Category: Drinks

Review: Chocolate Oat Milk

Let’s talk about milk.

There are a lot of non dairy options out there.  You got your soy milk, coconut milk, almond milk, cashew milk, flax milk, hemp milk, and so on.  I really think you can make milk out of anything these days.

In my house we tend to gravitate towards your basic unsweetened vanilla almond milk.  Nothing adventurous.  However, the other day I was at the grocery store and I saw a new item…chocolate oat milk.  Now I know the idea of oat milk might sound pretty unappealing and I would have passed it over if I had not heard good things about it on the Instagrams.

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Let me tell you, it was delicious.  I don’t know what I would expect oat milk to taste like, but it tasted nothing like that (you know what I’m saying right?).  It was rich and cream and passed as fancy real milk for my stepson.  I even used it as a creamer in my coffee this morning.  It’s a great option for kids with nut and dairy allergies as well.  I think it will make the grocery list on a regular basis.

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Orange Julius

I can feel summer slipping away already.

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Back to reality soon.  It’s been an amazing summer.  We just got back from my best friend’s wedding in upstate New York where I was proud to be one of her maids of honor.  Since then we’ve been trying to fit in our final beach days, time at the pool and long walks at World’s End.  Sigh.

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We are, however, looking forward to fall.  Who doesn’t enjoy the plethora of pumpkin flavored foods and scents?

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But before I go into pumpkin mode I am going to soak of the last of this crazy hot and humid weather, and while I do that I’m going to enjoy a nice frozen drink.  Now, I couldn’t tell you the last time I had an orange julius but I always knew I liked them.  I finally attempted to make a vegan version of the drink and it was a hit!  Here’s what I did.

Ingredients 

  • 12 oz Trader Joe’s organic orange juice concentrate
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 1 cup unsweetened almond milk
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 2 cups of ice

You will need a blender powerful enough to blend ice for this.  We are lucky that we have a Vitamix at home which does the job nicely.  First I blended the vanilla extra and almond milk together, then added the rest of the ingredients.  I blended until I could no long hear any ice.

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I loved this drink, I only wish it was a little lower in calories.  The orange concentrate certainly packs a punch in that department.  Oh well.  This drink is perfect for a hot summer day and can be enjoyed by the whole family (except for the dog).  Cheers!

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A Cooler Margarita

Who doesn’t love a margarita in the summer time?

I find when I order a margarita at a restaurant it can be hit or miss so I love making my own at home!

I recently did some experimenting and came up with what I think (and so does my husband) is a pretty yummy concoction.  Best of all, you can find all the ingredients at Trader Joe’s.

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Ingredients 

  • 2 ounces  Trader Joe’s Watermelon Cucumber Cooler
  • 2 ounces Trader Joe’s Margarita Mix (or fresh lime juice or limeade)
  • 1 ounce of your favorite tequila
  • 1 ounce  triple sec
  • 1 fresh lime wedge
  • sugar and salt (yes mixed together) to rim your glass

This will yield you one generous margarita.  Throw all your ingredients into a shaker with some ice and obviously shake.  It’s a nice little arm work out and you get a delicious drink out of it.  I find the watermelon cucumber cooler is a little sweet for my taste so the margarita mix tones that down for me.  The sugar and salt rim compliments this drink nicely as well.

My boys are out camping tonight so I’m going to enjoy one of these out on my deck.  They both also have an aversion to seafood, both real and vegan, so I’m making myself some “crab less” crab cakes by Gardein.  If you are vegan and used to enjoy seafood you must try these.  They are so good and taste like the real deal.

Cheers!

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