Homemade Coffee Creamer

Hello, hello!  

Welcome back!  Been awhile since I have seen you.  I have some reasons, but all in all, I am good and hope to find you doing well too!  Who has done the official switch from hot to iced coffee?  I do both all year, but I have got to tell you, this recipe may have changed my life completely.  An iced cinnabon coffee...YES!  Equally good in a hot coffee this just hits different with an iced one!

Let's get to what you need.  I tested this with milk AND with creamer, but the half and half gave it the right amount of richness I wanted without being to rich.  This is NOT a sugar free recipe, I repeat, NOT sugar free but it is free of the insane amount of chemicals in your store-bought varieties.  I am working hard to eliminate chemicals when I can.  Eww, just look at those labels!

• 2 cups half and half
• 1 14 oz can sweetened condensed milk
• 2 Tbsp vanilla extract
• 2 Tbsp cinnamon (optional)          

Pistachio Fluff/Watergate Salad

 Hello!  It is AH-MAZING to be back with you all!  I took a much-needed, unexpected break, but I am refreshed and am excited to share this recipe with you.

This is kind of a retro recipe, and probably thousands have shared it but here we are.  I have seen this salad so many time, but....  I have sisters who are OBSESSED with all things cottage cheese (which I LOATHE) and I can't trust a stinking salad they make because it always has cottage cheese in it!  The short story is, if they ever offered it, I was too scared it involved cottage cheese and never partook, so to speak.

Fast forward to 2 weeks ago, my beloved Uncle Tom passed away.  Love you Uncle Tommy!  We were at his funeral dinner and I saw said salad.  I decided to try it.  I asked one of my least trusted cottage cheese sisters if it was in there and she said, "NO, it is pistachio fluff", because that was supposed to increase my trust in her.  We sat down, I took a deep breath and tried it.  MIND BLOWN.  How simple of a recipe could be so good is beyond me!  I came home, told my husband and he asked me to make it.

Sister number 1 told me how to make it and here we go!

• 1, 3.4 oz box of INSTANT pistachio pudding.  Don't try to make the cook and serve work. It won't!
• 1, 20 oz can of crushed pineapple WITH the juice, don't you dare drain it!
• 1 oz container of whipped topping (you can always make your own, I stayed true to the retro version)
• 2-3 cups of marshmallow but my inner child used the whole bag.  WHAT? She is naughty!
• 1/2 cup pistachios, walnuts or pecans (optional)

Now it is this easy.  Combine the pudding mix and pineapple WITH juice until completely combined and nice and green!  Fold in the entire container of whipped topping.  Now the marshmallow thing, was all just a happy mistake.  Let your inner child measure the marshmallows.  Sprinkle in your nuts if you are choosing to use them and make sure the entire thing is well combined.  Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hours.  

Now I won't tell you if I am or am not eating some for dinner right now as I type this but I can just vouch the longer it sits the better it is.  

I have seen this served as a side dish, a dessert, I mean what matters is that you actually eat it! Am I right?

I hope you enjoy, don't forget to watch the video on my YT channel, and hit FOLLOW on this page!  So glad to see your beautiful faces!

ENJOY!

Water Ice/Italian Ice

 Hello friends!  Let's get a few things out of the way before I share this SUPER easy recipe with you that is most commonly enjoyed from a BOWL.  In fact, it is so SUPER easy won't even need any ingredients that you don't already have on hand, I am almost positive.  So, the fact that all you need to do is decide on the flavor and size of the BOWL is incredible and delicious!

Now that you get the reason, I had to make some Philly food, let me introduce to you "Water Ice" or "Italian Ice" if you have never had it.  It is basically a simple syrup flavored with lemon and a main flavor, that when frozen and stirred during that process becomes almost like ice cream.  Here is what it is NOT....

• Slush
• Slurpy
• Snow Cone
• Ice Cream
• Shaved Ice (which is a close second for summer treats for us)

I wanted to share a cheesesteak, a real one, but the lines are so broken where the poor thing is concerned, I don't have the qualifications to even fix that one.  Just know it is a "cheesesteak" not a Philly, not a Philly steak, not any of those.  Cheesesteak, say it with me. (I am laughing, because someone inevitably is going to think I am a pretentious snot, when really, I am just well, laughing)

Lets get to this and you will have plenty of time to make a batch, I suggest a double batch honestly, same amount of time, and if you are into experimenting, try "a couple or 3" (my dad always used to say that) different flavors!  Vanilla is our favorite so that is what I am sharing with you today!

You can find this recipe on my YouTube channel as well, right HERE...

Don't forget to SUBSCRIBE and give my videos a THUMBS UP if you enjoy them!  Heck leave me a comment and let me know who YOU are cheering for in the Superbowl this year!

2 cups water (I use hot tap water

3/4 sugar

1 tsp lemon juice (don't leave this out!)

1 tsp vanilla or whatever other flavor you enjoy.

In a post, add in water and sugar, allow to come to a simmer and simmer for 3-4 minutes, until ALL sugar is dissolved completely.  DO NOT add flavorings yet! ACCKK!  Remove from heat and place in a glass or plastic container.  NOW add flavorings and stir.  Let sit for 1 hr. at room temp, then place into a container with a lid and put in the fridge for 1 hr.  Just get it a little cooler your room temp.  If you love heat, put it in the fridge and if you love icicles on your nose, just leave it on your counter.  The point is, now get it in the freezer.  I stir mine every 3 hours or so for a few hours if I can and then I let it go overnight.  Chef's Kiss.  It is a cold sweet treat that will become a fast MUST HAVE at all times.  I mean if it isn't, I don't even know why you are here, because you can't possibly be a real Eagles fan.  Am I right? teehee

Enjoy the heck outta this one.  And for the record, the world won't end if the Eagles don't win, but I sure want them to really bad, but the Kelsie brother thing is so heartwarming, and game food is so delicious and singing the fight song....it is all so, so good!

FLY EAGLES FLY FIGHT SONG