heavy laundry items such as bottoms and shirts, towels, blankets
> framed some prints I have had for over 10 years from when I'd homeschooled A with wooden frames that cost $2 each
> borrowed the book Outlander from the library, as well as season 1 of True Detective on dvd
> sold A's dvd set of the whole series of Charmed, while not frugal for me, A will come out over $50 ahead
> putting leftovers in the freezer or to use by creating a new meal, such as a chicken hotdish made from leftover grilled chicken and leftover diced onion from a taco meal
> applied for and will be starting a second part-time job that I know I will really like at a coffeehouse

The first pic you can see what I believe is grease staining D's work tie. I looked up how to clean a silk tie and it sounded like it was not going to be too likely that I'd even be able to do so. But there were a few ideas. One was to use babypowder or cornstarch on it, let it set for a few hours, then shake or gently brush off. I tried that. It didn't work. Then I read a suggestion to use rubbing alcohol and q-tips to try to gently scrub it away and a blow dryer to quickly dry it so as to avoid a "water outline". No matter how careful I was, it kept leaving a line around the edges of where I'd cleaned, though it did seem to make the grease stain disappear. Finally, I thought, well enough fartin' around already! I dunked a cotton ball in the alcohol and just swiped it across the tie a couple of times (second picture), blow dried it, repeated about two more times... and it is now unnoticeable (pic 3)! Yeah, baby!

Sugarless White Hot Chocolate

Yes! We hit a high of about 45 degrees today. Finally, it appears spring is nearly in sight. I can actually see... well, mud... now that some of the snow's melted in the driveway. I'll take it. This feels like the longest winter EVER. For around here, I think I can say that this was the type of winter that we used to have. (We've been spoiled with years of mild winters.) Thank goodness that it's starting to dwindle. I don't know if you'd heard about how much propane shot up this winter. But we can't afford another $800 fill like we'd had just a couple of months ago. "J" checked the propane tank and we are already down to 40%. The oil company likes us to let them know when we are at about 30% so that they can fit us into their routes. Come on warmer weather!

But last week was still frigid. I have been trying to cut back on artificial sweeteners but found myself craving that low-sugar Swiss Miss cocoa all the same. (I imagine I was also influenced by the white chocolate coffee drink "A" had that day and I'd caught wind of.) I then remembered I still had a chunk of cocoa butter in the crisper drawer and thought I'd go ahead and experiment. Since it was an experiment, I can't tell you if you need xanthan. Though I can tell you that I thought to add it with the idea that it would lend it a little creaminess... and it did, I think, as almond milk's pretty watery. I can tell you that a whisk is awesome to help incorporate the cocoa butter prior to pouring into your mug and you want to whisk it fast and furious. I thought it would leave an oil slick on the surface. But it was made up of such teeny-tiny little droplets, I scarcely noticed it. I also had topped mine with a blob of whipped coconut cream (the thick layer found in some cans of coconut milk) that I'd sweetened with a couple drops of stevia. Then I didn't notice it. By turning my "whipped topping" under with a spoon as I sipped, I kept the cocoa butter mixed throughout and added to the creaminess. Yum.

White Hot Chocolate
(made 2 average coffee mug sized servings)
1/2 oz. cocoa butter shavings (about 1/8c)
2c unsweetened vanilla almond milk
12 drops liquid vanilla stevia
2 tsp xylitol
dash (1/16th tsp?) xanthan
1/2 tsp homemade vanilla extract

Heat cocoa butter, almond milk, liquid stevia and xylitol in a saucepan over medium heat until xylitol's dissolved, cocoa butter's melted, and milk begins to look steamy (or dip your finger in to see if it's hot - carefully). Remove from heat and whisk in xanthan, then vanilla. 

Blackberry Cream Italian Soda

I was experimenting in the kitchen this afternoon.  And it turned out great! 

Blackberry Cream Italian Soda
(makes enough syrup for about 14 servings, depending on amount used)
1 & 1/2c xylitol
20 drops liquid vanilla stevia
1c water
10 oz. bag frozen blackberries
1/2 lime, juiced
ice
club soda
h&h

On medium heat set a pot with the xylitol, stevia, water, blackberries and lime juice.  I let this mixture simmer for about 20mns, stirring often and smashing the berries with a potato masher.  It appeared to have reduced by about a fourth.  I let cool for a short time.  Then place a sieve or fine strainer over your storage bottle.  I used a 2c glass measuring cup with a spout.  Slowly pour the blackberry mixture into this strainer, using the back of a spoon to mash the pulp to release any residual juice.  I ended up with 1 & 3/4c syrup once strained.  Cover and place in refrigerator to chill.  To serve, put ice in serving glass and add desired amount of syrup.  I used about 1/8c.  Then fill glass with club soda.  Add a dribble of h&h or cream.  Give a gentle stir to mix syrup and cream.  Yummy.

I joined the Frugal Crafty Home Blog Hop #11!

Thai Coffee

Have you ever made Thai coffee, or Thai iced coffee?  I've only tried a version of it once, back in my real sugar guzzling days, and it wasn't even very authentic.  I simply poured a small can of condensed milk into my coffee carafe before brewing an extra strong pot of coffee, per the directions on a blog/site that I'd come across (have no idea what blog/site anymore, maybe Kraft).  I don't even remember adding any spices to it.  I've since learned that you should, at the very least, add cardamom.  At any rate, I somewhat accidentally came across an even simpler, not to mention healthier, version.  A couple of days ago I was making myself the typical morning brew and recalled Amber from Me and Jorge: Belly Fat Cure Diet had suggested adding mulling spices to my coffee.  While I've added cinnamon bark, nutmeg and cloves to my grounds in the past, I didn't own a mixed combination of any spices... But our tea bags are stored in the cupboard behind the coffee can and the Celestial Seasonings Chai flavor was peeking out right above and behind the can, sort of like it was waving and yelling, "Here I am, pick me, pick me!"

We now use just a 4c coffee maker, aside from my Tassimo machine.  Although it says 4c on the carafe, we get 2 & 1/2 mugs of coffee per pot.  This is usually just about right for us in the morning before work.  So my measurements may seem funny, but adjust accordingly for your pot size.

Thai Coffee
4c cold water
4 somewhat heaping Tbsps coffee grounds
1 Celestial Seasonings Chai Tea Sweet Coconut Thai tea bag
Sweetener
Half & Half

Tear open tea bag and pour contents into coffee grounds basket, add grounds, fill water reservoir, then brew.  When done add sweetener of your choice and half & half (I tend to be a bit generous and fill my mug about 1/4-1/3 of the way with h&h) to your mug, whatever amount you normally enjoy with your coffee.  Pour in your coffee and give a quick stir. Ah, yum yum, enjoy.

Editing to add that on the frugal front, yesterday I sewed a button on to two pair of capris that I've had lying around.  I'd been considering just tossing them out.  How lazy was that?!?  I also stitched the crotch of a pair of my husband's scrub bottoms, rather than just throwing out and checked over another set of scrubs that he's had set aside for months.  While the pants had a big hole/tear in the knee, the top was perfectly fine.  Plus it just so happens to match the other bottoms that I was able to repair!

I also scored a great deal at Avon's site.  I went through MyPoints so I can earn rewards there, too.  I had a free shipping code on any purchase, so I went through the clearance section and found the big 24fl oz bottles of peppermint bubble bath for only $3.  I snapped up 4, one for each coworker.  We do a small gift exchange each Christmas, so this will be perfect.  I already have 4 little buckets with lids from after holiday sales, think they were $1 each, and I intend to make peppermint bark to put in the buckets.  So far, I'm only in $4 per person!  Yay!

My parents have basil and rosemary growing on the porch.  They'll likely let it die over winter, so I intend to get out there and pick then dry them before that happens.  Love, love, love that basil on the tomatoes and mozzarella.

Dinners and a movie...

This is such an easy week, mostly because I am going to be away for two days.  D (son) and I are on spring break from school & work and are going on a day trip with N, sister-in-law.  We'll be visiting a pirates themed exhibit at a museum and shopping.

Monday (check!) - Hawaiian Chicken Sandwiches, Fries, Salad
Tuesday - on your own (I'm not home.)
Wednesday - on your own (I'm not home.)
Thursday (check!) - Chicken Rice Soup, Salad
Friday (check!) - Pork Roast & Root Vegetables
Saturday (check!) - Orange Chicken & Broccoli Stir-Fry
Sunday (check!) - Spaghetti w/Meatballs

D and I went to see The Hunger Games at the theater.  While I'd read the trilogy, he had not.  Hopefully this will interest him enough to get him to read an actual book.  He reads manga/graphic novels for the most part.  I wish he'd realize just how much more is out there!  As for the books, I give them a thumbs-up.  While they are not as detailed or written in a fashion that I typically enjoy, I realize that they were written for a more juvenile audience and think that they were very well done with that intention.  The movie?  That turned out to be pretty good... and that opinion comes from D, too, though he originally didn't want to go see it with me.  (I'm such a mean momma, I made him go along.)  Anyone else see it?  What'd you think?

I've been craving sweet, hot drinks.  Coffee's been getting a bit tiresome.  So I made myself some low-sugar and low-carb chai mix.  I figure this recipe below is about 2g sugar and 5g carbohydrates per serving, so 2/1 for an s/c count.  I realize there are many variations and even lower sugar and carb recipes.  But I really wanted the convenience of the dry mix.  However, I will soon try steeping a mug of spiced tea and adding heavy whipping cream and stevia/xylitol some time, just for comparison's sake.

Low-Sugar Vanilla Chai Mix
(adapted from Southern Plate site)

1/2c non-fat powdered milk
1/2c non-dairy powdered creamer
1/2c sugar-free vanilla powdered creamer
1c stevia (I use Stevia In The Raw)
1/2c unsweetened instant tea
1tsp ground ginger
1tsp ground cinnamon
1/2tsp ground cloves
1/2tsp ground cardamom
1/2tsp ground nutmeg
1/2tsp allspice
1/8-1/4tsp ground white pepper

Blend all in food processor until mixed well and fine.  Pour into a storage container with a lid.  To make, add two level tablespoons to an 8oz mug of hot water.  Stir and enjoy.  

I cut the original recipe roughly in half.  Accordingly, you are supposed to get about 3c of mix, or 24 servings using the amounts above.  Less, of course, if you choose to use heaping Tbsps. when making yourself a cup.  Keep in mind that you will end up with a little "silt" on the bottom of your mug when you're down to the last sip as the spices do settle.  Tastes fantastic!  As soon as I pick up another bottle of instant tea, I and dd will make another version using regular sugar that she can give as a gift for a friend's birthday next week!  Yum yum!

Sugar-free Mocha Iced Coffee

I've had a sweet tooth and a strong desire for a treat tonight.  While perusing a few blogs I saw a post on iced coffees and got to thinking about the leftover coffee in our pot from earlier today.  Certainly I could make one sugar-free/low-carb... so I did.  Turned out quite yummy-sweet and decadent, the heavy whipping cream gives it a nice satisfying mouth-feel.  I think it amounts to less than 6g carbs for filling my 16oz insulated cup.

Sugar-Free Iced Mocha
1/4c heavy whipping cream
1c cold brewed coffee
1Tbsp xylitol
1tsp vanilla
1Tbsp sugar-free chocolate flavored syrup

Mix all in a glass measuring cup.  Allow to sit for a few minutes so the xylitol dissolves completely, then stir again.  Pour over ice in a tall glass.

I would imagine you could substitute to no end with this.  For instance, in place of the chocolate syrup you could use one of those sugar-free liquid syrups such as Torani brand syrups, or nothing in it's place even.  You could swap in some almond milk or coconut milk for the heavy whipping cream.  Use whatever sweetener you like best.  With a Torani syrup you might like to skip the sweetener all together.  I happen to like my cold coffee drinks pretty darn sweet (Oh, how I loved thee, McDonald's Mocha Frappe...) so found I needed that shot of xylitol.

Day 88, 89, 90 & 91

Thursday, Dec.8
Cheat day.  Though I didn't go all out crazy yet.  Just one cookie that I'd made last night for Christmas and about 1/4c coffee with regular creamer and two peanut butter M&M's.  At least, not all out crazy by my standards.  Ha ha.

Wednesday, Dec.7
Breakfast> blackberry whey protein shake (4/1)
Lunch> turkey roast, gravy, <2oz mashed potatoes, cottage cheese w/blackberries (5/2)
Snacks> coffee, licked the beaters from making a sugarfree lime cheesecake filling, cheese/meat/nuts/blackberries (3/1)
Supper> pork chop, Marinated Mozzarella Pasta Salad, 1/10th of a fresh pear (3/2)

Total s/c = 15/6

No recipe for the shake as I didn't do any measuring.  Just tossed some ice, almond milk, heavy whipping cream, Jay Robb vanilla whey protein powder and 5-6 blackberries into the blender.  Yummy, though a titch seedy near the bottom of the glass.

Tuesday, Dec.6
Breakfast> ham pieces, toast w/butter,jam, cheese, coffee (0/1)

Lunch> open-faced tuna sandwich, four fries (3/2)

Snacks> 1/4c blackberries, diet orange soda w/cream (4/1)

Supper> beef wieners, cottage cheese, 6 or 7 tator-tots, few bites coleslaw made with xylitol (2/2)
Total s/c = 9/6

If my lunches sound a bit repetitive, it's because they are.  I work in a school kitchen and it's hard to find something "okay" to eat for lunch in there, unfortunately.

Monday, Dec.5

Breakfast> 2 fried eggs w/<1/4c hashbrown leftovers, bacon (0/1) 
Lunch> open-faced tuna sandwich, four fries (3/2) 
Snacks> 1/4c blackberries, pumpkin seeds (4/1) 
Supper> Seaside Tacos (5/2)
Total s/c - 12/6
Felt much better today.


Sunday, Dec.4
Breakfast> 1 Ezekial toast w/pb, coffee (3/2)
Lunch> none, woke late 
Snacks> small slice cheese 
Supper> 3/4c hashbrowns, sausage, few bites unsw.applesauce, cottage cheese, 1 bite unsw.cranberry sauce (5/2)

Total s/c - 8/4

Felt yucky last night and off and on today.  Mostly I've had an awful headache and a little nausea off and on along with it.  The headache was enough to wake me at 5am this morning.  Grr.  Think it's a sugar hangover?

Saturday, Dec.3
Cheat day.  Mom and I went out of town where I proceeded to behave badly.  Don't know if it's coincidence or not.  But I felt horrible starting this afternoon...

Day 38 BFC & Pumpkin Pie Shake recipe!

Today I decided to bring the Pumpkin Spice flavor of Green Mountain Coffee that was provided to me in my Bzz kit, along with a coupon for each of the ladies that I work with.  Learn more about Green Mountain Coffee here.

To kill two birds with one stone, I am also bringing them each a sample of Burt's Bees Natural Skin Solutions Sensitive daily moisturizing cream that has a $1 off coupon attached.  I'm excited to see how they like the coffee and look forward to hearing reactions after they've tried the moisturizing cream.  I hope they like it as much as I do.

Although the skin products are fragrance free, this cream has the tiniest scent of... I'm not sure how to describe it other than as a light licorice scent.  I love it, but being fragrance free, it dissipates very quickly.  My skin's been very soft and those dry reddish patches that I typically get around my mouth and nose are unnoticeable since I've been using the Burt's Bees Natural Skin Solutions Sensitive daily moisturizer.

Breakfast> fried eggs, Spam, coffee w/cream & stevia (s/c=0/0)
Snacks> few almonds, Pumpkin Pie Shake (s/c=3/2)
Lunch> pork riblet, cottage cheese, pickles, 1/8c whole wheat pasta salad (s/c=2/1)
Supper> 2pcs. grilled chicken, SoBe Lifewater (s/c=0/1)
Total s/c for today - 5/4

?Not sure how to count the pasta salad that I had at work.  It was about 2-3 bites worth, had one broccoli floret, 1 sliced olive ring, and several pepperoni slices in it.  So the total s/c for lunch was a bit of a guess.?

Here is the recipe for my pumpkin shake:

Pumpkin Pie Shake
2c ice cubes
1 scoop Jay Robb vanilla whey protein powder
1/4c canned pumpkin (not pie filling, of course)
2Tbsp half&half
2Tbsp heavy cream
3/4c unsweetened almond milk
1 packet stevia sweetener
1/2tsp cinnamon
1/4tsp Chinese five spice powder

Blend all in blender.

This made a bit more than what fit in my glass.(Well, my son's glass...)But you could easily cut back on the ice to reduce the size and to strengthen the flavor a bit.  Just a note, too, I use Penzey's cinnamon and five spice.  According to my calculations this is equal to 2sugars/1carb serving.

Weight: 195lbs
I also wanted to make some note of PCOS symptoms.  While I haven't done this long enough to be sure... I think this little weight loss that I've had so far may have kick-started my menstrual cycle... I say may because with PCOS it's all abnormal or irregular.  While this may be too much info, (WARNING : DUDE, READ NO FURTHER!) the bleeding is actually more like it was when I was younger.  You know, normal like.  I was even overheard saying, "What a pretty bright red!" by family members.  The darkened spotty skin on my shins and below my underarms seems to be gone, or at least, I can't see it much anymore.  The scaliness, which runs up my spine, while not completely gone, is much less noticeable.  As it is between my underarms and (YES, I'M GOING TO SAY IT...) boobs!  However, the two symptoms that bother me the most have not appeared to have changed at all.  I'm still balding on my head and sporting a five o'clock shadow if I forget to shave/pluck...  Oh, and I haven't experienced heart palpitations for about a month.

Day 30 on BFC and Shake & Steak recipes!

Breakfast> Peanut Butter Shake (s/c=4/1)
Lunch> half a serving of Fage yogurt with jam, chicken fillet, pickles (s/c=3/1)
Snacks> few almonds, 3 mini sugar-free Reese's cups,1/2c raspberries w/cream (s/c=3/2)
Supper> Adobo Sirloin, coleslaw sweetened with xylitol, leftover mac'n'cheese w/salsa (s/c=2/1)
Total s/c for today - 12/5
Put in a 2 mile walk with the Leslie Sansone dvd this evening, too.

I made ice cubes with almond milk the night before.  You could just use regular ice and liquid almond milk in place of the almond milk ice and water in the following recipe instead.







Peanut Butter Shake
2Tbsp Half&Half
2Tbsp peanut butter
1 scoop Jay Robb vanilla whey protein powder
1c unsweet vanilla almond milk ice cubes
1/4c water
1/4c heavy cream



Mix all in blender until creamy.  Pour into a tall glass and enjoy.  (My glass is a 12oz.)  This was super good - yummo!







Adobo Steaks
(adapted from allrecipes.com)
1/2 a lime, juiced & zested
1 Tbsp minced garlic
1 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp ground cumin
3 Tbsp finely chopped canned chipotle peppers in adobo sauce
1-2 Tbsp of the adobo sauce from the canned chipotle peppers
2 lbs. beef sirloin steaks

Place all ingredients in a resealable plastic bag and mash around until meat is evenly coated.  Let marinate about an hour.  Grill to desired doneness.

Day 27 BFC and An Excellent Video

First, I want to post a link to a YouTube video that was posted on the Sugarproject's facebook wall.  This video showed clearly the correlation between our oversized bodies and sugar consumption.  Loved it!  It is a little long, but not dull at all.  Great presentation.
Sugar: The Bitter Truth

Breakfast> scrambled eggs w/cheese, Ezekial toast with butter & jam, mint mocha coffee (s/c=0/2)
Snacks> few almonds, few Pirates Booty white cheddar puffs, Cheez-Its (s/c=1/2)
Lunch> missed, had late breakfast
Supper> Chipotle Chicken Tacos (s/c=4/2)
Total s/c for today - 5/6

The Chipotle Chicken Tacos, featured on page189 in The Belly Fat Cure book, are awesome!  Jorge, if you ever happen by here, kudos, man!  They are fantastic!  Huge on flavor, too!  Gush, gush, gush!

                                                    

Mint Mocha

1 mini sugar-free York peppermint pattie
1/8c whipping cream (or more, if desired)
coffee

Mix all until pattie melts.  You may want to add the coffee first in order to melt the pattie better.  I had a few bits that didn't dissolve because I hadn't thought to do that.

Day 21 on Belly-Fat Cure

Breakfast> Vanilla Chai Shake (recipe below), almonds (s/c=1/0)
Lunch> shredded pork, cottage cheese (s/c=0/0)
Snacks> 1 mini sugar-free York pattie, 2 mini sugar-free Reese's cup (s/c=0/2) 
Supper> battered fish, fries, cottage cheese & 1/4c diced pear (s/c=12/4)
Total s/c for today - 13/6

I was adventurous and tried something new for breakfast.  I used a recipe from the book as a basis.  I added no additional sweetener as the teas have some natural sweetness as does the protein powder.

Vanilla Chai Shake

2 tea bags (I used a rooibus vanilla tea and a rooibus coconut chai tea.)

1/2c boiling water

1c ice

1/4c heavy cream

1 scoop Jay Robb vanilla whey protein powder

*Heat water to a boil, pour over tea bags and let steep 5mns.  Gently squeeze tea bags when removing.  Cover and refrigerate until cool or place in refrigerator overnight.  Once tea has chilled, add to the other ingredients in the blender.  Whir until smooth and creamy.

Day 19 Belly-Fat Cure

Breakfast&gt; eggs, sausage, coffee (s/c=0/0)
Lunch> cajun cheese curds, 1 slice Ezekial toast with pb (s/c=3/2)
Snacks> 1 mini sugar-free York pattie (less than 1 carb)

Supper> pork rib, gnocchi, sauerkraut, lemonade (s/c=8/2)

Total s/c for today - 11/4

I was happy to discover that sauerkraut is virtually without sugar and carbs.  Even though I don't really like it, I figured I should now learn to for that reason alone.

The lemonade was made using 8cups of water mixed with 1/4cup lemon juice and 1/2cup xylitol.  It's not real tart or sour, so you may wish to make yours with more lemon juice or use less water.  But it was so good over ice as an alternative to water again.  

Easy Iced Mocha

So now my husband is as addicted to the McDonald's Mocha Frappe as much as I am. Since it has come to costing twice as much, thought we'd work towards making our own at home. While this isn't a real thick and frosty drink, it is creamy and it has a great mocha flavor, it would be easy to transform it into a frappe. All you'd need to do is add a bit of ice cream and give it a whirl in the blender or with a stick blender. Actually, we've been making one with ice cream, too, but mixing it with a Starbucks bottled drink. This would be so much better than that! You can brew your coffee as strong as you'd like. I don't like a real strong coffee, nor do I like it watery - so I just made a regular strength pot of coffee to use in this. I also used Coffee-Mate's new Natural Bliss in Sweet Cream flavor, though this works great with many flavors of creamer, even the non-dairy ones.

Easy Iced Mocha
1 c. cold coffee
1/2 c. creamer
1/4 c. dark chocolate syrup
ice

Pour creamer into tall glass. Add chocolate syrup and stir until mixed. Pour in coffee and stir. Add desired amount of ice.

Made Holiday Au Lait without the holiday...

As mentioned in my previous post, I made a hot drink for my Coffee-Mate gathering that I found on Coffee-Mate's site. Here is my adapted recipe as well as a link to the original:
http://www.coffee-mate.com/Recipes/Hot/138546/Holiday-Au-Lait.aspx

Ingredients:
2c brewed coffee
2c milk (I used 1%)
3/4c Creme Brulee Flavor NESTLÉ COFFEE-MATE Liquid Coffee Creamer
2T homemade vanilla extract
3/4t ground cinnamon
3/4t ground nutmeg

Instructions:
Pour coffee, milk, Coffee-mate, vanilla extract, cinnamon and nutmeg in saucepan and heat only until hot.

If you're not interested in this recipe, don't let it stop you from checking out the link to their site for more recipes. There are some yummy looking hot and cold drinks!

I did also make the Frullati drink as I'd mentioned I intended to do also. I don't have a photo of that that turned out well. Our choice of fruit was banana for that recipe. But, boy, it was good, too. Though my daughter and I decided we'd like to try it with strawberries next time. Oh yes, there will be a next time!

Coffee-Mate Flavor Friday Event Hostess!

Yay, what fun! (If only it'd worked out smoothly...)

Did anyone else get in on hostessing one of these parties? I received a fantastic party box, which consisted of a Cranium game, poker game, paper cups & napkins, and great coupons to hand out to guests, as well as two coupons for me to "buy" a couple of flavors to offer my guests! I've gone to the Coffee-Mate website and printed out a couple of drink recipes to make and share at our get-together. I intend to make Frullati (Fresh Fruit Whips) and Holiday Au Lait. (I'll get photos and recipes up after I've actually done so... in case I change my mind and choose something else, lol.)

While this is not a Tassimo party at all, I will have some t-discs out for anyone who'd like to try that coffee and machine, as well. Not sure what yummies to have, though I did try some delicious blueberry & cream cheese cookies and raspberry cream cookies from Target a few weeks ago. I just may try to get out and pick those up to offer with coffee.

The party is supposed to be held tomorrow, but with everyone's schedules it just isn't going to work out so smoothly. So I'm having to bust it up over the course of the weekend. Friday evening I will have this set up for anyone stopping by, then Saturday morning I have a couple others intending to stop by, and I will be bringing coupons to others who just won't make it at all this weekend. I will need to tote my camera everywhere, too, as we are supposed to submit at least 5 photos of our guests enjoying themselves. Phew, I'm pooped out already and the weekend hasn't even started yet.