Caramel Frappuccino

A couple weeks ago I was craving a Caramel Frappuccino. However, I refused to spend $5 just for one beverage. So I came home from running my errands determined to figure out the secret to making them at home. I think I pretty much perfected it. I do a lot of it by our taste preferences so I don't have exact measurements for everything. But the worst that can happen is either you don't add enough whipped cream and caramel (so you simply add a little more until it tastes right to you) or you add to much (is there really such a thing as too MUCH caramel or whipped cream?) So here is what I have come up with.

First, we have a whipped cream charger like they use in coffee houses. You could also whip up your own using an electric mixer. It tastes MUCH different than just a can of reddi-wip. So for our whipped cream, I add 16 oz Heavy Cream and 2 shots of Vanilla Syrup (found in the coffee aisle) to our whipped cream charger.

I make 1 K-cup (8oz of coffee) and add about 2 tsp of sugar. If you are using a flavored cup, you may not want to add any more sugar. Once the sugar is mixed in, refrigerate until cold. Once cold, pour into a measuring cup and add an equal amount of milk as you have coffee.

Next, I add about 3/4 c. to 1 c. of Ice to my Magic Bullet. Add in just under half the coffee/milk mixture. I add in some whipped cream and Hershey's Caramel Syrup. Blend until smooth. Pour into a glass. Top with more whipped cream and Caramel.

You can obviously do this using regular coffee if you don't have a Keurig coffee maker. To make larger batches, use a regular blender. We just keep our Magic Bullet on our counter at all times so it is very handy. And in my opinion, it is easier to make two single servings than dig out my full size blender and deal with cleaning it.

Enjoy!

Oreo Balls

I know this is more of a holiday treat but I figured I would share now anyways. In my opinion you really don't need a holiday in order to have Oreo Balls.

1 pkg Oreos
1 - 8 oz pkg Cream Cheese, softened
3/4 pkg White Almond Bark
1/4 pkg Chocolate Almond Bark

Mash oreos finely. Mix together mashed Oreos and softened cream cheese. Roll into small balls. Place on waxed paper on a cookie sheet. Place in fridge for about 1 hr. Melt white almond bark in double boiler. Dip balls into melted almond bark using toothpicks and put back on waxed paper. Melt Chocolate Almond Bark and drizzle over dipped Oreo Balls. Store in refrigerator.

Enjoy!

Sopapilla Cheesecake

The first time I ever tasted this, I fell in love. But I figured it was a really complicated recipe. I was very surprised to find out it was one of the easiest recipes ever! I have actually tried two versions. I will post the most common, but then will list the differences in the other version I have tried.

16 ounces cream cheese
2 cans Pillsbury® Crescent Recipe Creations® refrigerated seamless dough sheet
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup butter, melted
1/2 cup cinnamon sugar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease the bottom of a 9x13 pan. Spread one can of seamless crescent dough on the bottom. Mix together Sugar, Vanilla, and Cream Cheese. Spread over dough. Carefully cover filling with the second can of crescent dough. Evenly pour melted butter on top and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar. Bake for 30 mins. Let cool. Refrigerate.

*If you cannot find the seamless dough sheets, you can use regular crescent dough and pinch the seams together.

*The other version I have tried calls for adding 1 egg yolk to the filling. Then, rather than using melted butter on top, you beat the egg white and pour over the top dough before adding the cinnamon sugar.

Homemade Gummies

My son's birthday is coming up soon and I have been looking all over the internet for Bob the Builder items. I found some tool shaped gummies that were cute, but incredibly overpriced. I got to thinking. How hard can it be to make gummies? So I started searching and found lots of recipes. Turns out, it's incredibly easy! The hard part was finding the right recipe. There were SO many variations. So, I simply started making them. The first batch had good flavor, but bad texture. The second had great texture, but not as good of flavor. The third was pretty good, just a little too tough and slightly lacking in flavor. The fourth, today's version, was complete perfection.

So here is what I did to make today's gummies.

1/3 c. water
4 packets Knox Unflavored Gelatin
1 - 3 oz package Jello
1/2 package of Kool-Aid (Mix and match your Jello and Kool-Aid flavors however you would like)

Place water in small saucepan. Add remaining ingredients and mix well. Let set for a few mins until it thickens to a playdoh like consistency. Cook over low-med heat until you have a thick syrup and all sugars are dissolved. Pour into plastic candy molds (shaped silicone ice cube trays work as well). Let set about 20 mins until firm. Peel from molds. Store in sealed container.

*If you are impatient like we have been while trying to perfect our recipe, you can put the molds in the fridge for about 10 mins.

Enjoy!