February 26th: strawberry milkshake

Let's review all my reasons for a lack of posting this month:


(a) I have been busy cooking food for the freezer, for consumption post-baby. I have several draft posts related to these items, but will not publish until the food has actually been tasted and vouched for.
(b) I have been repeating recipes, as per usu.
(c) MY STOVE AND OVEN WERE OUT OF COMMISSION for 5 days. Such catastrophe set me back on the freezer food front and the blogging front.


Order has since been restored to my kitchen.


I am trying to gain weight, likely in vain, for baby's sake. As such, Olivia and I have been enjoying a weekly strawberry milkshake. Weekly, rather than daily, because I can only afford so much Haagen-Dazs. Why not cheaper ice cream, you ask? Read the ingredients on any other tub of ice cream and there is your answer.


I make milkshakes out of my head, but here's a recipe* for a delicious strawberry milkshake:


1 tub Haagen-Dazs vanilla ice cream
1/2 cup yogurt (vanilla, sweetened plain, strawberry)
1/2 cup milk


1 cup strawberries, fresh or frozen


If you have time, put your glasses in the freezer first to frost them up. Blend first three ingredients in blender and pour 1/3-1/2 mixture into glasses. Add strawberries to remaining ice cream mixture and blend again. Pour over top of vanilla mixture in glasses for a pretty layered look. Add a straw and drink up!


Makes 2 large or 3 small servings.


*Inspired by Chatelaine.

December 16th: Fiesta Chicken Soup and Mocha Milkshakes

Feeding the in laws tonight, so a perfect time to make a big pot of soup. No leftovers, just the way I like it! This one was from the 2009 Milk Calendar: Fiesta Chicken Soup. I made this one last year and we liked it enough to try it again. Not quite good enough to be a keeper, but pretty good. I took the suggestion of adding a can of chilies as well as some hot red pepper flakes to the pot. Topped with Monteray Jack cheese, tomatoes and cilantro, pretty good!


To accompany the soup, which I expected to be spicy (it was, mildly), I made the best milkshake recipe I have ever tried ever: Rachael Ray's Mochaccino Shakes. I came across this one years ago and I would drink it every week if I could! We have it about once a year as a treat. I use Haagen-Dazs ice cream (2 pints = 1 L), and for the coffee, I just use instant coffee mixed with cold water. I don't do the whipped cream or chocolate shavings unless I'm super organized, which I am usually not on Thursday night! I only had enough ice cream to make 2 servings, but had to spread it out for 5 people, so I may just have to treat us to this one again sometime before a year is up.