Homemade Coffee Creamer: The Better Way to Flavor your Morning Staple

Do you like flavored creamer in your coffee? Coffee creamers, when purchased at a grocery store, are filled with preservatives, corn syrup, fake flavors, and partially hydrogenated oils. Try the following recipes to "health-ify" your sweet tooth by using wholesome and real creamers!

First, make your base:

• 14oz sweetened condensed milk

• 1 3/4 cup milk or cream (whole, low fat, skim, almond, soy, heavy cream, half & half, etc – whatever your preference, however the more fat, the more creaminess)
  Mix the ingredients together by adding them to a mason jar and shaking. You could also opt to use an old (washed) creamer container.

Next, choose your flavor:

• French Vanilla Creamer- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

• Vanilla Bean Coffee Creamer- 2 teaspoons vanilla bean paste

• Chocolate- 2-3 tablespoons chocolate syrup (1 tsp vanilla extract, optional)

• Chocolate Almond- 1 tablespoon cocoa powder, 1 teaspoon almond extract

• Strudel- 1 tablespoon cinnamon, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, 1 teaspoon almond extract

• Vanilla Caramel- 2 tablespoons caramel ice cream topping, 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

• Chocolate Raspberry- 2 teaspoons cocoa powder, 2 tablespoons raspberry syrup

• Irish Cream- 2 tablespoons chocolate syrup, 1 teaspoon instant coffee, 1-2 teaspoons vanilla extract, 1 teaspoon almond extract

• Coconut- 2 teaspoons coconut extract

• Samoa (like the Girl Scout Cookies)- 2 teaspoons coconut extract (or sub coconut milk in place of the milk & extract), 2 tablespoons chocolate syrup, 2 tablespoons caramel ice cream topping

• Peppermint Patty- 2 tablespoons chocolate syrup, 1 teaspoon peppermint extract

• Cinnamon Vanilla- 2 teaspoons cinnamon, 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

• Pumpkin Spice- 3 tablespoons pureed pumpkin, 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice, 4 tablespoons maple syrup, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

• Honey Vanilla- 1/4 cup honey, 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

• Almond Joy- 1-2 teaspoons coconut extract (or sub coconut milk in place of the milk & extract), 1 teaspoon almond extract, 2 tablespoons chocolate syrup

• Sweet Cream- Use 1 3/4 cups of heavy cream instead of the milk in the base recipe, 2 teaspoons vanilla extract, 1 teaspoon almond extract

• Chocolate Orange- 2 tablespoons chocolate syrup, 1-2 teaspoons orange extract

• Hazelnut- 2 teaspoons hazelnut extract

• Chocolate Hazelnut- 2 tablespoons chocolate syrup, 2 teaspoons hazelnut extract

• Cinnamon Cake- 2 teaspoons cinnamon, 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

• Salted Caramel- 2-3 tablespoons caramel ice cream topping, 1/2 teaspoon salt

• Eggnog- replace milk in base recipe with equal amount of heavy cream, 1 teaspoons vanilla extract, 2 teaspoons rum extract, 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg

• Toasted Almond- 2 teaspoons almond extract

Directions & Tips: In all these recipes, anything that has a dry or thick ingredient (like cinnamon, honey, etc..), needs to be heated up with a small amount of your milk/cream from the base recipe so it can dissolve properly.  You don’t want grainy creamer!  Then, add the rest of the milk/cream along with the sweetened condensed milk.

Then, stick a piece of tape on the mason jar lid with the expiration date from the milk used to use as a guideline as to when the creamer should be used by.

These recipes were found on Mrs. Happy Homemaker!

Family Meals on Fox 13's "The Place"- Executive Director Gary Edwards & Granddaughter!

Have you seen the fourth cooking segment on FOX 13's "The Place" yet? If not, you are missing out on some great information as well as a Healthy Italian Chicken Skillet recipe!

Check it out by clicking here!

Then, come back Wednesday, September 30th at 1 PM on FOX 13's "The Place" to see our last cooking segment!

Family Meals on FOX 13's "The Place"- The Blended Family

Have you seen the third cooking segment on FOX 13's "The Place" yet? If not, you are missing out on some great information as well as a Healthy Baked Tilapia and Mango Avocado Salsa recipe!

Check it out by clicking here!

Then, come back Wednesday, September 23rd at 1 PM on FOX 13's "The Place" to see our next cooking segment!

Skip the Lettuce with these Salads

Yahoo News recently posted from Food Network a few Summer salads that do not use lettuce as the main ingredient. Make sure to try these salads throughout these last days of summer:

Guacamole Salad:

Charred Corn Panzanella:

Grilled Veggie Salad with Feta and Mint:

A New Fruit Salad:

Carrot, Date and Feta Salad:

Greek Zoodle Salad:

Find the full post from Yahoo News here. Enjoy!

Easy, Nutritious & Delicous Breakfast

Recipe found on the Blog: "Love of Family and Home"

Fresh and Easy Quinoa Salad

Looking for a simple, yet entirely healthy and delicious salad? Try this yummy quinoa dish. With a fresh and citrusy taste you can eat it straight, add it to a green salad, or use it as a dip for crackers. 

You are definitely going to want to try this one!

Ingredients
1 cup quinoa
2 cups water
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
2 limes, juiced
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
1 teaspoon salt 
Additional salt and/or pepper to taste

Choose your add-ins:
1 cup corn
5 green onions, finely chopped
1 1/2 cups halved cherry tomatoes
1/2 chopped red, orange, or green peppers
1 cup chopped kale or spinach
1 (15 ounce) can kidney beans, drained and rinsed
1 (15 ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 (15 ounce) can garbanzo beans, drained and rinsed

The options are endless! Throw in whatever you like. 

Directions
1. Bring quinoa and water to a boil in a saucepan. Reduce heat to low-medium and cover. Let simmer for about 10-15 minutes, or until water has been absorbed and quinoa is tender. Set aside to let cool completely. 

2. Whisk together olive oil, lime juice, cumin, 1 teaspoon salt, and red pepper flakes. 

3. Combine quinoa and add-ins of choice (pictured- black beans, corn, green onions). 

4. Pour dressing over quiona mixture, toss to mix. Stir in cilantro and season with additional salt and pepper if needed. 

Chill or serve immediately. Tastes especially great when mixed together and stored in the refrigerate over night to allow flavors to combine!


Curious about the power packed grain quinoa? Check out this description straight from Forbes.

7 Benefits of Quinoa:

The Supergrain Of The Future

Quinoa dates back three to four thousand years ago when the Incas first realized that the seed was fit for human consumption. According to WHFoods quinoa “was the gold of the Incas” because they believed it increased the stamina of their warriors. The Quinoa Corporation calls quinoa the “Supergrain of the Future.”

Here are seven health benefits of quinoa:

1. Quinoa is one of the most protein-rich foods we can eat. It is a complete protein containing all nine essential amino acids.

2. Quinoa contains almost twice as much fiber as most other grains. Fiber is most widely known to relieve constipation. It also helps to prevent heart disease by reducing high blood pressure and diabetes. Fiber lowers cholesterol and glucose levels, may lower your risk of developing hemorrhoids, and may help you to lose weight (it takes a longer time to chew than does other foods because it makes you feel fuller for longer and is less “energy dense,” which means it has fewer calories for the same volume of food).

3. Quinoa contains Iron. Iron helps keep our red blood cells healthy and is the basis of hemoglobin formation. Iron carries oxygen from one cell to another and supplies oxygen to our muscles to aid in their contraction. Iron also increases brain function because the brain takes in about 20% of our blood oxygen. There are many benefits of iron; it aids in neurotransmitter synthesis, regulation of body temperature, enzyme activity and energy metabolism.

4. Quinoa contains lysine. Lysine is mainly essential for tissue growth and repair. 

5. Quinoa is rich in magnesium. Magnesium helps to relax blood vessels and thereby to alleviate migraines. Magnesium also may reduce Type 2 diabetes by promoting healthy blood sugar control. Other health benefits of magnesium include transmission of nerve impulses, body temperature regulation, detoxification, energy production, and the formation of healthy bones and teeth.

6. Quinoa is high in Riboflavin (B2). B2 improves energy metabolism within brain and muscle cells and is known to help create proper energy production in cells.

7. Quinoa has a high content of manganese. Manganese is an antioxidant, which helps to prevent damage of mitochondria during energy production as well as to protect red blood cells and other cells from injury by free radicals.

Smoky Mustard-Maple Salmon

One way to increase your Fruit and Vegetable intake is by turning your usual side dishes into one main section of your meal. For example, add these green beans and red potatoes to this easy — or more delicious — ultra-fast salmon. The sweetness of the maple balances the tangy mustard; smoked paprika or ground chipotle adds another layer of flavor. When you buy your salmon, ask at the fish counter to have the salmon cut into four 4-ounce fillets with the skin removed.
This recipe was found on www.choosemyplate.gov!

 For more information on this recipe, please click here or copy and paste the following link into your browser: 

http://www.choosemyplate.gov/healthy-eating-tips/sample-menus-recipes/SmokyMustard-MapleSalmon.pdf