Pick-Your-Flavor Hot Milk Drink

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I don’t drink coffee.  It is just something that I never developed a taste for.  Sometimes I want something other than cocoa or hot tea.  I have seen all the flavored syrups designed for use in coffee at the grocery store.  I thought surely there must be a use for those, but not necessarily in cocoa or tea.

Over the holidays, two things came together.  Marsha over at The Better Baker posted a recipe for Hot Cinnamon Milk Mix which she found at Craftaholics Anonymous.  This recipe used dry milk, flavored non-dairy creamer, sugar, and cinnamon.  I made the recipe, and it was very good.  The original recipe called for French Vanilla Flavored Creamer.  I also made up a couple of batches using Irish Cream and Pumpkin Spice Creamers.  I liked them too.

Then one of my local grocery stores had Torani syrups on sale for the whole month of December.  I had $1.00 off coupons on these.  That meant that I could purchase the syrups for $3.99 a bottle versus the regular price of $6.99.  I had been thinking that I could take the Hot Cinnamon Milk recipe and use plain non-dairy creamer instead of the flavored  creamer and use the syrups for the flavoring.  That is what I did, and I think that it worked really well.

I have said that I get bored with food easily.  This way I can make up a batch of the base mix and add whatever flavoring I want that day.  I purchased three flavors:  Butter Rum, Almond Roca, and Hazelnut.  There are other flavors I want to try such as Coconut and Almond.  Cinnamon or other spices could be added to the drink, too.

I reduced the amount of sugar from the original recipe as I found the drink a bit too sweet for me.  A favorite sugar substitute could be used.  I also use 1/4 c. instead of 1/3 cup of the mix.
 
Pick Your Flavor Hot Milk Drink
2 c. instant dry milk
1 c. plain powdered creamer
3/4 c. sugar or Splenda

Combine and mix well.  Store in zip-top bag or air-tight container. 

To use:  Heat 1/2 c. milk and 1/2 c. water until hot.  Stir in 1/4 to 1/3 c. of the above mix and 1 T. or more any flavor Torani syrup or other desired coffee flavoring syrup.  Makes 1 (8 oz.) serving.

It is only January, but looking ahead, I think that a batch of the mix along with two or three flavors of the syrup put in recycled spice or similar bottles would make a nice Christmas gift.

Linking to:  Tempt My Tummy Tuesday
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Ingredient Spotlight-Nutella-Banana Smoothie

If you have been reading this blog, you know that my new go-to breakfast drink is a Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie from This Chick Cooks.

The other day I decided to change it up and use Nutella instead of peanut butter.  So this is my adaptation of Katie’s recipe.  The Nutella will not completely dissolve, so there will be little flecks of chocolate in the smoothie.

With the other ingredients in it, my mini food processor doesn’t do well with a whole cup of milk so I process this in two steps.  In the first step, I combine the banana, Nutella and about 3/4 cup milk.  I pour that into my glass, add about 1/2 cup more milk to the food processor and process that.  I pour that into the first mixture.  Doing two steps also helps to get every little bit of goodness out of the food processor and into my glass.

Nutella Banana Smoothie
Adapted from Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie from This Chick Cooks

1 frozen banana, sliced
2-3 T. Nutella, as desired
1 1/4 c. milk, divided

Place the banana, Nutella, and 3/4 c. milk in a mini food processor.  Blend until smooth.  Pour into a glass.  Add 1/2 c. milk to the food processor and process briefly.  Add to smoothie mixture in glass and mix well with a spoon.  Drink and enjoy.  Serves 1.

Linking to:  Ingredient Spotlight
Whisking Wednesdays
These Chicks Cooked
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