Strawberry Shortcake Milkshake Recipe

Strawberry Shortcake Milkshake Recipe

Fall is one of my favorite seasons. It’s so beautiful. The weather is perfect for being out and enjoying it.

But summer has fall outranked when it comes to food. (Although, cinnamon and apples….mmmm…..) Summer is full of crisp salads, fresh Georgia peaches, lemonade, ice cream, and sweet strawberries. I think the best way to describe summer foods is fresh. And you can’t get better than that!

Strawberry Shortcake Milkshake Recipe

This strawberry shortcake milkshake combines two of my favorite summer desserts in to one amazing milkshake. Seriously, this is summer in a glass. Just know, it’s so good and so amazing that you will want to make these all the time! Don’t say I didn’t warn you!

Strawberry Shortcake Milkshake Recipe

Two classic desserts come together to create this yummy dessert! YUM!

Ingredients
  • Strawberry Layer:
  • ½ cup chopped fresh strawberries
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • ¼ cup skim milk
  • 2 scoops of vanilla frozen yogurt
  • Cake Layer:
  • 2 scoops of vanilla frozen yogurt
  • ½ cup yellow cake mix
  • ⅓ cup skim milk

Instructions
  1. You will need to blend one layer first and set it in the freezer for a couple of minutes, while you blend the second layer.
  2. Strawberry Shortcake Milkshake Recipe
  3. Combine ingredients for the strawberry layer in ablender and blend until smooth.
  4. Strawberry Shortcake Milkshake Recipe
  5. Combine ingredients for the cake layer in a blender and pulse until smooth.
  6. Using a large spoon, layer the two shakes on top of each other.
  7. Add some whipped cream to the top and enjoy!



What are your favorite summer foods? I seriously think that I could live on these shakes. You know. If someone forced me. 😉

Strawberry Shortcake Milkshake Recipe

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Refreshing Mango Lemonade Recipe

Refreshing Mango Lemonade Recipe - Yummy!  Perfect For Summer!

If you asked me to tell you my dream summer day it would be laying on the beach with a glass of mango lemonade. (There may or may not be a shot of rum and a paper umbrella in it!) This recipe is sweet, tangy, tropical and completely refreshing.

Mango lemonade

While I may not have a beach to lay on my perfect summer day can at least have a glass of mango lemonade!

Refreshing Mango Lemonade Recipe

Sweet, tangy and completely refreshing, this mango lemonade will surely be a new favorite!

Ingredients
  • 3 cups water, divided
  • 4 Tbsp of Agave
  • 2 mangos, peeled and pureed
  • 1 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice

Instructions
  1. In a small microwave safe bowl combine 1 cup of water and agave.
  2. Heat on high for 1 minute, or until agave has melted, Let cool.
  3. In a large pitcher combine agave mix, remaining water, lemon juice and mango puree.
  4. Stir until mixed.
  5. Serve over ice

Looking for more lemonade recipes?

Tropical Pineapple Lemonade

Pineapple Lemonade

Fresh Peach Lemonade

Peach Lemonade

Gingerade Ultimate Drink of Summer

Gingerade

Refreshing Mango Lemonade Recipe - Yummy! Perfect For Summer!

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This post may contain affiliate links.

       

Tropical Pineapple Lemonade Recipe

Pineapple Lemonade

Pineapple is one of my favorite fruits. And lemonade is one of my favorite summer drinks. So it’s only natural that we would combine the two for a sweet, tropical refreshing drink!

P.S. If you are looking for a fantastic adult version, add a shot of rum and it will feel like you are on your own tropical island. 🙂

Tropical Pineapple Lemonade Recipe

Sweet, tangy, tropical and so refreshing! You may never make regular lemonade again!

Ingredients
  • 4 C of pureed pineapple
  • 1 C agave
  • 1 C water
  • 3 lemons, juiced
  • 3 C cold water
  • 6 C ice cubes

Instructions
  1. Core and cut your pineapple. (I swear bythis pineapple corer! I can cut and core a pineapple in 30 seconds with it and it makes sure that nothing goes to waste.)
  2. Put pineapple in a bowl add the ½ C agave. Stir ingredients and allow to sit for 30 minutes in the refrigerator.
  3. Puree the pineapple with agave until all of the chunks are gone. (The pureed pineapple will last for about 2 days if kept in a refrigerator. You can also fill an ice cube tray with the puree pineapple to add to your next pitcher of Pineapple Lemonade.)
  4. Pour the other ½ C of agave into a large pitcher. Add the cold water and fresh lemon juice.
  5. Stir well to blend.
  6. Pour ⅓rd of the pureed pineapple into the pitcher. Stir well. Add ice to the pitcher.
  7. Stir the Pineapple Lemonade again before pouring into individual glasses with ice in each.



Tropical Pineapple Lemonade

Seriously, you may never make regular lemonade again! Yummy!

Want more lemonade recipes?

Fresh Peach Lemonade

Fresh Peach Lemonade

Gingerade Ultimate Drink of Summer

Gingerade

You may also be interested in ….

How to Can Pineapple

How To Can Pineapple

Tropical Pineapple Lemonade

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This post contains affiliate links.

       

Fresh Peach Lemonade Recipe

Fresh Peach Lemonade Recipe

Summer and lemonade go together like peanut butter and jelly. Cool, refreshing and delicious, I definitely don’t complain when the kid’s lemonade stands start to line our street.

This year we participated in Lemonade Day for Indianapolis. Lemonade Day is a really awesome organization that helps to teach kids about entrepreneur skills and running their own business. Kids are in charge of their own business and can even create letters or movies to get investors to help with their start up costs.

Joshua’s lemonade stand was called Pups For Cups. While kids are in charge of how they spend their money that they raise in their lemonade stand, Josh wanted to donate his money to the animal rescue that we got our dog Lincoln from. Lemonade Day is a program that is available in many cities across the country! I really encourage you to check it out for your kids for next year! Indianapolis makes Lemonade Day a big deal! Our city created so many wonderful events to encourage the kids!

Josh has taken his lemonade stand to the next level. He really wanted to raise as much money as he could for Bright Hope Pet Rescue. He’s sold t-shirts and while Lemonade Day is over, he still has been selling! One of Joshua’s secrets is flavored lemonades. This fresh peach lemonade is a top seller!

Fresh Peach Lemonade Recipe

This fresh peach lemonade is a refreshing treat!

Ingredients
  • 4 C water
  • 7 peaches
  • ⅔ C honey
  • 6 lemons
  • Ice

Instructions
  1. Follow and do the directions on “How to pit a peach”.
  2. Cut the peaches into small pieces.
  3. Pour the juice from the cut peaches and the cut peaches into a pot.
  4. Pour the water into the pot with the peaches.
  5. Boil the pot for 3 minutes.
  6. Pour the peach water into your blender and let it sit in the blender for 20 minutes before you blend it.
  7. Begin to blend the peach water, pour in the honey.
  8. Blend fully.
  9. Pour your peach juice through a strainer into a pitcher.
  10. Throw away anything left in the strainer.
  11. Juice the lemons.
  12. Add the lemon juice to the peach juice in the pitcher. Stir well.
  13. Add ice.
  14. Cut the 7th peach into sections to add to the pitcher of each glass of Peach Lemonade.
  15. How to pit a peach.
  16. Wash and dry a fresh peach.
  17. Cut the peach vertically, around the peach.
  18. Once cut all the way around the peach, pull the 2 halves apart.
  19. Gently using your knife cut the pit out.
  20. You can then cut each peach half into smaller sections and then peel.



Fresh Peach Lemonade Recipe

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This post contains affiliate links. This post was sponsored by Lemonade Day Indianapolis.

       

Over 40 of the Best Summer Recipes

MCI summer

Summer time is HERE! We have been counting down the days until summer vacation for a while around here and now that it is…..we plan on fully enjoying it! Trips to the pool, farmer’s markets, summer vacations, and lazy days are all in our summer forecast. We want to enjoy these few months and make sure that each day feels like summer.

Right down to the food we are eating.

Luckily, there are so many recipes that taste like summer. Here are over 40 of our favorite summertime recipes.

summer 4

Appetizers:

MCI summer 2

Lunch or Dinner:

MCI summer 3

Dessert:

Drinks

Looking for more fun summer recipes?

Here are some of my favorite summer cookbooks!

What we love about summer cooking:

stephanie

“We LOVE summertime at our house. We do a lot of outdoor entertaining in our backyard which means grilling, cool treats and lots of laughter with friends. Both Mike and I love to experiment with new recipes and flavor combinations, especially during the warm summer months.”

Stephanie is the mom to Sam and the author of Spaceships and Laser Beams. If you ever need party ideas her site is the place to visit! Specializing in all things boy, it’s full of inspiration! Follow her on Twitter here!

Jenni-Eaves1-213x300

We have a pretty big extended family and we have a ton of get togethers in the summertime. Lots of birthdays, and then of course there’s Father’s Day and the 4th of July. Always entertaining, playing games, swimming and eating good food! Summertime food for me means quick and easy (usually involving the grill!)”

Jenni is the mom of one and the author of Sweet Pennies From Heaven. A hearth and home website, Sweet Pennies From Heaven focuses on recipes, crafts and creating a comfortable home. Follow her on Twitter here!

Amanda-626x1024

“Summer for me is all about easy and fresh food. And also, if we can keep the oven turned off that’s an added bonus! So our slow cooker goes into overdrive. A typical summer meal might be some BBQ, corn on the cob (I do live in Indiana after all), fruit salad and some ice cream!”

Amanda is the mom to Joshua and owns It’s a Fabulous Life. If you are looking for a one stop place for all things mom, It’s a Fabulous Life is it! Full of recipes, fashion, DIY projects, recipes and parenting articles it’s the place for all of Mom’s favorites to come together! Follow her on Twitter here!

What about you?

What does summer taste like for you? Let us know and be sure to use #MomsCheckIn on social media with your answers!

This post may contain affiliate links.

       

Marvel Avengers Party Ideas + Giveaway!

Unless you’ve been living under a rock the you know that the new Marvel Avengers: Age of Ultron has just come out in theaters. We have been so excited at our house! The past week we have been watching the original Avengers movie as well as Captain America, Thor, The Hulk, and Iron Man.

Well, you can’t have a movie night without having some festive snacks! This week we have made some fun and festive snacks that you can easily make yourself to celebrate the new Avengers: Age of Ultron movie or for an Avengers party!

Captain America Shield Shortcake

Captain America Shield Shortcake

This cake is a breeze to make! One thing that I love about Meijer is the awesome produce section! It’s the first thing that I notice when I walk into their store and I’m a sucker for strawberries so I knew that I wanted to take advantage of them.

You will need:

  • A round shortcake
  • Cool whip
  • Strawberries
  • Blueberries
  • Sugar

Place a star cookie cutter on a plate. Spoon some Cool Whip into the cookie cutter and place the plate into the freezer. This will help it set.

Wash your fruit. Slice the strawberries and add a bit of sugar. Let the sugar soak in. Meanwhile, let the rest of the Cool Whip thaw.

Fill the center of the cake with strawberries so you are able to create an even surface. Spread the Cool Whip on top of the cake as you would frost a cake with frosting.

Arrange a layer of cut strawberries around the outside edge. In the center add a circle of blueberries. To finish off your shield shortcake, take your star cookie cutter out. Press the Cool Whip out and place the star on top of the blueberries.

A shortcake made for an Avenger!

Hulk Pudding Cups:

Hulk Pudding Cups

This next snack was a huge hit! In the comics (and movies) Bruce Banner has an alter ego named the Hulk. He changes from man to well, all Hulk-y. So we decided to transform our pudding cups!

You will need:

  • Vanilla pudding cups (we used the Meijer brand)
  • Green food coloring
  • Chocolate frosting (I bought the tube that copes with the different tips. We used the star tip for the hair.)
  • A sharpie

Give your child a vanilla pudding cup. Have them add a few drops of green food coloring and mix it up. Bruce Banner will change into the Hulk right before their eyes! Then, top with some frosting hair and using the marker draw a ‘Hulk, Angry” face on your pudding cup.

Iron Man Inspired Drinks:

iron man inspired drink

We couldn’t leave out Iron Man! In the drink section at Meijer there are so many choices! I purchased several bottles of Sparkling Ice drinks in reds, yellows and oranges. Simply freeze in ice cube trays. You can add to Sprite or even just water for a little flavor!

These are just 3 easy ideas that you can use to celebrate the Avengers: Age of Ultron! And to help kick off the new movie, Meijer has graciously given us a great prize pack to giveaway! You will get: 3 large plush Avengers characters (Iron Man, the Hulk, and Captain America), an Avengers blanket, an Avengers action figurine, 2 boxes of Avengers cereal, Avengers fruit snacks, and 2 tickets to see the new Avengers: Age of Ultron movie! WOW!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway



This post was sponsored by Meijer. All thoughts and ideas are my own.

       

Hot Chocolate Bucket List: 10 Hot Chocolate Recipes To Try This Winter

hot chocolate bucket list: 10 of the best hot chocolate recipes  you have to try!

Hot Chocolate is a favorite each winter. We love to have a cup for dessert or as a snack after playing outside. And when it is snowing, you can find me curled up on the couch with a cup and my favorite book. While I love a cup of traditional, chocolate-y, creamy hot cocoa sometimes I’m looking for a little variety. This Hot Chocolate Bucket List is full of the best hot chocolate recipes out there!

10 of the Best Hot Chocolate Recipes out there are included in this Hot Chocolate Bucket List!  I can't wait to make this Caramel White Hot Chocolate!

Yum. I love caramel. Adding white chocolate and that sounds blissful to me! Passion For Savings has a slow cooker caramel white hot chocolate recipe that is divine!

10 of the Best Hot Chocolate Recipes out there are included in this Hot Chocolate Bucket List!  I can't wait to make this Pumpkin Spice Hot Chocolate!

I’m a little bit of a pumpkin nut. Pumpkin cookies…pumpkin french toast….pumpkin coffee. So it’s only natural that I would love a pumpkin spice white hot chocolate too!

10 of the Best Hot Chocolate Recipes out there are included in this Hot Chocolate Bucket List!  I can't wait to make this Copycat Starbucks Hot Chocolate!

Love Starbucks hot chocolate? My Frugal Adventures has a great copycat recipe for some delicious hot chocolate!

10 of the Best Hot Chocolate Recipes out there are included in this Hot Chocolate Bucket List!  I can't wait to make this Caramel Hot Chocolate!

If you handed this cup to me, at first I would probably tell you that it was too pretty to drink. But I think after staring at the caramel hot chocolate (and smelling it!) I don’t think it would take long for me to give into temptation!

10 of the Best Hot Chocolate Recipes out there are included in this Hot Chocolate Bucket List!  I can't wait to make this Cookies and Cream Hot Chocolate!

I love Oreos. It doesn’t to me if they are traditional, Golden, or Double Stuffed, I love them all the same. So I can’t wait to try The Recipe Critic’s Cookies and Cream Hot Chocolate recipe!

10 of the Best Hot Chocolate Recipes out there are included in this Hot Chocolate Bucket List!  I can't wait to make this White Hot Chocolate!

This White Hot Chocolate has me dreaming of a snow fall! I absolutely love watching the snow come down while curled up with a cup of cocoa on the couch!

10 of the Best Hot Chocolate Recipes out there are included in this Hot Chocolate Bucket List!  I can't wait to make this Thin Mint Hot Chocolate!

I love Girl Scout cookies! Combining my love for the cookies and my love for cocoa seems like a wonderful idea to me! I’m so glad Your Home Based Mom has a recipe for Thin Mint Hot Chocolate!

10 of the Best Hot Chocolate Recipes out there are included in this Hot Chocolate Bucket List!  I can't wait to make this S'Mores Hot Chocolate!

I could stare at this. Doesn’t it look amazing?! S’mores Hot Chocolate really seems like a dream come true to me!

10 of the Best Hot Chocolate Recipes out there are included in this Hot Chocolate Bucket List!  I can't wait to make this Peanut Butter Cup Hot Chocolate!

Joshua’s favorite thing is peanut butter. He loves it on his toast, his waffles, and in his hot chocolate! I can’t wait to try this Peanut Butter Cup Hot Chocolate recipe out! I’m sure he will love it!

10 of the Best Hot Chocolate Recipes out there are included in this Hot Chocolate Bucket List!  I can't wait to make this Peppermint Hot Chocolate!

If Christmas had a flavor it would have to be peppermint. I think one taste of this peppermint hot chocolate and you will be dreaming of Christmas!

How many of these hot chocolate recipes will you cross off the bucket list this winter?

hot chocolate bucket list: 10 of the best hot chocolate recipes you have to try!

 

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Holiday Survival Guide: Fall Recipes

November already?! Can you believe it? I can’t that is for sure! It’s Monday which means another Holiday Survival Guide. This week we are talking about yummy fall recipes to try. We also have last week’s link up results!

holiday surv

We’re going to get you decluttered, organized, cleaned, decorated, and ready for all the holiday fun…without you needing to be committed to the looney bin before New Year’s.

It takes quite the team to pull this off, but we’re here for you! We’ll be here every Monday through the end of the year to make sure you’re on track and able to enjoy everything you have planned.

Ready to meet the team?

Sheri from Career Girl Interrupted

Dani from Dani Schnakenberg Studios

Katie & Jairus from KatieMarcum.com

Jessica from Jessie Bee Healthy

Kristen from From Son Up Til Son Down

Stephanie from Sharing A to Z

and our lovely co-host Amanda from It’s a Fabulous Life

Each week we’ll take turns bringing you something awesome to help you stay on track preparing for the major Holidays of the season. Be sure to come back and link up your holiday posts each week so we can share the fun!

This week Stephanie, Katie and Jairus are bringing you some more tasty Fall-inspired recipes!

Apple Cinnamon Spice Energy Tea from KatieMarcum.com

Spinach and Bacon Vinaigrette Salad from KatieMarcum.com

Grandma’s Homemade Noodles from KatieMarcum.com

Sweet Potato Bites from SharingAtoZ.com

 

 

Crock Pot Stuffing from SharingAtoZ.com

 

 

Healthier Pumpkin Pie from SharingAtoZ.com

 

Now, who’s ready to party? Share your awesome Fall-inspired recipes with us this week!

Link Party Rules:

  1. Follow all hosts: subscribe, FB, Pinterest, Instagram, Twitter…whatever you prefer!
  2. Be sure to link directly to your specific post, NOT your blog’s homepage.
  3. Don’t link and run! Be sure to visit the last couple links before yours and let them know how you found them through #HolidaySurvivalGuide2014!
  4. By linking up, you give all hosts permission to pin and share your projects (with links back to you, of course). We’ll also be sharing the top three clicked through with each following week’s project!
  5. Be sure to follow the Holiday Survival Guide 2014 Pinterest board, too!

Top links from last week:

1. I’m Pumpkin Carving from Life with Lorelai

2. Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bread (Or Muffins) from Our Life Out There

3. Fall Wreaths from Mom Among Chaos

[inlinkz_linkup id=463465 mode=1]

       

The Most Amazing Fruit Tea (The Best Fruity Drink EVER!)

This shop has been compensated by #Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone.

The Most Amazing Fruit Tea

I have a few favorite things in the world. One of them is fruity drinks. I have perfected the BEST fruit tea. Seriously, I make it all the time! I bring it with us to get togethers and everyone always asks me for the recipe. Some people are known for their lasagna; some people are known for their chocolate cake. Me? I’m known for my fruit tea! Whether you are looking for a way to spruce up your water or something to drink while you are trying to ditch the soda or even just looking for something delicious – this is the perfect drink!!

display

The other day I was in Walmart and saw a Crystal Light display and it dawned on me that I have not shared this with you yet! And the timing couldn’t be better because Crystal Light is sponsoring the Miranda Lambert Platinum Tour and rewarding customers with a #PlatinumTour Sweepstakes!!

What is the Platinum Points Loyalty Program? Simple create an account, purchase qualifying Crystal Light products at Walmart and scan your receipt. You will start earning your points! You can redeem your points for some really awesome prizes! At the end of the program they will be selecting one winner for an amazing sweepstakes prize!

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For me, I will be able to earn lots of points! We go through a lot of a Crystal Light! 🙂

1

The Most Amazing Fruit Tea

Ingredients

  • Crystal Light Tea – I have used the Lemon Tea and the Peach Tea. Both turn out great! I like the Peach Tea the best!
  • 1 cup Orange Juice
  • 4 Qts. Cold Water
  • Fruit – For this batch I used a frozen berry mix that had strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, and pomegranate

Instructions

  1. The recipe couldn’t get easier! Simply mix all of the ingredients together and serve!

https://itsafabulouslife.com/amazing-fruit-tea/

 

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I always keep packages of Peach Iced Tea in my purse to add to my water while I’m out and about! Crystal Light makes it so easy to have a low calorie drink that tastes amazing. There are so many varieties available at Walmart. Plus, now with their new Platinum Rewards Program, it’s really a no brainer!

 

       

Easy (and Yummy!) Chocolate Smoothie

Easy and so delicious!  Chocolate Smoothie!  YUM!!

So first I need to give a little background on why I chose to make a chocolate smoothie yesterday.

This kid is the most amazing ever!

First of all. My son is the most amazing kid ever. But he is an incredibly picky eater. He will not eat vegetables (I can get him to eat a few salad ‘leaves’ with a gallon of Ranch. So I’m not sure how much good that really does..) He doesn’t do fruit either, with the exception of bananas. And you can’t put bananas in, say, bread. He won’t touch it. So meals are a STRUGGLE at our house. So, I thought I would be genius. Really. I was so proud of myself. Smoothies! And I would sneak in fruit and veggies. But I know my child. And I know that he would never voluntarily eat a smoothie. So we needed to start small.

He loves chocolate milkshakes (no whip cream and no cherry of course!) So I thought to myself…a chocolate smoothie! And I would add some fruit. And he would never know. See? Genius.

Or not. (And yes, my son loves his Tru-Moo!)

But it was really good! I promise! I’ve made it a few times!

Chocolate Smoothie - This was SOO good. I've made it a few times this week!!

There are only a few ingredients which makes it super easy. It’s great for a sweet treat.

Chocolate Smoothie Ingredients

I also have to introduce you to my blender. Her name is Betty. Betty Blendtec.

Betty Bledtec -- You need a blender like this!

Seriously. This thing is amazing! Blendtec makes an awesome blender! I love that it is touch screen (how high tech!) and even more so how this thing is a beast! Seriously, you can make anything with it!! Highly recommend it!

Easy (and Yummy!) Chocolate Smoothie

Easy (and Yummy!) Chocolate Smoothie

Ingredients

  • 6 oz. Milk (I did 3 oz each of white milk and 3 oz of chocolate. Tru-Moo is our favorite!)
  • 1 Kiwi
  • 1/2 Of A Large Banana
  • 1 Tbsp Chocolate Syrup

Instructions

  1. Prior to making smoothies, I prep my fruit by cutting it and freezing it. This way I don’t need to add ice to my smoothies. If you do not freeze your fruit prior, you may need to add a few ice cubes.
  2. In your blender, add all of your ingredients.
  3. With my Blendtec, I used the smoothie setting. Once was enough to get the job done. If your blender does not have a smoothie setting, blend until smooth or the consistency you prefer.
  4. Pour and serve! You are done! How easy!

https://itsafabulouslife.com/easy-yummy-chocolate-smoothie/

So while I didn’t trick my son into drinking some fruit with his chocolate, I am pretty sure that most any other child (and adult!) will love this smoothie! 🙂

Any tips, tricks or recipes for getting your children to eat fruit and veggies? Send them my way!!

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