Pioneer Woman's Chocolate Milk

I love the Pioneer Woman's Website. Great recipes. Most I can't even begin to cook and stay on program as they are really fattening, but this one is a good alternative to regular chocolate milk. This one has no added sugar and when mixed with skim or 1% milk is a tasty treat to help curb that chocolate craving and get in some of that all important dairy.

INGREDIENTS
1 cup heavy (whipping) cream
4 ounces semi-sweet or dark chocolate pieces
1/2 tsp. vanilla

DIRECTIONS
Heat cream over medium-high heat until slightly boiling. Add chocolate pieces and turn off heat. Whisk slowly until chocolate is melted and mixture is very smooth. Stir in vanilla. (Another tasty add-in would be 1/2 tsp. to 1 tsp. of ground cinnamon). Pour into a container and keep in the fridge up to two weeks. Mix with cold or warm milk, depending on how frightful the weather outside is.

Note: Mixture, after refrigerated, will be quite thick. Just stir well in cold milk and you’ll be fine.

Lemon Blueberry Smoothies

I love smoothies. I often have one in the afternoon to keep those late afternoon cravings at bay. Also helps get in those fruit and dairy servings that I sometimes struggle with. Here is a favorite one, but you can definitely change it up to suit your own tastes.

INGREDIENTS
1 (8 ounce) container blueberry sugarfree, nonfat yogurt
1/4 cup skim milk (may need to add more to make it blendable)
1 cup frozen blueberries
1 cup frozen strawberries
1/4 - 1/2 teaspoon sugar-free powdered lemonade mix (I also like Crystal Light Raspberry Lemonade)
1 packet of Splenda

Place yogurt, milk, blueberries, strawberries, and lemonade mix in a blender. Pulse until smooth and creamy.

Can't get much more simple than that. I make smoothies with just about any flavored yogurt and frozen fruit.

Another one of my favorites is peach yogurt with frozen mangoes and peaches! Get creative!!

Yummy Summer Drink

One drink has less calories and carbs then a glass of red wine. This drink is only 69 calories and 0 carbs. Not too bad! And it will carry you to the "beach" in 3 seconds flat. For me a little treat now and then makes the program much easier to stick with.

INGREDIENTS
1 1/2 ounces of Mango Flavored Rum
Fresca

That's it!

In a high-ball glass filled with ice, pour in shot of the mango-flavored rum. Top with Fresca. Stir and I swear you can feel the warm breezes flowing and smell the salt air. Turn on some Jimmy Buffet and enjoy your evening!