Rich chocolate, creamy peanut butter, and frozen bananas are blended together in blissful harmony to make this Chocolate Peanut Butter Smoothie – that tastes more like a peanut butter banana milkshake than a breakfast drink.

Peanut Butter Banana Milkshake

My kids were so excited the first time I handed them these smoothie milkshakes with chocolate sauce drizzled on top. It’s hard to believe that was over ten years ago. Their tastes may have changed, but desserts still disappear in the blink of an eye.

This smoothie really does taste like a peanut butter banana milkshake. When I say my kids were excited about it, that really doesn’t even cover it. They likely thought their mom had lost her mind when they were handed milkshakes for breakfast.

I love this treat almost as much as they do. The banana contributes just a hint of background flavor in this smoothie, leaving the peanut butter and chocolate as the stars of the show.

Peanut Butter Milkshake without Ice Cream

Frozen fruit and ice cream are the two main ways to get that signature smoothie texture. But, I prefer my peanut butter milkshake without ice cream. I use frozen fruit, so I can keep my ice cream in a bowl where it belongs.

This frosty concoction seems much closer to a milkshake than our typical smoothies. The fats in the peanut butter react similarly to ice cream in the blender, giving it that smooth, creamy finish.

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Crisp, earthy spinach leaves blend with ripe, frozen bananas and orange juice to create a Banana Spinach Smoothie that is out of this world.

Banana Spinach Smoothie

Long ago, my boys wanted a smoothie or breakfast, but we were due for a trip to the produce store. I decided to try making our Favorite Green Smoothie and just skip the grapes.

Necessity is the mother of invention, so I tweaked the recipe a bit and I’m happy with the spinach banana smoothie that resulted. All three of the boys enjoyed this and I barely managed to get a sip for myself.

Simple Spinach Smoothie

You’ll need the following ingredients to make this recipe:

• frozen bananas
• baby spinach
• orange juice

Add the bananas, spinach, and orange juice to a blender. Then, puree until smooth. Pour into g

There is nothing – and I do mean nothing – that compares with steeping whole spices and tea leaves to make an authentic pot of fragrant, spicy, sweet homemade chai.

I’ve enjoyed plenty of powdered chai in coffee shops and I’ve brewed my own a few times with chai-flavored teabags and mixes. I’m warning you now, once you’ve made real chai you will never be as happy with the other versions.

Easy Chai

I heard about my brother-in-law’s homemade chai for a few years before it finally worked out for me to sample it at their house.

If you recall, this is the same sister and her husband who introduced me to Spanish Cafe con Leche after they visited Spain almost 15 years ago. When they tell me that something is delicious, I tend to believe them.

Now that I’ve had a chance to make Jason’s recipe for myself, it most certainly does not disappoint. I’ve been making this easy chai in doubled and tripled batches for years now and I love having a jar or two stashed in the fridge.

Served with a plate of Almond Bars, a steaming cup of chai (or an iced chai latte) becomes an afternoon snack that no one turns down.

Chai Ingredients

You’ll need the following ingredients to make this recipe:

• cardamom pods
• whole cloves
• cinnamon stick
• fresh ginger
• black peppercorns
• bay leaf
• loose black tea leaves
• water
• half and half
• light brown sugar or honey

Chai Recipe

Place the cardamom, cloves, cinnamon stick, ginger, peppercorns, and a bay leaf in a medium size saucepan.

Add the water and bring to a boil. Allow this to boil for 5 minutes. Remo

Strawberry Simple Syrup is easy to make with just 3 ingredients and it can be used in so many ways!

Add a splash of strawberry syrup to a glass of mint lemonade or to a pitcher of mojitos and you just might find your new favorite drink to sip this summer. Pour it over a stack of buttermilk pancakes or my grandmother’s German pancakes for a breakfast that everyone will love.

Strawberry Simple Syrup

My sister introduced me to this strawberry simple syrup years ago. She excitedly called me up to tell me that she’d made a double batch, and I just had to have the recipe.

We played around with the recipe during a visit later that month. This syrup works well in cocktails, as a topping for pancakes and waffles, and I’ve even been known to add it with some fresh fruit to a bowl of vanilla ice cream.

This delectable infusion of juicy, sun-ripened strawberries has the perfect amount of sweetness. Strawberry syrup takes whatever you put it on and adds a bright pop of color and flavor to it, beyond what you would get with regular syrup. I love having it on hand for guests and special occasions.

This syrup keeps in the fridge for weeks, though I’ve found that at my house it doesn’t last that long before I have to make another batch. My boys love pouring it over a stack of perfect pancakes.

Strawberry S

Get ready for a tasty combination of fresh fruit and cool mint in this Blueberry Mojito recipe. You’ll find yourself hooked from the first sip!

Blueberry Mojito

These cocktails are perfect for sipping at a party or for relaxing on the porch with friends on a warm summer evening. A blueberry mojito is just summer in a glass, for me.

Having lived in one of the hottest cities in the US for a very long time, mojitos became a favorite pretty much year-round. But, the blueberry mojito adds a twist on the classic beverage.

Blueberries have a distinct flavor that starts off sweet but leaves a tanginess that lingers. The taste will vary depending on the ripeness of the berries, with riper blueberries tending to be sweeter.

But, I adore the way that the sweetness of the muddled blueberries in this drink balances the zesty citrus of the lime juice. This recipe is so good, it makes it harder to appreciate the drinks that are made outside your kitchen.

Blueberry Mojito Recipe

• fresh mint leaves
• fresh or frozen blueberries
• lime juice
• simple syrup
• white or light rum
• ice and club soda

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