At Home Frappe

Yesterday was one of those super hot days where you just cannot escape the heat. In order to make up for it, I decided to make homemade frappes and thought I’d share my recipe with you here. 🙂

I’m not a big coffee drinker, but my husband loves the stuff (especially in frozen form). These are one of the few things we can actually agree on. When it comes to coffee, that is. It’s a perfect summer treat when you’re looking for something cold and refreshing with a little boost.

I hope you’re enjoying your summer.

At Home Frappe

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup strong coffee, cooled
• 1/2 cup milk
• 12 largish ice cubes (one tray)
• 1/4 cup sugar
• Chocolate or caramel sauce (optional)

Instructions:

1. Blend all ingredients in a blender until smooth.
2. Add in chocolate or caramel sauce if desired (I added it on top)
3. Enjoy!

What’s your favorite summer drink? I’d love to hear from you in the comments. 🙂

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Slow Cooker Pulled Pork

Who wants to use a hot oven in the summer? Not me, that’s for sure! I love this quick and easy recipe for pulled pork, it requires a slow cooker, but even if only for this, the investment is well worth it.

As always, this recipe is completely gluten free. Another thing I love about this is that there’s plenty of meat to get several meals from it, thus saving time and money, and who doesn’t like that?

Enjoy!

Slow Cooker Pulled Pork

Ingredients:

• 4.25 pound pork butt roast (bone out)
• 2 tsp pink salt
• 2 tsp garlic powder
• 2 tsp onion powder
• 2 tsp paprika
• 1 tsp black pepper
• 1 tsp ground ginger
• 1 tsp coriander
• 1 tsp cumin
• 1 tsp chili powder
• 2 Tbls water

Directions:

1. Mix spices together and rub on roast. Make sure to cut the strings off your roast if it has them.
2. Add water to bottom of slow cooker, place roast on top.
3. Close the lid and cook on high for 6 hours.
4. Take the roast out, cut fat off and discard, shred meat.
5. Cook another 1-2 hours on medium (or high first hour, low second hour).
6. Enjoy. 🙂

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August Goals

Here we are in August. I can’t believe how quickly this summer has flown by. So far it’s been filled with friends and smaller adventures and I look forward to what this coming month will bring. Here are some of my goals.

Go on mini/weekend vacation – I really want to go to the beach. Need I say more?

Get vacation photos printed – I’m absolutely terrible about printing photos. I know it’s an important thing to do, but I tend to just dump them all on my computer and forget about them. I want to start filling my home with the memories we’ve made.

Organize bookshelves – This summer I’ve done a lot of pulling books out, reading part of them, then shoving them back on a shelf, table, or any other surface I can find. I think it’s about time to go through my bookshelves and organize them a bit better.

Schedule my days before they come – This is a tough one for me. I always seem to have something popping up and I change my plans or make new ones, but I’d really like to be more organized with my time and how I spend it.

What are your goals for the final month of summer? I’d love to hear from you in the comments. 🙂

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Watermelon Slushie

There’s nothing quite like the summer joy of a fresh watermelon, except of course this watermelon slushie. It’s cool, it’s refreshing, and it has all that watermelon flavor you love packed in a convenient drink.

This was always one of my favorites growing up, and it’s quickly earning that status once again this summer. I hope you enjoy! Have a fantastic week!

Watermelon Slushie

• 2 cups frozen watermelon chunks
• 1 1/2- 2 cups watermelon juice

1. Combine ingredients in blender and blend until smooth.
2. Enjoy!

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Pesto Pasta With Sundried Tomatoes

If you like pesto this pesto pasta with sundried tomatoes will quickly become one of your absolute favorites. It’s easy to throw together and tastes like you’ve been working on it all day. Definitely a favorite in our home, of course, I love anything with sundried tomatoes. I could eat this everyday if I were “allowed” to, though I know it’s probably not the healthiest to live on one thing (but hey, it has vegetables).

This is perfect for dinner or lunch, or even breakfast if you can’t resist. It doesn’t take long to prepare, which makes it a great summertime or weeknight meal. (It’s also delicious with some cubed cooked chicken if you want it some protein.) I hope you enjoy! 🙂

Pesto Pasta With Sundried Tomatoes

• 1 (12 oz) box of gluten free pasta
• 1 batch homemade pesto
• 1 cup sundried tomatoes, chopped (more or less depending on desired amount)

1. Cook and drain pasta as usual.
2. In a large skillet over medium heat, toss the tomatoes and give a stir.
3. Add in pasta and pesto and heat until warmed.
4. Remove from heat and serve hot.
5. Enjoy! 🙂

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July Goals

Ahh, it’s July. I can’t believe how quickly June flew by! Thankfully we still have a couple more months of summer before we’re back into fall and winter. Okay, I won’t go there… Back to more summery things.

Do a juice fast – I’ve been interested in this idea for a while now, but it’s actually kind of a transition into my next goal, which is…

Eat Raw – I’ve wanted to try this ever since I heard about it. I’ve always had one excuse or another (a lot of which have to do with it being cold) and now that it’s summer I think it’s the perfect time to try it. 🙂

Make new curtains for our bedroom – This is something I’ve been putting off for far too long because I don’t have a sewing machine at the moment. I’m planning on buying one ASAP.

Hang art on the walls – Again something I’ve been putting off.

Have a day with friends I haven’t seen in a while – This depends on other people’s plans too. So we’ll see what happens with it this month.

Do you have any goals for this month? I’d love to hear about them in the comments. 🙂

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June Goal Grades

I’m going to just combine my goals into one this month, since they were all alone the same lines anyway. This month has been crazy and amazing, we’ve gotten out more, spent more time together, gotten out to the beach, and just really enjoyed being outside.

How did you do on your goals this month?

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Gluten Free Mini S’mores Pies

Toasted marshmallows, perfectly melted chocolate, graham cracker crust. It’s the first day of summer, and what better way to kick off the new season than with mini s’mores pies?

I love how easy these are, no need for a campfire (though those are lovely) and they’re not nearly as messy as traditional s’mores either. But, you know, when gooey chocolate and melted marshmallows come together, there’s always that possibility.

Mini S’mores Pies

• 4 mini pie tins
• 1 cup crushed gluten-free graham crackers (I used chocolate)
• 2 Tablespoons melted butter
• 1 cup chocolate chips
• 2 cups mini marshmallows

1. Mix crushed graham crackers and butter together, then divide evenly among the pie tins, pressing to the bottom.
2. Bake “crusts” for 5-7 minutes at 350. You’re just looking for them to harden.
3. Place 1/4 cup chocolate chips in each pan, spreading evenly.
4. Add in 1/2 cup marshmallows on the top and spread them out so the chocolate’s covered.
5. Bake for 3 minutes.
6. Switch the oven to broil and cook for another 2 minutes or until the marshmallow tops are beautifully browned and toasted.
7. Enjoy! 🙂

What are your favorite summer treats? I’d love to hear about them in the comments? 🙂

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June Goals

June is when we wrap up spring and begin summer once again. I don’t know about you, but that certainly changes the dynamic of life in my home. I guess these goals reflect that.

Enjoy some down time with my husband – We’ve both been pretty busy lately, and I’m hoping this month will give us some time to relax and spend time together.

Make the most of the beginning of summer – Meaning get outside and explore! Maybe have a few yummy, summery treats along the way. 🙂

Get out for lots of walks – Possibly start hiking, but I’d like to spend more time outdoors.

What are your goals for the month? Do you find that the transition from spring to summer changes your world in the kitchen? I’d love to hear from you!

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Gluten-Free Veggie Pasta Salad

Tis the season for cook outs and potlucks and picnics. And everyone knows none of those would be complete without pasta salad. I love that this one has so many veggies in it, it makes it light and a bit healthier than other pasta salads.

I love to brighten up Memorial Day or Fourth of July with this simple recipe. Keep in mind that simple doesn’t mean boring. It’s easy to throw together the morning of an event, and still has a zesty flavor that everyone seems to love. It’s also very customizable and you can choose your favorite veggies to throw in and make it your own.

Veggie Pasta Salad

• 1 box (gluten free) twirly pasta
• 1 and 1/2 cups Italian dressing (make sure it’s gf if needed)
• 1 cup frozen peas
• 1 medium head broccoli, roughly chopped
• 1/2 green pepper, chopped
• 1/4 red onion, chopped
• 1/2 can black olives, sliced
• 2 Roma tomatoes, chopped

1. Cook and drain pasta, then rinse with cold water until completely cooled.
2. Add pasta, and everything but tomatoes in a large bowl and mix until evenly combined.
3. Add in tomatoes and mix again. (I do this last so they won’t get crushed.)
4. Refrigerate and eat cold.
5. Enjoy!

I’m sharing this salad with Fiesta Friday. Have a great weekend! 🙂

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