Strawberry Lemonade

One of my favorite drinks to order at restaraunts are Strawberry Lemonades!  The fresh kind, not the "fountain" kind.  Not many restaruants offer it but every time I get to order it, I LOVE IT!  It's pretty easy to make it for yourself at home! 

2 - 12 oz lemonade concentrate, thawed
1 c sugar
20 ounces frozen strawberries, thawed
9 c water

In a blender, puree sugar, strawberries and 4 c water.  Leave somewhat chunky.  In a large pitcher combine lemonade concentrate, 5 c water and strawberry puree mixture all together and stir.  Serve over a full glass of ice!

Starbucks Salted Caramel Mocha

You have no idea how happy this makes my heart!  With the help of my dearest friend (who used to work at Starbucks), we figured out the combination and I'm telling ya'll, if I were blindfolded and had one cup of Starbucks and one cup of one made from home, I COULD TELL NO DIFFERENCE!

So, here it is!

Now, before I start, sorry for the poor photography.  Drinks I've found are awfully difficult to take pictures of!

 Again, sorry for the not so great picture! :(

This doesn't do it justice! :)

For the homemade mocha additive:
1 can evaporated milk
3/4 c dry cocoa
3/4 c sugar

In a small bowl, mix the sugar and cocoa until there are no more lumps.  Slowly add the can of evaporated milk using a whisk and whisk until everything is completely combined.  Refrigerate any leftovers (which you'll have tons unless you're feeding an army!)

Homemade Mocha!! MMMM!

Salted Caramel Mocha (Hot or Iced)
2 shots espresso
4 pumps Toffee Nut Syrup (FROM STARBUCKS)
2 T mocha
1 - 1 1/2 c milk (steamed for hot version)
Caramel Syrup (ice cream topping)
Coarse Sea Salt

Mix espresso, syrup and mocha until it is blended.  Add the milk and stir.  Top with whipped cream, some caramel syrup and coarse sea salt!

You'll notice the chocolatey look here.

NOTE:  Starbucks sells the Toffee Nut syrup to any customer for $7.95/bottle.  $1 for the pump (this is important cause it's calibrated specifically for the drinks).  This will last you MANY drinks.  You pay over $5 for ONE drink, so think about how much you are saving by just making them at home!  

Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte

As promised! :)  Never actually had a Starbucks, but after making this, I suspect it comes pretty darn close to the way it tastes at Starbucks! :)  They are just SOO expensive and I made this with stuff I already had! :)  Super cheap! :)  And if you know me, if there's a way to "do it myself" I'll be doing it! :)

This recipe calls for "vanilla syrup."  They can be purchased in bottles at World Market I know, or someone informed me they are at the general grocery stores, but cost an arm and a leg!  So, I found a recipe for the vanilla syrup!

Vanilla Syrup:
2 c water
2 c sugar
2 T pure vanilla extract

Boil sugar and water together until sugar is dissolved.  Once simmering, let it lightly boil for about another 5 minutes and it will thicken.  Take OFF the burner and add the vanilla.  Let cool to room temperature and store in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.

Pumpkin Spice Latte:
3T pureed pumpkin
2 T vanilla syrup
1/4 t pumpkin pie spice
1 c milk/cream
3 ounces espresso (1-2 shots)

In a small saucepan, whisk pumpkin and milk over medium-high heat.  Stirring regularly.  Add vanilla syrup and pumpkin pie spice and continue whisking.  Heat and stir until steam and foam begins to appear.  Usually about 5 or so minutes.  Pour this milk mixture into your mug and top with the espresso shots, stirring to combine.  Top with whipped cream and more pumpkin pie spice!

Chocolate Reeses' Milkshake

Several years ago when my sister lived in DesMoines for the first stretch, I went to visit her.  I'll never forget going to the DRAKE DINER in DesMoines with her one LATE evening and devouring the most delicious, most unbelieveable Chocolate Peanut Butter milkshake you've ever tasted.  I a few years back remembered how good that was and decided I'd try figuring out the mixture amounts to make my very own CHOCOLATE REESES' MILKSHAKE, so here it is! :)

1/4 c half & half

4 T Hershey's Chocolate Syrup

4 T peanut butter, creamy

2 c vanilla ice cream

Blend until smooth in blender.  Top with whipped cream!

Creamy Cocoa

We won't ever go back to packet cocoa after trying this out! :)

1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
3/4 cup white sugar
1/3 cup boiling water
3 1/2 cups milk
3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup half-and-half cream

Combine the cocoa & sugar and stir until blended in a saucepan. Whisk in the boiling water. Bring this mixture to an easy boil while you stir. Simmer and stir for about 2 minutes. Watch that it doesn't scorch. Stir in 3 1/2 cups of milk and heat until very hot, but do not boil! Remove from heat and add vanilla. Divide between 4 mugs. Add the cream to the mugs of cocoa to cool it to drinking temperature. Top with Whipped Cream, or Marshmallow Cream.