vanilla Archives - Page 3 of 5 - Simply Happenstance

Chocolate S’mores Treat

May 20, 2014

:: Chocolate S’mores Treat ::

Who is ready for summer? I can see the hands and hear the cheers! This Chocolate S’mores Treat is perfect for a last minute Memorial Weekend dessert. Chocolaty and easy this s’mores treat will make you the hit of your next barbeque!

I love the summer and I love last minute get-togethers. Sometimes, I have a hard time keeping it simple. I love having a few recipes that I know that I can whip up with as little effort as possible, and better yet something that does not require me to use my oven. This recipe is just that. It was introduced to me my one of my lovely neighbors years ago. We had this at every barbeque and get together during that season of our lives when we were newly married. Our first home was a town house. Our neighbors/friends were all around the same age and all at the same point in our lives. It was a great time in life. We loved putting together events that involved food and fun. [Read more…]

Lemon Vanilla Macaroons on Live Laugh Rowe

May 9, 2014

:: Lemon Vanilla Macaroons on Live Laugh Rowe ::

Hey guys! We are beyond excited to be guest posting on the fabulous blog, Live Laugh Rowe today! We’d love for you to go check out our {gluten-free, paleo} recipe for Lemon Vanilla Macaroons! These cookies are so delicious… made from the freshest ingredients and free of refined sugars! While you are there, you must peruse all the fun DIY projects Kelly has on her blog! She is so creative and crafty! Enjoy! {xo} [Read more…]

Homemade Vanilla Almond Milk

April 17, 2014

:: Homemade Vanilla Almond Milk ::

Mmmm! Creamy cold, almond milk! Do you drink it at your house? If not… it’s definitely worth a taste! Even better, try making it from scratch! The task always seemed daunting, in my opinion… which is why I never made it in the past. However, we go through cartons and cartons of almond milk each week… so I thought it was worth a try to make a batch of it homemade. Everything is better fresh, right?!!

About five years ago… maybe even longer, we stopped buying traditional dairy milk in our house. We started using almond milk in its place {since everyone is lactose intolerant in our family}. When my youngest little guy, Finn, stopped nursing at 14 months old, I started giving him almond milk, as well. Did you know that one serving of almond milk has 50% more calcium than regular milk? Amazing! Well, my little guy is now three… and still LOVES his daily cups of almond milk!

The key to making this smooth, creamy milk is soaking the raw almonds in water! Simply place the almonds in a bowl, and cover with about an inch of water. {They will plump as they absorb water.} Let stand overnight, or up to 2 days.

Once your almonds have been adequately soaked, make sure you rinse them with fresh water, and drain, so they are ready to use. Put your almonds into a blender with 3.5 cups of water {less water, will equal a stronger flavor, overall}.

[Read more…]

Strawberry Banana Chip Muffins

March 11, 2014

:: Strawberry Banana Chip Muffins ::

Oh, how a long school day can take the fun out of things! Okay I am only kidding, but it does take up the majority of our day, so why not make it a little fun with some Strawberry Banana Chip Muffins as a mid-day snack. Yes, I know… muffins are just as wonderful paired with a cup of Joe, but these little mid-day treats make the day much more enjoyable!

Let me count the reasons why I love these muffins:

They are made with ruby red strawberries. Don’t they remind you of spring?
This is actually a light recipe, so yes Mommy can have one…or two?
Two {hidden} ripe bananas.
Of course the piece of resistance….chocolate chips, yum!

[Read more…]

Raspberry Shortbread Ice Cream

January 28, 2014

:: Raspberry Shortbread Ice Cream ::

Sara and I are so very excited to be Blogger Ambassadors for Walkers Shortbread! You know your favorite plaid cookie tin that you have been enjoying every holiday since you were a kid? We were asked to come up with recipes using their delightful cookies. {A thrill for us, as these classic cookies are made from only four pure ingredients… and are GMO, vegetarian, and preservative free.} The family owned company still makes all of their traditional cakes and cookies in the same secluded village in Scotland that they have been running since 1898. We LOVE that! What’s even more exciting, Walkers is sharing the love of their cookies with our readers for a limited time {until January 31st, 2014}, with this discount code on their site SHMINI2014.

I decided to create this Raspberry Shortbread Ice Cream recipe using the Walkers Mini Shortbread Fingers. I know what you are thinking! Ice cream in February? It’s been hot in Southern California. It feels like July in January, and believe me… we could use some rain! With this crazy summer like weather, it’s the perfect time to enjoy a scoop of Raspberry Shortbread Ice Cream!