Simply Made Recipes

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Peanut Butter Jelly Smoothie

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Peanut Butter Jelly Smoothie is made with strawberries, old-fashioned oats, banana, creamy peanut butter, strawberry jam and almond milk. 

School starts soon and we are getting into that BACK to SCHOOL mode. Back to school everything is on my mind including snacks, lunches and treats. One of my kids favorite things to eat during the school season is PB&J sandwiches. This Peanut Butter Jelly Smoothie was inspired by school and is a delicious start to the day. 

You may also like this Triple Berry Smoothie!

Peanut Butter Jelly Smoothie

Peanut Butter Jelly Smoothie has flavors from a classic peanut butter and jelly sandwich is the form of a smoothie. You may be thinking, “uh, I’m not sure about THAT”. You just have to try it and see. Strawberries and strawberry jam help sweeten the smoothie, peanut butter gives that nice nutty flavor, and oats are added as a nice filler to act as “bread”.  The smoothie is then thinned out with almond milk because a great PB&J calls for a cold milk of glass. 

Tips & Tricks

Fruit Swap

Feel free to swap the strawberries and strawberry jam with the fruit of your choice! Raspberry jelly with frozen raspberries would taste great or blackberry jam with frozen blackberries. Try your favorite peanut butter and jelly combo with a simple fruit swap. 

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Peanut Butter Jelly Smoothie

Peanut Butter Jelly Smoothie is made with strawberries, old-fashioned oats, banana, creamy peanut butter, strawberry jam and almond milk. 

Course Drinks
Keyword breakfast, Smoothies
Prep Time 5 minutes
Servings 2 8 ounce servings
Author Amber

Equipment

  • Blender

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup almond milk
  • 1/4 cup old-fashioned oats
  • 1 banana small
  • 1 1/2 cups strawberries sliced and frozen
  • 2 Tablespoons peanut butter creamy
  • 1 Tablespoon strawberry jam

Instructions

  • Add all ingredients to blender.
  • Blend until smooth.
  • Serve.

What are some foods that remind you of the back to school season?? Let me know in the comments below! 

Homemade Caramel Vanilla Iced Coffee

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Homemade Caramel Vanilla Iced Coffee is the perfect mixture of vanilla syrup, caramel sauce, strongly brewed coffee and some half-and-half to bring the coffeehouse into your own home. 

My go-to coffeehouse order is an iced coffee with a little creamer and a bit of caramel sauce. No matter the time of year or the weather outside, I love my iced coffee. Iced coffee also happens to be a better option for lower calories and lower sugar than many other menu items. I’m looking at you White Chocolate Mocha (which I also happen to love). This Homemade Caramel Vanilla Iced Coffee is perfect to make at home to not only control what goes in your beverage but also saves you a ton of money. 

Homemade Caramel Vanilla Iced Coffee

Homemade Caramel Vanilla Iced Coffee is absolutely delicious with a strongly brewed coffee (hello motherhood, I am ready), a little caramel sauce for just the right amount of flavor, creamy half-and-half and vanilla syrup. Yes, you can use a sugar free vanilla syrup to cut back on sugar where possible and perhaps save it for a few bites of one of those sprinkled donuts pictured. HEY, you deserve a treat every once in awhile. 

Try this recipe for Banana Oat Muffins to pair with your Homemade Caramel Vanilla Iced Coffee for a great start to any morning! 

What is the difference between iced coffee and cold brew? 

This recipe calls for iced coffee. You simply brew coffee grounds extra strong with hot water as normal and let it cool to room temperature. Make a pitcher for the week and store in the fridge.

Cold brew takes 12-24 hours to make because you actually soak the coffee grounds in cold water. You can absolutely use either technique but I like the iced coffee method a little better because who wants to wait on that brewing process? 


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Caramel Vanilla Iced Coffee

Homemade Caramel Vanilla Iced Coffee is the perfect mixture of vanilla syrup, caramel sauce, strongly brewed coffee and some half-and-half to bring the coffeehouse into your own home. 

Course drink
Keyword coffee
Prep Time 3 minutes
Brew Time 5 minutes
Servings 1 Drink
Author Amber

Ingredients

  • 1 cup coffee strong
  • 1 Tablespoons vanilla syrup
  • 1 Tablespoons caramel sauce
  • 1 Tablespoons half and half
  • ice

Instructions

  • Brew a cup of coffee extra strong. Let cool down.
  • Fill a 16 ounce cup full of ice.
  • Add 1 Tablespoon caramel sauce, 1 Tablespoon vanilla syrup and 1 Tablespoon half-and-half.
  • Fill cup with coffee.
  • Drink up.

Notes

Depending on your preference, you can double the amount of caramel sauce, vanilla syrup and half-and-half for a sweeter treat. 

What is your go-to order at the coffeehouse? Let me know in the comments below and maybe I can recreate the recipe for you soon! 

Blackberry Mojito

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This Blackberry Mojito is a refreshing drink for summertime made with rum, fresh blackberries, mint, lime, sugar and seltzer water. 

This HOT weather calls for some COLD beverages! This Blackberry Mojito hits the mark if you are lounging by the pool on the weekend or just enjoying a cocktail on the front porch after work. 

What’s a Mojito

A mojito is a classic Cuban cocktail made with rum, sugar, lime, mint and soda water. The fresh mint and lime juice is gently muddled to release the aroma and delicious flavors that are then able to infuse with the rum. Fill the glass with crushed ice to stay extra cold! 

Blackberry Mojito

Blackberry Mojito is a classic mojito with added fresh blackberries for extra flavor and beautiful color. Did I mention this cocktail is also pretty darn strong when mixed properly and lower in calories than other bar drinks since it utilizes seltzer water over a juice or soda-pop. 

This Strawberry Lime Vodka Tonic is another refreshing summer drink made with tonic water and fresh fruit that you enjoy!

Tips & Tricks

Muddling

A muddler is a tool used to mash down fruits and herbs for cocktails. You want to be gentle and mash enough of the fruit and herbs to give the cocktail flavor. Too much mashing can cause the cocktail to have a slightly bitter taste. The muddler is a great tool to have for anyone who loves creating cocktails and so easy to use. 


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Blackberry Mojito

This Blackberry Mojito is a refreshing drink for summertime made with rum, fresh blackberries, mint, lime, sugar and seltzer water. 

Course drink
Keyword blackberry, cocktail, Rum
Prep Time 3 minutes
Servings 1 cocktail
Author Amber

Equipment

  • Muddler

Ingredients

  • 6 mint leaves plus extra for garnish
  • 6 fresh blackberries
  • 3 ounces white rum
  • 1 lime
  • 1 Tablespoon sugar
  • 1/2 cup seltzer water soda water or club soda can be used
  • ice crushed

Instructions

  • Wash the lime, blackberries and mint.
  • Place 6 blackberries and 6 mint leaves in a highball glass.
  • Slice the lime in half and cut 2 slices for garnish. Squeeze the remainder of the lime into the highball glass. Add sugar.
  • Muddle (mash) the ingredients gently.
  • Fill the glass with ice.
  • Add 3 ounces (double shot) of rum and top off with seltzer water.
  • Garnish with lime and mint.

What is your go to summer cocktail to help you stay cool during the heat? Let me know in the comments below. 

Cherry Basil Lemonade

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Cherry Basil Lemonade is a refreshing seasonal drink made with a fresh cherry syrup in a sweet and sour lemonade with more fresh cherries and basil. 

Cherries are in season right now and they have been perfectly sweet and great for snacking, in desserts or to make a refreshing drink. Cherries are not just delicious but are also healthy. They offer Vitamin C, potassium, fiber and even a little protein. With the anti-oxidants and anti-inflammatory properties cherries contain, they should be on your shopping list this season. 

Cherry Basil Lemonade

Cherry Basil Lemonade is slightly sour as lemonade often is but with a nice sweetness from the cherries. Basil is added for a nice aroma and the peppery flavor. 

Also try this recipe for Strawberry Lemonade made with fresh lemons. 


 

Tips & Tricks

Cherry Pit

There are multiple techniques to pit a cherry including using a Cherry Pitter. I prefer the pastry tip method. This involves pushing a pastry tip through the center of the cherry quickly to remove the pit. Visit The Spruce Eats for details on this method and others. 

Simple Syrup

Simple syrup is one of those things everyone should know how to cook. A basic simple syrup is equal parts water and granulated sugar. From there, you can develop SO MANY different syrups. I like to use fresh fruits to to reduce the sugar and lemon juice to add extra flavor over water. Bring the ingredients to a simmer for 8 minutes or so and then strain through a sieve. Let cool, place into a sealed container and store in the refrigerator. Use simple syrups in bar cocktails, iced teas and other cold beverages, to make sorbet, to make candied citrus fruits and more. 

Check out this recipe for a Magnolia Lemon Pie with Candied Lemons. 

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Cherry Basil Lemonade

Cherry Basil Lemonade is a refreshing seasonal drink made with a fresh cherry syrup in a sweet and sour lemonade with more fresh cherries and basil. 

Course Drinks
Keyword Basil, cherry, drink, Lemonade, Summer
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 8 minutes
Servings 4 Servings
Author Amber

Ingredients

Cherry Basil Lemonade

  • 12 cherries pitted and halved
  • 12 basil leaves
  • +/- 3 cups lemonade
  • 4 whole cherries garnish
  • cherry simple syrup

Cherry Syrup

  • 1 cup cherries pitted and halved
  • 2 Tablespoons sugar
  • 1 lemon juiced

Instructions

Cherry Syrup

  • Remove pits of 1 cup worth of cherries and cut into halves. Place into a saucepan on a medium heat.
  • Add sugar and the juice from 1 lemon. Bring to a low simmer for 8 minutes stirring often.
  • Strain through a sieve to make the simple syrup.

Cherry Basil Lemonade

  • Divide the simple syrup into 4 glasses.
  • Fill each glass with ice.
  • Chop 12 basil leaves and divide into glasses.
  • Pit 12 cherries and cut into halves. Divide into each glass.
  • Top with lemonade and garnish with a cherry. Basil sprig garnish is optional.

What are some of your favorite recipes that use fresh cherries? Let me know in the comments below. 

Tropical Dragon Fruit Smoothie

Tropical Dragon Fruit Smoothie is a refreshing smoothie made with pineapple, mango, banana, strawberries, dragon fruit and a pinch of honey. 

Since making that Dragon Fruit Sorbet a couple weeks ago, my mind has been set on creating some more amazing recipes with this tropical fruit. With summer vacation just beginning, smoothies are high on the to-do list for breakfast and snacks with the kids. This smoothie is a huge hot with the whole family. It’s colorful, sweet, refreshing and healthy! 

Nutrient Dense Smoothie

Each serving of this Tropical Dragon Fruit Smoothie contains about 4 servings of fruit rich in antioxidants, vitamins and minerals! 

Dragon Fruit

A mild tasting fruit (much like a kiwi) rich in iron and calcium and loads of antioxidants. The outer layer is bright in color and the insides can either be white or bright pink/red. I used the bright pink/red so a white dragon fruit will result in a different color smoothie but taste just as fantastic! Dragon fruits are easy to prepare. Simply cut the fruit in half lengthwise and scoop out the inside to dice. 

Pineapple

Pineapple is a delicious fruit high in fiber and magnesium. 

Mango

Mango is a sweet fruit high in vitamin C with a fruity aroma. Picking a good mango from the store is much like picking a good avocado. Color isn’t a great indication of ripeness. Instead, you want to feel the fruit and give a gentle squeeze. Mango should have slight give to it but not be too soft or too firm. 

Banana

Bananas are a great source of potassium, manganese, vitamin B12 and more. Bananas are a food I feed my active family before workouts to aid in water balance. 

Strawberries

Strawberries contain high amounts of vitamin C and are rich in antioxidants. They add a natural sweetness to the smoothie and boost of color. 

Tropical Dragon Fruit Smoothie

Tropical Dragon Fruit Smoothie is a combination of some of the healthiest and most flavorful tropical fruits readily available. My favorite thing about this particular smoothie is that you can taste each individual fruit. The mango comes through, the pineapple is subtle, banana thickens the smoothie and adds just enough flavor and the dragon fruit with strawberries make this smoothie beautiful. Add a pinch of honey for extra sweetness according to your personal taste. 

Tips & Tricks

Prepping Smoothies is easy and convenient. Just label each bag, add the contents you want frozen and toss in freezer. You can make 4 smoothie packs with two servings in each with this shopping list. 

  • 1 pineapple
  • 2 mangos
  • pint strawberries
  • 2 dragon fruit
  • 4 bananas (not frozen)
  • honey (not frozen)

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Tropical Dragon Fruit Smoothie

Tropical Dragon Fruit Smoothie is a refreshing smoothie made with pineapple, mango, banana, strawberries, dragon fruit and a pinch of honey. 

Course Breakfast, lunch
Keyword Banana, dragon fruit, Mango, Pineapple, Smoothies, strawberry
Servings 2 Servings
Author Amber

Equipment

  • Blender

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1 cup pineapple diced and frozen
  • 1 cup mango diced and frozen
  • 1 cup dragon fruit diced and frozen
  • 1 cup strawberries hulled and frozen
  • 1 banana
  • honey

Instructions

  • Wash and dice the pineapple, mango, strawberries and dragon fruit. Place into freezer for a minimum of 2 hours.
  • Place the frozen fruit into blender with 1 peeled banana and a a drizzle of honey. Blend until smooth.
  • Serve in 2 glasses.

Strawberry Lemonade

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Strawberry Lemonade is made with fresh strawberries, lemons, honey and a little sugar for a refreshing beverage this summer. 

The weather is heating up and summer is coming! I love summer. I love the sunshine, the heat, flip flops and swimming with the kids. Most of all though, I love lounging outside and enjoying time with friends and family. This beverage is the perfect lounging outside on a hot day kind of drink. 

Strawberry Lemonade

Strawberry Lemonade is both sweet and tart with a strong flavor of strawberry that is just so delicious. This is a great non-alcoholic beverage for the family or you can add a shot of vodka to make it an adult beverage after a long, hot summer day. 

Tips & Tricks

Strain

You can use a sieve to strain the blended strawberries to remove the seeds and pulp. This is an optional step but I find when you are having a gathering, it is best to strain because not everyone likes pulp. Plus, the step is simple and only takes a minute. 

Sugar

You can make this lemonade as sweet as you like. You will need some sugar to cut back on the tartness of the lemons. Strawberries already have a lot of natural sugar and honey is also added so 1/4 cup to 1/2 extra sugar should be plenty. 



 

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Strawberry Lemonade

Strawberry Lemonade is made with fresh strawberries, lemons, honey and a little sugar for a refreshing beverage this summer. 
Servings 8 servings
Author Amber

Ingredients

  • 1 pound strawberries hulled
  • 1 1/2 cups lemon juice aprox 7 lemons
  • 1/4 cup honey
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 6 cups water
  • ice
  • lemon slices garnish
  • mint garnish

Instructions

  • Wash and hull the strawberries and  juice the lemons. 
  • Place strawberries, honey and lemon juice into blender. Blend well. 
  • Send mixture through a sieve to strain or add directly to a pitcher of ice. Add 6 cups water. 
  • Add sugar to taste. I like it with 1/2 cup but you can add less or more depending on your personal taste. 
  • Add lemon slices and mint to garnish. Stir well and serve. 

What is your favorite part about summer? Let me know in the comments below. 

Fresh Strawberry Mocktail

Fresh Strawberry Mocktail is a non-alcoholic cocktail made with a fresh strawberry syrup, sliced strawberries and sparkling water that is simple, pink and beautiful. 

Fresh Strawberry Mocktail

Fresh Strawberry Mocktail is so refreshing and easy to make. Sparkling water is one of my favorite drinks to mix fruits with or alcohol. Yes, you can add a shot of vodka to this also to make a delicious lower calorie cocktail! You may also like this Strawberry Lime Vodka Tonic for another refreshing summer cocktail. 

Strawberries

The use of fresh strawberries adds antioxidants and more nutritional value over a store bought strawberry syrup. Plus, the flavor the fresh strawberries is unbeatable. Below are some nutrition benefits of strawberries. 

  • High in Vitamin C
  • Powerful antioxidants to decrease inflammation and fight free radicals. 
  • Low calorie
  • High fiber to keep you regular. 
  • Potassium to regulate blood pressure. 
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Fresh Strawberry Mocktail

Fresh Strawberry Mocktail is a non-alcoholic cocktail made with a fresh strawberry syrup, sliced strawberries and sparkling water that is simple, pink and beautiful. 
Course drink
Keyword Mocktail
Servings 4 servings
Author Amber

Ingredients

  • 1/2 pound strawberries hulled and sliced
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • sparkling water
  • more strawberries garnish
  • ice

Instructions

  • Wash, hull and slice strawberries. 
  • Add strawberries to a saucepan on a medium heat with 1/4 cup sugar. Heat until sugar dissolves and heat down to a low simmer for 8 minutes. Whisk every so often forming a syrup. 
  • Place the syrup through a mesh strainer and let the liquid cool. 
  • Separate the syrup into 4 equal portions into glasses. Fill with ice and some sliced strawberries. 
  • Fill each glass with sparkling water and serve. 

Salty Dog

A Salty Dog is a cocktail made with grapefruit juice and gin or vodka with a salt rim. Garnish with a slice of fresh grapefruit and sprig of rosemary to make a beautiful and delicious drink. 

I feel like grapefruit is one of those foods that is more of an acquired taste. I don’t mind half a grapefruit every once in awhile in the morning with a sprinkle of sugar for breakfast. This cocktail is the same for me- it isn’t what I always crave but it is nice every once in awhile to switch things up! Plus, you can make it really pretty by adding some fresh slices of grapefruit and a sprig of rosemary for a pop of color. 

Salty Dog

A Salty Dog is just a greyhound (grapefruit juice and gin) with a salt rim added. Traditionally, this cocktail is made with gin but vodka can be substituted which is the way I like to make mine. You can choose to add the extra garnish of rosemary and fresh grapefruit to pretty up the cocktail and add just a touch more flavor or keep it simple without. 

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Salty Dog

A Salty Dog is a cocktail made with grapefruit juice and gin or vodka with a salt rim. Garnish with a slice of fresh grapefruit and sprig of rosemary to make a beautiful and delicious drink. 
Course drink
Keyword cocktail, gin, grapefruit, vodka
Servings 1 cocktail
Author Amber

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 ounce Gin or vodka
  • 4 ounces grapefruit juice
  • coarse salt
  • ice
  • fresh grapefruit slice
  • rosemary

Instructions

  • Dip the tip of your glass in water and then coarse salt to salt the rim. Traditionally a highball glass would be used. 
  • Fill glass with ice. 
  • Add a shot of gin or vodka. 
  • Place a slice of fresh grapefruit inside glass (optional). 
  • Fill with grapefruit juice. 
  • Garnish with a sprig of rosemary (optional). 

Avocado Kiwi Smoothie

Avocado Kiwi Smoothie is made with fresh avocado, cucumber, kiwis and plain yogurt for a healthy breakfast or lunch that isn’t too sweet. 

Typically, I am all about those super fruity and sweet smoothies like the Triple Berry Smoothie, but sometimes I just want something nutrient dense and makes me feel good and full for a long time. I love this smoothie because it does those things. Here is a breakdown on what the ingredients are doing for our body!

Avocado

Low in sugar, high in fiber with 20 vitamins and minerals. Avocado may be high in calories and fat but it is monounsaturated fatty acids that are healthy and your body needs! 

Kiwi

Kiwis are always tasty and healthy with loads of Vitamin C. Your immune system will thank you. 

Cucumber

Cucumber has a mild taste and is super refreshing known to help with hydration. 

Yogurt

The benefits of yogurt can differ from brand to brand. Look for a high calcium yogurt that is fortified with Vitamin D for bone health. Yogurt also has probiotics to help with your gut health. 

Avocado Kiwi Smoothie

Avocado Kiwi Smoothie is smooth and creamy with a strong avocado flavor and just a hint of tangy kiwi. The cucumber and yogurt is added for health benefits and to also thicken the smoothie into a really nice consistency. A great smoothie to start your day with! 

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Avocado Kiwi Smoothie

Avocado Kiwi Smoothie is made with fresh avocado, cucumber, kiwis and plain yogurt for a healthy breakfast or lunch that isn't too sweet. 
Course Smoothie
Keyword breakfast, drink, Smoothies
Prep Time 5 minutes
Servings 4 Servings
Author Amber

Ingredients

  • 1 avocado Pit removed and peeled
  • 4 kiwis peeled
  • 1 cucumber peeled
  • 2 cups plain yogurt
  • 1 cup ice
  • 1 Tablespoon honey optional

Instructions

  • Wash and peel all the fruit. Rough chop them and add to blender. 
  • Add plain yogurt and ice. You can add honey if you want a sweetener. 
  • Blend until smooth and creamy. 

 

Strawberry Vodka Slush

Strawberry Vodka Slush is a frozen cocktail made with strawberries, freshly squeezed lemon juice, vodka, sugar and seltzer water.

Strawberry Vodka Slush

Strawberry Vodka Slush is sweet, refreshing and hits the spot on a warm day. If you are a daiquiri fan, this is the type of cocktail for you and a real treat! There may be snow on the ground here in Cincinnati at the moment but I can’t help to think about sipping this baby by the pool this summer while soaking up some sunshine.

Tips & Tricks

Don’t blend for too long! You want a powerful blender and use crushed ice. If you don’t have crushed ice, just blend the ice for 30 seconds before adding any other ingredients. This way, the cocktail will be nice and slushie without random chunks of ice.

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Strawberry Vodka Slush

Strawberry Vodka Slush is a frozen cocktail made with strawberries, freshly squeezed lemon juice, vodka, sugar and seltzer water.
Course drink
Keyword cocktail, vodka
Servings 2 drinks
Author Amber

Ingredients

  • 1 pound strawberries hulled and frozen
  • 1 cup lemon juice 4 lemons
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/2 cup vodka
  • 1 cup seltzer water
  • 1 cup ice

Garnish

  • 2 ounces extra vodka optional
  • 2 lime slices
  • 2 fresh strawberries
  • whipped cream optional

Instructions

  • Wash, hull and freeze strawberries. I always freeze the fruits my kids don't eat throughout the week and use for these type of recipes.
  • Squeeze 1 cup worth of lemon juice from about 4 lemons.
  • Place frozen berries into blender with the rest of the ingredients. Blend until smooth.
  • Serve in 2 glasses and garnish with a slice of lime and a strawberry.
  • Optional to add an extra ounce of vodka to float on top of each drink before serving. Try it with a dollop of whipped cream!