Vanilla Bean Lemonade

Days are getting warmer and longer. You know what that means don't you?

Barbecues, picnics, and lemonade.

Lots and lots of lemonade.

I have two favorite lemonades.

First is Strawberry Lemonade. 

Next, well I am sure you can guess...

Yup.

Vanilla Bean Lemonade.

Oh gracious. Lemons and vanilla beans. I think they must be soul mates. I am so glad they found each other.

I first had Vanilla Bean Lemonade when we lived in Ohio. The Hubs had come across it at a Market in Cleveland. He bought a few bottles to bring home. After trying some, I had to force myself not to drink it all down.

The lemonade was perfectly sweet and tart. Then it finished with the best vanilla flavor. I know it will sound cheesy, but it was like drinking a summer breeze and a summer sunset all in one.

We haven't lived in Ohio for almost three years now (which is crazy people, CRAZY) and I haven't had Vanilla Bean Lemonade since then. I have been missing it. I mean, seriously almost three years without my favorite lemonade. Well that is just craziness.

So I figured I should probably whip up my own Vanilla Bean Lemonade.

Oh my favoritest lemonade I am so glad you are back in my life. I look forward to many long summer days, relaxing on the back patio with the warm breeze blowing across my bare feet drinking down glassfuls of this lemonade.

Happy Summer.

Vanilla Bean Lemonade

4 large lemons, juiced (about 4 cups)
2 quarts of water
2/3 cup sugar
1 vanilla bean, scrapped
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

First, scrap the vanilla bean to get all the seeds out. If you have never scraped a vanilla bean, here is a great video by the Martha Stewart on How to Scrape a Vanilla Bean.

Put the sugar into a small bowl and add in the vanilla beans seeds. Mix until the seeds are evenly combined in the sugar. This makes vanilla sugar.

Combine the vanilla sugar, lemon juice, water, and vanilla extract in a pitcher.  Stir until the sugar is dissolved.

Pour into glasses. Add ice. Drink it down.

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Frozen Hot Cocoa

I know it is like Arctic Tundra 2014 in most parts of the US, well that includes us over here. Even with all the snow and chilliness, I still really craved a Frozen Hot Cocoa.

I figured I could just put on more layers, light a fire, and turn up the heat. Then it wouldn't matter if it were below zero outside. I would still be toasty enough to treat myself to a frozen hot cocoa.

And what a treat it was.

Guys, so good. I mean like SOOO good. Like Serendipity's good. Okay, so I actually have never had a Frozen Hot Cocoa from Serendipity's. Even though I have been to NYC, I was only there for 4 hours and there wasn't time to fit that in. I probably should go back there someday and have one.

Until then...

...well I can't imagine it tastes any yummier than this Frozen Hot Cocoa I made in my very own kitchen, so I am good.

SOOOO good.

I was skeptical how much a frozen Hot Cocoa could taste like a Hot Cocoa. Guys, IT DOES.

This frozen concoction tastes just like hot cocoa. Richer, and thicker, milkshake-like hot cocoa.

We very happily all slurped and sucked every drop of this Frozen Hot Cocoa down.

So even though it is all frozen outside, at least in most places, it is worth turning the inside of your house into a tropical get away to justify making yourself this yummy Frozen Hot Cocoa.

Frozen Hot Cocoa

4-5 cups chocolate ice cream
2 cups milk
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup ground cinnamon

whipped cream
chocolate sauce

Combine all of the ingredients in a blender. Blend until all the ingredients are completely incorporated. Top with whipped cream and drizzle with chocolate syrup.

Drink up. Enjoy.

Thanks for reading lovelies!

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Thirty Handmade Days, Whipperberry, The Idea Room,
The 36th Avenue

Homemade Root Beer

The other day I got the hankerin' for some root beer. So, I just said hankerin'. I felt it was appropriate to use the word hankerin' since the hankerin' was for root beer.

That was like four hankerin's. That is a lot of pretending to be a cowgirl that just happened.

I just couldn't help myself. I blame the root beer.

This homemade root beer is so yummy. You may be questioning the need to make homemade root beer when it is so easy to pick up a 2 liter at the grocery store.

Well, first, how cool is it to say you made your own root beer. It is pretty cool. Now I know, because now I can say I have made my own root beer. I do feel pretty cool.

Second, it is insanely easy and tastes so very yummy.

My Little Men thought it was pretty awesome that we made our own root beer. They happily sucked every drop of it down. The Hubs was pretty sad he was at work when the root beer making occurred. I assured him that it was so easy we could whip him up some when he got home.

I feel a new obsession coming on. Homemade soda.

Give it a try. You just might find the whole process kind of amazing.

Homemade Root Beer

3/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup boiling water
1 teaspoon root beer extract (I use McCormick's brand)
4 1/2 cups of club soda (about 1 liter), chilled

Chill the club soda. Measure boiling water. Add the sugar into the water. Whisk until the sugar is dissolved. Add in the root beer extract. Mix. Refrigerate to cool it down, and keep it in the refrigerator until you are ready to serve.

Combine the chilled club soda with the root beer mixture. Stir to mix. 

Serve immediately.

I hope you and your family enjoy making Homemade Root Beer as much as we did.

Which we did, quite a lot. Especially this one.

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Project Handmade Christmas Gift {food}: Homade Wassail Mix

Growing up one of the things I loved most about Christmas was my mom's homemade wassail drink mix. I would scoop giant spoonfuls of wassail mix into steaming water.

Stir.
Stir.
Stir.

Then I would grasp my mug securely in my hands and I would happily slurp it on up. Yup. Slurp.

I pretty much had mug after mug all Christmas long. Every Christmas...well until I got married. Then for whatever reason the Homemade Wassail Mix went away.

Sniff.
Sniff.

A couple of times I would suddenly remember my fondness for wassail. One time I even remembered to call up my mom and ask for the recipe. My poor little world was turned upside down when she couldn't remember it and when she didn't know where her recipe was.

What is a girl to do? Well, she waits a few years, finds a recipe card hidden in her recipe box, and then shrieks like a 8 year old girl on Christmas morning opening a pony because...

...she is getting herself some wassail.

Yippee.

I tweaked the recipe. I heated the water. I added in my normal heaping spoonfuls.

Stir.
Stir.
Stir.

Cool it off just a bit.
  

Then I sip and slurp.

I love a warm cup of wassail.

Homemade Wassail Mix is great. It is super easy to make.

This mix is also the perfect neighbor/teacher/friend/coworker gift, which is why it is today's Project Handmade Christmas Gift post.

So you don't have to search and wonder, wonder and search (you know like I did), here is the recipe for my very favorite Homemade Wassail Mix. Mix some up for gifts. Mix some up for yourself.

Homemade Wassail Mix

1-20 oz container of Tang
1/3 cup Country Time Lemonade mix
1 3/4 cups sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground cloves
1/4 tsp ground ginger

Combine all ingredients. 

Make sure every ingredient is evenly mixed in.

Dispense all the mix into mason jars (or any other type of container...I just happen to be obsessed with mason jars).

Decorate. Label. Add instructions. Add a scoop.

To make some for yourself all you need to do is add 2 Tablespoon scoops to hot 8 oz water. I might make just a bit more than that. I like my wassail people.

I hope you enjoy. I hope your neighbor enjoys. I hope it is a Wassail-tastic Christmas for you all.

Merry Christmas!!

Happy gift giving!

Boredom Buster: Soda Surprise

We are STILL in a hotel. Funny how the best laid plans can drastically change on a person!

We had thought we would be in our new home several weeks now...instead our

temporary home has been a hotel. I miss cleaning my own home...CRAZY, right? I miss

my bed. I miss the rest of my wardrobe. I miss cooking my own meals. I miss decorating, sewing,

and all things creative. Oh well.

Here is a post I started before we moved. It has just been sitting in my edit box. Thought I

would throw it out today. I do have another moving post for you...but I keep losing motivation

to edit pictures and download them...SO lazy. So today you get this little post.

Nothing fancy...but we did have fun with this project so I am sharing it today.

THANK YOU everyone for your kind words and thoughts!!!

Okay on with the post....



My kids get bored. Say what? Yours do too! Say it isn't so.

My kids bet bored EVEN when I there is outdoors, swimming, running, reading, friends, eating...they still just get bored.

I think hearing "mom, I am bored" over and over again is my payback for spending glorious sunny and perfect summer days as a kid saying the same whine repeatedly.

So the other day days ago I came across an idea to freeze Kool-Aid into ice cube trays. Then once the sugary goodness is done freezing, you can add the ice cubes into any clear sprite type beverage.

My Little Men LOVED the whole process. They loved that they actually got to see Kool-Aide...a rare occurrence in our house. They loved making colorful, tasty ice cubes. They loved getting to drink soda. They loved watching the colorful cubes start to melt and change the soda colors. AND they loved how yummy the Surprise Soda was.

All you need to do to make your own Soda Surprise is make a couple flavors of Kool-aid. Freeze some into ice cube trays (which I had to buy because I didn't own any...ice makers are killing off ice cube trays). Once they are frozen, let your kids each pick out two-three cubes...try different colors. Put the cubes into a see through cup of sprite, 7-up, fresca...and watch the magic. The cubes will start to dissovle and they will turn the clear liquid a rainbow of colors.

SUPER fun. A perfect activity for a hot summer day.

Have a great day friends!!!