kids Archives - Simply Happenstance

Vanilla Malted Marshmallow Ice Cream

September 6, 2016

Vanilla Malted Marshmallow Ice Cream //

I will admit it NOW…I have been in the biggest bad mood that I think I have ever been in. We were robbed of our summer by two weeks. Our school district moved back school to start earlier than last year and the year prior. I want to scream every morning that the alarm clock has buzzed for the past three weeks.

So for now I will stop whining and crying and I will relive summer for the few moments we have left with this Vanilla Malted Marshmallow Ice Cream.

Summer for our family was eventful and beautiful all at once. We visited Yosemite and Mammoth and enjoyed it in all its beauty. We lost my beloved dog Lulu and my Grandfather. It brought my little family close together as these losses were painful. We focused on fun, beach days, and s’mores at sunset.

It was a joy having my kids’ home. Life seems to be bit easier (in some ways) the older they get as we get to enjoy more of the great outdoors without worrying about racing home for nap time. So yes you can say I am a bit depressed about it. I know it will get easier, but for now I will add a scoop of this Vanilla Malted Marshmallow Ice Cream in a large glass and top with root beer or maybe adult root beer (wink).

Make this Labor Day Weekend and we guarantee it will make summer last a little bit LONGER….

An end of summer treat! Vanilla Malted Marshmallow Ice Cream

Print Recipe

5 from 4 votes

Vanilla Malted Marshmallow Ice Cream

This simple Vanilla Ice Cream makes you want to hold onto summer. Serve on it's own or as a root beer float.

Prep Time10 mins

Cook Time2 hrs 35 mins

Total Time2 hrs 45 mins

Course: Dessert

Servings: 10

Author: Simply Happenstance

Ingredients

2 1/2 cups heavy whipping cream
1 cup milk 2 percent or whole
3 tablespoons malt milk powder
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 jar of marshmallow cream
1 cup sugar I used Zulka Pure Cane Sugar

Instructions

In a small bowl whisk together the milk, malt powder, sugar, and vanilla until sugar is dissolved.
Add in the heavy whipping cream and mix together until all is incorporated.
Pour this mixture into a chilled ice cream maker bowl with the paddle attached and top on.
Turn on the machine and let the ice cream churn for approx. 20 minutes until thickened and fluffy.
Turn off the machine and spoon in the marshmallow cream into the ice cream bowl.
Turn the machine back on and let it churn for an additional 3 minutes.
Turn off the machine and place the ice cream into a freezer safe container and chill for 2 hours.

Notes

I used my Cuisinart Ice Cream Maker. I keep my ice cream bowl in the freezer ALWAYS that way it's ready to use when I want to make ice cream.

D.I.Y. Girls Jewelry Board

December 2, 2015

D.I.Y. Girls Jewelry Board //

The holidays are upon us! Okay, so we blinked for a second and here we are, and now to the run around! This year I would like to give more meaningful and effective gifts for some of my loved ones. This D.I.Y. Girls Jewelry Board is a great gift for big and little girls alike. Sara and I featured this project a couple years back. To this day, my D.I.Y. Jewelry Board still hangs in my closet, and now my daughter has one to match. This easy project not only makes for a wonderful gift, but it’s a great way to organize all of those baubles and headbands. You can check out this updated version over at Simple As That, where we are guest posting this D.I.Y. in collaboration with the idea of focusing on alternative gifts for the holiday season. We hope you like it! For more additional how to for this project you can also check our step by step here.

Frozen Hot Chocolate

September 20, 2015

Frozen Hot Chocolate //

We are just days away from the official start of fall… although if you’ve cruised by a Starbucks lately, you may think we are already there with their festive cups and pumpkin spice lattes! I crave autumn, especially after spending our year-long ‘vacation from life‘ in the mountains. I, like so many others, find such comfort in throwing on a cozy sweater, a pair of warm boots, cuddling by the fire with my babes, and sipping on a warm seasonal drink! However, with all of that being said, I live in sunny Southern California, which makes it difficult to get into the fall spirit when it’s still 100 degrees outside! (I’m not complaining, friends… as I know that would be crazy! We are truly blessed with lovely year-round weather!) I honestly have to remind myself each year that I will most likely be wearing tank tops, cutoff shorts, and flip flops through Halloween. #RealityCheck!

Frozen Hot Chocolate - this delicious recipe on simplyhappenstance.com!

Frozen Hot Chocolate

So, to get into the spirit of my favorite season (while still being practical), I decided it was time to finally make the Frozen Hot Chocolate recipe that’s been bookmarked on my computer for so long!

Frozen Hot Chocolate

As I was savoring every sip of the creamy concoction, I was trying to find the right words to describe the heavenly drink. You might think that it’s as simple as emptying a sleeve of hot cocoa mix in hot water, stirring it up, and then blending with ice. It’s more than that…. so much more, friends! In fact… I wouldn’t say I would typically make this recipe on a whim. It takes a tiny bit more prep work (still easy, I promise!)… but it’s really worth it! The rich chocolatey flavor depends on the brand you choose. Knowing I was sharing this tasty drink with my four children, I chose to use Lindt Milk Chocolate versus a deeper dark chocolate. If I were you… I would put a little thought into what your favorite chocolate bar is, and use that as the base of your recipe! You’ll love how it turns out!

Frozen Hot Chocolate - the perfect fall treat when the weather is still HOT outside! (simplyhappenstance.com)

So getting back to the simple deliciousness of this drink… it’s rich, chocolatey, sweet (but not too sweet), cold, thick, and frothy! It doesn’t just taste like chocolate milk, or a chocolate shake… it’s FROZEN HOT CHOCOLATE! Perfect for when you are ready for some fall faves… but it’s still hot outside! Enjoy!

Frozen Hot Chocolate (simplyhappenstance.com) #frozenhotchocolate

Print Recipe

Frozen Hot Chocolate

This Frozen Hot Chocolate is a deliciously festive seasonal drink to enjoy when it's still hot outside! Creamy, rich, chocolatey, cold, and frothy this will quickly become a traditional family favorite! Enjoy!

Prep Time10 mins

Cook Time5 mins

Total Time15 mins

Course: Beverage

Servings: 2 -4

Author: Simply Happenstance (Adapted from Paula Deen - Food Network)

Ingredients

4-5 ounces best-quality chocolate I used one 4.4 oz. Lindt Milk Chocolate bar
2 teaspoons store bought hot chocolate mix
1 1/2 tablespoons granulated sugar
1 1/2 cups whole milk
3 cups ice
Spray Whipped Cream optional, for garnish
Chocolate shavings optional, for garnish

Instructions

Chop/break the chocolate bar into small pieces and melt in a small heavy saucepan or in the top of a double boiler over simmering water. Stir occasionally until melted.
Add the hot chocolate mix and sugar, stirring constantly until combined (consistency will be smooth).
Remove from heat and slowly add 1/2 cup of the milk, stirring until well mixed. Cool to room temperature (about 15-30 minutes).
In a blender, place the remaining 1 cup of milk, creamy chocolate mixture, and the ice. Blend on high speed until smooth and the consistency of a frozen daiquiri. Immediately pour into one giant goblet (to share), or in 4 small cups. Top with whipped cream and chocolate shavings, if desired. Enjoy!

Notes

Tips // Don't use baking chocolate! Make sure you buy your favorite chocolate bar for this recipe!
Original Recipe // https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/paula-deen/frozen-hot-chocolate-recipe.html

Check out some of our other Fall Favorite recipes here! Happy Fall!

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Triple Berry Smoothie Pops

August 16, 2015

Triple Berry Smoothie Pops // For School Lunches

Well, it’s hard to believe… but summer vacation is officially over for my crew. Boy that went by fast! Two months out of school surely wasn’t enough! We fit in a couple road trips to far off places, a week of VBS, and some time visiting with close friends. Besides that…. we soaked up the down time together.

I’m still in denial about the school schedule and extra curricular activities. I don’t personally love being tied down to a schedule, so it’s something I struggle with every year. We’ve embarked on quite a few big changes in our family… one being the start of middle school for my oldest (wish us luck)! I hope to update the blog with photos of our summer adventures and news about this new chapter in our lives. Until then… let’s talk school lunches!

I have to admit that I fell into a rut last year when packing their daily lunches. My oldest is pretty picky and won’t eat typical lunch items. I found myself making three to four different lunches every day. My goal was always to provide them with a healthy variety of foods, but towards the end of the school year… I was completely over it all!

This year, I’ve started thinking about different things I could include to mix things up. I watched a few videos on school lunches, including this one from 100 Days of Real Food. I really appreciated her ideas about making at least one thing in their lunches ahead of time (like soup, homemade uncrustables, muffins, or even frozen smoothie pops)!

That brings me to this post! I purchased these super cool silicone mighty pop reusable holders from Sunsella. They’re durable, dishwasher safe, and easy to use! Simply fill with your favorite smoothie recipe, freeze, and pop into your kids’ school lunches!

I don’t tend to use smoothie recipes… I prefer throwing in the fresh/frozen fruit that I have on hand. I always add a few things to make them even healthier, too … such as almond milk, coconut water, greek yogurt, nut butters, and/or chia seeds. I included some helpful tips, links to buying the molds, and also a Triple Berry Smoothie Pop recipe for you to try out! Happy lunch packing, friends!

TIPS & LINKS //

Mix up your favorite healthy smoothie recipe and use a funnel to fill your silicone molds. I used this funnel from Oxo. (There is also an optional strainer you can attach to the funnel for those of you that have picky kids that don’t like chunks of fruit in their frozen pops). I used these Sunsella Mighty Pops for the mold.
Leave approximately one-inch of room at the top of the mold to allow for expansion once the smoothie mixture freezes.
Freeze overnight or for a minimum of 4-6 hours.
Depending on your insulated lunch box, the pops may stay frozen, or turn into a cold drinkable smoothie!
This is a simple recipe that the kids can help with! From my experience, if they help, they tend to be more open to trying new things!

Print Recipe

5 from 1 vote

Triple Berry Smoothie Pops

A simple way to add healthy smoothies to your kids' school lunches!

Prep Time10 mins

Total Time10 mins

Course: School Lunches

Servings: 6

Author: Simply Happenstance

Ingredients

2 cups of coconut water
2 cups of fresh or frozen berries I used strawberries, blueberries and raspberries
1 ripe banana
1 tablespoon chia seeds
1-2 tablespoons honey

Instructions

Add all of the ingredients into your blender.
Blend on high for approximately 1 minute until smooth.
Add in more coconut water if the mixture appears too thick.
Using a funnel, pour smoothie mixture into silicone molds. (I used large plastic tumblers to hold the molds in place while I poured in the liquid.)
Leave one-inch of room at the top of the mold to allow for expansion when the smoothie freezes.
Place lids on molds and freeze (standing upright -- I placed my tumblers in the freezer) for 4-6 hours.
These can be made ahead of time and used as desired in school lunches, for quick breakfasts, or for snacks!
Enjoy!

Peach Mint Lemonade

June 17, 2015

:: Peach Mint Lemonade ::

School is out for SUMMER…well in two days for me! Sara and her family are OUT and enjoying life without early drop-offs and pick-ups! I can’t wait!! For now I will dream of long summer days sipping Peach Mint Lemonade under the shade of a tree on a hammock (okay well maybe just out back). Check out this tasty and refreshing recipe of our summer time favorite drink of Peach Mint Lemonade over at Simple As That where you can find us guest posting. While you are over there wishing for a glass of this lemonade right now, check out Rebecca’s lovely blog for summer activities and great recipes! Let us know what your favorite summer drink is!

Blueberry Cheesecake Ice Cream

May 14, 2015

Blueberry Cheesecake Ice Cream //

Howdy, friends! Nicole and I had the privilege of sharing a delicious dessert recipe on one of our very favorite blogs… Simple As That! I hope that you’ll make the jump over to Rebecca’s lovely site to take a peek!

The recipe is an all-time childhood favorite of mine, recreated for my own kids to enjoy! If you have an automatic ice cream maker, this dish is quick to make and you won’t believe the flavor combination – creamy cheesecake ice cream with a thick ribbon of crunchy graham cracker crumbs and delicious homemade blueberry sauce! It’s a keepsake recipe… for sure! I hope you enjoy it!