Peach Julius (Makes one serving)

Ingredients:

• 1 cup frozen or fresh peach juice
• 2 ounces milk (whatever percentage you prefer)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1 scoop of vanilla ice cream
• 1/2 cup of ice

Place the ingredients into a blender and blend until smooth. When the ingredients are totally blended, pour them into chilled glasses. You can adjust the water or juice by adding more if the mix is too thick; add more ice cream if the mix is too thin.

Virgin Miami Vice (Makes one serving)

Ingredients:

• 1 ounce pineapple juice
• 1 ounce coconut cream
• 1/2 ounce half and half cream
• 1 1/2 ounce strawberry puree
• 1 1/2 ounces lime juice
• 1/4 ounce simple syrup
• 1 cup crushed ice
• Strawberry or mint for garnish

In a blender, add half the ice, pineapple juice, coconut cream, and the cream. Blend this until it’s smooth and then pour it into a tall glass. Place the remaining ingredients in the blender and blend until smooth. Carefully pour this mixture over a spoon to layer it over the pineapple-coconut layer. Add a strawberry, sprig of mint, or both as a garnish.

Non-Alcoholic “Champagne”

You can make a non-alcoholic “champagne” by adding 32 ounces of lemon and lime soft drink with 12 ounces of thawed white grape juice concentrate. Pour this into a container with a cover so it will remain fizzy until served. Serve as is out of the covered container or serve it out of a punch bowl.

Mudslides

Mudslides are a great option if you’re looking for a sweet non-alcoholic drink which still allows you to drive. You’ll need the following ingredients to make one serving:

• 3 scoops vanilla ice cream
• 1 teaspoon non-alcoholic amaretto flavored syrup
• 3 teaspoons non-alcoholic Irish cream flavored syrup
• Chocolate syrup to taste
• Splash of milk to thin down the mixture

Put the ice cream into a blender and add milk until the mixture is smooth. Add the amaretto syrup first and pulse it followed by the Irish cream flavored syrup. Add chocolate syrup to taste and blend the mixture again. Pour this into a tall glass. Finish it by placing a dollop of whipped cream and then drizzle additional chocolate syrup on top. To create a mocha-flavored drink, substitute coffee-flavored ice cream in place of the vanilla.

If you’re looking for non-alcoholic syrups to make some of your favorite drinks, you can often find them in the same area as coffee and tea in your local grocery store. You can also go to a favorite coffee shop and see if they have flavored syrups you can purchase.

Having a family member or friend with an issue with alcohol can make celebrating difficult. You don’t have to serve alcoholic beverages. Try one of these home-made non-alcoholic and delicious cocktails and they’ll still be able to enjoy the celebration.

Tacos

One of the most popular Mexican dishes is tacos. Home-made tacos are easy to make with spiced ground beef, fresh vegetables, and cheese. What’s not to love? To make tacos you’ll need the following dried spices to season the ground beef:

* 2 teaspoons instant minced onion
* 1 teaspoon salt
* 1 teaspoon chili powder
* 1/2 teaspoon cornstarch
* 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper
* 1/2 teaspoon minced garlic
* 1/4 teaspoon oregano
* 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin

Ingredients for the tacos include:

* 1 pound ground beef or ground chuck
* 1/4 to 1/2 cup water
* Shredded lettuce
* Shredded cheddar cheese
* Chopped tomatoes
* Chopped onions
* Sour cream
* Hard or soft shells, whichever your family prefers
* Bottled sauce, hot or mild to suit your family

Add all seasonings in a small bowl and stir to combine them. Brown the ground beef in a large skillet and drain. Add the seasoning and water and bring this to a boil. Reduce the heat to low and allow the mixture to simmer for 20 minutes. Add more water if the beef is too dry.

Serve on hard or soft shells. Put a layer of the ground beef mixture on the bottom of the shell; next add the other ingredients to suit each person. If you like, add sour cream, taco sauce, and shredded cheese.

Quesadillas

Some children will eat anything as long as it has cheese. Why not make them a cheese quesadilla they’ll love? Cheese quesadillas are simply soft taco shells with shredded cheese placed on half of the open shell. Fold the shell over and grill the shell on both sides until the cheese has melted. Variations to the cheese quesadilla include adding shredded grilled chicken, mushrooms, refried beans, and guacamole.

Mexican Sandwiches

Let your child help you make Mexican sandwiches. You’ll need two slices of bread for each sandwich, slices of cheese, mild picante sauce, tortilla chips, and a container of guacamole dip. (You can make your own guacamole dip or purchase some pre-made in the refrigerated section of most grocery stores.)

Begin by placing two slices of bread on a table. Spread guacamole dip on one of the slices of bread. Spread picante sauce on the other. Let the children crunch up tortilla chips and place them on the sandwich. Place a slice of cheese on one side of the sandwich and then close it up. Add black olives, lettuce, and tomatoes if your child likes those items.

These are just a few Mexican foods your kids will love. If you take them out to a Mexican restaurant, order a sampler platter or at least one dish no one has tried before. This way you’ll be encouraging your children to try something new. Who knows, it may become their new favorite!

One meal commonly prepared in a slow cooker is pot roast. While this meal is often traditionally prepared in a cast iron Dutch oven or in the stove, there’s nothing quite like how moist and tender a slow cooker makes the meat.

Slow Cooker Pot Roast

1 rump roast or shoulder roast
2 cans cream of mushroom soup
1 can water
2 cloves minced garlic
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1 teaspoon basil
1 teaspoon oregano
6 small potatoes cut into quarters (red or golden)
1/2 onion, diced (or 1 teaspoon onion powder)
3 cups chopped carrots
3 cups mushrooms, whole or chopped

Begin by removing any large pieces of fat from the roast and put it into a slow cooker set on low. Chop the vegetables so they’re ready when needed. Add the soup, water, herbs, spices, and onions with the roast and let this simmer. When the roast has cooked 3-5 hours, add the rest of the vegetables and allow this to simmer for another 1-2 hours.

Perhaps your family is vegetarian.

You can still use the slow cooker for making Vegetarian Chili.

1 – 16 ounce tomato sauce
1 – 32 ounce kidney beans, drained
1 – 16 ounce canned corn
1 onion, chopped
1 crushed clove of garlic
1 sliced green pepper
1 chopped tomato
2 teaspoons of chili powder
1 teaspoon of cumin
1 bay leaf
1 teaspoon of salt

Add all ingredients into the slow cooker and stir them. Put the cover on the slow cooker and cook on high for 3 to 4 hours. This will make 6 to 8 servings and is great for leftovers, if you have any.

For those who like dessert with their meals, you can use your slow cooker for that, too.

Here’s a recipe for Blueberry Cobbler:

1/2 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 cup sugar – divided
1/2 teaspoon of baking powder
1 pinch each salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg
1 beaten egg
1 tablespoon of milk
1 tablespoon of vegetable oil
2 cups of blueberries
1/4 cup of water

In a small bowl, combine flour, half of the sugar, baking powder, and spices. Combine eggs, milk, and oil in another small bowl then pour this mixture into the dry ingredients until it’s moistened. Grease the slow cooker on the bottom and sides and then spread the batter on the bottom of the cooker.

On the stove, over medium heat, combine the blueberries, water and the other half of the sugar. Bring this mixture to a boil and then remove it from the heat. Pour the berries into the slow cooker and cook on high for two hours. Turn off the cooker after the two hours, uncover it, and then allow it to set for at least 30 minutes before serving. You may want to serve with vanilla ice cream, home-made or store-bought.

Slow cookers are great for those days you want to have dinner waiting for you due to time constraints, but they’re also good for making dessert. If you try one of these three super-easy slow cooking recipes, you may find the slow cooker is one tool you’ll want to have in your kitchen.

Looking for more yummy recipies to use with your slow cooker Try the Household Helpers 470 Crock Pot Recipes

• 2 tbsp vegetable oil
• 1 cup popping corn
• 6 tbsp butter
• 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
• 1/2 tsp hot paprika
• 1 tsp salt

Method:
In a large, heavy saucepan heat the oil, add the popcorn, cover and cook until corn stops popping. Arrange popcorn in a serving bowl.

Meanwhile, melt the butter in the saucepan, stir in cayenne pepper, paprika and salt and pour over popcorn.

Mix well and enjoy this snack with the whole family while watching a favorite movie.

Ingredients:

• 1 tbsp soy sauce
• 2 tsp rice vinegar or white wine vinegar
• Juice of 1 small orange (or freshly pressed orange juice)
• 1 tsp brown sugar
• 2 tsp cornflour
• 2 tbsp vegetable oil
• 3oz unsalted cashew nuts
• 1 medium onion, thinly sliced
• 1 large skinless, boneless chicken breast, cut into bite-size pieces
• 9 oz small broccoli florets
• 1 red bell pepper, cored and thinly sliced
• 5 oz sugar peas

In a wok heat the oil and add the cashews, stir for 1 minute. When the nuts are golden brown, remove from the wok and place on a plate topped with a few paper towels to drain. Add the onion slices to the wok and saut? for about 3 to 5 minutes until soft and slightly browned. Remove and add to the cashews.

Next, put the chicken pieces into the wok and fry on high heat for about 3 to 4 minutes, then add all the vegetables and continue stir frying for another 4 to 5 minutes. Don’t overcook the vegetables – make sure they are still crunchy.

In a small bowl, combine the soy sauce, vinegar, orange juice, sugar and cornflour. Pour into wok and stir fry for a few minutes. The sauce should thicken slightly. Add the cooked onions and cashews and serve immediately. Enjoy!

• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 large onion, finely chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, crushed
• 3 oz oats
• 1lb ground turkey
• 4 oz dried apricots, finely chopped
• 1 large carrot, grated
• 1 egg, slightly beaten

Method:
Preheat oven to 400?F.

In a frying pan, heat 1 tbsp of oil, then saut? onions until translucent. Add the garlic and saut? for another minute, then add oats and fry for another few minutes. Pour into a bowl and set aside.

When the mixture is cool, add all other ingredients. When mixed thoroughly (best by hand), season and form into 8 burgers. Fry the burgers in the remaining olive oil on each side until browned. When browned, put patties on a baking sheet and bake in oven for about 10 to 15 minutes.

Serve in yummy crusty rolls with all the trimmings.

Ingredients:

• 1/3 cup sugar
• 1 Tbsp cornstarch
• 1 Tbsp lemon juice
• 1/8 tsp. salt
• 2 eggs, lightly beaten
• 1 (20 ounce) can pineapple chunks drained but reserve the juice Or Med sized pineapple cubed
• 1 ripe banana, sliced
• 1 cup seedless red grapes cut in halves
• 1 cup miniature marshmallows
• 6 cups torn lettuce

Instructions:

1. Place the sugar and cornstarch in a small saucepan.
2. Stir in the lemon juice and reserved pineapple juice. Sprinkle in the salt and stir well to combine all the ingredients together.
3. Place the saucepan over medium heat.
4. Bring the mixture to a steady boil being sure to stir continuously. Continue stirring and cooking until all the sugar has completely dissolved.
5. Pour 1 Tbsp of the heated juice into the beaten eggs and whisk quickly together to keep the eggs from beginning to set. Pour the eggs mixture into the warm juice and continue to whisk until combined.
6. On low temperature bring the mixture to a gentle steady boil, continue stirring and cook for 2 minutes.
7. Remove from the heat and allow mixture to cool to room temperature in a small bowl.
8. Place the pineapple chunks, bananas and grapes in a salad bowl.
9. Gently fold in the marshmallows.
10. Pour the cooled dressing over the fruit and toss to cover the fruit and marshmallows well.

Serve of the torn lettuce.

The next time you shop at your local supermarket, take a look at the different kinds of oatmeal available. You will find boxes of regular and flavored oatmeal. If you choose a box, it conveniently has six packets of instant oatmeal. You may also notice a cylindrical box of oatmeal, either large or small grain. These are normally unflavored oats.

Let’s begin with the box of instant oatmeal. If you have a microwave oven, this couldn’t be easier to make. Take out one packet of oatmeal, place it in a small cereal bowl. Add a cup of water or milk. Place the bowl in the microwave and cook for 1 to 2 minutes on high. Take the bowl out of microwave and stir. You can add a teaspoon of sugar or perhaps you would like to add fresh strawberries or blueberries on top as well. Hmm…..good!

The other type of oatmeal mentioned is just as easy to prepare. Open the cylindrical box and take 1/2 cup of oatmeal and add to a small cereal bowl. If you are serving two people, add 1 cup.

Put a small sauce pot on the stove and add 1 cup of water or milk for one serving; or add 1 and 3/4 cups of water or milk for two servings. Turn on gas and boil water or milk. Stir in oats. Cook about 1 minute over medium heat, while stirring occasionally.

You can flavor your oatmeal with any sweet items at home – honey, cinnamon, brown sugar, maple syrup, fruits or pie filling. Just use your imagination and you’ll create oatmeal that your family will love.

Note: Oatmeal lowers cholesterol. Simply have ? cups of oatmeal a day with 1-1/2 cups of water.

Tip: Oatmeal isn’t only great for breakfast; it serves as an after dinner snack as well!

Here is a simple recipe on how to make an omelet.

What You’ll Need

• Non-stick 7″ frying pan
• Spatula
• Mixing bowl
• Fork
• Plate

Ingredients

• 2 eggs
• Butter
• Milk
• Shredded cheese (either Swiss or American)
• Salt and Pepper

Preparation

1. Take the 7″ frying pan and place on the stove, medium heat. Take the stick of butter and just lightly grease the pan. You can also use cooking spray.
2. Take two eggs, gently crack them open and place in a bowl. Add two tablespoons of milk. Whisk the eggs with a fork until the yokes have completely separated. Add salt and pepper to taste.
3. When you hear the sizzling of the butter, add the eggs to the pan. Let the eggs sit for just a minute. Since the eggs will begin to cook at the outer edge first, take the spatula and gently move the eggs from the outer edge to the middle of the pan. Continue this process until the eggs are no longer in a liquid state.
4. At this time, you can add any fillings you’d like – veggies, cooked meats, fresh herbs to one side of the omelet. Also, add the shredded cheese, then take the spatula and place it under the other side of the eggs and fold over onto the cheese side. Cook until cheese is melted.
5. Turn off gas. Use the spatula to take the omelet out of the pan and place it onto the plate.

Congratulations! You have just made your first home cooked omelet. Wasn’t that easy? Did anything burn? If so, don’t worry. Once you keep repeating this process, you will be able to gauge the temperature of your stove so that your next omelet will be perfect!

Ingredients

• 6 cubes of Vanilla Almond Bark
• About one line of a pack Oreos (more or less according to your liking)

Other things you will need

• Microwaveable Bowl
• wax paper
• Chopper or large zip lock bag
• Large spoon

How to make it

1. If you have a chopper place oreos in and chop, If not place oreos in zip lock back grab heavy spoon and begin to smash.
2. Place about a foot and half or so piece of wax paper on counter
3. Take 6 squares of almond bark put in microwave bowl warm on high for 1 min 30 seconds. Then stir. (note the almond bark does not look like its melting when looking at it, so mix it to help the melting process.) Microwave another 30 seconds? and mix again, repeat until creamy.
4. When Almond bark is smooth and creamy mix in oreos until all is covered.
5. Pour over the wax paper about 1/4 of an inch thick.
6. Let cool, 15-20 minutes, break in to desired pieces and serve.

You can use the holiday colored oreos, they have red and green for christmas, pastels for easter, I tried using the red last year the red did over power the white in the almond bark way to much. the pastels worked better.