Makeover Monday: Skinny Maple Gingerbread Latte

First things first today; Merry Christmas to everyone!  I hope you all are enjoying some relaxing time with friends and family.  And with that, let's get to the main event here.  While you are spending time with said family and friends, I am sure that a warm, cozy, delicious beverage would help make the season merry and bright.  Perhaps something like what you would get from Starbucks?  

I know you have heard the horror stories of coffees from Starbucks that pack more calories than a cheeseburger.  With all the holiday eating going on, I definitely don't want to spend a lot my precious calories on a drink.  That's what cookies are for.  Also, the holidays can do a number on the old wallet.  So if you don't feel like shelling out $4.00 for a 400 calorie drink, check out this yummy, light, cheap, and easy to make skinny maple gingerbread latte.  Consider it my Christmas gift to you.

Strawberry Lemonade Smoothie

It's still raining!  I am sitting on my couch lamenting the loss of the beautiful, sunny weather we enjoyed last week.  During that magical time I made my favorite, go-to smoothie-strawberry lemonade smoothies.  I am hoping that if I post this recipe today, the sun will come out again someday! 

This smoothie is like sunshine in a glass.  I love it!  To understand my love for this drink, you need to understand my love for another drink--Sonic's Lemonberry Fruit Slush.  Out of the 398,929 drink possibilities at Sonic, the Lemonberry Fruit Slush is my automatic choice, every time.  It is sweet, slightly tart, has little pieces of strawberries, and has quenched my thirst on many a hot summer day.  I used to drive a tractor for my dad in the summers and I can attest that nothing is more refreshing than a good slush!  I didn't mean for it to happen, but I made this smoothie out of happy accident, and I think it tastes just like the Lemonberry Fruit Slush!

Make it Yourself Margaritas

This post is dedicated to my mom.  I am like my father in almost all ways possible.  But in my love for margaritas, I am like my mother.  Nothing brings us together quite like a glass (or two!) of sweet, tangy, salty goodness!  

Typically I just buy a margarita mix.  It is easy and always satisfies.  Last weekend for college football Saturday, my game day theme was Mexican.  I made homemade guacamole (coming soon!) and I thought some homemade margaritas would complement the chips and dip nicely.  I searched around for a good margarita recipe and settled on this one.  Jackpot!

Simple Cinnamon Spiced Cider

I know I said a while back ago that it was officially fall.  I was wrong then.  It was 28 degrees when I got up this morning.  Now it's fall.  And since it is fall, I need apple cider.  A nice hot cup of spiced apple cider is so comforting this time of year.  I bought a gallon of cider a week or two ago, and it has been patiently waiting in my refrigerator for cooler weather.  I will not complain about 80 degrees in October, but it doesn't exactly scream "apple cider time!"

My mom used to make spiced cider with Red Hots when I was a kid.  I didn't have the exact recipe, but I bought some red hots and set out to replicate it.  How hard could it be?  Turns out, not very!  I used 2 cups of apple cider and 1/4 cup Red Hots.  If that is too spiced for you, you can add more cider as needed.  I didn't have any on hand, but I think some cinnamon sticks would be great in this as well.

Simple Cinnamon Spiced Cider

Ingredients:

2 cups apple cider

1/4 cup Red Hots

Directions:

Heat apple cider in small saucepan over medium heat.  Add Red Hots.  Continue to heat until Red Hots are dissolved, stirring occasionally.  Serve warm.