Coffee recipes, iced coffee, coffee cake recipes for National Coffee Day

Cafe Ole! Java junkies rejoice because September 29 is your holy day of obligation! Here are coffee recipes for iced coffee, coffee cake and caffeinated treats for National Coffee Day! CNN Money reported that some coffee shops are giving free coffee and even coffee trees! Snag yours from this list of free coffee venues. Enjoy with these recipes! Dieters, you're going to love this: because coffee is high in caffeine it boosts metabolism. That means it burns fat and helps you lose weight. So coffee mugs aloft and say "fill 'er up, please!" Low calorie options are listed for the sweet java treats. Grind your own beans and use two filters for auto drip coffeemakers, to get a better cup 'o joe!

Iced Java-mocha Coffee: In a personal blender, add cold, fresh-brewed Sumatra or espresso coffee. Add Hershey's chocolate syrup (sugarfree for dieters), vanilla ice cream, (or vanilla almond or cashew milk for dieters), non-dairy French vanilla creamer and ice. Blend till smooth and serve with whipped topping and shaved dark chocolate. Make the same drink warmed without ice for chilly fall mornings. This drink goes well with savory snacks. To make alcoholic java-mocha iced coffee, add a shot of Creme de Cacao and a shot of Kahlua in place of creamer.

Toffee Coffee Cake: So who has time to bake on a busy back-to-school September morn? So cheat and use a boxed cake mix: French vanilla works best. Spray two round pans with non-stick coating. Blend butter, sugar, chopped pecans and butterscotch chips. Spread in pan bottom. Make cake according to directions, but substitute cold coffee for water. Split mix in half between two cake pans and bake. Spread one with caramel coconut pecan frosting. Invert the other cake over frosting side so bottom topping is on top. Frost sides of desired, or puff with powdered sugar.

Apple spice coffee cake: For lighter cake, use a spice cake mix. Use coffee for water. Swap Splenda for sugar, flaxseed for eggs and applesauce for oil. Make crumb base by trading butterscotch chips for apple slices and blend with cinnamon, Splenda and walnuts. Substitute that for caramel frosting.

Triple Coffee-Chocolate cake with Coco-Mocha Coffee Fudge Frosting: Choose a dark chocolate cake mix and make with strong, black cold coffee instead of water. Add dark chocolate chips when cake is partially baked. Blend butter, powdered sugar, dark chocolate cocoa powder, vanilla, salt and warm to tepid black coffee. Blend till smooth. Bake cake for one-third of the time. Remove from oven and add dark chocolate chips. Divide frosting in half. With a frosting bag, "pipe" ribbons of fudge frosting through cake mix and finish baking. Frost with remaining frosting. Serve with coffee ice cream, topping, and hot coffee!

Fun coffee add-ins: When you brew coffee, add to grounds basket one of these add-ins: ground cinnamon, unsweetened cocoa, nutmeg, allspice or pure vanilla. Sweeten coffee with caramel, chocolate or maple syrup. For creamer, use any flavored variety, almond milk, coconut or cashew milk. For bacon coffee, add fresh cooked, chopped bacon and a little bacon grease. Sweeten with maple syrup. 

Healthy breakfast recipes, quick school breakfasts for Better Breakfast Month

September is Better Breakfast Month. It's also the traditional back-to-school month. Here are healthy

breakfast recipes and quick, easy school breakfasts even young kids can make. These breakfasts are

low sugar, high fiber and full of protein and good, healthy fats. Many recipes are gluten free or low

glycemic, too.

Breadless breakfast sandwich recipe--Fill hungry tummies with super-nutritious, gluten-free falafel

sandwiches. Make up a batch of falafel patties using packaged Ziyad falafel mix. Fry till crisp in non

fat cooking spray. Freeze for kids to quick pop in toaster oven or microwave. Use falafel patties like

bread. Spread with hummus and "sandwich" Mozzarella cheese, avocado, lettuce and tomato in

between.

Homemade granola--Blend one cup each: almonds, walnuts, pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds.

Add three cups oatmeal, one cup almond or peanut butter and a half cup of honey. Mix by hand and

spread in thin layer on baking sheet coated with non-stick cooking spray. Spray top of cereal and

bake at 250 for about 15 minutes till crunchy. Add raisins and store in fridge. Children can enjoy a

scoop before school with 2-percent milk or almond milk. Top with fresh berries, sliced bananas or

apples. Optional add-ins are coconut, millet and bran flakes.

Superfood breakfast smoothie--Blend Greek yogurt, strawberries or blueberries, one quarter

avocado, half a banana, and half a grapefruit (rind and seed removed). Add milk, almond milk or water

to desired consistency. Mix in one envelope of Emergen-C powdered vitamin drink. If kids will

tolerate it, add spinach and milled flax seed.

Grilled tomato breakfast bagel--Slice a big tomato. Blend shredded Parmesan cheese, oregano, basil

and pepper. Dip tomato in cheese mix. Fry in non-stick cooking oil. Grill whole grain bagel face down

and spread with tahini, hummus or light cream cheese. Top with grilled tomato and spinach. Serve

with orange or cranberry juice. 

Apple almond bagel-wich. Toast whole grain bagel. Spread with cream cheese and almond butter.

Add sliced tart apples. Sprinkle with cinnamon and enjoy with a cold glass of juice. You can also fill a

pita pocket with almond butter and fresh fruit for a healthy breakfast sandwich.

Peachy-keen recipes for National Peach Month: Nectarine desserts, peach recipes

August is National Peach Month. If you crave summer peach goodness, here are peachy-keen

recipes and nectarine desserts to celebrate! These peach recipes are light, healthy and deliciously,

decadently diet! These recipes take you from beverage to appetizer to dessert!

Sip fresh peach tea. Make sun tea adding tea bags to hot water in glass jug and placing in the sun.

Toward the end of the brew, add slices of fresh peaches and steep a little longer. Freeze peaches

slices in soda pop and add to clear pop.

Craving something a little zestier in a salsa? Try Piquant Peach Salsa Picante on your tacos and

nachos. Chop fresh tomatoes, peaches, sweet Vidalia onions, green scallions, celery and colored

peppers (green, red, orange and yellow). Add cilantro leaves. Blend and add garlic, lime juice, sea

salt and cumin. Ramp up the heat with fresh chopped jalapenos (but wear gloves!). Refrigerate and

serve on chips and cheese.

For the grill, make Sweet and Sour Peach Kebabs. On skewers, alternate chunks of chicken (lamb or

pork work well too), peaches, green peppers, cherry tomatoes, summer squash, sweet onions and

mushrooms. Marinate with dressing made of: lemon juice, lime juice, apple cider vinegar, olive oil,

cracked pepper, garlic, celery seed and sea salt.

Do you adore peach pie? Want a slice of Peachy-Dream Pie? Make it by filling a pre-made pie crust

(hey, it's August, too hot to fuss with homemade pie crust) with fresh sliced peaches or nectarines.

Cook together on stove: corn starch, brown sugar (or Splenda brown sugar), one stick yogurt or light

butter, lemon juice, orange and lemon zest, allspice, cardamom and coriander. Pour over peaches

and bake till crust is golden brown.

Or how about Citrus Peachy-Cream Pie? Blend nonfat Greek yogurt, honey, whipped topping, vanilla

ice cream or pudding, grapefruit juice, coriander and sliced peaches (reserve one cup). Fill a graham

cracker crust pie. Slice an orange or grapefruit is wedges. Alternate with reserved peach slices on

top of pie in circular sunflower pattern. Place a maraschino cherry or lemon slice in the center. If

you're doing gluten-free, skip the crust and layer fruit and cream in parfait glasses

 

Red white and blue desserts, flag cake, patriotic party foods for July 4

Looking for fun red white and blue desserts and patriotic party foods for Memorial Day? Here are recipes for flag cake, RWB party foods and snacks and kid-friendly Remembrance day snacks. 

* Remembrance Day cake. Bake any flavored cake and frost white. Let each guest write the name of a loved one who has passed away in red or blue frosting. Write "we remember" in the center. 

* Fruity Flag cake. Make red velvet cake. Frost with white frosting or whipped topping. Arrange sliced strawberries in rows to form stripes. Place blueberries in top left corner (with white frosting showing through) to create field of stars. * RWB candy flag cake. Make flag cake with red velvet and white frosting. Decorate with red and blue M & Ms.

* Star-spangled jigglers. Make blue and red finger Jell-O (use less water or add unflavored gelatin to make Jell-O Jigglers). Cut into star shapes. Mix with white mini marshmallows. 

* Patriotic stained glass cookies. Cut refrigerated sugar cookie dough into triangles. Arrange point side out to form star. Place clear blue or red Jolly Rancher candy in center. Bake cookies and melt candy to fill center. 

* RWB coolers. Mix Squirt and cranberry juice. Make blue raspberry Kool-Aid ice cubes or use blue popsicle as ice cube. 

* Flag kebobs. On large wooden skewer, alternate strawberry slices or raspberries, blueberries and white marshmallows. 

* Patriotic parfait. Layer in fluted parfait glasses: whipped topping or vanilla pudding, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries and strawberries. 

* RWB cheesecake. Make or buy a plain cheesecake. Make concentric circles of raspberries, blueberries and strawberries. Make "stars" with white decorators frosting. 

* Cut cheese slices and lunch meat in star shapes. Or cut sandwiches in star shapes. 

* Letter and number pretzels. Have children make Memorial Day themed words: American, freedom, stars, flag, 13, USA. 

* Red and purple pepper slices with ranch dip. Or hollow out red peppers and fill with blue corn chips and dip. 

* RWB dogs. Serve hot dogs on white buns. Garnish with mayonnaise dyed blue. For vegetarians, use white Mozzarella cheese sticks, blue mayo and ketchup. For more party recipes, visit my blogs Great Food 4U and DIY Party Planner.

Graduation open house appetizer recipes: Easy, cheap open house hors d'oeurves

Oh, oh! You put off planning that graduation open house until the last minute. Here 25-plus graduation open house appetizer recipes. Use these easy cheap open house hors d'oeuvres and finger foods for weddings, bridal showers, first Communion receptions and other open houses. Don't feel the need to make a full meal. Appetizers, snacks and finger food are much easier and cheaper than full buffets. 

Fresh Fruit Kebabs: Make ahead or let guests DIY. Set out a fruit tray with kebab spears, toothpicks or plastic restaurant cocktail swords. Use a variety of color: green grapes, yellow pineapple chunks, strawberries, blueberries, canned mandarin orange segments. Guest DIY fruit kebabs mean less waste of fruit and saves you work. 

Holiday Hedgehogs. These were a Christmas appetizer staple in the UK and I think they're adorable. You cover a potato in foil and poke appetizers on toothpicks to make the quills. YouTube channel "Dear Old Blighty" shows lots of creativity in making the eyes, nose and mouths. Personal favorite is a pear for the body with a cranberry stick on the stem for the nose. I'd probably use raisins or sliced olives for eyes. Put anything you like on toothpick appetizers. A suggestion would be to go with school colors or a rainbow, with pineapple cubes, mandarin orange slices or cheese, watermelon cubes, green grapes and blueberries. I guess cocktail wieners and cheese were popular too.  I would give the hedgehog a tiny scarf with school colors too! 

Savory hors d'oeuvres: Make a variety of colorful appetizers; here are several popular kinds.

--Spread cream cheese on both sweet and dill pickles. Wrap each pickle in a slice of lunch meat (ham or turkey breast). Slice width-wise.

--Place potato salad in a line along the middle of a slice of luncheon meat. Form meat into a roll. Secure with toothpick. 

--Checkerboard finger sandwiches: Make triple-layer sandwiches of white, wheat and dark pumpernickel bread. Spread filling of choice (see suggestions below) on two slices of bread. (none on outside). Slice sandwich into 1/2 inch sandwich strips. Arrange on platter with alternating colors. Garnish with olives and grape tomato. 

Finger sandwich fillings: 

--cream cheese and jelly

--egg salad and green pepper

--cream cheese and cucumber 

--cream cheese and ham

--cream cheese and tomato

--roast beef, Swiss cheese and spicy brown mustard

--turkey, avocado

--ham and cranberry sauce

--PBJ

 Very veggie tray: set out an assortment of sliced and chopped cucumbers, colored peppers, mushrooms, broccoli, cauliflower, raw green beans, zucchini, summer squash, green onions, carrots and celery. Place salad dressings out for dip. 

"Sushi" sandwiches: Take one slice of deli cheese and one slice of deli meat. Roll them together around a green scallion and cucumber spear and cover with cream cheese. Roll in crushed walnuts and parsley. Slice in rolls.

Pretzel dogs: Spread cream cheese on half of long pretzel rod. Dip in honey mustard. Wrap some with meat and some with cheese. Place in a bowl and guests can grab and munch. 

Pinwheels rollups: Spread spinach or red pepper tortilla with cream cheese, spicy brown mustard or wasabi. Layer two large romaine lettuce leaves, several slices of deli cheese and tomato. Roll tortilla into tight log. Seal opening with cream cheese. Place seam side down and slice into pinwheels. 

Frosted sandwiches: Layer six slices of bread with alternating fillings. Frost with cream cheese colored in school colore, over outside of sandwich stack. Slice vertically through layers and then cut each piece into finger sized pieces. Filing suggestions: egg salad and tuna salad. Ham sandwich spread and chicken salad. Deli ham and deli cheese. 

Serve with iced sun tea and lemonade garnished with raspberries. Just a bit of trivia: I found some of these recipes in my mother's Betty Crocker Recipe Card Library, circa 1971. I will spare you the recipes for tomato aspic and molded salads, though. 

Mexican recipes for Cinco de Mayo: Healthy, budget Latino party foods

Cinco de Mayo, May 5 celebrates the victory of Mexican army at the Battle of Puebla in 1862. It's not

the Mexican Independence Day and not celebrated much in Mexico, but it's a favorite Hispanic

American holiday. Here are Mexican recipes for Cinco de Mayo. Whip up these healthy, budget 4

ingredient, Latino-inspired foods to celebrate Cinco de Mayo. These Mexican dishes serve hungry

folks economically.

Cinco de Mayo Burritos (serves 4-6)

32-oz package frozen burritos or chimichangas (chicken and rice work well) 

24 oz. jar of salsa (Walmart is cheapest) 

8 oz. shredded cheese 

head of leaf or romaine lettuce

Coat 9x13 baking dish with cooking spray. Arrange frozen burritos in single layer. Season with ground

cumin and hot pepper. Pour salsa over burritos. Rinse jar and add half of rinse water. Cover with foil.

Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Top with cheese and bake until cheese is melted. Top with

lettuce, sour cream, fresh cilantro, lime wedges and black olives if desired.

Speedy Gonzales Spanish Rice

6 cups cooked rice (1 cup dry equals three cups cooked) 

25-oz jar of mango pineapple salsa 

chicken broth or cooked chicken with broth 

4 Cheese Mexican shredded cheese

Cook rice in broth. Blend salsa, rice and cheese. Top with more shredded cheese.

Tortilla Soup (serves 4-6)

baked tortilla chips or corn tortillas 

canned or cooked chicken breast (12 oz. can or two chicken breasts) 

16-oz jar lime cilantro 

shredded cheese 

Optional: green or black olives, can of corn, fresh chopped colored peppers, onions)

Combine cooked chicken, salsa (rinse water from jar and add to soup), any of the optional items and

simmer until heated. Season with cumin and garlic. Crumble chips in bowl; pour soup over top and

sprinkle shredded cheese over the top. Top with fresh tomatoes or cilantro if desired.

Chili Verde (serves 4-6)

one can chopped green chilies 

1 cup salsa or canned tomatoes with onions and celery 

chicken broth 

can of cheese soup or shredded cheese and cream cheese.  

Optional: cooked chicken

Combine all ingredients (rinsing all jars and cans and adding water). Simmer until blended and

heated. Top with sour cream if desired.

Mexican vegetarian 7-layer dip

Layer in glass baking dish: crushed tortilla chips, refried beans, chopped lettuce, guacamole,

chopped tomatoes and onions, shredded cheese, pico de gallo and sour cream. Top with black

olives. Serve with chips.

Fiesta Stuffed Avocados

Whole avocado 

Chili powder, cumin and garlic 

Mango salsa 

Low fat cream cheese or cottage cheese

Slice avocado lengthwise. Use spoon to carefully remove pit. Blend last three ingredients until

smooth. Scoop filling into center of avocado. Sprinkle with shredded cheese.

Citrus Cinco de Mayo Slush

Oranges, limes, lemons and limes are native to Mexico. Celebrate with this refreshing punch. Blend

one can lemonade (plus one can water), one can limeade (plus one can water), one can orange juice

(plus one can water), soda water or Squirt and ice made of soda. Partially freeze to slush. Serve from

ice bucket or cooler to stay slushy. Layer with sliced oranges, lemons and limes. Garnish with

maraschino cherries.

!Bienvenidoes! Happy Cinco de Mayo! 

Egg recipes to use up leftover Easter eggs: Raw and hard-boiled egg recipes

With the Easter holiday blowout over, are you are stuck with several dozen Easter eggs threatening to go bad? Whether raw or hard-cooked, eggs spoil fast. Here are healthy recipes to use up leftover Easter eggs. These recipes cover hard-boiled and raw eggs. Note: don't use eat hard-boiled eggs that sit at room temperature longer than three hours. Throw them out. Even cooked, unrefrigerated eggs cause illness.  

Raw Easter egg use-up recipes.

Easter Brunch Frittata or Omelet: Click here for my gluten-free quiche, frittata and omelet recipes. I've got a lot of helpful vegetarian and glute-free tips. 

Easter Brunch French Toast: This is a great leftover stale bread use-up recipe too. You can use any kind of sweet bread or regular. Whip eggs until smooth and add a little milk, about one per two slices of bread. Blend in one teaspoon each of cinnamon, nutmeg and vanilla. Melt ghee or butter in frying pan. Dip bread into egg mixture. Fry on both sides until browned but still tender and moist. Top with cream cheese and fresh or frozen berries and powdered sugar or maple syrup.

Easter Eggy Bread. This is similar to French toast except that you will use regular or savory bread and substitute savory herbs like garlic, oregano, dill, sage and/ore rosemary. Dip bread slices in whipped eggs and milk. Fry in ghee or bacon grease. Top with cheese and melt a bit. Make an Eggy Bread sandwich with bacon, leftover ham or sausage. Add in vegetables like mushrooms, bell peppers, cilantro, onions if you like. Another great stale bread use-up recipe! 

Hard-boiled Easter egg use-up recipes.

Angel Eggs (otherwise known as deviled eggs and renamed by my children): Peel and rinse eggs. Using a sharp knife slice eggs lengthwise and remove yolk (egg pits, my son Jake called them). Mash yolk, mayonnaise, dill pickle relish and mustard into a smooth paste. Using a melon baller or small scoop, fill egg whites. Garnish with dill and paprika. These make tasty, keto diet high-protein snacks!

Power Tuna Salad; Cook, drain and chill Barilla Protein Plus noodles, any shape. Add avocado mayonnaise (or just avocado), diced hard boiled eggs, finely diced onion and celery, canned tuna, celery salt, pepper, and dill weed. Blend and top with sliced hard cooked eggs, fresh cilantro and smoked paprika. These diet food swaps are high in protein and complex carbs, low in fat and sugar. 

Shrimp Divine: This was my Grandmother's recipe. I don't know where she found it but it was served

at family get-togethers when I was a child. I developed a craving for it. Blend in saucepan over low

heat: 2 jars Kraft Old English cheese spread (in tiny jars in the refrigerated section), one can diced

tomatoes, 1 # 50/60 count or salad shrimp, 4 diced hard-cooked eggs, dash of Worcestershire sauce.

When heated and cooked, pour over rice or chow mien noodles.