Homemade Strawberries & Cream Coffee Creamer

I LOVE COFFEE AND STRAWBERRIES like Bubba from "Forrest Gump" loved his shrimp. (AND If you've never seen "Forrest Gump," you are truly missing out in life aka it's a CINEMATIC CLASSIC, MASTERPIECE kinda MOVIE!!!) I truly could rave for days about recipes and reasons for why I adore these two lovely gems: Strawberries & Coffee!! They make the world a better place in my book for 1001 different reasons! Coffee warms my cold, bitter soul (hehehe) even on the chilliest of morns, puts a lil' pep in my step, and is downright delicious among thee 998 other reasons to love it. However, before I ever had the pleasure of knowing the glory of coffee's deliciousness, I knew the splendor of strawberries. As a child, I was literally obsessed with this fantastic little red berry in nearly every way!!!

Strawberry Shortcake the character and the food were what my dreams were made of (still kind of are). Strawberry soda pop, strawberry ice cream, strawberry cheesecake, strawberry milk, strawberry yogurt and really any strawberry flavored sweets were my bag. I'd have fought you like a rabid raccoon over anything strawberry even scented markers and scratch n' sniff stickers, but that's neither here nor there (lol). For every Birthday I celebrated until about age 18, the go-to- dessert included strawberries in someway! Nearly all of my fondest childhood memories included strawberries somehow! Whether it was hiding strawberry pop tarts from my greedy, always hungry, growing brothers or the joy I felt when my mom brought home the fixings for strawberry shortcakes (those days I was on top of my own tiny, carefree world LOL) I lived for strawberries and probably would have died for them way back in my youngster days (not even kidding) LOL. So yeah...I hold strawberries BERRY near to my heart just like Bubba loved his shrimp. Today, I decided to combine two of my all time favorite flavors into one harmonious, EPIC masterpiece! Strawberries N' Cream Coffee Creamer <3 Even if your not obsessed with coffee or strawberries, this is a winner. MY FAVORITE HOMEMADE CREAMER THUS FAR!!!

~What you need~
* 1-14 oz can Sweetened Condensed Milk
* 2 cups Whole Milk (or Whatever your dairy preference, but I can't assure you skim or less fatty milk is gonna be as amazing in this)
* 3 Tablespoons of Strawberry Syrup
* 2 teaspoons of Vanilla Extract
*Clean Quart Sized Mason Jar or Similar Container, measuring and mixing utensils

Combine all ingredients and shake/mix well, the mason jar is easiest for shaking it up, but you could put it in almost any quart sized container with a lid and stir it with a spoon if you prefer! I find the mason jar easiest for storing, mixing and pouring the creamer plus it's rustic and way cute :) Makes me feel like a thrifty little pioneer of sorts lol! ANYHOW :) This creamer has a nice mellow strawberries and creme' flavor sure to put a smile on your face and start your morning off right (even if your not Bubba obsessed with Strawberries and Cream or Coffee). Cheers, and I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!!! P.s. the fresher the ingredients i.e. thee MILK, the longer the lifespan of this creamer if refrigerated and stored properly, but if you like it as much as I do....you shouldn't need to worry about all that!! However, you might worry about how you'll ever enjoy another cup of coffee without it (JUST SAYING, It's kinda EPIC folks).

~Furthermore, the totally adorable Strawberry Shortcake Pics and the other high quality opening pic was not taken by moi, (I wish, they are lovely) My camera is obviously ol' school and drawing is not really a strong suite of mine.So if by some CRAZY odds these happen to be yours please don't sue me, they were labeled free images so sue Google... I'm thrifty for a reason LOL  :D <a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/13076521/?claim=g2gejfj8b2q">Follow my blog with Bloglovin</a>
    

Homemade Chocolate Covered Almond Coffee Creamer

Very few things are more dear to my heart than a quality cup of coffee. NOT EVEN EXAGGERATING, for reals though lol! I love coffee and it is one of the first things on my little mind when I wake EVERY single morn. I have probably only gone without coffee in the morning a handful of times in the past 5 years and it wasn't by choice either lol! We can just say I'm hooked (BADLY), I take my Cup o' Joe very seriously, and you probably don't want to come within 10 feet of me if I don't have it or my creamer and sugar. Just stating the facts here (hehehe), no, but really. When I'm out of coffee, creamer, or sugar, LOOKOUT WORLD; I'm one highly unhappy camper. My Fiance' can verify that statement wholeheartedly. OH YEAH.... he knows when any three of those things get low we best get to the store stat lol!!!

Some folks have a nice balanced breakfast every morning, which I admire greatly! Bravo to you glorious morning folks that roll out of bed with such zest and vigor to face each new day and make miraculous breakfasts every single morning!! I make coffee. Generally, consuming about 4 cups before I even think about lunch and dinner lol. I know breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but I prefer my waffles after noon :) Coffee is my breakfast. Like I said I take my Cup o' Joe seriously and with lots of cream and sugar. In recent years, I have scaled back on the sugar, not because I don't love it, but because I'm not getting any younger and its no secret that sugar isn't the healthiest thing out there. But I'm not messing around with Splenda or any of that other healthy alternative sweetener shtuff. I give all of you who do make breakfast and use sugar substitutes my utmost admiration, but it's not for moi. Can't even do it. I have limits and I don't like to push them (usually).

However, since I am trying to live a TAD bit healthier in my elder years (pushing 30, yikes huh), I've been TRYING to stay away from prepackaged and over processed foods, as much as I can anyways. It makes me a bit sad that I don't know half of what the ingredients are in these delicious, easy prepackaged junk foods or even how to pronounce some of those ingredients!?!? One of those mystery ingredients could be the soles of old boots or deer dung for all I know (YIKES), and it makes me pretty uneasy really. I'm not one for surprises like that or mystery ingredients that could very well be causing mystery illnesses. Unfortunately, my beloved coffee creamer is no exception. It is packed full of garbage ingredients, half of which I can't pronounce nor do I know what they truly are. It's not just cream that's for sure!!! So....I decided to kick the overpriced, mystery ingredient, store bought creamer to the curb. To my pleasant surprise, it's easy to make your own coffee creamer and the flavor combos are truly limitless!!! ADDED BONUSES: It's also cheaper than what I pay for the store bought at my overpriced local grocery store and I KNOW WHAT'S INSIDE (and that's what really counts right lol)!!!

The first recipe I tried was from a marvelous Pinterest search which flooded me with everything from basic French Vanilla to flavors like Samoa Girl Scout Cookies or the seasonal flavs like Pumpkin Spice. I will say if you decide to add cinnamon to your homemade creamer... heat it up a bit otherwise you'll get lumpy cinnamon clumps instead of a creamy cinnamon CREAMurrr! Not so awesome, it was still good, but not what I had envisioned it would be lol! I intend to play around and make a wide array of kooky flavor concoctions because really the flavor possibilities are limitless! Today, I decided to make a Chocolate Almond Flavored Creamer. It just seemed like the right thing to do, I ran out of my last batch, and I had all 4 INGREDIENTS handy, so it seemed like fate wanted it that way :)






~Chocolate Covered Almond Creamer~
The base creamer recipe I've been using includes:
Approximately 1&2/3 cup ~ 2 cups Whole or 2% Milk (you could probably use skim or whatever milk you generally drink, but I'm not a skim milk gal and I can't say how that would turn out)
And 1 14oz can Sweetened Condensed Milk
From there the flavor possibilities are truly limitless (well mostly anyways) For basic french vanilla, add 2 teaspoons Vanilla Extract. WHALA you have French Vanilla Creamer. I will say it is always better to add more later if you want a more intense vanilla or whatever kind of flavor rather than to add too much at the start and regret it come taste time. A little goes along way sometimes with spices and too much of a good thing can turn REALLY BAD quickly and taste super unpleasant!





To pump up the base creamer recipe:  I added 3 TBSP of Chocolate Syrup and 2 tsp of Almond Extract. I put all 4 ingredients in a clean, quart sized mason jar with a lid and gave it a good shake. You'll want to shake it before each use as well because the ingredients tend to separate, especially the sweetened condensed milk. It's heavy, sticky, and likes to chill or settle on the bottom of the jar, so a good shaking is highly recommended. Keep refrigerated just as you would a store bought creamer. I've never had to worry about the longevity or lifespan of creamer with the amount of coffee I consume, but it should last a week or two refrigerated just as the store bought does if the ingredients used are fresh. Don't use milk that is on the verge of badness/expiration and expect the creamer to remain pleasant for too long :)

(If you look closely, you can see the sweetened condensed milk chillin' on the very bottom like it likes to do :) So give it a super shake to fully blend all the ingredients)!

Hope you enjoy your next cup of coffee, especially.... knowing how to pronounce ALL the ingredients in your very own homemade creamers. Cheers!

     

 P.S. Here's a link to a site I found on Pinterest that offers numerous easy flavored creamer concoctions.... give it a glance if your not into chocolate almond or are just looking to switch it up and not much into the winging it game. The base creamer recipe is similar, it's just up to you how you want to elevate it into creamy flavored greatness!  http://www.mrshappyhomemaker.com/2013/03/homemade-coffee-creamer-over-20-flavor-varieties/?_szp=484488

Growing and Preserving Green Onions

Who doesn't LOVE a fully loaded baked potato, fully loaded fries, fully loaded nachos or FULLY loaded pretty much anything??! If you said moi... just find the cyber door now because I'm not sure we can ever FULLY connect or be pals lol! Just teasing, but kinda serious though :) To moi, life is better fully loaded!! Think about it....Do you want a baked potato or a FULLY LOADED potato with all the fixins' ?? I know where my heart and stomach belong, not that a plain ol baked potato isn't lovely on it's own, simply classic, but I'll take mine with sour cream, butter, bacon and green onions 99% of the time given that option! Sooo on to the point of this post already

 GREEN ONIONS. Glorious, good, homegrown and crispy lil green onions that add a bit of WOW factor freshness to almost any savory food. Some folks like to garnish with parsley, but for me the dish becomes a fully loaded masterpiece with a sprinkle of green onions on top. Just keeping it real here folks, not that parsley or any other lovely greenish garnishing element is really bad in my book. They all hold a wonderful little spot in my ticker, but my one true love... my go to guy is definitely the green onion. He's fully loaded with flavor, easy to grow, handsome on a plate, versatile, adds a nice pop of freshness, and can even be preserved in a freezer! That's right the green onion is fully loaded with awesomeness!

So in previous posts, I mentioned I am a reformed plant murder, black thumb turned dedicated garden- loving, green thumb. Meaning, (translation please lol :) I use to kill the hardiest of plants, but I have really started to do okay at this gardening stuff in more recent years and I LOVES IT BERRY MUCH!!! I also enjoy experimenting, trying new things, saving moola $, and being crafty or anti-conventional!I'm all about ol school with a dash of modern or how can I make a classic feel new type of shtuff?Awhile back, I discovered how easy it was to grow green onions and it didn't cost an extra dime! (Thanks Pinterest) Well...to be exact it cost about ten dimes or 99cents to buy three bundles of green onions from the local produce section at the grocery store, but I was buying them anyways, consuming the green ends, and just throwing the roots or white parts in the trash. Really, there was no losing to be had in the experiment other than not trying it. Safe investment huh, I know right!? 

When, I discovered that these could actually be salvaged and used to grow fresh green onions right in my very own kitchen, I thought well, that'd be freaking AWESOME! One of the best days of my goofy little life looking back now lol! It changed my world really. The green onion actually brought out the green thumb in me and turned me into a plant lover instead of a loather. LIKE I CAN TOTALLY GROW AND KEEP SOMETHING ALIVE (other than myself and my pets) epic life moment, bells rang type of stuff, the impossible became possible and my little life was forever transformed. My love of gardening, plants, and nature truly blossomed with those little green onions growing in my kitchen <3 I promise, it doesn't get any easier than growing your own green onions from the root bulbs you'd probably just throw away anyhow! AND even if it doesn't work out the first time it's not a loss or costly gardening investment! Win/Win. 

 Simply cut off the green part of the green onion until you hit the thick, mostly white root stalk and bulb and place it in a tall glass with enough water to just BARELY cover the roots/bulbs. Too much water will cause them to rot which is way icky and smells like onion vomit :( so less is def more in this case!!! 1/4 cup water would prob be just about right, if it looks dry add more water later, but you don't want the bulbs floating! You just want the roots covered!! Then place the cup in a fairly sunny location, I keep mine right next to my kitchen sink window sill usually, and pretty much let nature do her thang lol. Its that easy, no need for dirt even, but if you feel more comfortable using dirt.... do so. Just poke your finger in the soil deep enough to fit the bulb you are trying to cover (about half an index finger deep, like them fancy measurements lol), you want the tops or slender stalks still visible above the soil. Then just give them a nice drink of water. BAM, you'll be growing green onions in no time! Be sure to give them a drink of water when the soil is dry and make sure the get some steady sun. That's really it, it's that easy! I was planting mine in dirt for months until I neglected them for a few days, and WHALA they were growing just fine in the cup I used to revive/soak the roots!!! So, I just let them go and let them grow right there in the cup :) I have a small petting zoo or so it seems lol, which means the less plants the cats can knock over with dirt in them the better for my sanity/house cleanliness. Urgh cats lol. N.E. WAYS.... However, I'm the main consumer of the green onions or really anything green in my house, so before I knew it, I actually had MORE GREEN ONIONS THAN I KNEW WHAT TO DO WITH!

It was a little awesome, well just knowing that they were growing (since I could barely keep cacti alive back in my day lol) and to boot growing like wildfires, but I'm also not one for waste. Truly, it makes me sad, especially with all those in the world hungry or those who need things they just don't have! Besides not being good for my heart...it's bad for the wallet! Waste truly is like throwing cash in the trash and being a penny pinching/thrifty gal, I'm most def not down with all that trash and wastefulness :) GOOD NEWS IS.....YOU CAN FREEZE GREEN ONIONS! <3 That is correct, they can simply and easily be frozen to prevent all that unnecessary waste and needless cash in the trash! Here's how:

 If you notice your green onions starting to fade or looking on the verge of badness and you really can't consume them or they don't go with your meal plans, IT'S ALL GOOD, just freeze them lil beauts! Simply clean and dice them as you normally would, like you were going to consume them right now. Then place them on a clean paper towel and allow them to air dry for about an hr or two. I put mine under my oven exhaust fan on a paper towel covered baking sheet on low, just to speed the process along, but patience isn't my strongest suite lol! Make sure the diced green onions have room i.e not piled on top of each other, give them some space, and insure they are in a nice single layer, this will speed up the drying process.

Once they are completely dry, than take that same baking sheet you dry them on and spray with a little Non-Stick Cooking Spray, (get rid of the paper towel) and place them in the freezer to flash freeze, uncovered for about 2hrs or until they are all firm to the touch ie not still springy and fully frozen. Remove them from the baking sheet and place them in a clean sandwich bag or storage container of choice and put them back in the freezer. It is that wonderfully easy folks! SHAZAM, no more wasted green onions AND you can have those glorious green beauties growing fresh in your very own kitchen in no time, no matter how limited the space! If I can do it..so can you (trust me, I was bad lol) Fully loaded and frugal folks :) The frozen green onions might not have the same crispness of the fresh green onion (can't win um' all right lol) but they can still make a wonderful garnish or pop of flavor to a soup or tater and won't be going to waste! Now, go get your GREEN ON (and feel free to send me a loaded baked potato if your feeling extra generous hehehe)!