Fat Friday: Caramel Apple Cider

I wish this were my photo, but it is not. It belongs to Life Together. That being said:

This drink will warm your insides, make your house smell delicious and save you lots of money! Story behind: My cousin, TC, passed away 3 1/2 years ago in an accident at age 26. My siblings and I grew up with them and they were nice enough to hang out with their icky girl cousins! He worked at a spa and discovered that Starbucks had this delicious drink and shared this important news with my mom and aunt who shared it with us. On his birthday, we make an effort to get a real one at Starbucks. So, when my sister in law told me about this caramel apple cider,I had to try it! And it is very true to the $4 Starbucks version!

We have a cocomotion, which could possibly be one of the coolest hot chocolate makers ever! I got ours at Walmart a few years ago for $20 for my husband for Christmas. He is a hot chocolate junkie so we have used it plenty of times!

Warm up apple cider or make your own. I am too lazy currently to make my own. I did put a little extra cinnamon and nutmeg in the cider though. Then put caramel on top and whipped cream. That's it! You win. Everyone loves it. Enjoy!

Muffin Monday: Breakfast Puffs

People, these muffins rock!! They are life changing and breakfast/lunch/dinner/anytime changing. My family loves them. I love them! I double dipped these because I am crazy like that (and I ate healthy that day, so I deserve it, right!?)

Plus, they are crusty, soft, just the right amount of spice and the perfect amount of butteryness. Make these now!!

I got the recipe from this cute blog that also has some other fun recipes.

1/2 cup sugar
1/3 cup shortening
1 egg
1 1/2 cup flour
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
1/2 cup milk

Coating
1/2 cup sugar
6 TB. melted butter
1 tsp. cinnamon

Cream sugar, shortening and egg. Sift dry ingredients together and add alternately with milk and creamed mixture; beating well after each addition.

Fill prepared muffin tins 2/3 full. Bake on 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes.

Remove from muffin tin and. Roll entire muffin in melted butter and cinnamon/sugar mix until all sides are coated. Serve warm.

To go along with our muffins, I make smoothies too. My family loves them and they are a great sneaky way to get lots of healthy stuff together! Perfect for the boiling summer days!

I kinda mix things up every time I make them, but this one is a strawberry smoothie.

I have a bunch of frozen strawberries in ziplocs.

I use about 2 cups frozen strawberries

2 frozen overripe bananas (they have the smoothest texture!)

about 1/3 cup yogurt, any flavor will do

1/3 cup apple juice or any kind

2 teaspoons of sugar

I eyeball a lot of this and depending on texture and thickness, add juice or yogurt. I use my food processor to mix all this together, but you can use a blender too. If my food processor ever dies, my life might end!

Any leftover smoothies, I have turned into popsicles for the kids. They are yummy!! Enjoy!