Keepin’ cool in the Texas heat, with this delicious, cold banana treat.  Adding chocolate and milk but keepin’ it light, this Banana Chocolate Shake will disappear, bite by bite.  I bet y’all didn’t know I was a poet huh?!  Hope y’all enjoy!

Ingredients:

3 whole Bananas, frozen, peeled and chopped
1 cup low-fat Chocolate ice cream
2/3 cup low-fat Milk
Light Whip Cream (optional)

Directions:

Combine bananas, ice cream and milk in a blender and puree until smooth.  Serve immediately.

All it takes is 3 ingredients.  What is your favorite recipe using bananas?  You have to know by now that mine is my grandma’s banana pudding!!! At our Walmart, we have a HUGE display of bananas and I always try to let Truett pick the ones he wants out.  I usually tell him to grab the ones that have a little more green to them since they’ll last longer.  We use bananas in smoothies, protein shakes, oatmeal, bread, and love to saute them in butter, cinnamon, nutmeg, sugar, and drizzle it all over vanilla ice cream!

Who remembers these banana Popsicles?  TO DIE FOR!!

Very Berry Pound Cake with BANANAS!

Pina Colada Banana Pie

And Old Fashion Banana Nut Oatmeal

Disclosure: I am an official Walmart Mom. Follow me and my fellow Walmart Moms as we share our experiences and ideas! Walmart has provided me with compensation and gift card in return for my time & efforts to create this post. My participation in this program is voluntary and my opinions are my own, always have been, always will be.

Since St. Patrick’s Day is coming around quickly, we’ve been making all sorts recipes; everything from pot of gold treats to shamrock pie.  Since the weather is warming up here in Texas, we wanted to cool things down a bit and decided to make this super easy Lime Sherbert Cooler.  It’s the easiest thing to make and kids love it! Truett helped with the scoops, I poured the drink, and we topped off with Reddi-whip!

Enjoy y’all!

P.S. I was told that I spelled Sherbert wrong, that it should be Sherbet. LOL  Well, I decided to google it and we both are right, although I Sherbet is the most common used.  Oh well….

sher·bet  (shûrbt)n.

also sher·bert (-bûrt) A frozen dessert made primarily of fruit juice, sugar, and water, and also containing milk, egg white, or gelatin.

If you haven’t noticed (and I hope you have), I’ve recently started posting only once or twice a week.  This is intentional and it will be how I do things around here from now on.  I’ve had a wonderful year but a busy one.  One that had me so overworked that I couldn’t even remember what offline was anymore.  I have renewed my love for things offline like crocheting, hanging with friends, spending more time with my husband, and just enjoying a little extra me time with reading; something I hadn’t done in forever.  Hope you guys embrace this change and see it for the good!

Where’s my WINE drinkers???

While in  Dallas recently, I was talking with a couple of ladies about wine. How I really don’t much about the different tastes and they were trying to describe dry, sweet, etc.  Then the other day, I was sent some information on a wine quiz that helps determine your personality.  This is great for someone like me who doesn’t know much about it and it’s fun to see how you come out that do drink it and know what you love.  I’d love for you to give the quiz a try to see what your wine personality is. I’ve posted the questions and answers below.  Be sure to check out the Mirassou Winery site because they have some wonderful information over there from recipes to wine tasting education.

I answered the questions and it has determined that I am a Chardonnay kinda gal–Sunny and Mellow! I’d say that suits me to a T AND it’s the exact wine I tried while in Dallas that I LOVED. Cool!

Are you…

• * Sweet? — Riesling
• * Energetic? — Sauvignon Blanc
• * Sporty? — Pinot Grigio
• * Sunny and Mellow? — Chardonnay
• * A person of high standards? — Pinot Noir
• * Earthy? — Merlot
• * Adventurous? — Cabernet

The QUIZ

1. Are you a real sweetheart or big softy?
2. Do you prefer sweet tastes over salty ones?
3. Do you run circles around your friends because you’re so energetic?
4. Are you constantly “on the go”?
5. Do you spend most of your free time on the golf course?
6. Do you tend to participate in sports rather than watching as a by-stander?
7. Is your disposition a happy one?
8. Do you “go with the flow”? Have you been described by some as being flexible or “mellow”?
9. Are you a perfectionist, never letting go of a project until it’s completely perfect?
10. Are you a “Type A” with extremely high standards for yourself and others?
11. Are you a nature buff, one who’d rather be out hiking or fishing or out enjoying the natural world?
12. Are you concerned for the environment?
13. Are you a powerhouse in the workplace who is ready to meet any challenge and sometimes referred to as “adventurous”?
14. Do you like to take risks, preferring to try things outside your comfort zone?

Quiz Answers!

• * If you answered yes to questions 1 or 2, you are a Riesling.
• * If you answered yes to questions 3 or 4, you are a Sauvignon Blanc.
• * If you answered yes to questions 5 or 6, you are a Pinot Grigio.
• * If you answered yes to questions 7 or 8, you are a Chardonnay.
• * If you answered yes to questions 9 or 10, you are a Pinot Noir.
• * If you answered yes to questions 11 or 12, you are a Merlot.
• * If you answered yes to questions 13 or 14, you are a Cabernet.

For more info, you can head to the actual quiz.

Now to share a couple of things we ate this week. And I’d love to hear about what you ate this week. Did you try any new recipes??

Fajitas with handmade flour tortillas was a hit as usual!  Fajitas are like the easiest meal ever to make and while I prefer chicken fajitas, my guys prefer beef.  4 against 1, oh well.

And steak, another cowboy favorite.  We decided to use our new Lodge Griddle, well, my man decided to use it. He was dying to cook something on it and since it was pouring rain outside and our wood was wet, it gave him the perfect excuse to cook steak indoors.  I’ve never shared our secret to our steak recipe…and I’m not today either but maybe some day…..

Little Black Dress Wine and five recipes to serve at parties, with just the two of you, or even at the next barbecue!

LBD Wines Cabernet Cocktail

• 2 oz Little Black Dress Cabernet
• ½ oz Tuaca
• ½ oz Amaretto
• 3 oz Sprite

In a shaker filled with ice, add ingredients, roll to mix, transfer to serving glass

LBD Wines Couture-tini

• 3 oz Little Black Dress Chardonnay
• ½ oz Strawberry Puree
• ¼ oz Agave Nectar
• Top with Korbel Brut Champagne

In a shaker filled with ice, combine Little Black Dress Chardonnay, strawberry puree and agave nectar. Strain into chilled martini glass and top with Korbel Brut Champagne. Garnish with a strawberry.

Fashionista

• 2 oz Little Black Dress Pinot Noir
• ½ oz Pomegranate
• ½ oz Fresh Squeeze Lime
• ½ oz Agave Nectar

In a shaker filled with ice, add all ingredients, roll to mix and transfer to a tall glass. Garnish with a lime wedge.

Limelight

• 3 oz Little Black Dress Chardonnay
• ½ oz Midori
• ½ oz Pineapple Juice
• 1 oz Sprite

In a shaker filled with ice, add all ingredients, roll to mix, transfer to a tall glass and garnish with a pineapple wedge.

Satin Slip

• 2 oz Little Black Dress Merlot
• ½ oz Lemon Juice
• ½ oz Agave Nectar
• ½ oz Cointreau
• Splash of Club Soda

In a shaker filled with ice, add all ingredients, roll to mix, transfer to a large wine glass and garnish with an orange slice

Smoothies are a great way to cool off this Summer.  My son makes every possible kind out there so you can imagine how delighted he was when a cooler full of Chiquita Smoothie mixes arrived!  There were four flavors; Peach Mango, Mixed Berry, Banana Colada, and Strawberry Banana.  We tried the Peach Mango first because my son loves mangos.  We made it straight from the can like a normal, plain but it was good.  I personally added a packet of Truvia to it for me but my son had it without.  They are used with real fruit, 100% natural and filled with antioxidants.

I really want to make this one and have never thought of being this creative with a smoothie before!  Doesn’t it just sound delicious!  Mmmmmm!

Strawberry Banana Split Smoothie

• 1 can Strawberry Banana Chiquita Smoothie
• 1 c. whipped cream
• 5 Tbsp. chocolate syrup
• 4 oz water
• 2 cans of ice

Put all ingredients in blender and blend until smooth!

Right now you can head over to the Chiquita Smoothie website and enter into a contest they’re having.  There will be weekly winners and a grand prize winner will get to take their whole family on Air Jamaica to a beach resort! WOOT! And you can also print yourself a coupon for $1 off and find how to get a T-shirt!

What is YOUR favorite kind of smoothie?

There are few things we need in life to survive…food, water and coffee.  Where would we be without that morning cup of joe?  It gets me started in the day, keeps me running past that late after noon slump, and helps me burn the midnight blog-oil.  One of the few accepted addictions, I proudly believe that if a coffee habit is wrong, I don’t want to be right.

There have been many times in the past when I looked at how much time I spent drinking, buying, working for the money to buy, searching for new beans, and shopping for machines — and decided that I’d had enough.  I attempted (and failed) to cut coffee out of my life so many times, but it never stuck.  I’d go cold turkey, I’d try to wean off.  All of the usual ways you kick an addiction.  In the end, I think the fact that I never really *wanted* to quit, was the reason I couldn’t.  The hot, steamy lovliness just is too necessary to say goodbye to for long.  Coffee has become a social pastime in our country now, and add to that all the ways coffee has been put into desserts, well it’s an American and actually Global institution.

I’m always on the lookout for espresso machines that are functional, quiet and yes, pretty.  I’d have an enormous collection if my husband and wallet would allow for it.  This one looks pretty, and this one looks simple yet fabulous. I can already hear the whoosh and the bubbling and the steaming now…

Do you have a coffee addiction you’d like to confess?  Do you have a beloved or favorite machine? I’d love to hear what brands, types, etc are your favorites.  What about desserts?  Candy?  Have your say, people, and give this coffee lover some new ideas!

Hi, I’m Lisa from Stop and Smell the Chocolates. I’m a married mom of one amusing son and I love chocolate! Take a little chocolate break during your stressful day – come by and you might find a yummy recipe, a funny story, a cup of tea, a household tip, a lovely picture, or a new friend. I look forward to meeting you and sharing some chocolate!

With Mother’s Day fast approaching, you may be looking for a nice chocolate dessert to make (’cause every mom I know loves chocolate). This recipe is rich and delicious. The presentation is nice too. All chocolate fans will love it!

The recipe was from a magazine and sat around my house for a couple of years. I happened to have some mini liqueurs in my cupboard (either one could be used in the recipe) because I liked the bottles. I never really thought to get them all together and try it out until I had a blog full of chocolate! I’m so glad I did. Enjoy! It will be hard to share, but I highly recommend it.

INGREDIENTS

• 3 cups heavy whipping cream
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 5 oz. bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped
• 2 oz. baking chocolate, finely chopped
• 3 tablespoons Frangelico or Godiva chocolate liqueur

Garnish:

• 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
• 2 tablespoons powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup chopped, toasted hazelnuts or almonds
• 1/4 cup bittersweet chocolate chips or chopped chocolate

DIRECTIONS

1. In a medium saucepan over medium heat, whisk together cream, sugar, and vanilla. Simmer, stirring several times, until reduced by a third, about 40 minutes.

2. Stir in chopped chocolates until well-blended.

3. Remove from heat and whisk in liqueur. Can be refrigerated up to 2 days ahead (gently reheat to serve).

To Serve:
Whip the cream until frothy. Then add the powdered sugar and vanilla. Continue to whip until the cream holds soft peaks. Fold in chopped nuts and chocolate bits. Place a large scoop of the whipped cream in the center of each serving bowl and pour the warm chocolate soup around the whipped cream.

Makes 4-6 servings

Because I’m trying to lose weight, I’m really watching what I eat.  Every morning I wake up and decide what to eat.  I usually go for oatmeal, a healthy cereal or have a smoothie. Today is smoothie day!  My two favorite fruits, strawberries & bananas, in a drink!  And to make sure I’m getting a good dose of calcium, I use whole milk. You can substitute 2% or fat free if you want it non-fat but I think it’s healthy to have a good glass of milk throughout the day.

I have a blender that I just LOVE. The  Chris Freytag Personal Fitness Blender is my absolute favorite and it’s cheaper at QVC than at Amazon.  If you’re not a member of QVC, it’s a 30 sec sign up folks.

The blender is basically a mug that you can use to drink your shake or smoothie and comes with a to-go lid.  You put your ingredients in it, screw the top on (with the blender blades) and flip over onto unit. When done, you flip back over and swap out lids with the to-go one. I LOVE IT!  And you can also get extra mugs if you want more for other family members.

INGREDIENTS

• * 1 cup frozen strawberry
• * 1 cup milk
• * 2 packets of Truvia (or your favorite sweetener or 1/4 cup sugar)
• * 1 banana
• * 8-10 ice cubes

DIRECTIONS

Put all ingredients in blender. Blend until smooth.  VIOLA!  Super easy and VERY good!

What is your favorite kind of smoothie?

Guest post from Kids’ Cattle Blog sharing their love from homemade snow ice cream!  Here fella there makes it look awful good!!  Thanks for sharing with us!

It doesn’t get any easier than this guys!  Enjoy if you have snow.  We’ll be in the 80′s here today so no chance of this stuff right now for us!

INGREDIENTS:

• 2 qt.clean snow
• 1/2 C milk
• 1/4 C sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla

DIRECTIONS

Mix together and enjoy. We only have skim milk. I think whole milk would make it creamier.

What?  I don’t fancy coke or root beer. But I LOVE me some Cherry Vanilla Dr. Pepper!  Happy Weekend!  And don’t forget, Sunday is Grandparent’s Day!!