Banana Smoothies

Here is my second recipe/tribute to my dad.  I don't know why, but me and my sisters always had a hard time eating bananas when we were young.  I know, what kid doesn't like bananas?  Well, we didn't.  So, in order for my dad to get us to eat them (here comes the creative parenting part), he made us Banana Smoothies.  And we L-O-V-E-D them!  Whenever we had movie night, I remember him making these on request! 

Banana Smoothies

Ingredients:
2 bananas

½ cup sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
10 ice cubes
milk

Directions:
1. Place bananas, sugar, vanilla, and ice cubes in blender. Fill the remainder of the blender with milk.
2. Blend until the ice cubes are crushed and the drink is smooth and frothy.

Orange Julius

I have been thinking about my dad a lot lately.  He has been deployed to Iraq and I am missing him.  When I was growing up, he would make orange julius drinks all the time for us.  It was really a treat.  So, in honor of my dad, here is my first of two posts remembering him and how important he is and was to me.

Orange Julius

Ingredients:
1 cup milk
1 cup water
½ cup sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
1 (6 oz.) can frozen orange juice
10 ice cubes

Directions:
1. Add all ingredients to blender. Blend until ice is crushed.
 

25 Days of Christmas Recipes - Wassail

Here's your next holiday recipe! This is a staple at my house during the winter months. My grandmother used to make it for us whenever we would travel to her house in Bountiful, Utah. And my mom would make it for us when we were sick. The only trick to this is using a BIG saucepan. I recommend using a tall stock pot, because when it heats up, it has a tendency to boil over. And that my friends is NO fun to clean up.

Wassail

Ingredients:
5 quarts water
3 cups sugar
1 (12 oz.) can frozen orange juice
1 (6 oz.) can frozen lemonade
1 stick cinnamon, broken in half
4 tsp. whole cloves

Directions:
1. Mix water and sugar together in a large pot, and bring to a boil over medium heat. Boil for 5 minutes. Add orange juice and lemonade.
2. Make a spice bag using cheesecloth or other thin, cotton material, cut large enough to place the cinnamon stick and cloves in the center and tie the ends up.
3. Steep for at least 3o minutes. Serve warm.

Roommate's Remedy

My old roommate, Tristin, gave me the best cure for colds/flu. I have been sick for almost a week now, and I don't know why I didn't think of this earlier. I drank this last night before I went to bed, and again this morning as soon as I got up, then again at lunch. And let me tell you, I am feeling almost back up to 100%. And I haven't taken any medication (except cough drops to keep that under control). This definitely goes into my collection of recipes! Thanks, Tristin!

The Best Remedy for the Common Cold

(aka Lemon-Honey Drink)

Ingredients:
1 lemon (or 1/4 cup lemon juice)
2 Tbs. Honey
1 cup boiling water

Directions:
1. Quarter lemon and juice into large mug, leaving lemon rind in the mug. Pour honey in with lemon. Pour boiling water over mixture and allow to steep for a few minutes.
2. Drink while it is still warm (discard lemon rind).