Milkshakes v.s. Smoothies

Welcome to Milkshakes verses Smoothies Edna has chosen some favorite ice cream and fruit filled recipes to share for this debate. Let’s get started:

Round 1

Milkshakes

We start off with a classic
Chocolate Milkshake

Ingredients
¾ cup milk
¼ cup chocolate-flavored syrup
3 scoops (½ cup each) vanilla ice cream

Steps
In a blender, place milk and syrup.
Cover and blend on high for 2 seconds.
Add ice cream.
Cover and blend on low for about 5 seconds or until smooth.
Pour into glasses.
Serve immediately.

On to our Smoothies

Our first Smoothie is a
Strawberry Smoothie

Ingredients
1 container(6 oz) yogurt strawberry, strawberry kiwi or strawberry mango flavor
½ cup sliced fresh or frozen strawberries
½ cup orange or pineapple juice
Pineapple chunks, strawberries or kiwifruit slices, optional.

Steps
In blender, place yogurt, strawberries and juice.
Cover, blend on medium for about 2 minutes or until smooth.
Pour into serving glass.

Round 2

Milkshakes

Coffee Milkshake

Ingredients
1 cup cold-brewed coffee or chilled strongly brewed coffee
4 giant scoops vanilla ice cream
1 Tablespoon chocolate syrup
whipped cream

Steps
Blend the coffee, vanilla ice cream and 1 tablespoon of chocolate syrup together in a blender until smooth.
If the mixture is too thick, you can add a couple splashes of milk to loosen it up.
If it is too thin, add a little more ice cream and pulse to smooth out.
Pour the milkshake into one very large or two medium sized glasses.
Top with a very generous amount of whipped cream and drizzle with additional chocolate syrup.
Serve immediately.

Smoothies

Orange Smoothie

Ingredients
1 quart (4 cups) vanilla frozen yogurt, slightly softened
½ cup frozen orange juice concentrate, thawed
¼ cup milk
Orange slices, if desired.

Steps
Place yogurt, juice concentrate and milk in blender.
Cover and blend on medium for about 45 seconds, stopping blender occasionally to scrape sides, until thick and smooth.
Pour mixture into 4 glasses.
Garnish with orange slices.

Round 3

Milkshakes

Vanilla Malt Milkshake

Ingredients
½ cup cold milk
¼ cup carbonated water
3 Tablespoons malted milk powder
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
2 scoops vanilla ice cream

Steps
In a blender, mix together milk, carbonated water, malted milk powder and vanilla extract.
Scoop in ice cream.
Blend until smooth.
Pour into glass and serve.

Smoothies

Greek Yogurt Raspberry Smoothie

Ingredients
6 oz Greek plain yogurt
1 cup fresh raspberries
1 Tablespoon honey
1 cup ice
Additional fresh raspberries, if desired

Steps
In blender, place yogurt, 1 cup raspberries, the honey and ice.
Cover, blend until smooth and thick.
Divide mixture evenly between 2 glasses.
Garnish each with raspberries.

Round 4

Milkshakes

Shamrock Milkshake

Ingredients
1 ½ cups vanilla ice cream
½ cup whole milk
10 drops green food coloring
1 teaspoon peppermint extract
Whipped cream
1 maraschino cherry

Steps
In a blender, combine the vanilla ice cream, milk, green food coloring, and peppermint extract.
Blend till smooth, about 30 seconds.
Pour the shake into a glass and top with the whipped cream and maraschino cherry.

Smoothies

Creamy Peach Smoothies

Ingredients
1 cup frozen sliced peaches
1 container (6 oz) yogurt French vanilla flavor
¾ cup orange juice
1 Tablespoon honey

Steps
In blender or food processor, place all ingredients.
Cover, blend on high for about 1 minute or until smooth.
Pour into 2 glasses.
Serve immediately.

Round 5

Milkshakes

Root Beer Milkshake

Ingredients
3 scoops vanilla ice cream
1 12-ounce can root beer
Whipped Cream
Cherry

Steps
Place the ice cream and root beer in a blender.
Close, blend on high for three minutes.
It will be foamy and frothy which is fine.
Pour into a frosted mug, top with whipped cream and a cherry.

Smoothies

Key Lime-Banana Smoothie

Ingredients
1 container (6 oz) yogurt Key lime pie flavor
1 ripe banana, sliced
½ cup milk
1 Tablespoon lime juice
¼ teaspoon dry lemon lime-flavored soft drink mix (from 0.13-oz package)
1 cup vanilla frozen yogurt

Steps
Place all ingredients except frozen yogurt in blender.
Cover, blend on high until smooth.
Add frozen yogurt.
Cover, blend until smooth.

 

Whether you prefer Milkshakes or Smoothies remember to have fun in the kitchen this summer.

 

History of a Constant Reader

To all my followers on cch217 please feel free to follow me over on my other Word Press page Cch217

Cch217

This is what you get when I’m avoiding doing anything productive. So enjoy.

My first taste of Stephen King’s words came to me Christmas of 1990, as I opened presents. One of these presents was a box, yes one of those gift boxes usually containing a sweater, from you great Aunt Betsy, that you will never wear, was full of Stephen King paperbacks from my Dad. Carrie, Christine, Different Seasons, IT, Eye’s of the Dragon, and Misery.

I started my journey into this strange horrifying but enticing world by reading Carrie. On Saturday nights from 10pm to Midnight I would listen to Dr. Demento on the radio and read Stephen King books. I remember devouring Carrie and Christine in a matter of hours. I then moved on to Different Seasons and IT. Finishing IT by the next summer, on a camping trip, laying in the tent taking in the words…

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Meatloaf from Edna’s Kitchen

I’m back to running some recipes for Edna’s Kitchen.
Don’t miss Edna’s newest edition.
https://www.amazon.com/Ednas-Kitchen-Winter-Spring-Cooking-ebook/dp/B07B6S1X9F/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1521217274&sr=1-1&keywords=megan+hinde

cch217

One of my favorite go to meals. I added 12 cup of shredded cheddar to the top. Enjoy and have fun in the kitchen. -Edna

Meatloaf

Ingredients
1 ½ lb lean (at least 80%) ground beef
1 cup milk
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon ground mustard
¼ teaspoon pepper
1 egg
3 slices bread, finely chopped (1 ½ cups, lightly packed) or 1 12 cups bread crumbs
1 small onion, chopped (¼ cup)
½ cup ketchup, chili sauce or barbecue sauce

Steps
1 Heat oven to 350°F. In large bowl, mix all ingredients except ketchup. Spread mixture in ungreased 9×5-inch loaf pan, or shape into 9×5-inch loaf in ungreased 13×9-inch pan. Spread ketchup over top.
2 Insert meat thermometer so tip is in center of loaf. Bake uncovered 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes or until thermometer reads at least 160°F. Drain meatloaf.
3 Let…

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Sudden

A shiver ran across Susan’s skin, she reached for the blanket that had fallen to the floor during her night of tossing and turning. She pulled it up over her and snuggled back into the bed trying to return to the comfort of her dreams.

A scream shot through the room, pericing Susan’s ears. She sat up shaking her head, trying to figure out if it was real or an echo from a dream. She got out of bed, striking a match to light the candle on the nightstand.

Susan crept to the bedroom door and slowly opened it, a gust of wind cut through her, blowing out the candle. She looked out the bedroom door towards the livingroom, a strange glow was coming from the window.

She walked towards the light and vanished…

Some Holiday Treats from Edna’s Kitchen

Candy Cane Kahlua Hot Chocolate

Ingredients

½ cup whole milk
½ cup heavy cream
1 candy cane
3 Tablespoons sipping chocolate
¼ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 ½ ounces Kahlua
whipped cream
candy canes

Steps

In a saucepan over low heat, warm whole milk and heavy cream.
Add 1 candy cane and stir until melted.
Stir in sipping chocolate and vanilla extract.
Remove from heat, stir in Kahlua, and pour into glass.
Garnish with whipped cream and candy canes.

 

Reindeer Bait

Ingredients

3 cups corn chex
2 cups wheat chex
2 cups mini pretzels
2 cups mini marshmallows
1 cup red and green M&Ms
20 oz. white chocolate
Red and green sprinkles, for garnish

Steps

In a large bowl, mix together Corn Chex, Wheat Chex, pretzels, mini marshmallows, and M&Ms.
Melt white chocolate and pour over mixture. Stir until fully coated.
Transfer mixture to a parchment-lined baking sheet or dish and top with sprinkles, then refrigerate until firm, 1 hour.
Break up into bite-size pieces and serve.

 

Meatloaf from Edna’s Kitchen

One of my favorite go to meals. I added 1\2 cup of shredded cheddar to the top. Enjoy and have fun in the kitchen. -Edna

Meatloaf

Ingredients
1 ½ lb lean (at least 80%) ground beef
1 cup milk
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon ground mustard
¼ teaspoon pepper
1 egg
3 slices bread, finely chopped (1 ½ cups, lightly packed) or 1 1\2 cups bread crumbs
1 small onion, chopped (¼ cup)
½ cup ketchup, chili sauce or barbecue sauce

Steps
1 Heat oven to 350°F. In large bowl, mix all ingredients except ketchup. Spread mixture in ungreased 9×5-inch loaf pan, or shape into 9×5-inch loaf in ungreased 13×9-inch pan. Spread ketchup over top.
2 Insert meat thermometer so tip is in center of loaf. Bake uncovered 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes or until thermometer reads at least 160°F. Drain meatloaf.
3 Let stand 5 minutes; remove from pan.

 

Christmas People

I like thrift stores, usually for finding rare or strange books. This time I found a needle point project from 1978 called Christmas People Ornaments, so I bought it.

I am not real big on needle point, but there it is. It helped pass the time, even though they are a little creepy looking.

Sausage, Dried Cranberry and Apple Stuffing from Edna’s Kitchen

 

Sausage, Dried Cranberry and Apple Stuffing

Ingredients

1 pound mild bulk breakfast sausage
4 Tablespoons butter
3 cups sliced leeks, white and pale-green parts only, cleaned well (about 2 large leeks)

*note I used half an onoin instead of leeks*

2 granny smith apples, cored and chopped
1 cup chopped celery with leaves
1 Tablespoon poultry seasoning
1 cup dried cranberries, rehydrated in boiling water for 15 minutes and drained
1 Tablespoon chopped fresh sage leaves
2 teaspoons chopped fresh rosemary
6 cups boxed bread cubes (croutons)
⅓ cup chopped fresh parsley leaves
2 to 3 cups chicken stock
1 Tablespoon salt
2 teaspoons ground black pepper

Steps

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.

Saute the sausage in a large skillet over medium-high heat until cooked through, crumbling coarsely with the back of a spoon, about 10 minutes.

Using a slotted spoon, transfer the sausage and drippings to a large bowl.

Melt the butter in the same skillet over medium-high heat.

Add the leeks, apples, celery and poultry seasoning to the skillet and saute until the are soft, about 8 minutes.

Mix in the drained cranberries, sage and rosemary. Add the mixture to the sausage, then mix in the croutons and parsley.

Next add the chicken stock a little at a time until the stuffing is very moist. Be sure not to overdo it; it shouldn’t be mushy. Season with salt and pepper.

Place in a casserole dish.

Bake in a 14-inch oval or 9 by 13-inch rectangular casserole dish and place, uncovered, in the oven for 20 to 30 minutes, until the top is crispy and the center piping hot.

Remove and serve immediately.

Enjoy, have fun and try new things in the kitchen. – Edna

 

Spaghetti and Meatballs from Edna’s Kitchen

One of Edna’s favorite go to meals on family night. Paired with garlic bread or twists, along with a ceaser salad. Can also be easily doubled I made 36 meatballs out of 3 pounds of ground beef. Have fun in the kitchen and enjoy.

Spaghetti and Meatballs

Ingredients
Meatballs
1 ½ pounds ground beef
¾ cup dry bread crumbs
½ cup milk
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon dried oregano leaves
¼ teaspoon pepper
1 medium onion, finely chopped (½ cup)
1 egg

Sauce
1 tablespoon olive or vegetable oil
1 medium onion, chopped (½ cup)
1 clove garlic, finely chopped
1 can (28 ounces) whole tomatoes, undrained
1 can (6 ounces) tomato paste
¼ cup chopped fresh parsley
¼ cup water
1 teaspoon sugar
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon dried basil leaves
¼ teaspoon pepper
1 package (16 ounces) spaghetti
Grated Parmesan cheese

Steps
1 Heat oven to 350ºF. Mix all ingredients. Shape mixture into 1 ½ inch balls. Place in ungreased jelly roll pan, 15 ½ x10 ½ x1 inch. Bake uncovered 15 to 20 minutes or until beef is no longer pink in center and juice is clear.
2 Meanwhile, heat oil in Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Cook onion and garlic in oil, stirring occasionally, until onion is tender.
3 Stir in remaining Sauce ingredients except spaghetti and cheese, breaking up tomatoes. Heat to boiling; reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
4 Add meatballs to sauce. Cover and simmer 15 minutes. Cook and drain spaghetti as directed on package. Place spaghetti on large platter. Top with meatballs and sauce. Sprinkle with cheese.

Life as It Is…

 

Maybe it’s the hour or the time of year, but I have decided to write this. More just to get it out of my system and to see what it looks like on paper. I have tried writing about my dad a few different times and it never seems to sound right.

I wrote this the other day:

Srow
It’s one of those days.
Even though you’ve been gone for quite awhile now.
It still stings, without warning thoughts of you drift in.
Demanding my attention, causing tears to well up.
I will always remember you.

While thinking about my dad, I have day like that where the memories flood in with out warning. To be honest they have been flooding in more often lately, starting to face my own mortality. My dad had his first heartatack at age 41, (I am 41) scary thought.

I am going to put this up, however I will be back to work on it.

It was a dark and stormy night…

I was born in Pullman Washington, the day after Mother’s Day, May 10, 1976. There were compilations, I had two seizures and spent two weeks in an incubator.

My parents…

My mom was born and raised in Seattle and my dad grew up in Wenatchee WA. They meet at Washington State University in Pullman WA in 1973. They were married on June 22, 1974.

My dad worked in radio he had a BA in journalism and communications. I have a photo of him performing in a play called “Under Papa’s Picture.”

My mother has a masters degree in early childhood development and has mainly worked for non-profits as a case manger testing children’s learning abilities.

My brother was born January 14th 1980, a healthy baby boy named Chip. In May of 1981 my parents moved to Alaska. McGrath AK, in the middle of nowhere.

Where my dad ran the public radio station KSKO 870 am and my mom worked for various social work agencies. She also tried running her own daycare for a while. Needless to say it was a isolated, structured upbringing, school, work, activities ect..

My youngest brother was born November 12th 1982, Marcus. In 1988 we moved to Fairbanks AK, where my dad was unemployed for two years while my mom worked (he wrote a sci-fi novel) while unemployed. Side note I never got to read it and it’s lost forever, at least to me.

In 1990 my dad went in for an interview at a radio station, and ended up  being News Director of KTVF an NBC affiliate in Fairbanks. My dad suffered his first heart attack in September 91.

In April of  1992 I got to travel to New York and sing in Carnegie Hall with my high school choir, I was 15 years old.

In November of 92 my mom moved out, she left. She also let a con-man of a boyfriend move in and bleed her dry financially and emotionally. He ended up marrying some girl he meet on-line after spending five years with my mom.  

My dad got remarried May 22, 1995 to a strange German lady he met penpall style that was from New York. On Tuesday June 13, 1995 after returning from his honeymoon my dad was having chest pains and went to the hospital. He refused treatment and signed out AMA Wednesday afternoon, on the morning of Thursday June 15 he suffered a massive heart attack and passed away around 1:15 am. My dad’s widow was nice enough to hold his funeral on Father’s Day.

The insurance was a mess, because I was an adult, (I was 19) and my brothers were minors and my mom was divorced. My dad had never added his new wife, I got my share in cash and my brothers were set up with a guardian account my mother being the guardian. The money let me go to school and move away from my mother.

I went to the University of Alaska Fairbanks, (the piece I wrote called Tripping Through My Memories is the first semester after my dad died) I didn’t finish, I ran out of money and didn’t see a point in it at the time.